01/02/2026

ON SUNDAY February 1, 2026 theSunday Special VII

Working abroad without leaving home

“Global teams are diverse and being culturally aware can make collaboration smoother,” she added. Of course, working for a foreign em ployer isn’t without its hurdles. Time ]RQH GL̆ HUHQFHV FDQ PHDQ RGG ZRUNLQJ hours, particularly when collaborating with teams in the US or Europe. “It’s important to clarify availability and set boundaries from the start,” Gan advised. Payment is another practical concern. Malaysians working for foreign companies should discuss how salaries will be paid (via international transfer, PayPal, Wise) and understand how tax works in this situation. “You may still need to declare income locally, so speak to a tax consultant,” Gan recommended. Tips for Malaysians seeking remote jobs abroad • Research market expectations: Spend time understanding what em ployers in your target region look for. Follow recruiters on LinkedIn, read job descriptions carefully and note the most frequently used keywords. • B XLOG D JOREDOO\ IULHQGO\ SUR¿OH 8SGDWH \RXU /LQNHG,Q SUR¿OH WR UHÀHFW your international readiness – mention your time zone, language skills and examples of cross-border collabora tion. • Strengthen digital skills: Get com fortable with remote collaboration tools and highlight them in your CV. • Network internationally: Join remote work communities, participate in online industry events and connect with professionals working for global companies. • Prepare for virtual interviews: Practise speaking clearly on camera, in vest in a good microphone and choose a quiet, professional background. • Showcase adaptability: Employers want to know you can handle ambiguity and solve problems independently. Use examples from past roles where you took initiative. • Understand compensation: Be aware of cost-of-living adjustments. 6RPH FRPSDQLHV PD\ R̆ HU JOREDO SD\ rates, while others adjust salaries based on location. As the global workforce becomes in creasingly borderless, Malaysians are well-positioned to compete. The country ERDVWV D UHODWLYHO\ KLJK (QJOLVK SUR¿FLHQF\ ranking (24th globally in EF’s 2024 Eng OLVK 3UR¿FLHQF\ ,QGH[ D VNLOOHG JUDGXDWH workforce and competitive salary expecta tions compared to Western markets. Remote work is here to stay. It’s no longer just for tech workers – we’re seeing UROHV LQ +5 PDUNHWLQJ ¿QDQFH DQG HYHQ education opening up for remote work. Malaysians who start preparing now will have an edge in the coming years. She concluded with a reminder that get ting a remote foreign job isn’t about luck. “It’s about strategy. You need to pack age yourself for the global stage, show that you can deliver results and communicate your value clearly. When you do that, opportunities open up.” For Malaysians willing to leap, the world is quite literally hiring and home could be anywhere you want it to be.

BY DAYANA SOBRI

European employers are generally big on work-life balance, so highlighting how you manage your workload ef fectively is a plus,” she noted. One of Gan’s key pieces of advice is to DYRLG D RQH VL]H ¿WV DOO UHVXPH :KDW works for a Singaporean employer may not impress a US recruiter. Customis LQJ \RXU &9 WR ¿W WKH PDUNHW LV FUXFLDO She breaks it down as follows: • Singapore: One-page, keyword optimised, focused on technical VNLOOV DQG FHUWL¿FDWLRQV • North America: Two-page resumes are acceptable, with a strong emphasis on achievements, TXDQWL¿HG UHVXOWV DQG D VXPPDU\ statement. • Europe: Tailored CVs that follow country conventions (for example, including a professional photo for German employers but avoiding it for UK ones) and highlighting soft skills like collaboration and adaptability.

W HEN the pandemic accel erated the rise of remote work, few could have predicted just how much it would reshape the job market. Today, the ability to work for a company based overseas without leaving home is no longer a far-fetched dream – it is a genuine option for Malaysians. But the question remains: How does one break into the remote global job market? Mira Gan, a career consultant with 15 years of experience in HR and career development, shares her insights on navi gating this increasingly competitive space, R̆ HULQJ DGYLFH RQ UHVXPHV LQWHUYLHZV DQG positioning yourself to stand out. Before diving into overseas opportuni ties, it’s worth understanding the local landscape. According to the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM), Malaysia’s unemployment rate stood at 3.3% as of -XO\ ± D VLJQL¿FDQW LPSURYHPHQW compared to the pandemic peak of 4.8% in 2021. However, youth unemployment remains a concern, sitting at around 10.4%, with many young graduates either underemployed or working in roles out VLGH WKHLU ¿HOG RI VWXG\ Remote work adoption has been steady but slower compared to countries like Singapore. A 2024 Randstad Malaysia survey revealed that 52% of employees still prefer hybrid arrangements, with only 17% working entirely remotely. Employers are JUDGXDOO\ ZDUPLQJ XS WR ÀH[LEOH PRGHOV but many sectors continue to favour physi cal presence. This limited supply of local remote roles is one reason Malaysians are looking abroad for opportunities. Why look abroad? “Remote jobs allow Malaysians to earn in stronger currencies, gain exposure to international work culture and future proof their careers,” Gan said. She noted that sectors such as software engineering, digital marketing, design, customer sup SRUW DQG ¿QDQFH DUH OHDGLQJ WKH FKDUJH LQ remote hiring.

Working for a foreign company also R̆ HUV XQLTXH SURIHVVLRQDO GHYHORSPHQW opportunities. “You learn how to collaborate across WLPH ]RQHV PDQDJH FXOWXUDO GL̆ HUHQFHV and adopt global best practices. These skills make you even more employable, whether you stay remote or return to a local role later,” Gan explained. While remote jobs are growing every ZKHUH WKH PDUNHW ORRNV YHU\ GL̆ HUHQW depending on where the company is based. • Singapore: As Malaysia’s closest neighbour and economic partner, 6LQJDSRUH R̆ HUV SOHQW\ RI RSSRUWXQL WLHV IRU 0DOD\VLDQV 0DQ\ ¿UPV DUH already used to cross-border hiring, given the large number of Malaysians who commute daily for work. “Singaporean companies tend to expect concise, skills-focused resumes DQG RIWHQ YDOXH Ḣ FLHQF\ DQG UHVXOWV over elaborate personal statements,” Gan said. Interviews are usually struc tured and straightforward, focusing on practical competencies. • North America: The US and Canada are home to some of the world’s biggest champions of remote work. “North American employers ap preciate a narrative-style resume that tells your career story. They like to see LPSDFW TXDQWL¿HG ± QXPEHUV SHUFHQW ages, revenue growth, user engage ment – anything that demonstrates measurable outcomes,” Gan explained. S KH DGGHG WKDW FXOWXUDO ¿W LV RIWHQ D key factor. Employers want to know whether you can work independently, communicate clearly in writing and contribute to team culture even when physically distant. • Europe: Europe’s job market is more fragmented due to language and FRXQWU\ VSHFL¿F KLULQJ SUDFWLFHV “ $ *HUPDQ WHFK ¿UP PLJKW ZDQW D very precise, formal CV, while a Swed ish company might be more informal and interested in your personality.

Remote jobs allow Malaysians to earn in stronger currencies and gain exposure to international work culture.”

Gan

Beyond technical expertise, remote employers value soft skills. Communica tion is the number one skill. When you’re working asynchronously, you need to ZULWH FOHDU XSGDWHV ÀDJ LVVXHV HDUO\ DQG be proactive. Time management, self discipline, and digital literacy (using tools like Slack, Notion and Zoom) are also essential. Cultural intelligence – the ability to work effectively with colleagues from GL̆ HUHQW EDFNJURXQGV ± LV LQFUHDVLQJO\ sought after.