The Pros and Cons of Working Abroad in 2013

By Victoria Koster-Lenhardt | Fellow

Thirteen years ago, I wrote "10 Myths about Working in Europe" in Intercom. Though many of the tips still apply, there have been changes to the local laws and recruiting practices that have made it easier in some ways, and more difficult in others, for Americans to find employment abroad. Because of the job situation in the United States, more Americans are taking a global approach to finding work. Europe was once very appealing; however, it is no longer the most desired destination. It is going through its own cycle of the global financial crisis and the average jobless rate for the EU countries keeps climbing. The prognosis for 2013 isn’t positive. In comparison, there are jobs in the BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India, and China) countries for offshore job seekers. Regardless, if you have your sights set on working outside of the United States in the next couple of years, prepare yourself by knowing what to expect.

The Good News

Improved Expat Support

These days, companies are not the only ones wanting to attract the best people for their workforce. Cities and countries want the same thing. As a result, more city governments are working to provide better services for expats beyond what existed even five years ago. In some cases, these services are available for free and include helping people relocate, find work, start a business, make friends, and become volunteers.

As companies cut back on their human resources (HR) services, they are outsourcing the expat support to trained professionals, whether they’re small businesses or global companies, who specialize in this business niche. Another recent trend is that some companies now include a small budget in the expat package to pay for services to help the "trailing spouse" find work. First-time expats sometimes experience difficulty in settling into a new foreign assignment because their spouse is (unhappily) unemployed and dealing with the various financial and emotional impacts of the change. Sometimes, trailing spouses are not allowed to work because of the stipulations of the expat package. Other times, it is just very difficult to get a work permit. But if a trailing spouse wants to work (as is the growing trend), it’s helpful to have access to outplacement services that will make the job hunt in a foreign country and culture much easier.

More Access to Training

Although there are fewer STC chapters now outside of North America, there’s more training available for technical communicators overall. Other technical communication training organizations (based in the United States and abroad) have filled the training gap left by the foreign STC chapters that have folded. That’s good news for two reasons. First, the technical communication industry is flourishing abroad and there are good jobs to be found. Second, more technical writing jobs are going to local people. Even if English isn’t their native language, their English is usually good enough. These training courses and conferences are having a positive impact on the technical communication being written in English by non-native English speakers. That’s good for all technical communicators (and translators) everywhere.

The Bad News

More Local Competition

Because English language skills of the local workforce are acceptable, being a native English speaker is no longer enough to land a job in most places (unless you’re teaching English as a second language) or to justify a work permit. In addition, many local job candidates have more advanced, technical degrees than their American counterparts, and they’re willing to work for salaries that might be perceived as too low for many Americans. Nevertheless, English is an important "skill." If you’re a native speaker who has a lot of specialized business experience, you could still have an advantage over a local candidate. For most of the world, the United States is still known for innovation. That means that people coming from the United States are often perceived as having more knowledge and exposure to the newest ideas, technologies, and business concepts. Couple this with your language skills, and it could move you to the top of the list.

Financial Restrictions

Because of the global financial crisis, taxes, banking, and citizenship have become hot topics. If you have a specific country that you’re targeting in your job search, talk to an accountant who’s knowledgeable in the tax laws of the United States and that country’s tax laws toward Americans. Some countries are friendlier than others when it comes to granting Americans bank accounts, providing investment opportunities, and taxing your worldwide income. How you’re taxed in the foreign country not only depends on your citizenship but also on where you legally reside.

Company Budget Reductions

Fewer global companies are sending lower-level, non-management staff abroad on expat packages. Most of the exciting technical writing jobs are available closer to headquarters. If you’re working for an American company, those jobs are more likely to be in the States.

Choosing to Move Abroad

If this news hasn’t changed your mind and your heart is still set on working abroad, start learning the local language of the country you’re targeting and have your fluency level certified. It will make you a more attractive candidate and ease your transition. Also, seek job assignments while you’re in the United States that give you exposure to giving and receiving training via the Web, using Skype or in-house VoIP systems, participating in video conferences, and working on teams with colleagues who live in different countries, cultures and time zones. You will broaden your skill set and be better prepared for an international assignment.

Most people I know who move abroad today move for the same reasons I did 25 years ago: love, adventure, or both. If one of these reasons is your motivation, you’ll find that navigating the challenges of changing countries will be a second priority to all the excitement and success you’ll experience working and living life abroad.

Vici Koster-Lenhardt (vkosterlenhardt@gmail.com)moved to Europe in 1987 and has first-hand knowledge at being an expat. Based in Vienna, Austria, Vici worked for The Coca-Cola Company for 21 years in various communications management roles where she recruited technical writers from the United States and Europe. She was the founding president for the TransAlpine STC Chapter, which provided training and networking events for STC members living and working in Austria, Germany, Italy, Switzerland, and Slovenia.