Global Mobility: Will My Partner Be Able to Work?

This must be one of the more challenging questions any global mobility practitioner must face in relation to the “expat partner”.

The answer “how long is a piece of string?” springs to mind here.

Certainly long enough in most cases to mean that a simple answer is not on the cards. Tempting though it may be to make promises in order to “seal the assignment”.

The truth is that promises can’t be made because of course the reality will depend on a variety of situational and individual factors such as the:

• location
• partner career direction, profession and qualifications
• duration of the assignment
• flexibility
• language skills,
• resilience and determination when it comes to job search.
• partner propensity or openness to reinvention and career development rather than replication of their job “back home”.

Because, let’s be honest, for most expat partners the chance of finding the same job abroad, with the same pay and responsibilities will be slim, VERY slim!

So what to do?

Honesty right from the start followed by support to find a role that fits with skills, experience and circumstance.

Partners are going to need to think again about career. Of course a good connection with a few recruitment consultants will probably secure some kind of job – but is that likely to result in real career satisfaction? We’ve all seen the top class engineer turned embassy administrator, lawyer turned parent teacher association director. Fine if this is really what the partner wants BUT for the majority it means simply biding time, minimal career satisfaction and declining professional confidence whilst hoping that the next relocation will bring a more appropriate and all together better career option for them.

This is not the best way to be building sustainable international global talent. Where the job goes the partner goes and without career support each successive relocation is likely to be more and more difficult.

Setting realistic career expectations at the start is where it all begins. The truth is career may be tough, it will likely require innovation, imagination, experimentation and perhaps even career reinvention.

We believe that part of the opportunity for expat partners when relocating abroad lies in the time and space that the relocation gives them to “rethink and reinvent” their careers. We love this quote from our survey Career Choice and the Accompanying Partner (2012) when asked what was fulfilling about the relocation experience this respondent said:

“The chance for complete reinvention of yourself and your life. It forces you to develop skills that you didn't know you had, helps you grow in creativity and resilience, allows you to identify what you really want in life, and opens up a whole new world of opportunities. it also kicks the s**t out of you repeatedly, but boy, do you get stronger.”

And for some, career is not the focus, the chance to do other things is the gain:

“Being involved with volunteer activities at my children’s school, helping me make friends. Making a difference in the local community through volunteer opportunities in 3rd world environments.”

This is why when we start working with expat partners we take it right back to fundamentals. We ask them to reflect deeply on what makes for a fulfilling life, for them. This varies widely from person to person. This explains why a few short consultations with a recruitment consultant to put together a quick CV just won’t pay dividends for most partners.

We encourage partners to think about who they are and most importantly who they want to be given their new international lifestyle. Time to reflect on strengths, skills and achievements (you can gain a sense of this from our current blog on the expat partner side of our website HERE). Then an open minded analysis of where what they love to do and are good at intersects with the opportunities available. Of course the details, exercises, opportunity for reflection, group and individual coaching adds additional layers of support and opportunity for reflection.

International relocation brings with it new experiences and one of those we strongly believe is the opportunity to expand careers beyond what is, to what could possibly be given a global view. Discovering Global You and Empowering Global You are the two cornerstones of our THRIVE programme.

We will be running a new group programme in September. If you are interested in hearing how we could support your Expat Partner's to achieve their own personal brand of global success then contact us HERE and we will be in touch to arrange a time for us to talk.