Expat

Pros and Cons of a Career Abroad Moving abroad and working there has a huge impact not only on your private life, but also on your professional career. Making a living in a foreign country can be the start of your international career and a corresponding social network, but it can also have some downsides. There are pros and cons to keep in mind when deciding to live and work abroad. Your author has worked intermittently in various countries as a foreign expat engineer. Houston Texas America is very hot, there is no winter, whereas spring and autumn are short, life is easy, life is cheap compared to earnings. People easily take you into their social environment, everyone is a stranger anyway. At the construction site of Kazakhstan Tengiz oilfield, everyone has come from a corner of the world, the English spoken can be from any accent. It is necessary not to joke, to speak plain logic clearly and simply. Health issues can be a problem, you will have serious treatment problems when your dental filling falls, your glasses break, and you catch a cold. If you are staying in any city in England other than London, you will have serious English accent difficulties. The English bathroom, the possibility of heating in the winter, the meal arrangement, the meal time, the kitchen are very different from the average standard you are used to. They brew the best tea, add milk to spoil it. Left-hand traffic is difficult on its own, it takes time to get used to it. It is not easy for newcomers to understand the accent spoken in TV comedy show programs. British society takes a cynical attitude that excludes those who do not belong to it. Russian people are optimistic, benevolent, friendly, but it is difficult for us to adapt to the celebrations of their high alcohol vodka in their social environment. The fact that the outside environment is very cold is a separate disadvantage, it takes effort to work with a Russian worker on a scheduled, careful and regular basis. The German environment is culturally rich, fluent German is not learned later, it is always clear that you are a foreigner. Communicating with them in English in a language other than German gives you equality. They work programmatically, properly, punctually, they have a different sense of humor, they do not joke, they do not understand your jokes. It is very difficult to work with Arabs, however you get good money, but you give more of yourself than your health. The fact that the outside environment is very hot and dry, the social life is limited, their attitudes towards women and drinking restrictions can give you trouble if you do not have the same views. Let's list the pros and cons of working abroad. You Experience Your Global Marketplace Abroad! With e-commerce and international trade playing such a big role in today's business world, moving to another country can help you consolidate the country's potentials and see the global market from another perspective. If you decide to move here, you will definitely become an "expert" in your own business in the country you are going to, which will help you get noticed at work. You'll also significantly expand your professional network and make sure you can get in touch with someone who will know the answer, even if you don't. Your Career Advancement can be interrupted. “Out of sight, out of mind” might be a phrase that sounds all too familiar to expats. Even if you stay with the same company, not being visible at the head office physically every day or working in a different time zone can mean that good impressions are lost and you are no longer in the first place for promotion. In a foreign country, a lack of local experience or limited language skills may mean that you need to take a smaller position professionally, which may feel like you've stepped back. Cross-Cultural Communication improves in a foreign land. Having to navigate the business world in a different language or even as part of a different culture will make you a better communicator. Rather than quickly typing an email or responding in a meeting, working abroad enhances this brain-to-mouth filter by making you more aware that an email or speech can be interpreted in different ways. You will eventually have great communication skills wherever you work. Foreign Language Office Policies are difficult. Getting along with colleagues is important for a productive work environment. However, cultural nuances at work and ways of communicating can differ significantly between countries; In some countries, such as Germany and Sweden, Finland, direct communication is valued, while in others, such as China, the concept of "image" protection is placed at the center of business transactions. Navigating these cultural differences – potentially in another language – can make a day at the office quite stressful. You can Diversify, and Increase Your Good Income. At a time when it is difficult to predict what will happen next politically, earning income in a different currency can be a good way to spread the risk and secure your financial future. For example, the value of the Pound and the US Dollar has changed considerably over the past years compared to the value of the Euro. If you are particularly interested in the economy in your country, moving can also be a way to unlock better job opportunities and salaries in a more stable economic environment. Living Abroad Has Hidden Costs , From buying your plane ticket to moving your belongings to your new home, everyone knows that moving itself is expensive. But the costs don't end when you get there. Whether it's solving foreign tax systems (or paying for assistance) or contributing to different models of medical care and social security, moving abroad is an important and ongoing investment. Even if you're moving to a place with lower living costs, budget for the unexpected. You will Experience Different Ways of Doing Business. Studying a particular professional discipline and then working in that field in another country means you have a fairly fixed set of assumptions and expectations. Seeing how a different country approaches your industry and your business in general can be a great way to open your mind to new ways of doing business. You will take this learning with you wherever you go. Even if you're determined to stay forever, employers tend to assume that strangers won't stay too long but temporary, often by giving you a limited-term contract. While this attitude provides some flexibility, it can make your stay abroad feel quite temporary, and a particularly short contract can compromise your time abroad by causing you to worry about finding a job. If you are obsessed with traveling, there is nothing better than working abroad. Not only do you experience the country on a much deeper level, you get paid well for it! Rather than going short for two weeks, you actually get to know a country's personality and culture first-hand, face- to - face, one-on-one; It can also be a good opportunity to explore neighboring countries. If you're learning details of a foreign language, familiarizing yourself with different accents can also be a great way to quickly improve your skills. You Love your country but hate your job? Think you earn too little money? If the job you are working for is not for you, working abroad may mean that your visa is linked with your job, unlike your hometown where you can shop: resigning may mean going home. Even if you are not restricted by visa, your lack of language skills or local experience may also mean that your escape options are limited. Everyone should have experience working abroad. It is necessary to have this foreign experience when you are young, to learn foreign languages ​​better, to have experience of communicating with foreigners. You are advised to keep this period within a reasonable time. When you get old, you need to live in a country that is suitable for health and social insurance, and be close to your helpful friends. It is always good to be close with your spouse, children and grandchildren. It's hard to be old and alone in a foreign country. Datca, 4- July 2023