10: Does getting a job abroad help with career progression?

One worry I had when I was considering moving abroad was whether getting a job abroad would help or hurt my career. 

In this podcast episode, we’ll talk about the 2 ways getting a job abroad might potentially hurt your career and the 6 ways it can really help your career. 

2 ways getting a job abroad may hurt your career:

1. If you intend to move back home, you might miss out on growing your network in your home country during that time abroad (I actually think you can still build a relevant network even living abroad – which I’ll explain in a bit)
2. If you take a job that has nothing to do with your career (If you were working as a buyer in the fashion industry and then move to Paris to become a nanny (or Au Pair they call it in Europe) then that’s not going to progress your fashion career but if your career is not your top priority then by all means, being an Au Pair is great and I’ve had lots of friends who have done that and absolutely loved it. This is just an example.

6 ways getting a job abroad may help your career

1. Having a job abroad makes you stand out from the crowd and looks good on paper (AKA your resume)
   • Diversified experience leads to more leadership opportunities and you can gain more diversified experiences through global experience.
     • Global experience is valuable in gaining leadership opportunities. More businesses serve more global markets so there is higher value to global experience.
   • I do think having global experience will always make you stand out as a candidate from the competition, but the value employers put on that global experience really depends on the industry you work in.
   • Having international work experience on your resume will never go out of style, especially as the world is becoming more global and businesses are becoming more global.
   • Global experiences shows potential employers adaptability, motivation and determination – three skills that employers and recruiters really value. These skills also put you at an advantage over other candidates who have never worked abroad. 
2. More than showing adaptability, motivation and determination on paper (aka on your resume) you also ACTUALLY gain these skills which makes you… well, more adaptable to changes that arise in and out of the workplace, motivated to push through difficult work circumstances as they arise, determined to succeed in what you do, professional maturity and autonomy, independent to problem solve on your own. All of which can help you be better at your job and in gaining promotions in your field.
3. Careers aren’t always linear. Working abroad could open your eyes to new career opportunities and transitions that might fit you better.
4. Learn a new language that you can leverage for jobs that require knowledge of that language.
5. Expand your international professional network. You know when I said earlier that missing out on time to gain connections in your home country may be a down side of having a job abroad? Well, I also believe that because businesses are becoming more and more global these global connections can still be beneficial to you whether you move back to your home country or not. If businesses become more global these global connections might not be too bad to have in the future.
6. Skills, trump international experience. Every time….. Yeah, if you were working as an accountant managing a team and then move to Italy to scoop ice cream cones (uh, gelato) then duh this isn’t going to progress your career. But if you are getting a similar type of job in Italy as an accountant then you get to gain international experience while you gain new accountancy skills at the same time. Sounds like a win win to me! 

Seems moving abroad isn’t so bad for your career after all! 😉

If you are considering moving abroad, you should download my FREE guide, ‘5 Exact Steps to Move Abroad‘. This guide will act as a great