Living and Working Abroad, is it really worth it?

One of the main questions I’ve always heard since I left the UK is whether I regret leaving everything and starting a new journey in my career. I certainly do not regret it and I’ll explain why.

A joint study conducted by the Universities of Columbia, Rice and North Carolina, found that “extended periods of time spent in a foreign country can yield numerous benefits that come with a clear sense of self, ranging from greater life satisfaction to decreased stress, improved job performance and enhanced clarity about the types of careers that best match an individual’s strengths and values.”

This is one of several papers and articles written on the subject. So, even in a time of health and financial crises caused by Covid-19 when there are a lots of doubts about the future, the only certainty we have is that this will pass, and life will slowly go back to normal again, albeit with a few changes.

Moving, living, studying, and working abroad will continue to be part of life to many, and a rite of passage for some to prepare themselves for greater possibilities. I include myself in the latter.

Am I cut for it?

But living and working abroad isn’t for everyone. So, the travel magazine Transitions Abroad, can help you find out for yourself in 15 simple questions how you would fare in foreign lands. What it Takes to Live and Work Abroad - A Comprehensive Questionnaire, by Celeste Heiter. Feel free to share your results in the comments below. Also, don’t worry if you haven’t aced it, if you’ve decided that “global citizenship” is for you, use those results as guidance in your preparation.

In my case, I always had the Star Trek bug to “boldly go where no man has gone before”. Of course, many others have been there before me, nonetheless, I went there and got the t-shirt to prove it.

Having completed my graduation and post-grad studies in the UK and made a great start of a career working up from trainee to regional level with one of the largest corporations in the world. One could say I had to stay put. But what if I wanted more as I did?

Great, I am a Global Citizen, so where should I go now?

Even though I was born in Brazil, having lived in the UK from my early adulthood, I wanted that life-altering professional experience for myself. Of course, in my case Brazil was a no brainer, especially because it was one of the most buoyant markets at the time. But I still set myself on a quest of researching, planning, organising, and budgeting to ensure a successful placement in that country.

But even if you don’t have any connections abroad, Expatica, Culture Trip and InterNations are a few of my preferred news, community, and information organisations you could use to help you decide which country fits best your goals and personal preferences.

My Experience

Having greatly excelled in the Retail Industry in the UK, moving abroad allowed me to quickly transition into Business Sales and Account Management in the Corporate Travel Industry in Brazil, where I was able to further showcase my leadership and organizational skills, opening and developing from scratch 5 business units, covering an area almost the size of Western Europe.

Even then, I was already reaping the benefits of my early international experience - foreign languages, resilience, the ability to step back, observe and be creative about different ways of achieving results, motivating my teams to reach as far as they could, respectfully challenging status quo and the old “this is how we do things round here”.

My passion and accomplishments opened the door to yet another great opportunity, as I was headhunted for a position managing global sales and key international accounts in the whole of Latin America, later to be based out of the United States, in Miami.

Obviously, ‘numbers and results’ always got me a sit on the table, but in my personal view, they are only the consequence of all my relationships, built with clients and internal customers, teams and upper management alike. Of course, one does not need to go abroad to learn how to build relationships, but it certainly gives you an edge on doing so. Because, first and foremost, you will learn about yourself.

Verdict

Finally, if you ask me the question on the title, my response will be a resounding YES! And I’d encourage all to do the same.