Expat assignments are great opportunities to pick up new skills, travel the world, and learn invaluable lessons. InterNations member Gabrielle Byko put together some tips for newly-arrived expats to start their life abroad on the right foot.
Choosing to accept a job offer abroad is the first big decision in starting an expat career. The transition process following that choice however requires different considerations from a standard job relocation. Moving to a new country will have an expat encounter new norms of cultural conduct, business ethics, as well as other possible unexpected hurdles which can be emotionally straining.
Although relocating to a new country provides a new set of challenges, they are certainly not impossible to overcome. For the past five years I have been an expat myself, as well as encountered countless others who have been in the same position. From what I have observed here are some helpful strategies to help guarantee a successful start and transition into life as an expat.
Choosing to accept a job offer abroad is the first big decision in starting an expat career. The transition process following that choice however requires different considerations from a standard job relocation. Moving to a new country will have an expat encounter new norms of cultural conduct, business ethics, as well as other possible unexpected hurdles which can be emotionally straining.
Although relocating to a new country provides a new set of challenges, they are certainly not impossible to overcome. For the past five years I have been an expat myself, as well as encountered countless others who have been in the same position. From what I have observed here are some helpful strategies to help guarantee a successful start and transition into life as an expat.
Learn the Local Language
Whether or not you need to be able to speak the language of your new country, learning the local lingo is an invaluable skill which allows an expat to gain back some independence, and helps to form stronger connections with the locals.
Expats sometimes feel frustrated in the beginning of their assignment because they need more help than they are used to with setting up their new home base. This reliance is usually because of language limitations. By being able to speak the local language you will be able to sort out more of his or her daily business and only need to depend on the locals for more complicated matters. This gain of independence can truly help in one feeling confident and correct with their decision to move abroad.
Being able to speak the local language also allows for forming stronger connections with the locals. It is very easy to assume that “well, everyone speaks English!” Although many people do speak fluent English, it does not necessarily mean that it is everyone’s preferred language. Coworkers and other people encountered may want to engage more with someone when he or she can also speak their native language.
Though learning a new language requires an investment in time, as well as discipline, knowing some of the local phrases and being able to hold basic conversations will help with connecting with the natives on a more personal basis, show respect for their culture, and make the expat feel more like a part of the community.
Be Open and Adaptable
Being placed in a new country is certainly a guarantee to be confronted with new ways of thinking and doing things, which may even result in a bit of culture shock. Although it is easy for the expat to start off with the assumption that they already know how to do their job, it is important to let go of this rigid mindset. Be open and adaptable to the way how things are done and approached in your new country.
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