Trouble finding a job in Asia

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I'm 35 years old and have been a chef for 14 years. I've been looking for a job in Asia for three months without success, and I'm starting to worry about whether I will be able to find one. I have experience working in the Raffles hotel in Singapore and worked in Asia for six years and north Africa for almost two years. However, it seems that all this experience doesn't help.

The last place I worked at was a large five-star hotel (not Raffles). I didn't finish my contract because I resigned. I didn't like the ambience and thought that the hotel was corrupt and didn't really deserve its five stars. I've been sending my CV to several headhunters, but many of them have written back saying I'm too expensive for them. This really disappoints me. I have a wife and two children to support, so I don't think my salary expectations are too high.

What can I do to find a job?

What the expert says

Jane Riches, national programmes manager, Springboard UK

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The first thing to do is check is that your CV gives a true and accurate record of your work history. Make sure your tone is positive and professional. Remember that your CV is your sales tool, and people reading your CV won't know what your capabilities are. Under each job, list your main achievements and areas of responsibility (such as stock taking and ordering) in bullet points. See the Caterer.com article on [writing a CV for more tips. Do you have any industry contacts in Asia who could help introduce you to useful people and recommend any good recruitment agencies? Old contacts are usually the best as these are people who know you and what you are capable of. You may think about signing up with a recruitment agency that specialises in overseas placements such as Portfolio International or Berkeley Scott Group. Recruitment agencies should also be able to advise you on salaries, including what is the average wage. Don't give up, though, because it can take a while to find a job. You need to make sure you are investigating all avenues.