Living Abroad? Learn How to Build Resilience and Achieve Career Success

If you're a diaspora professional living abroad, you've probably faced your fair share of career challenges. From cultural differences to systemic biases, the barriers are real. However, one thing that can help you thrive in the face of these obstacles is resilience. In this post, we'll discuss resilience-building strategies to help you break through career barriers and find success.

Resilience is the ability to adapt well to adversity, setbacks, and challenging situations. For diaspora professionals, building resilience is essential to overcoming the unique obstacles that come with living and working abroad. The good news is that resilience is not something you're simply born with—it can be cultivated, practiced, and strengthened over time.

Living abroad can be a transformative experience, but it often comes with unexpected challenges. As a diaspora professional, you might face language barriers, cultural adjustments, and biases that affect your career progression [1]. Resilience helps you navigate these challenges positively, allowing you to adapt, grow, and ultimately achieve your career goals.

What to Focus On To Build Resilience?

1. Reframe setbacks as opportunities for growth

Setbacks are a natural part of any career, but for diaspora professionals, these setbacks can feel amplified. The key to resilience is learning to reframe these challenges as opportunities for growth. Each difficulty faced while living abroad can help you develop new skills, become more adaptable, and better equipped to succeed in a new environment.

2. Build a support network

Community plays a critical role in resilience. Surround yourself with mentors, colleagues, and other professionals who understand your journey. Being part of a supportive community can make all the difference when navigating career challenges. Look for diaspora networks or local professional groups that can provide encouragement and guidance.[2, 3]

3. Focus on personal well-being

Taking care of yourself is key to building resilience. Living abroad can sometimes be isolating [4], so it's important to focus on personal wellbeing—both mental and physical. Practice mindfulness, exercise regularly, and make time for activities that bring you joy. A strong foundation of personal well-being makes it easier to bounce back from challenges.

4. Develop problem-solving skills

Resilience involves being proactive and finding solutions when faced with challenges. Building strong problem-solving skills can help you face career barriers head-on. Whether it means finding creative solutions to workplace challenges or seeking additional training to close skill gaps, being proactive helps you stay resilient in the face of obstacles. Don’t get stuck, if you can’t do everything yourself, hire a coach or mentor to guide you though moments in which you can’t see the solution.?

5. Celebrate small wins

Success doesn't always come in giant leaps—sometimes it's about the small wins along the way. Recognize and celebrate your achievements, no matter how minor they may seem. Celebrating small victories helps you maintain a positive outlook and reinforces your progress, contributing to long-term resilience.

Resilience is the key to breaking through career barriers as a diaspora professional living abroad. By reframing setbacks, building a support network, focusing on your wellbeing, developing problem-solving skills, and celebrating your wins, you can navigate the challenges of living abroad and find success in your career.?

For more on resilience and thriving in your career, explore Represented Insights for a deeper dive into research-informed strategies. Be sure to tune in to the Building Connection podcast, where we share real stories of professionals overcoming barriers and building successful careers abroad.?

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References?

[1] Kuki MB, Kirk S, Ridgway M. Social capital, language and host country nationals (HCNs) as global talent. Journal of Organizational Effectiveness: People and Performance. 2021 Oct 26;8(4):370-86.

[2] Ganassin S, Young TJ. From surviving to thriving:‘Success stories’ of highly skilled refugees in the UK. Language and Intercultural Communication. 2020 Mar 3;20(2):125-40.

[3]Guo Y, Rammal HG, Pereira V. Am I ‘In or Out’? A social identity approach to studying expatriates’ social networks and adjustment in a host country context. Journal of Business Research. 2021 Nov 1;136:558-66.

[4] Lee J, Hong J, Zhou Y, Robles G. The relationships between loneliness, social support, and resilience among Latinx immigrants in the United States. Clinical Social Work Journal. 2020 Mar;48(1):99-109.