After You Study Abroad

Studying abroad is a big daring adventure to do. You get to learn new things, experience new things, meet people from different places, and see how the world works. But after you finish studying, you might wonder: What comes next, what are my career opportunities?

This article will help Nepali students to understand the career options that are available to them after studying abroad. Whether you want to stay in the country you studied in or come back to Nepal, there are many career opportunities for you. By knowing all of these options, you can make better decisions for your future.

Let’s now jump straight into what career opportunities you can get after your studies abroad!

Study Abroad then Work There

After you have completed your studies abroad, you might want to stay in the country where you have studied and worked for some time. If so then this gives you the career opportunities to apply what you’ve learned, gain real-world experience, and earn money abroad where you studied. 

Here’s a closer look at the career opportunities you can get abroad after you have finished your studies abroad:

1. Post-Study Work Visas

One of the biggest advantages you can get after studying abroad is the opportunity you get to work in that country after graduation. Many countries have specific visas for international students who want to work once they finish their degree. 

Here are some popular options:

• Australia: If you study in Australia, Australia provides you with Temporary Graduate Visa (subclass 485) which is a visa for international students who have completed their studies in Australia. This visa lets you stay and work in Australia for 2-4 years, depending on your qualification. It allows you to get many career opportunities by providing you with the opportunity to work in any job, which can help you gain valuable experience.
• United Kingdom: UK provides you with the Graduate Route (also known as the Post-Study Work visa) visa which allows international students to stay and work in the UK for up to 2 years after completing a degree. For those with a PhD or doctoral qualification, the stay for them is extended to 3 years.
• Canada: If you study in Canada, Canada has the Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) which is one of the most popular work visas for international students. This visa allows you to work in Canada for up to 3 years, depending on the length of your program. It also gives you the chance to gain Canadian work experience, which can give you another career opportunity in future by improving your chances of applying for permanent residency.
• United States: If you study In USA, after graduation as a international student on F-1 visas you can apply for Optional Practical Training (OPT). OPT allows you to stay and work in the U.S. for up to 12 months after completing a degree. Students in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) fields can extend their OPT for an additional 24 months.

2. Job Opportunities Abroad

Once you have a work visa with you after you completed your study abroad, you can look for many career opportunities such as finding jobs in your field of study. Some industries are more likely to have high demand for workers, thus making it easier for you to find a job. For example:

• Technology: Software engineers, data scientists, and IT professionals are always in demand in countries like the USA, Canada, and Australia, so if you are one or planning to become one then you have massive career opportunities in front of you.
• Healthcare: Nurses, doctors, and medical researchers are needed in countries like Canada, the UK, and Australia, so big career opportunities for those who want to study abroad to complete their doctorate study.
• Engineering: Fields like civil, mechanical, and electrical engineering often have job openings in countries that are developing infrastructure, like Canada, Germany, and the Middle East.
• Business and Finance: Countries with strong financial sectors, like the UK, USA, and Singapore, often hire graduates in accounting, marketing, and finance.

Having an international degree and work experience can make you more competitive in the job market thus opening up different career opportunities for you, especially if you’re planning to work in a multinational company or a global industry.

3. Benefits of Working Abroad

There are many advantages you can get if you decide on working abroad after completing your study abroad:

• Gain International Work Experience: Working in another country allows you to learn different work styles, communication practices, and cultural norms.
• Higher Salary Opportunities: Jobs in countries like the USA, UK, Canada, and Australia will provide you with way higher salaries than you get in Nepal.
• Pathway to Permanent Residency (PR): In many countries, after you have worked for a certain number of years on a post-study work visa you can get a chance to apply for permanent residency (PR). 

4. How to Make the Most of Working Abroad

To make the most of your time working abroad, you should:

• Network: Try attending professional events, seminars, and conferences to build relationships with people in your industry. Networking is a big thing in today’s world that can help you find job opportunities and learn about the latest updates in your field.
• Gain Relevant Experience: If you’re unsure about your future career path, consider other career opportunities such as doing internships or volunteer work in addition to your main job.
• Learn the Language: In some countries, you may also have to learn their local language which will open new career opportunities for you as knowing the local language in such countries is key to landing a job.

