Posts Tagged ‘Living Abroad’

Making It Real

Right out of school, I worked in Africa for almost five years, gaining a lot of experience and building up my selfconfidence. When I returned to the United States and began my job hunt, I found that people did not know how to react to a confident twenty-seven-year-old with extensive international work experience. Some assumed I had exaggerated my role. (more…)

The other way to pursue an international career is to move yourself. Many “global souls” we know finished school, worked a little, and then took off to see the world with the intention of getting the “travel bug” out of their system before returning to a corporate career. Some did just that, but others settled in one place, established themselves, and were taken in by multinationals as local hires. Most of the time, companies will help you get the necessary paperwork to work for them, especially since you will be a less expensive “local hire.” This can be a great way to complement your academic work with real on-the-ground experience in a foreign country. (more…)

While you’re still in college, study abroad for at least one semester. Although studying outside your home country is different from working, it will help you find out if you actually like living abroad. You will learn how to buy food, use public transportation, set up personal systems such as phone and computer connections, and deal with local bureaucracies. Many people get hooked on working internationally after studying abroad. (more…)

For many professionals, having an international career while working at home base is the optimal choice. For some, their careers simply took off this way, and although they may have been afforded the opportunity to move overseas, they declined for personal reasons. Some did not want to give up a seat so close to decision-making power, viewing their proximity as a better position for their advancement. (more…)

To live the life of an expatriate or that of the road warrior—that is the question. Naturally, there are pros and cons to both. Traveling a great deal takes its toll on your body and your family (if applicable) but doesn’t involve the upheaval of a physical move. You won’t have to worry about selling, buying, or renting a house or apartment. (more…)