Work abroad: 5 reasons to make it happen

Working abroad can be a daunting prospect. You’ll be away from your friends and family, and in an unfamiliar setting. However, it can be really worth it if you can make it happen. Find out why working abroad can be a great opportunity for your CV, your personal development, and your wallet!

Reason 1: Gain great life experience

Working abroad can be a great opportunity to have a transformative life experience. Chances are you’ll be far away from home, immersed in a new culture, and meeting people from a different part of the world. This expands your horizons, and gives you first-hand experience of a different way of living. You may change your opinion on a country or general social issues. You might learn more about particular subcultures and social groups. It’s also a great opportunity to learn more about yourself, and how you respond to new situations. It can be a real time of growth and personal development. 

Reason 2: Expand your network

While you work abroad, you’ll be collaborating with locals and expats from other countries, and probably getting out and about as much as possible. This can expose you to new job opportunities, as well as new contacts to draw on in future. If you have plans to work long-term in a different country, or to return at a later stage, having connections with people already there can make this a lot smoother. A recommendation from a professional contact you met abroad will pack just as much punch with future employers as one from a local employer.

Reason 3. Impress future employers

Evidence of working abroad will make your future job applications stand out, and for all the right reasons. If you have successfully managed to work abroad, it is likely that you have shown independence, the ability to adapt, and some killer organisation skills. Having to learn a new set of business customs and acceptable forms of communication gives you a new perspective on how other people in the world live, and how you view your own country. Because of this, you may more readily conjure up fresh, innovative ideas. Savvy employers are well in the know about this, so it could open some excellent doors for you in the future.

Reason 3: Return home bilingual

Hitting the books, watching YouTube tutorials, and religiously working through Duolingo are all excellent ways to learn a new language, but nothing quite does it like throwing yourself in the deep end. Even if the company you work for uses English, you’ll need to develop your language skills if you’re to immerse yourself in the culture fully and make new friends. This might seem pretty scary, but you’d be surprised at how quickly people can quickly become semi-fluent in a language when they encounter it every day. So if you’ve always wanted to become bilingual, you know what to do!

Reason 5: Reflect on life

If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the fact that you’re expected to know exactly what to do with your life by the age of 17, you’re not alone. So if that sounds like you, don’t let yourself be rushed – taking a few months or even years out to work abroad can help you to take a step back and figure things out. You can do this by going on a gap year, or travelling during the summer holidays. 

What’s more is it’s a great way to try out different jobs and new roles so that, when you do commit yourself to a degree, course, or career (and the potential expense that comes with it), you’ll be confident that it’s the right direction for you.