Global: Expatriate Living Abroad can be SUCCESSFUL!

Expatriate Living in another country has a lot of challenges and opportunities. It entails many tasks that you have never come across unless you have a prior experience, however essential. If you are a green horn in the expatriate community you are challenged with identifying the right information. Yes the internet is widely open and you can find anything but the main point is... which ones are correct and which ones are not; "most prevalent practice is to bite your teeth and hope for the best!"

Many things are involved when you uproot yourself from your current living location to another part of the world. There are visas to enter and for employment purposes, current home management, transporting personal stuff, deficiency of cultural knowledge, favorite food, new home, temporary living style and convenience, hobbies, pets, driving license, bank account, medical information and sources, personal insurance, dependents comfort-ability, period of adjustments, survival coping skills and many more.

How and what are the best way to implement expatriate plans? Approach an experienced individual with this kind of lifestyle. Or make a search of an experienced Global Human Capital Consultant with successful experiences in global mobility management. Both types of individuals can provide you an experiential learnings about Expatriate Living abroad. Inquire about the challenges, the advantges and disadvantages. Identify to yourself the value of this experience for your personal fulfillment or growth. Set a short term goal and long term goal as both will help you achieve a balance to your lifestyle being an Expat inlcuding your family members (where applicable).

Dependents are crucial pieces of Expatriate Living. One of the most effective tool that make dependents happier is the implementation of a Cross Cultural Training to all parties. This will provide a pre-transitional adjustments and setting up of expectations. It will facilitate a better behavioral approach to adjustments. If the family member is happy - the expat can concentrate on job functions rather than easing up family's discomforts.

There are expats who were assisted with their relocations by third party companies procured by their Human Resources Department. These companies were meant to ease the challenges of every aspect of the international relocation and transitional lifestyle of the Expat. Experiences of an Expat and family members varies based on the level of service procured and provided by his/her employer. At certain aspects there were shortcomings of the service providers that were authorized by their employer. This is because of inexperience about the entire global mobility management. Oftentimes, companies cut corners and employ admin assistant type equivalents of personnel instead of a strategic experienced consultant. They like to present themselves as Specialist in the global mobility management area but the experience of their staff does not reflect that. However, the main frustration of the Expat and HR Manager - they only find out of the inexperience of such entity when the employee is on-board to relocate. The agreement has been signed and money has been disbursed. Cancelling the engagement is too late. When these arise - it creates a multitude of stress among relocating parties involved. Oversight of these issues can be avoided when working with experienced and strategic consultants in Global Mobility Management and in Global Human Capital Management. This type of professional who has executed both functions within the strategic international HR and external international services HR will definitely give you the best guidance and hand-holdings.

Returned Expatriate and their families can add valuable information to you. Seek out someone who has been in the country where you will be assigned or working. "The best teacher is experience."

Additional valuable information about Successful living of an Expatriate, Secondee or Assignee can be found at:
Your Relonavigator

Do you like to meet people with Expatriate Experience? Join us and share your thoughts and ideas ... learning from experienced professionals is invaluable ... visit our AZExpat Society page to learn more about Expatriate Living.


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