Can a SysAdmin get a job overseas?
RaynardXO
Posts: 13Member ■□□□□□□□□□
Hi Everyone
I would like to know if a system administrator can get a job abroad with the following certifications and years of experience:
A+, Security+, CASP, N+, MCSA/MCSE 2012 to 2016 with Linux+
All 3 years worth of experience with all certifications. Additional certifications to obtain in the future:
Redhat Certified Administrator, SUSE Certified Administrator & Microsoft Windows Powershell (aaannd some more additional certs Redhat Enterprise Virtualization & Microsfot Hyper-V)
Please feel free to reply to my thread and share your experience on how you got a job with your current certifications that you obtained over the years. And if there'll be a chance to get a job abroad with the certs that I've mentioned above.
Thank you
I would like to know if a system administrator can get a job abroad with the following certifications and years of experience:
A+, Security+, CASP, N+, MCSA/MCSE 2012 to 2016 with Linux+
All 3 years worth of experience with all certifications. Additional certifications to obtain in the future:
Redhat Certified Administrator, SUSE Certified Administrator & Microsoft Windows Powershell (aaannd some more additional certs Redhat Enterprise Virtualization & Microsfot Hyper-V)
Please feel free to reply to my thread and share your experience on how you got a job with your current certifications that you obtained over the years. And if there'll be a chance to get a job abroad with the certs that I've mentioned above.
Thank you
Comments
Do you plan on working on-site?
Do you plan on traveling back and forth?
Is a language other than English require?
Does the country you plan on moving to easily accomodate English speakers if you don't speak the predominant language?
How big of a cultural shift is it for you? Is it something you can live with?
Currently Working On: Microsoft 70-761 (SQL Server)
Now if your objective is adventure and you're not solely-focused on Western countries, there can be a lot of opportunity out there. In addition to being an IT contractor for the military or somehow managing to get a job in the US Foreign Service (or equivalent for non-US citizens), there are plenty of multi-nationals and oil companies that also look for expats. Heck, even supporting the scientists at the S Pole.
where can I find more information about this?
Depends which. Employers will often judge you on your ability to ask clear questions.
PAE does a lot of contracting work in embassies and in the Antarctic: https://www.pae.com/career
IT for the US Foreign Service can be found at https://careers.state.gov/work/foreign-service/specialist/career-tracks/information-management-specialist (The window for applications is pretty small)
There are a bunch of military contractors. Outside the big thread here, you'll find a bunch of companies like Lockheed Martin, SAIC, Dyn-Corp, Glotech, etc.
Another possibility is to be assigned by your employer to an overseas location. That's what happened to my brother (he's a financial analyst), and he worked for a British company in the US, then they sent him, moving expenses paid for, to Australia for a few years, then to Hong Kong. But again that's usually done for either senior level people or those with high demand specialty skills.
Yet another possibility is to try to immigrate, but of course that's easier said than done, and you wouldn't get the expat perks which is why many people want to work overseas.
If you decide to pursue government contractor IT jobs, I would look to those in countries such as Saudi (yeah I know lol), Kuwait, Bahrain, UAE, Qatar, or Oman, because if you still want to work overseas, it looks better to have those countries on your resume versus being deployed in Iraq or Afghanistan which is basically living in a cloister of other Americans (though that is changing and not all jobs there consists of Americans). And one way to improve your chances of getting good expat jobs is to have a proven track record of working in a cross-cultural workplace.
For expats looking to work in the Gulf, these seem to be the best websites, I've almost got hired on some of them but I probably priced myself too high lol:
https://www.naukrigulf.com/
https://gulftalent.com/
https://gotogulf.com/
Always keep advancing your skills, even if you decide not to pursue management, having high demand specialized skills can open doors overseas for you. Good luck!
I did see an IT Director job in Abu Dhabi that was ~$200k in dirhams plus great benefits
I am actually looking at countries like Australia or Canada or London for that matter.
And thank you for the others that responded to my thread. I really appreciate the information you have given me.
Above are the countries that I am looking at specifically Canada & Australia
In that case, visit the country-specific websites of Indeed or Monster, find job boards for those countries, and apply for jobs you are qualified for. Also look into US companies with presence in those countries - that's probably your best option if you are trying to work in those countries as an expat.
Again, as a system administrator, it's going to be very hard to find companies willing to sponsor you. Not trying to discourage, just being realistic. For Americans to get work in those countries as an expat or even on a work visa (which you won't get any of the typical expat benefits) is hard, most countries are more protective of their work forces.
You could try to self-sponsor as an immigrant, depending on your age, savings, and skill sets, that's not too hard to do for Canada and the UK.
You wont get any job offer at least you need to have any IT Specific experience about what they are looking.
Hope this help, let me know. I live in Toronto.
Regards.
AWS Cloud Practitioner
Willing to take: ITIL Foundation, 70-410
"Certs... is all about IT certs!"
Specifically i am looking for a job abroad in which they are required specific skills for immigration. Perhaps there are visas that offer people work with specific skills. I know for sure there is a work visa in Australia called the 457 Visa and 187 Visa. If anyone has any knowledge in regards to these types of visas.
Thank you in advance.
I am looking for something like this, self-sponsor. I'll have the funds and everything so basically i'll just be looking on getting a job there and the rest is on me for e.g housing and all that blah blah.. So basically just looking for a working visa to be legal to work there.
That shouldn't be a problem then, you will have to be patient and persistent, and start on the self sponsor visas as soon as you can.
you joking? 80k to 100k in those areas are still kind of low to me. The US dollar worth nothing there.. it's like paying taxes with the currency differences.
Finally, those places are only expensive if you're trying to live like an executive. There are plenty ways to live more cheaply, for some items, you can live even cheaper than in western countries.
Indeed, if you are in Afghanistan, food and drink (non-alcoholic of course lol) are provided as well.