15.01.2010
Australians most confident in local opportunities
Globally, more and more professionals are looking to develop their careers overseas to add
international exposure to their CV, according to a survey conducted by international
recruitment consultancy Robert Walters.
In an online web poll, professional candidates from around the world were asked whether
they thought international experience was important to their career development. Of 1538
respondents, more than half (57%) thought it was vital and international exposure had already
been gained. 19% of respondents thought it was very important and sought to work abroad in
the next year, 15% thought it was quite important with the intention to gain overseas exposure
in the next five years and only 9% of respondents felt they had all the job opportunities
needed in their home country.
Although 83% of Australians agreed that international experience was important albeit at
varying levels, 17% of respondents felt it was not important and stated that they had all the
job opportunities needed in the local market. This was the highest percentage across all 16
countries polled. Of those professionals in Asia Pacific – 98% in Hong Kong felt international
experience was important, alongside 97.5% of Singaporeans. None of those Japanese
professionals polled felt they had all the opportunities needed in their local market.
In Australia 53% of professionals polled have already gained international exposure with
another 16% planning to work abroad in the next year, and 14% looking to gain overseas
exposure in the next five years.
James Nicholson, Managing Director of Robert Walters, Australia commented:
“Having international experience on your CV opens doors. Increasingly, our clients are
asking for professionals with overseas exposure due to their broader commercial
outlook, making these candidates particularly attractive to those firms with
international operations. It seems the norm today for professionals to consider a stint
overseas if they’re serious about building an impressive CV.”
For further information or for full results please contact:
Frances Denny
Marketing Manager, Australia
0282893114
frances.denny@robertwalters.com.au
ABOUT ROBERT WALTERS
Robert Walters is a leading specialist professional recruitment consultancy. Established in
1985, Robert Walters has built a global presence, with 38 offices now spanning 17 countries
across five continents.
NEWS 