Returning to Nepal after You Study Abroad

After spending time studying abroad, you might decide to return to Nepal and use your international experience you have gained after you  studied abroad, to build a career here in Nepal. 

Here’s how you can make the most of your experience and education when you return to Nepal:

1. Why Return to Nepal?

There are many reasons for you why returning to Nepal after you have completed your study abroad can be a great decision:

• Family and Cultural Connections: Many Nepali students choose to return home because of family ties they have and also the strong connection they have to their culture.
• Building Nepal’s Future: Many Nepali graduates are passionate about contributing to their country’s growth and development by using their experience they learned after they completed their study abroad.
• Better Work-Life Balance: Depending on the field, some students find that working in Nepal provides them with a better work-life balance compared to fast-paced environments abroad.

2. Career Opportunities in Nepal

Returning to Nepal with an international degree you gained after you completed your study abroad opens up a wide range of career opportunities for you to explore.

Here are some fields where your degree can provide you with many career opportunities:

• Multinational Companies (MNCs): Many international companies have offices in Nepal. Your international experience can help you get jobs in companies like Coca-Cola, Unilever, Huawei, or other multinational companies which value employees with international education and skills.
• INGOs and NGOs: Another career opportunities you can get is at Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and international organizations (INGOs) which are popular in Nepal. These organizations many times look for professionals that have international experience to help them in areas like development, education, health, and human rights.
• Education and Consultancy: If you’ve studied in fields like at business, or at engineering, or in technology, you can get exciting career opportunities to work in education or even open up your own consultancy firm.
• Government Work: With your abroad degree, you can also help in Nepal’s development by working in government or policy-making roles with your experience that you learned abroad.

3. Advantage in the Job Market

Having a degree from a well-known international university, along with the skills and knowledge that you gained abroad, gives you a significant advantage in career opportunities over others in the Nepali job market:

• Global Perspective: Your international experience allows you to think outside of the box and approach problems from different angles. This is something employers in Nepal look for, as they want employees who can provide them with fresh new ideas for them to work on.
• Language: If you study in an English-speaking country, you likely will become fluent in English, which is an important skill that is needed in Nepal's current job market, so if you just properly learned English only it can also open lots of new career opportunities for you.
• Professional Skills: Global degrees many times involve practical, hands-on learning, internships, and projects. These experiences give you the skills and confidence to succeed in job roles thus providing you with  a big advantage over others.

4. Networking 

One of the best things about studying abroad is the professional network you build there.

 Here’s how you can use your network to get new career opportunities:

• Alumni Networks: Most universities have alumni networks that stay in touch through social media, professional events, or conferences, you can ask for help or advice if you need any in there.
• Connections with other Nepali People: If you studied in a country that has a large Nepali community, you most probably make connections with many fellow Nepali students. 

These connections can be helpful when you return to, as you may find career opportunities to partner with them or learn from their experiences.

5. Building Your Career Path
To make the most of your global degree when returning to Nepal, you can or should take these steps:

• Research the Job Market: Before returning to Nepal, make sure to research the job market in Nepal thoroughly. Try to understand which industries are growing and where there is high demand for skilled professionals. Remember research is an important thing many people overlook but is a thing that can give you a big advantage over others in terms of getting new career opportunities.
• Use Your Global Experience: When applying for jobs, make sure to highlight how your international education has made you ready for jobs by providing you with unique skills and perspectives.

Starting Your Own Business or Consultancy in Nepal 

After studying abroad and gaining global knowledge and skills, you have another exciting but scary career opportunities in front of you which is starting your own business or consultancy in Nepal.

1. Identifying a Business Idea or Consultancy Focus

The first step in starting a business or consultancy is to identify the area you want to focus on. 

Here are a few ways to come up with a business or consultancy idea:

• Find Gaps in the Market: Look for areas in Nepal where there’s a lack of services or solutions, as if there are problems you can find opportunities in there. 

For example, if you studied technology, and you find a technology service which is needed by many people but there are very few or no business at all who provide such technology service to those people you could start a software development company around that service.

• Use Your Global Experience: Many students who study abroad gain firsthand experience on international business practices, technology, and trends. 

