Five Things You Will Love & Hate About Working Abroad
Hey there, fellow travelers! Today, we’re talking about working abroad. I’ve lived and worked in several countries and many people want to know how they can get a job overseas. As you know, here at Wolters World, we like to share both the positives and the negatives of travel, whether it’s short-term or long-term. So these are the five things you’ll love, and the five things you’ll hate about working overseas.
Hate #1: Finding an Expat Assignment
I won’t lie; it’s not always easy to find a job overseas. Many overseas positions require an advanced degree. For example, I have a Ph.D. which enables me to find jobs teaching university abroad. This opens up a lot of doors for me, but other industries are not always so open. At lower education levels, it can almost seem impossible to get a job in the EU if you aren’t a resident of the EU.
Love #1: Living Abroad
The entire experience of living abroad is the best part of working abroad. The opportunity to live and work abroad really opens you up to new perspectives, both personally and with regard to your career and your company. Becoming an expat really changes you and it’s a whole different experience from visiting a country for a week or two on vacation. You really learn so much about your new country, as well as yourself.
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Hate #2: Obtaining Permits & Visas to Work Abroad
You can’t just up and move abroad and find a job. Depending on where you are from, and where you are going, you will need work visas and permits. Typically, this means you have a work contract before moving and the company will usually help you with all of the paperwork. It can vary widely by country; England can take as little as two weeks, while Switzerland can take as long as six months to sort out a work permit. Once you get your permit, you’re not done. You will have to renew and/or re-apply for a new permit each year. These things are time-consuming, and can also be expensive.
Love #2: Expat Benefits
When you transfer overseas with a company, there are often expat benefits packages that can be very favorable if you are willing to move. Some companies will pay for your housing, or you make more money to ensure the same quality of life that you have back home. Some companies will pay for your transportation or a driver or pay for you to learn the local language. If you don’t have an expat benefits package, find out what additional resources the company is willing to provide.
Hate #3: Limited Career Advancement
It can be easy to get stuck at certain levels of the corporate ladder when you move overseas. If you are working abroad for a US corporation, you can only go as high as the local office you are working for and you may have to relocate back to corporate again for advancement opportunities. International firms may have a glass ceiling that is difficult for foreigners to advance through. They may assume since you are a foreigner that you are not going to be there long-term and you could be passed over for long-term opportunities or treated as a short-term employee.
Love #3: Career Opportunities
Most of the time, stepping up and accepting an overseas assignment from your company puts you in a really good position for advancement. Whether you stay with the same company or move to a new one, experience working abroad really enhances your resume. You will stand out as someone willing to take on new responsibilities and risks, and someone who now has global skills they can bring to the workplace.
Hate #4: Out of Sight, Out of Mind
Sometimes when you are sent overseas on assignment, it’s easy for the home office to forget about you while you are gone. You may get passed over for opportunities at home, and when you are ready to return, it might be hard to find a position for you as well as to reintegrate back into the old corporate environment. It’s really important to address some of this in your expat contract, to ensure that you will have a position waiting for you when you return. It also helps to make an effort to stay in touch with the home office so they don’t forget about you.
Love #4: Traveling Weekends
The weekend opportunities when you move abroad are outstanding. This is especially true if you move to Europe. You can literally country-hop every weekend using trains or low-cost air carriers. You won’t just experience the new city you are living in, but all of the surrounding cities and countries. Exploring new countries and cities on the weekend is one of my favorite things about working abroad.
Hate #5: Moving Abroad
The process of moving abroad in order to work abroad can be very difficult. It can be very expensive if your company isn’t paying for the move, and you can be subject to a lot of uncertainty, as I was during a financial crisis in Portugal.
Insert link here to Moving Abroad Loves & Hates once posted
Love #5: Meeting Locals
We talk a lot on our blog about meeting locals and getting to know them, but as a tourist, that’s not always easy. Not only are living locally and getting to know the area, but you are also working with locals, which makes it much easier to get to know them and make friends. Just like at home, you develop habits of going to the same restaurants, dry cleaners, and grocery stores and you will inevitably start to build a community of local friends.
I’ve worked in Portugal, Brazil, the US, China and so many more places. It’s such a fun and unique experience, that the “loves” far outweigh the “hates.” If you get the chance to work overseas, I highly recommend you take it. Want more tips on long-term travel? Check out these blog posts:
