If you’re keen to travel the world and broaden your horizons, one way to fulfil your wanderlust is to work abroad.

Moving to a new country for work can be a life-changing experience, while living and working with people abroad mean that you have a greater chance of becoming proficient, if not fluent, in a new language as part of the experience.

While it is always easier if you are fluent in the host country’s language, only speaking English shouldn’t stop you and there are plenty of jobs abroad for English speakers.

Jobs in English-speaking countries

The most obvious way to land an English-speaking job abroad is to work in a country where English is the first language. The USA, Canada, South Africa, Hong Kong, Singapore, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand and many African and Caribbean countries are all fantastic destinations where English is the first language.

The challenge is that many are desirable locations and you may only be able to get a visa if you have eligible skills. For example, engineers are in demand in Australia, while construction and infrastructure is a priority in New Zealand. In addition, Canada is a bilingual nation and proficiency in English and French will be part of the skills assessment.

Jobs teaching English abroad

One way to get over the language barrier is to teach English abroad. There are numerous online and in-person courses to achieve Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) certification. The certification will help you work in a variety of countries, and may help you develop your own foreign language skills.

The average time it takes to complete the course is about three months, however you can progress faster through an online course or take an intensive course to complete the certificate quicker if you’re in a hurry.

Once qualified, there are a wide range of online sites advertising English teaching jobs abroad, including on Tefl.com.

Alternative job opportunities abroad

There are many ways to get an English-speaking job abroad, as there are many opportunities where language skills may be irrelevant. This may be more menial work such as fruit picking, but you may find that this is a great way to build your language skills while you earn a little money to move on.

However, it’s not simply a choice between moving to an English-speaking nation, teaching or accepting more menial work. There are plenty of tourism roles across the world where speaking English won’t be a barrier, while global industries such as pharmaceuticals, software or digital technology also welcome English-speaking staff in skilled and senior roles.

International payments when working abroad 

Like most professionals moving abroad for work, you may need to transfer funds over from your UK bank account to your new foreign account in order to get started.

Whether for a deposit, rent, administrative fees or other expenses, you’ll want to get the most out of your money when transferring money abroad for start-up costs. Enjoy competitive rates, low fees and 24/7 online access with a Moneycorp account.

Send money online in 33 different currencies, with many more available on the phone, and rely on 24/7 online access to your funds. That way, no matter where you move, you can send and receive money quickly and with zero hassle.