Developing your career overseas: Multi-national companies
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This article continues our series on developing your career abroad. Be sure to signup to our Career Thought weekly updates and follow us one Twitter to get the next articles in the series, along with other career advice and insights.
If you’ve got your heart set on seeing the world and securing an overseas placement, doing so as part of a multi-national gives you a lot of advantages. Most importantly, this route limits the risks when going overseas as it provides a return route to the UK if you decide you’re not enjoying the placement, feel lonely or isolated, or if things don’t work out with your employer. It’s much better than having to find your own way home at your own expense.
Additionally, moving overseas with a company helps you avoid many of the hidden costs associated with moving to a foreign country. You’ll usually find they’ll help you with your visa applications and costs, and often they’re happy to pay you tax equalisations or match your cost of living (something which is especially important if you’re planning on moving somewhere expensive like Tokyo).
Beyond the monetary advantages, there are a number of other reasons you should consider going overseas with a multi-national company –
The safest way to progress your career overseas is to do so through a business which has an international office to which you can be ex-patriated.
If you’ve got your heart set on seeing the world and securing an overseas placement, doing so as part of a multi-national gives you a lot of advantages. Most importantly, this route limits the risks when going overseas as it provides a return route to the UK if you decide you’re not enjoying the placement, feel lonely or isolated, or if things don’t work out with your employer. It’s much better than having to find your own way home at your own expense.
Additionally, moving overseas with a company helps you avoid many of the hidden costs associated with moving to a foreign country. You’ll usually find they’ll help you with your visa applications and costs, and often they’re happy to pay you tax equalisations or match your cost of living (something which is especially important if you’re planning on moving somewhere expensive like Tokyo).
Beyond the monetary advantages, there are a number of other reasons you should consider going overseas with a multi-national company –
- Fast-tracked route for high fliers. Most blue chips will demand that you’ve worked in other markets before progressing you into the upper echelons. If you’ve been highlighted as having potential this is something they’ll help make possible for you.
- Fuel for career leaps. You’ll often find that the scale and scope of the promotion you receive when moving into a role overseas is much bigger than if you remained in the same country. This will allow you to move up the career ladder much more quickly.
- Exposure to senior directors. Senior executives often fly between markets, and when you’re working overseas you’ll often find you meet people quicker than if you were in your day job in the UK.
- Quick and effective networking. Coming from overseas you’ll find you’re introduced to a ready made network of staff, suppliers and partners in your new country. If you’re good at networking you’ll quickly expand your address book.
- Cross-cultural training. Any move to a foreign country is tough, whether it’s to an English speaking western country or a culturally different country where you don’t speak the native language. Many parent companies have the capacity and skill to help you with the transition.
The safest way to progress your career overseas is to do so through a business which has an international office to which you can be ex-patriated.