For decades, the West has profited from attracting talented workers from around the world. But many Asian, Middle Eastern, and South American economies are experiencing growth rates unfathomable in the developed world, a phenomenon that has prompted many young university graduates to travel east to seek their fortune.

Even with the recession, China’s gross domestic product (GDP) expanded by an estimated 8.7 percent in 2009 and will continue to grow to become the second largest economy in the world after the United States. India’s GDP also grew by a remarkable 6.5 percent in 2009.

There are many other countries boasting impressive growth. BRIC is the widely-quoted moniker for Brazil, Russia, India, and China, four of the largest emerging economies, but smaller countries like the United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, Singapore, and Malaysia also hold promising business opportunities for young professionals.

Carmen Ng, a recent graduate from Queen’s University in chemistry, has been able to find many work opportunities in Hong Kong through personal connections and the Labour Department of Hong Kong. Ng said working in Hong Kong can lead to good jobs in many other parts of Asia and that students may earn money much faster working there than they would in Canada.

"As the political power and economical situation of People’s Republic of China is rising rapidly, more opportunities are to be found in Southeast Asia. Hong Kong is one of the gateways to get into and learn about China," she said in an email. "Also, the tax rate in Canada is way higher than that in Hong Kong. Therefore, it’s a lot easier to save up money with a stable job in Hong Kong than in Canada."

There are many ways for students to learn about countries where they are interested in working. The internet is loaded with agencies that give country specific information, while many news organizations like the Guardian newspaper will advertise job postings in Asia and South America. Canuck Abroad is a site devoted to providing forums for Canadians looking for travel and work opportunities abroad. Founded in 2003, it has approximately 10,000 members who regularly contribute information on how to find jobs or tips for adjusting to a new lifestyle. Canuck Abroad’s site manager, Matthew Reider, says finding a job is the easy part of the process, because many countries and many industries look favourably on Canadians for hiring. China in particular will hire Westerners just to promote their business’s image. The main obstacle for Canadians to work in emerging economies is finding employers who will assist in getting their affairs sorted. Complications like getting sponsors for a visa, having the flight paid for or finding an apartment can become even more stressful depending on the company and place you’re working in.

"If it's more of a professional-level job, for, say, a big international company like Coca-Cola in China, then you can bet they’re going to have that stuff down to a tee," he says. "They’ll know exactly what you need, how to take care of you and everything. But if you’re doing something where it’s a much smaller company or a school, it can be a lot more difficult to get these things set up and you don’t really know what you’re going to get."

Reider says it’s important not to assume the company will do the work for you in getting to the job. Being prepared and knowing what to expect will make you a more attractive applicant by posing less of a hassle to the employer. Showing them you already have a visa when applying for the job, for example, is a great way to push your resume to the top of the pile. "They’re going to be way more willing to hire you if you’ve done your research," he says.

Once you arrive and begin working, Reider said culture shock is the number one issue people struggle with. Learning the rules of the workplace can be a huge adjustment, on top of the everyday adjustment living in a new country. "Corporate culture can be completely different," he explains. "The formalities of everything can be a lot to get used to… You gotta be really careful about what you say and maybe how you say it."

But even with the tough cultural adjustment, the benefits of working in emerging economies are limitless, whether it’s a personal milestone or an opportunity to furnish your CV. "I think everyone should do it if they have the opportunity to go. It just expands your horizons on so many levels just to get out of your comfort zone a little while. And when you come back to Canada and have that kind of experience on your resume, you’re going to be that much better off for it." jp