One of the most prestigious roles an employee can take up is the mantle of international relations manager.
When you’re offered the job of spearheading an expansion initiative in a new country, it’s usually a sign that you are a highly valued and trusted member of your organisation.
It’s a fantastic opportunity to increase your standing within the company, and it’s also a quick way to a new salary and a new life.
However, there are many challenges that come with moving abroad for your job, and some of them might be deal breakers.
As an employee, you have the right to refuse a move abroad or a transfer request, but keep in mind that it may affect your reputation within the company.
To help you make that all-important decision, here are a couple of positive and negative effects of working abroad.
Pro: Add more experience to your resume
The first major advantage of working abroad for a while is the increase in your working experience, as being able to tell other employers that you’ve worked abroad for your company is a huge bonus.
Plus it greatly increases your chance of landing a job in the future because it tells your new potential employer that you’re willing to adapt and work hard for the company’s growth.
Con: Expensive living and complications
Unfortunately, it’s not a cheap role. Although your company should pay for most of your expenses such as accommodation and food, there are some things that will come out of your own pocket that.
There are also necessary steps, such as contacting immigration lawyers, that need to be taken into consideration before you ultimately decide to move. For some people, it’s a lot of extra stress and work that they don’t want to get involved with.
Pro: Starting a new life
One of the biggest advantages of moving abroad to work is the ability to start a new life. New career choices, new faces and a new country would be enough to convince anyone to work in another country.
Con: Saying goodbye to your old one
But that’s only if you’re willing to say goodbye to your old life. Many overseas workers find it difficult to cope with the feeling of homesickness and quickly request to be transferred back.
The feeling of autonomy and independence is also a large reason why they can’t cope—they’re simply not used to making decisions on their own.
Pro: Culturally enrich yourself
Being able to open your mind to different cultures is a fantastic advantage in business. It helps you make smart decisions and give positive feedback to your employer, but it also gives you experience with making your own business in the future.
Con: Language and culture barriers
Sadly, unless you learn new skills such as a new language and the cultural differences, you might be turned off by the different cultures.
The further away from your country you move, the bigger the differences and the harder it is to cope with drastic changes in your lifestyle.
