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Working abroad: Before you make a decision |
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If you are interested in the possibility of working in another country, there are many issues to consider before you decide whether to take the plunge and begin to make plans. What are your objectives?The clearer your objectives, the more likely you are to succeed. Ask yourself: - why you want to work abroad and what you hope to achieve from the experience;
- where you want to go and what you want to do;
- how long you think you would like to spend abroad;
- how you will make the most of it both personally and in terms of your future career.
Check that your ideas - what you want to do, where and how, match your objectives - what you want to get out of the experience. For example, if you want to improve your language skills, working as an au pair and living with a local family might help you achieve your goal better than teaching English and sharing a flat with other expats. back to top Timescales and exit strategies- Be realistic about the time it will take you to find and plan a job overseas. The process is time consuming and requires perseverance, determination, good organisation and careful thought.
- Bear in mind that getting meaningful work experience for a period of only a year may be difficult - your year abroad may easily turn into two or three.
- Consider what you will do when you come back to the UK - if this is your intention. If you are planning on using your experience abroad to help secure a job, think of how you will market it. Employers will be impressed by your initiative in getting a job overseas, as well as your motivation in following it through and making it a success. The ability to communicate and work as part of a team with people from a broad range of cultural backgrounds is also an invaluable skill; so make sure all of this is reflected in your CV.
back to top Language and cultural issues- Being a foreigner with English as a mother tongue can have its advantages, but be aware that many international firms prefer to hire local labour. Therefore, you should check how it will affect your employment chances if you are not competent in the necessary language.
- The type of work you are doing, your employer and the country you are in will all determine the level of language skills required. An IT job in a multinational organisation for example, may be possible with more limited language skills.
- Even if a high standard of the language is not required, you may want to demonstrate your cultural adaptability and sensitivity by learning it anyway, but bear in mind that you will need to be prepared to devote time and effort to do this. You may be able to take a course at your university, local institution or in your destination country. However, make sure you research your options as costs can vary widely.
- Expect to experience ‘culture shock’ for the first few weeks or months in a new country, especially if the place you are going to is very different from home, or if you are emigrating or moving abroad due to your job, rather than for a personal desire to live in that country. You can prepare yourself mentally to an extent by trying to find out about the things you are likely to find unusual or difficult. Read as much as you can about the country and the culture and speak to other people who have done something similar.
- However much you may think you know about your destination country, be ready to make some time when you arrive to get to grips with the appropriate cultural norms and behaviours, both socially and in the workplace.
back to top Other practical and personal considerations- Your living and working environments may be predetermined by the type of job you are doing, but if not, it is something you need to consider. For example, would you prefer to be surrounded by expats, so that you perhaps feel more at home, or by the local community, so that you get a real feel for the new culture? Check before you go that you will be happy with the living arrangements as well as the work setting.
- If you are travelling with family or a partner, consider how they will fit into the new environment and any implications that it may have, e.g. with their work or schooling. Even if friends and family are being left behind, your move will still have an impact on them. Consider the possibilities of visits both ways and how you will communicate with them while you are away.
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