Have you got what it takes to be an expat?

I grew up in an expat family.

As a child I lived in Bahrain, Lagos, Paris and Singapore. My father was born in Glasgow at the end of the great depression and as a young man answered a job advert for a role in Africa. This was the start of 40 years of expat life. He met my mum in Africa. They had the best years of their lives abroad.

My mum lived in East Africa initially, my grandfather was a tea taster for Unilever (PG tips now!) who left post war Britain to escape rationing and seek a better life. This was the boat that my mother travelled on from Southampton dock to Nairobi in 1948.

Having spent the last 5 years helping recruiters find their dream jobs abroad, I have started to ask the question - what does it actually take to be an expat? Who are these trailblazers? What should one expect from being completely immersed in a new environment?

I’ve pulled together a few thoughts from people who have been there and done it:

Benefits:

• The experience – Nothing can prepare you for moving overseas and it’s an experience that you won’t forget.
• Marketability - You become more marketable on your return – if successful your personal brand will so much stronger as a result
• Career progression like no other - There is possibility of rising through the ranks quicker, as emerging markets tend to be less hierarchical and old-school
• Broadening your horizons – You become culturally aware and more educated on other nationalities, cultures and beliefs
• Travel – The highlight of being somewhere new! There is literally a gateway to a million adventures on your doorstep

And my favourite…

• Every. Day. Is. Different. 

Challenges: 

• Being away from family and friends and trying to maintain those relationships - parents are getting older, nieces and nephews being born, family occasions – missing those precious years can be tough
• Personal brand – No one knows you, therefore you are starting from scratch with your own personal brand and you are away from the comforts of understanding the business environment / culture of the market
• Not turning into an expat brat – There is a danger you become spoilt and entitled and you are away from the people that would normally call you on it
• Business development – If you have never had to work hard to build a client portfolio you will likely struggle to find your feet
• Culture – Understanding the nuances of the country itself and the people that work within it
• Transient culture – Friends come and go
• Packing up to go home again! 

Personally, I regret not following my heritage and taking the plunge to live abroad. For me it came down to timing – the stars just never aligned. If I had the chance again, would I take it? 100% yes! 

I have been lucky enough to travel with my work and spend time with colleagues, clients and candidates in many different countries. I have experienced something incredible in the social aspect of being an expat - the community you develop is unique. You meet and work with amazing people while having a wonderful time doing it.

For some, the thought of being an alien in a new country is enough to deter but for others its the gateway to a true adventure.

What links the people we work with? Its the right time and the right place. They have nothing to lose. They believe that self-development in all its guises in a new environment will always trump the fear of the unknown.

For those of you who have called a new country home, I would love to know your thoughts on just what it takes....