7 myths about living and working abroad
There are many misconceptions about working abroad. Often, if we talk to friends or acquaintances who have been contractors in the past, they only mention the good (or bad) things about their experience. Or, on the other hand, we sometimes only hear what we want to hear and think only about travel and paychecks. Consider some of the following myths and their explanations:
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1. International living is exciting and exotic: It can be, but it can also be boring, especially if you're working in a conflict zone. After eating a few local dishes and attending a few cultural events, the novelty of a new culture can wear off. Many expatriates complain about the lack of recreation, movies, television, radio, and, especially, long-time friends and family. Part of being prepared for overseas work is being creative with your leisure time and learning to appreciate the subtleties of your host country’s culture, not just its overt cultural manifestations of song, dance, and food.
2. I need international work experience to find an overseas job: Not necessarily, but it certainly helps. With or without experience, however, what you need is experience in the jobs you are qualifying for. Luck is, of course, a factor. Persistence is vital!
3. Living and working abroad is dangerous and involves substantial health risks: While it’s true that terrorism and anti-American or anti-Western sentiments have increased in some parts of the world, actual occurrences of violence against foreigners remain localized and relatively uncommon. Learning to take precautions while traveling and refusing to be socially paralyzed by the threat of theft or accident is often required for successful adaptation in developing countries. As for illness, using common sense hygiene overcomes most health risks.
4. The work I find frustrating at home will be more interesting abroad: Whatever the view from the office window, work is work. The frustrations of an international working environment are usually even greater than those you find at home. Some contractors work up to 84 hours per week.
5. All I need to do is to show employers that I am willing to sacrifice myself to help the poor of the world: Sorry, international work is no longer a place for do-gooders, as it may have been in the 1960s. If you want to contribute to improving the world, develop a skill and build your experience.
6. I need connections to break into the international job market: Not necessarily. What you need is to network and have a solid job search plan. Then, you must stick to it tenaciously and simply.
7. It is easier to find an overseas job when you are already overseas: No, don't think just because you are already deployed, it will be easier to get to your next contract. Most contracts only last 1 - 2 years, and there is always someone waiting to fill your job. Stay up to date on what's going on in the contracting industry and keep yourself ahead of the game.