As the world becomes smaller with faster flights, quicker connection speeds, and WIFI around every corner, our places of work grow less defined. The continual rise of globalization borders are becoming less fixed, and working and studying abroad have become increasingly popular. Though the many benefits of working abroad are clear, there are also a variety of pitfalls to watch out for. So, before you pack your bags, consider these five points to help you get the most out of your time working abroad.
1. Prepare
As with anything in life, making sure you are prepared for what is coming next is vital. A happy-go-lucky attitude to visiting a foreign country, armed with only a phrase book and a vague conception of where you are, is no problem for the kooky backpacker, but will lead to a bumpy start to your stay if you are to be working in the country for an extended period of time.
A lot of companies offer employees moving abroad sessions to coach them on the culture and perhaps some basic language skills. Make the most of this! Though English is a global language, it is still not enough all of the time. In addition, you can learn a great deal about a culture through learning the language. If your company doesn't provide such sessions, or you are not going to be working with the same company when abroad, ensure you prepare yourself somewhere nonetheless.
If you are moving with partner and/or children, don't forget to ensure they are prepared, too!
If the move is not being organized for you, it is vital that you are certain of the working visa process. Sites like this one here, helping workers apply for an American Greencard, can ensure that you navigate your way safely through all legal requirements and don't find yourself caught in deep water.
2. Ensure support is available
When you arrive in a new country, even one you may think is similar to your own, you may still experience culture shock. By preparing yourself you can ensure that you are aware of some of the things to expect, and that you can process the things you don't expect within your knowledge of the country.
Make sure you are aware of the support mechanisms, if any, that are offered by your company. Mentor schemes are common, and a good way to help new expats adjust to the different lifestyle.
3. Immerse yourself
Once you have adjusted... dive right in! Working abroad provides the fantastic opportunity of discovering a new culture and new people to a depth that is impossible on a two week holiday.
Living abroad gives you time to not only tick off all the 'must-sees,' but also to discover the culture existing behind the tour guide. Get to know the locals – what they do, where they go – and avoid getting stuck in the expat bubble where the only thing different to home is the food and climate.
4. Stay in touch
If there is one, it is important not to lose touch with HQ back home. For some expats, this won't be a problem (you may find there is too much contact!), but for others, it can be an issue and lead to a feeling of being neglected and cast adrift.
Keeping in touch with the office back home will ensure that your work is valued, that you remain immersed in the company, and that you are fully aware of the role you are playing abroad.
5. Returning home
It is important to consider before you work abroad how this will effect your career in the long run, whether you will be returning to the same company or not.
Although there are a host of skills that one picks up through the experience of working abroad, there isn't always the opportunity to apply them on return. Ensure that your time abroad is going to be valued and that your progression in your career won't be put on hold when abroad.
Is your job search turning into a grind with no end in sight? It may be time to take a step back and reevaluate your entire approach.
In cold weather climates, the beginning of spring is a time to clean the house and get organized—a practice known as spring cleaning. Through the years, spring cleaning has taken on a larger meaning with people using the time to organize and declutter things in their lives.
For professionals on the job hunt, a little spring cleaning (metaphorically speaking) could be a great way to reinvigorate your job search. Here are a few strategies your job search spring cleaning should include.
Reevaluate Your Job Search Approach
Bigstock
Make a list of the last handful of jobs you applied for and see if you can identify any positive or negative trends. Consider things like:
How did I learn about this job?
How did I apply for the job?
Did I earn an interview?
What was the ultimate result?
A lot can be learned about your job search approach just by answering these questions and identifying patterns. For example:
Negative Trends
You discovered five jobs through job boards, applied to all of them via the job boards, and never heard back from any of them.
The common pattern here is applying through job boards. This isn't to say that job boards don't serve a purpose in the job search process, but they have their limitations, and you can't run your job search entirely off of them. When you apply through a job board, there's a good chance that your materials will never get past the applicant tracking system (ATS) and never be seen by an actual person.
One simple fix is to research who the hiring manager or recruiter is that posted the position and email your materials to them directly.
