After giving up their career to facilitate an international move, many members of our community decide against trying to enter the workforce and instead use the time to follow other passions and learn new skills.
Ready for a change
Before she relocated, one member of our community had a high-flying career in her home country’s medical industry. She found the research and development work hugely fulfilling and it was hard to step away. But when she arrived in her host country, as a mother of three, she had other priorities: “Moving to a new country with three kids was challenging,” she told us. “I would say it took me a year to feel like I had settled in. When I finally came up for air, I was able to ask myself: Okay, what can I do now?”
No guarantees
Entering the workforce was a possibility but the expat partner never considered pursuing that goal. Firstly, she wanted to retain some flexibility to take care of her kids. But she also recognised the risk of making a job search her priority: “I would have to use all of my spare time and expend a lot of energy with no guarantee that I would find a role that suited me.”
Passion for pilates
After weighing up her options, she decided to sign up for a pilates instructor training course: “I didn’t choose to do this on a whim. For many years, I’d had a passion for teaching pilates. However, with a hectic career and three kids, I never had the time to train as an instructor in my home country. It was only when I spoke to my Global Connection consultant that I realised: Oh, now is my chance!”
Repatriation plan
“In future, when I return to my home country, I would like to set up a small business to teach pilates in the evenings and on weekends. I might also return to the medical industry when I repatriate, so I have also identified some studies that would be complementary to my career,” she told us. “I’m very grateful for the support I received as an expat partner which encouraged me to pursue my passions and professional interests. As a result I am not so apprehensive about returning home nor am I worried about the gap on my CV. I am excited about going home and exploring new opportunities.”
