Thinking of moving abroad for work? Good idea. Launching a career overseas could not only improve your quality of life, it’ll make you a company’s most valuable player – thanks to the life-affirming qualities it brings. Here’s why candidates with overseas experience are highly prized by employers all over the world.
1. Well-travelled employees offer bags of experience
Research gathered by the finance people at Wizzcash, for their infographic all about launching a career abroad, shows a whopping 80% of employers highly value candidates with international experience. Working in different countries makes you a global, rather than a local, employee – an important attribute in what is a global economy. That experience working in diverse environments makes you a prized asset.
2. Moving around involves creative thinking
Global candidates are often adaptable and adept at creative thinking. This is because working and living abroad requires, to varying degrees, leaving your comfort zone and finding ways to get used to new ways of doing things. Global employees have also experienced different working cultures, so are used to getting to grips with new ways of working – as well as coming up with new ways of working themselves.
3. Bilingual people often make great leaders
If you’re going to work abroad, learning the language of the country you want to move to will help you immensely. Not only will it make your job smoother and everyday life that bit easier, it’ll stand out on your CV and could, one day, propel you to a senior leadership position. The Wizzcash infographic highlights that 31% of executives speak two languages, with bilingualism associated with the top, top performers.
4. Global candidates are self-starters
If you’re able to move abroad on your own, then you’re probably something of a tough cookie. It takes a lot to uproot to a completely new country, leaving behind family, friends and loved ones in the process. Bold moves make for bold employees – ones not afraid to adapt quickly and just do it. You’re one of the ones who doesn’t sit around waiting for something to happen – you take the initiative.
5. People who’ve worked abroad are connected
Naturally, living and working abroad widens your pool of friends and professional acquaintances. Not only does this make you a people person, it makes you a global, connected candidate, with contacts all over the world. That’s great for your friendship base, and great for an employer too – who knows what projects you might be able to start with a company on the other side of the world?
6. Large skill set
Working abroad involves acquiring and learning new skills. That’s mainly because the competition for global jobs is so fierce. Candidates looking to get themselves in these positions often learn new skills to get the edge on the competition. So employees with overseas experience are bound to have a diverse range of skills they can bring to the table.
What attributes do you think working abroad gives employees? Thinking of launching a career abroad? Our three top tips:
1. Visit your chosen country
Why not plan a holiday to the country you’d like to move to? That way you can gain better insight into what it’s really like and decide if it’s really right for you.
2. Learn another language
As mentioned above, learning a second language will help you in many, many ways. It’s no doubt difficult and challenging, but will stand you in good stead and be something you’ll have for life.
3. Transfer internally
Don’t forget – if your employer has offices overseas, you may well be able to secure your move abroad through internal transfer.
About the author: Irma Hunkeler works for BlueGrass.co.uk, a digital marketing agency. Her experience includes working for clients in different industries such as travel, retail, recruitment,technology and charitable institutions. Meeting professionals from different fields allows her to collaborate with industry experts for her writing.