The more efficient fix would be to take a proactive approach by putting together a bucket list of companies that you want to work for and start making connections on LinkedIn with people who work at those companies. You may already know some people who work there or have connections that can refer you to some individuals.
This is a great way to network your way onto a company's radar.
Positive Trends
You applied to three jobs via referral, were invited to two job interviews, and made it through multiple rounds of interviews for one of the jobs before being passed over for someone with a little more experience.
The pattern here is that getting referred to a job by a professional acquaintance is a great way to land a job interview. This indicates that you're leveraging your network well and you should continue to focus on your networking efforts.
The next step is to review the interview process and determine what went well and what needs to be improved. Sometimes the interviewer will provide feedback, and that feedback can be valuable. However, not everyone is comfortable with giving feedback.
Chances are you probably have a good idea about areas of improvement and the skills you need to gain. Put together a plan for addressing those shortfalls.
The good news in making it deep into any interview process is that it indicates that the company likes you as a potential employee (even if the timing just wasn't right) and the experience could be a roadmap to a job with that company at a later date, or another similar opportunity elsewhere.
Give Your Resume & Cover Letter Some Much-Needed Attention
Bigstock
Are you continuously sending similar resumes and cover letters to each job opening with only minor adjustments? If so, your strategy needs some serious spring cleaning.
The reason why it's so important to tailor your resume is that throughout your career, you acquire numerous skills, but the job you're applying for may only be focusing on 6-8 of those skills. In that case, those skills must rise to the top of the resume with quantifiable examples of how you successfully used those skills at previous jobs.
Remember, recruiters go through hundreds of resumes. They need to be able to tell from a quick glance whether or not you're a potential candidate for the position.
While updating your resume, you could also spruce up your LinkedIn profile by highlighting the skill sets that you want to be noticed for by recruiters.
As for writing a good cover letter, the key to success is writing a disruptive cover letter. When you write a disruptive cover letter, you're basically telling a story. The story should focus on how you connect with the particular company and job position. The story could also focus on your personal journey, and how you got to where you currently are in your career.
If your resumes and cover letters aren't unique, now is the time to clean things up and get on track.
Build Your Personal Brand
Just because you're looking for work doesn't mean that you don't have anything to offer. Use previous career experiences and passions to build your personal brand.
Ask yourself, "How do I want other professionals to view me?"
Pick an area of expertise and start sharing your knowledge and experience with your professional network by pushing out content on your LinkedIn and social media accounts. Good content can include blogs, social media posts, and videos.
By sharing content about your experiences and passions, you slowly build your personal brand, and others will start to notice. The content could lead to good discussions with others in your network. It could also lead to reconnecting with connections that you haven't spoken to in years, or making new connections.
You never know when one of these connections could turn into a job lead or referral. The trick is to get on people's radars. So, when you're cleaning up your job search, be sure to build a plan for personal branding.
Maintain Healthy Habits During Your Job Search
Bigstock
Your job search is important, but it's even more important to know when to pull back and focus on personal health and spending time with family and friends.
There are actually things that you can do for your own enjoyment that could help your job search in the long run, such as:
Grab coffee with a friend - It's good to engage in light conversation with friends during challenging times. And if your job search does come up, remember that most people have been through it themselves and you never know when a friend may provide you with a good idea or lead on a job.
Volunteer - Volunteering is a great way to get involved in the community and help others. In addition, if you develop a little bit of a career gap while looking for a job, you can always talk about how you filled that time volunteering, if you're asked about it during a job interview.
Continue to focus on other passions - Are you a fitness nut? Blogger? Crafter? Continue to do the things that bring you happiness. And if you're in a position to profit from your passion through a freelance job or side hustle, even better!
Spring is the perfect time to clean up and improve your job search so you can land the job you want. If you're struggling to find a job, follow the tips above to reinvigorate your job search—and watch your career blossom!
Need more help with your job search?
Become a member to learn how to land a job and UNLEASH your true potential to get what you want from work!
This article was originally published at an earlier date.
Bigstock
Bigstock
Bigstock
