Three lessons from an Expat

I had a lot of fun talking to James Doran on his The Expat Pod podcast recently. I loved being an expat. My two year working holiday turned into 16 years and I picked up British Citizenship along the way.?

I spent a lot of time reflecting over the past week about expat life, from what it was like preparing to move to London, to my time there and then moving back home. And there were a few similarities that really stood out to me that I thought I'd share.

Do your research

Moving to London

Back in the early-mid 2000’s when I was planning my “big trip” the information available was very different to what it is today. I spent a lot of time reading Lonely Planet guides, attending travel expos and talking to people who’d lived in London before.

Moving back to Australia

In 2021 and 2022 I spent a lot of time researching online, I joined Facebook groups like Aussie Expats Coming Home (such a great, supportive community), I read blog posts about reverse culture shock and I spoke with people I knew that had moved back home from the UK.

Lesson - As with any big change in life, it’s about being as prepared as you can. For me, it was the advice from people I knew and also those in groups/forums that made all the difference. Ask a lot of questions and then do more research if you need to.

Finding a job is harder than expected

Moving to London

Besides having to go to an internet cafe a couple of times a day to apply for roles - no smartphones or LinkedIn back in 2006 - I was surprised by how hard it was to find a job. I thought it would be a relatively quick process but I soon discovered that my generalist marketing experience wasn’t what companies in London wanted - they were very much focused on specialist areas of expertise.?

Moving back to Australia

LinkedIn made the job search a whole lot easier in 2022. However, what I wasn’t prepared for - and was actually pretty shocked by - was that international experience wasn’t valued by many (many) Australian companies. So even though the majority of my roles in the UK were global and included Australia as part of my remit, it didn’t matter.

Lesson - You’ll find great employers, they do exist, it just might take a little time. And again, talking to my network, friends, former colleagues, etc helped tremendously. From introductions to support, encouragement and kind words to keep me motivated.

Keep an open mind

Moving to London

Culture shock is real. It may not happen straight away but it will happen. “You have to give it 6 months to feel settled” That was the advice I was given before I moved to London, and it was true. Moving countries is a big change and you need to keep an open mind. Things aren’t the same as what they are “back home”, even when everything feels very familiar,?you just have to go with the flow.

Moving back to Australia

Reverse culture shock is real. I read that moving home can feel like trying to fit a square peg in a round hole. And it’s true. Things change at home while you are living abroad and most importantly, you return as a different person to the one that left. And it takes time to adjust.

Lesson - Be open to change, be open to new experiences, new people, new ways of doing things. Say yes to invitations from friends, colleagues and acquaintances, you never know what it will lead to. And again, talk to people who are in a similar situation to you, it’s always helpful to talk about the highs and lows of being an expat.

Have fun

Whether it is moving abroad or returning home, remember to have fun. It’s easy to get caught up in day-to-day life, so make sure you build in time to travel, see a band, visit a gallery, wander around a new town, whatever you enjoy doing make sure you take the time to do it. Don’t miss out on new adventures.

I know a lot of you are expats and I'd love to know if this has resonated with you and what you've learnt while living abroad. Feel free to share in the comments.

If you’re an expat, James Doran is always looking for people to share their story. Drop him a message to connect.

And if you are looking for a podcast guest or speaker, I’m always happy to talk about expat life, all things marketing and careers, send me a message or get in touch via debbiegainsford.com

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