Finding a position in a different country can bring
personal and professional benefits, but navigating the potential
pitfalls requires forward planning.
A stint overseas on your CV is likely to impress employers,
says Dave Pye, CEO of Highams Recruitment, because you will have
"
gained a different outlook on how projects can be delivered,
and wider experience of how people work and engage, making you more
rounded".
For John Johnson, his job in Canada as a business analyst was "a
sideways move career-wise it was all about the lifestyle". Johnson
works in the Calgary office of ThoughtWorks, a company with an
exchange programme that regularly sends staff overseas.
Johnson says, "I am just an hour and a half from the Rocky
Mountains, so I can go hiking and skiing on a regular basis. I had
lived in Canada as a child, so when I joined the company and found
out the company had an office in Calgary, I applied for the
exchange programme."
For Arjun Jamnadass, a business analyst at Shell, the move
overseas was the next step on the career ladder after joining the
company in the UK as part of its graduate intake.
Jamnadass divides his time between London and the Netherlands.
"I applied to Shell in part because of the opportunity to travel
and work abroad, but I took this role because it offered the chance
to act as an interface between the business and technology.
Relocation was really a bonus," he says.
Main drawback
The main drawback of moving overseas is the potential disruption
to your family life and social circle. Johnson, for instance,
delayed applying for the exchange programme until after the death
of his remaining parent, when he no longer had commitments in the
UK that he was unwilling to leave behind.
The experience has helped him decide whether to move overseas
permanently. Although he has loved his time in Canada, he wants to
return to the UK, where his remaining family is, in the longer
term.
Jamnadass says that initially he felt a little detached from
family and friends in the UK. "The world felt bigger," he says.
"But now it feels smaller again. The internet makes it easier to
keep in touch, and I have encouraged my family to use webcams. The
benefits come from having a support network in both countries, and
from learning how to deal with multiple cultures in a professional
environment."
Of course, a disrupted personal life is something many IT staff
are used to as a consequence of working on projects at client
sites. With the advent of the Eurostar and low-cost airlines, it is
often no more difficult to commute weekly between the UK and
European cities than it is to do so between UK locations.
Opportunities abroad typically mirror those available in the UK
- including the tendency for multinationals to offshore pure
development roles.
However, there is particular demand for SAP, Java, Oracle and
networking skills. Kevin Thorn, founding director of E-Resourcing,
which recruits for positions across Europe, says, "Europe wants the
business skills UK people can bring - analysis, communication,
presentation and stakeholder management - because of their exposure
to a wider environment."
First interviews for overseas roles are typically conducted over
the telephone. The recruiter will then usually bear the costs of
travelling to a follow-up interview in the country where you will
be working. If you are invited for a face-to-face interview, the
odds are high that you will be offered a position.
Although rates tend to be slightly lower in many other countries
compared with the UK, this is typically offset by a lower cost of
living, particularly accommodation costs.
Practical issues
Where you need to pay attention, Pye says, is ensuring you have
sufficient health insurance and your tax affairs sorted out so you
do not end up being taxed twice. There are other practical issues,
such as work visas, the need to carry ID, and local customs such as
tipping.
Many companies and agencies that recruit internationally have an
immigration team dedicated to helping staff with the practicalities
of making the transition.
Thorn suggests you should also consider how you will engage with
the community. "Do you have a passion that will help you integrate?
Will you be able to join local clubs? It is almost always a better
experience if you do try to integrate rather than just being an
English ex-pat.
"And it is not for everyone. People can get homesick, and you
need to be generally comfortable meeting and working with new
people."
Tips for successful overseas working
● Make sure you - and your partner if relocating with you -
comply with local laws concerning the length of time non-nationals
can stay and who can work there. Start by consulting the website of
the country's embassy in the UK.
● Use your network: tap into existing contacts in your desired
destination, no matter how slight the acquaintance, and use
internet networking groups and forums to ask about names, companies
and trends.
● Research everything you can about the country, such as hours
and business customs, before approaching companies to avoid
thinking stereotypically or coming across as not being serious
enough.
● Even if English is the company's working language, you will
almost certainly need some of the local language for general
conversation - and perhaps also some of the relevant technical
language.
● Be clear about what you want for your career long term - the
dream of "living in the sun" often turns sour when boredom or
frustration sets in as the result of a poor job match.