You can bring these innovations to Nepal, such as modern marketing strategies, business management techniques, or new technologies to discover new opportunities.

• Solve Problems: Think about problems you experienced while living abroad or that you noticed in Nepal. For example, if you studied about preserving the environment, you could start a business focused on eco-friendly products or solutions to solve environmental issues in Nepal.

2. Creating a Business Plan

Once you have a clear idea for your business or consultancy, creating a business plan is the next step which is a very important step. A business plan is like a blueprint which will describe how your business will operate and grow. 

It should include:

• Summary: A short overview of your business idea and goals.
• Market Research: Information about your target audience, competitors, and industry trends in Nepal.
• Services or Products: What you’ll provide and how it benefits your customers.
• Financial Plan: Estimated startup costs, expected revenue, and profit margins.
• Marketing Strategy: How you plan to promote your business and attract customers.

A good business plan will help you understand the steps you need to take to start your business properly and will also be helpful if you need to get funding from investors or banks.

3. Legal and Financial Things To Consider

Starting a business in Nepal also requires you to get an understanding of the legal and financial aspects. 

Here are some key points that you need to keep in mind:

• Registering Your Business: You’ll need to register your business with the appropriate government authorities.

In Nepal, this typically involves registering with the Department of Industry or Company Registrar’s Office, depending on the business structure.

• Choosing a Business Structure: Decide if you want to register as a sole proprietorship, partnership, or private limited company.
   
• Obtaining Licenses and Permits: Depending on your industry, you may need to get specific licenses or permits to operate legally in Nepal.

4. Building Your Brand and Online Presence

In today’s world, having a strong brand and online presence is one of the main keys to attracting customers to your business.

Here’s how you can build your brand and make your business known:

• Create a Business Name and Logo: Choose a catchy name that reflects your business and resonates with your target audience. Design a professional logo to help make your business memorable.
• Make a Website: Having an online presence is important. So create a website that will show your services or products to your customers or viewers. Make sure it’s user-friendly, professional, and well optimized for search engines (SEO) to gain more viewers .

5. Providing Consultancy Services

You also have another opportunity among many other career opportunities, which is to start your own consultancy business, where you’ll be offering expert advice in a specific area, such as business, marketing, finance, technology, or education. 

Here’s how you can set up a successful consultancy:

• Create Your Own Niche: As a consultant, it’s important for you to focus on a specific area where you have expertise rather than focusing on many areas at once at the start.
• Build a Portfolio: If you have previous work or case studies from your studies or internships when you studied abroad, then use them to show potential clients how you’ve helped others achieve success.
• Set Clear Fees and Packages: Set up your consultancy rates and packages properly you need to set them up properly.

Further Education in Nepal After You Study Abroad

After you have completed your study abroad, you might also just decide to continue your education even more and specialize in a specific area of interest that you like.

1. Why Further Education?

Doing advanced degrees or certifications allows you to gain more knowledge and skills. Which can make you stand out more in the competitive job market and open up even more new career opportunities for you.

2. Types 

You can choose from different types of further education, such as:

• Master’s Degree: This is a great option to choose if you want to learn more knowledge in your current field or go to a new one.
• Certifications: This is a shorter and more focused type of education, certifications in areas like in data analysis, or in marketing, or in business management can upgrade your expertise and open up even more career opportunities for you.
• Online Courses: You can also do online courses from platforms like Coursera or Udemy to gain knowledge and increase your career opportunities even more.

Career Opportunities After You Study Abroad?

In conclusion, studying abroad opens up a whole new world of career opportunities for you as a Nepali student, both abroad and back at home. Whether you choose to stay abroad and work there with the experience you learned, or return to Nepal with your degree and experience to stand out in the competitive job market, or even start your own business, the skills and experiences you gained at abroad will be very important and useful to open up new exciting job opportunities for you. 

It’s important for you to plan your career strategically, stay informed, and continuously develop your skills. By doing so, you can unlock new successful career opportunities that goes along with your goals and dreams.

And if you have any questions feel free to contact the best consultancy in Nepal which is our Global Education Counselling Centre, we are here to help you all along the way and will clear up any questions you have.