If you can relocate with your job, or wish to join the workforce as quickly as possible in your host country, make sure you also set aside time to properly ‘arrive’ and adjust to your new surroundings.
New work trends
As a result of the pandemic, digital or hybrid roles are now commonplace all over the world. For many companies, international borders are of no consequence, which means more and more expat partners can move abroad ‘with’ their job. “It’s very understandable that someone would see this as a positive,” says coach Nicole Goedecke. “They will continue to earn a steady income. On a professional level, there is no disruption. But you also need to adapt to a new culture and that requires you to interact with others. That’s not possible if you’re at home on your laptop.”
Out and about
“When you enter a new culture, you need to find ways to meet people, for example by joining clubs or networking. You might also need to learn the language. To achieve both of these goals, you will always need time – and energy,” adds Nicole. “If you are working remotely, possibly following office hours in another time zone, there is a risk that your cultural integration will be delayed and you will feel isolated.”
A patient approach
For anyone who wants to prioritise joining the workforce after arriving in your new host country, Nicole would also offer a word of caution for similar reasons: “If you are mostly focused on applying for jobs and spending hours on LinkedIn that means adapting to a new culture is a secondary concern. It’s not easy for some personalities, who are work-driven and/or feel like they need to be earning an income, to slow down and take a patient approach. But you need to give yourself a chance to ‘arrive’ in a new country. Finding a job doesn’t mean you have adapted or integrated.”
Seeing new opportunities
Whether you plan to take your job with you, or wish to join the workforce in a hurry, you might also miss out on exploring new opportunities, according to Nicole. “Many expats discover that what they did before is not the best choice anymore. It sounds obvious but everything changes in a new country. You’re being presented with an opportunity to take a new path and reinvent yourself. But you need to give yourself the time and space to properly explore your options.”
This article was originally published for the thousands of expat partners that Global Connection supports around the globe. It is reproduced here in its original form.
