International paramedic jobs are challenging and lucrative. The secret is finding and getting them; that is a combination of dedicated networking, persistence, and training. The rewards can be exemplary; paramedics are in short supply in many medically developed nations around the world.With high base salaries and generous penalty, overtime and shift rates, it’s quite easy for someone with the right qualifications to earn an excellent living as a paramedic internationally. This is in addition to the excitement and joy of exploring a new country while working, getting to experience a new culture as a local rather than a blow-in, blow-out tourist.
With paramedics in such high demand and many medical placement companies operating internationally, it’s not impossible to string together a series of year-long placements through the one HR service, allowing you to travel and develop your career at the same time.
The variations between countries’ paramedic practices are less pronounced than in other medical fields, mostly because emergency treatment and best practice is relatively well standardised across the world. After all, people break their legs, suffer heart attacks and allergic reactions in much the same way regardless of their cultural backgrounds or location.
Human Resources And International Paramedic Jobs
Finding a good international paramedic job can be a challenge simply because the advertisers don’t cast as wide a net as they could a great deal of the time. Unlike industries like engineering and IT, human resource managers are only recently becoming used to the idea of recruiting internationally.This can work in your favour. Contacting HR departments in other countries in a professional, assertive manner can instantly build a good image of you as hard-working and showing initiative. Having international employees can be a bonus for many industries, and emergency medical services are no exception. Employees from ‘outside’ bring new perspectives and experiences to an organisation.
A significant proportion of all paramedic jobs are offered through a state or government service; while there are many private or contractual paramedic jobs, most emergency response paramedics work for the government in some form. Luckily, paramedics are usually not required to be citizens of the employing country, which is often the case for public service jobs.
Governments usually don’t advertise their positions on commercial job sites. Take the time to scope out their websites. Most of them have a website where they advertise for public servant positions. You can usually subscribe to updates on those websites, so you’ll get notified of any new job posts.
Unions and professional organisations are also an excellent way of networking, particularly internationally. Paramedics may or may not have their own professional union depending on where you’re located, but there’s usually a nursing or healthcare professionals organisation that you can join. These networks have close links around the globe, and if you make enquiries, you should get a few useful leads.
Paramedic positions are also advertised in less broadcast areas like the back of professional trade magazines. Even if you’re not subscribed, your local library should have access to them. Check the back of those publications regularly, and see about international versions. Most magazines will have their job advertisements copied onto their websites, check them out carefully.