Medan may lack obvious natural beauty, but the capital of North Sumatra makes up for it with its urban charm and famous culinary scene. The city's rich multicultural heritage (a blend of Batak, Malay, Chinese, and Indian influences) is reflected in its vibrant street food stalls and bustling markets, where dishes like soto Medan and bika ambon have earned devoted followings across Indonesia. Anchored by landmarks such as the grand Maimun Palace and the ornate Tjong A Fie Mansion, Medan also offers a surprisingly rich slice of colonial and mercantile history for those willing to explore beyond its chaotic surface.
What you need to know about Medan
It is Indonesia's third-largest city and is often considered by tourists a stopover before taking off for more exciting destinations on the island of Sumatra, like Lake Toba (the world's largest volcanic lake) or the wild Sumatran jungle, where orangutans can be observed. Medan is home to some places where tropical beauty thrives in the form of lush forests, waterfalls, mountains and lakes. On the other hand, it is also bustling with signs of civilization, where shopping malls, restaurants, and many other modern amenities are popping up! In fact, Medan is mainly known as the gastronomic capital of the Indonesian archipelago, and while the city abounds in excellent places to eat, its streets are full of spicy delicacies.
Such notoriety is due to its ethnic diversity, which can be sensed in its flavorful mix of Minangkabau, Batak, Sundanese and Chinese cuisines. This is why the city is considered one of Southeast Asia's greatest gastronomic getaways.
Medan is a multi-cultural city that has grown rapidly over the past two decades. As a city of contrasts, Medan is a mix of chic cafes and bars, rundown colonial buildings, and food stalls. This city is undoubtedly much more than just a gateway.
Because of its charm and opportunities, Medan is home to many of the approximately 350,000 expatriates who reside in Indonesia. In addition to the beauty of the surrounding jungles and its status as an exceptional gastronomic destination, the capital of North Sumatra is now considered an important economic hub, not only in Indonesia but also in Southeast Asia. As a result, it is one of the most popular cities for foreign entrepreneurs in Indonesia, who are drawn by the numerous financial opportunities it offers.
As such, the job market there is booming, with many opportunities for expatriates with strong professional skills and international experience.
How to write your CV in Medan
If you are looking for a job in Medan, make sure your CV is up to date, highlights your key strengths, and, above all, is adapted to Indonesian standards. Indeed, as elsewhere in the world, CVs in Indonesia must follow a strict format to be acceptable to potential recruiters. Most of the time, r茅sum茅s that do not meet local standards end up directly in the trash.
In Indonesia, a Curriculum Vitae:
- Must be only one page long.
- Must include a formal but attractive photo of yourself.
- Be concise and provide personal information only if necessary.
- Summarize your key strengths.
- List your general skills.
- Contain your contact information and link to your LinkedIn profile.
While a LinkedIn profile may not seem mandatory to you, be aware that most HR professionals in Indonesia use this social network. Its popularity is such that almost all recruitments are nowadays made through it. Therefore, make sure that your LinkedIn profile is up to date, complete, and that it highlights your professional attributes.
As for personal information, avoid going overboard by disclosing everything about your life. Mentioning that you are married and have children should be more than enough. If you are involved with a charity, you should mention this as well, but there's no need to give details about your medals from intercollegiate games or the number of siblings you have.
If you have previously worked for a prominent company, try to highlight this information and explain how this experience has helped you gain more knowledge in your field of expertise. Finally, try to keep it simple and avoid bright colors on your resume paper, as this may be seen as a sign of superficial vanity in Indonesia.
Medan's labor market
Thanks, in part, to its proximity to Singapore, Medan is a booming economic hub and the region's commercial crossroads. The city is primarily known for its palm oil production, with nearly 4 million hectares of palm plantations on the island of Sumatra. The region is also renowned for its cocoa, rubber and tea.
The province is fertile and rich in raw materials and thus has a strong agricultural sector. For example, PP London Sumatra has more than 116,000 hectares of plantations, as seen in the areas surrounding the new airport in the Delhi Serdang area.
While there are more job opportunities for expatriates in Medan than elsewhere in Indonesia, these opportunities remain rather limited due to the government's commitment to protecting local employment. Indonesian law indeed requires that a company justify hiring a foreigner over a local citizen. Therefore, you are more likely to be hired quickly if you work in one of the sectors where foreign expertise is sought.
Job opportunities in Medan
Because of its geographical location, Medan has benefited greatly from the multi-billion-dollar palm oil trade. Despite being controversial, palm oil is still present in half of the world's supermarkets, indicating many opportunities in the industry.
The populated part of Medan has more than doubled in size, adding about 2.5 million people over the past two decades. If you live there, you may have to be patient with the traffic jams. In parallel, condos, hotels, and theme parks have sprung up all over the place to support this influx, and development has certainly taken precedence over environmental conservation. With this, ecological concerns about deforestation have been on the rise, and it is hoped that there will be more jobs in the green sector and ecotourism as international pressure intensifies.
Teaching
English teaching jobs are also available in the city. There are 13 universities in the city, and teaching and lecturing positions can be filled by expatriates with skills and experience in international academic institutions. The average salary for a local teacher in Medan is around IDR 3-5 million per month, depending on the position. However, English teaching positions in public schools across Indonesia now typically pay between IDR 12.8 million and IDR 17.6 million per month, while private language schools tend to pay between IDR 16 million and IDR 24 million per month.
Real estate
The other promising business sector in Medan is real estate. As we have already explained, the city is experiencing a steady development, and several international agencies have set up shop here. Whether in construction or real estate sales, there are many opportunities in this booming sector.
IT sector
The IT sector has also experienced tremendous growth in Medan in recent years. Many startups have launched in the city with the goal of offering various innovative digital solutions. In the same vein, many digital nomads in Indonesia have chosen to relocate to Medan. As a matter of fact, it is always possible to find good management positions in IT companies or to offer programming services as a freelancer or as an employee.
Tourism
Tourism is also an important source of employment in Medan. With the thriving nature around the city being a major tourist attraction, there are plenty of opportunities in this sector, especially in the hotel industry. Moreover, Medan has several high-class hotels, such as Prime Plaza Hotel Kualanamu, Emerald Garden International Hotel, JW Marriott and Four Points by Sheraton Medan. The websites of these hotels regularly publish job postings, so it may be worth visiting them from time to time if you are a hospitality professional.
Healthcare
The health and medical field generally offers interesting opportunities for health professionals in Medan. However, you should be aware that, given Indonesia's relatively poor health care system, salaries are much higher in the private sector. That is why almost all expatriate doctors and other foreign healthcare professionals in Indonesia are either self-employed or work for private clinics and healthcare facilities. If you have enough qualifications and good experience, you should find a job in no time, especially if you are specialized in particular medical fields such as surgery, orthodontics, and cardiology, amongst others. There is indeed a high demand for these professionals due to a shortage of medical expertise in Indonesia.
Import and export
Medan is a major regional trade hub where import-export is another major source of employment for expatriates. Most professionals in this sector work for large international companies, including shipping, logistics, and transportation firms, as well as the food processing industry. Again, local companies prefer expatriates with attractive r茅sum茅s and substantial experience, primarily for managerial positions.
If Medan has won your heart, then you should have no trouble finding a job there, provided you have all the necessary qualifications.
How to find a job in Medan?
If you work for an international company that has offices in Medan, why not apply for an internal transfer? This would be the easiest way to live and work in the city. Many expatriates in Indonesia have been transferred there or hired before moving there.
One of the best ways to get a job fast in Medan is to use job search websites. The most popular and widely used job boards in Medan are Glassdoor, Indeed and Job Street. Feel free to browse several of them to increase your chances of finding a position that suits you, and specify your salary expectations and area of residence.
In the city, attend networking events to meet other professionals and seek advice.
Networking is indeed a very effective way to find a job quickly in Indonesia. Don't forget to keep a stock of business cards with you and share them systematically with your new contacts. Remember to present your cards with your right hand; the left hand is considered impure in Indonesia.
Above all, be aware that if you are not respectful of networking etiquette in Indonesia, you may severely damage your chances of employment in the city. News travels fast in Indonesian business circles, and anyone caught repeatedly breaking local codes is systematically singled out. Finally, don't forget. The Internet is your friend, so browse through websites and forums to see what jobs are available online.
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