I won’t deny it. I took the chances of working on a foreign country solely for money. If it wasn’t for the dwindling economy and the rising cost of living, I would just stay home, talk to people that speaks my language, and enjoy the food that I grew up eating. Let’s admit it. Comfort zone is the best zone. It is where you feel safe, secure, and at home.
But the circumstances pushed me out. I traveled to a country I only see on the episodes of Lonely Planet Six Degrees, meet strange people, and traverse the first world urban jungle. I did earned a lot of money. And even saved a lot more. Working in a first world country has its blessings. But I’ll tell you, the financial benefits of this endeavor is just the tip of a colossal ice berg that is the amalgamation of perks of working outside your homeland. I really believe I should have done this a long time ago, and everybody should try it at least once in their lives.
So why should you work abroad? Here are a few reasons…
It Kicks You Out Of Your Comfort Zone
I won’t lie. It scared me to death realizing that I won’t see, talk, dine, and drink with my family and friends for a while. I imagined being alone, missing home, and getting depressed in my new country.
Upon landing ashore, an entirely different world burst in front of me. It’s so alien. So bizarre. And so intimidating. It constantly shook me up and threw me off my balance. And that’s how I learned to continuously get back on my feet and think outside the box. I have done things and learned new skills I never imagined I could.
You see, at home you are comfortable and complacent. I’m not saying it’s bad, but it’s holding you back. Yes, those pillows and blanket on a cold weekend morning would probably mean the world to you and staying in bed all day seems to be the most reasonable things to do, but there so many things you’ll be missing out on. The friends you’ll be meeting, the errands you will be running, the places you’ll be going. There’s an entirely different world out there. Yes, it’s scary to face it. But you can never be excited without being a bit scared.
You’ll Be Exposed New Cultures
Prior to being an expat, I have traveled to other countries as well. And I thought I was already “exposed” to their culture because I talked to a few locals and tried their street food for a few days. I’ve never been so wrong. You get exposed when you experience shock, confusion, and disturbance to new ways of living, challenging your prior beliefs and reservations.
And it isn’t just one culture I have to deal with. I worked with Europeans, Asians, Middle Eastern, and Africans. Our office, an expansive singular room filled with tables and cubicle, is nothing short of a United Nations global convention (a colleague calls the cafeteria “the Cantina” in reference to Star Wars).
By getting immersed in new cultures, you develop a thicker skin, trust your gut during periods of fear and confusion, learn to think on your feet, and push through your challenges. Evolutionarily, we are not supposed to be stagnant people. Our ancestors travel in search of resources, and therefore were constantly exposed to new lands, environment, and other people. Once the shock subsides, you will learn to embrace the new experiences. You will realize that the world is very small, and despite the differences in ethnicity, belief, and language, at the core we are just the same.
The Chance to Improve Social Skills
Contrary to popular belief, racking up as much likes in Facebook or followers in Instagram as humanly possible does not constitute social skills, at least for me it isn’t. Social savviness is the capability to effectively (take note on the operative word) interact and communicate with others, whether it is on verbal or non-verbal level. You might get away with being an anonymous, antisocial introvert whose communal interaction with others is often limited to “Hi.” and “Bye.” Abroad, this won’t help you much.
Like I’ve said, once the initial shock of the new culture subsides, that’s where you’ll start embracing your new experiences, and that includes making new friends. There’s something quite exhilarating about establishing relationship and connections with someone whose set of experiences and perception is different than that of yours. Each thing you share in common, each moment you gained each other’s trust is something worth treasuring.
Buy why be a sociable person? First, it takes the loneliness and sadness away by making contact with other people. Second, it makes work life easier. Imagine the people around you giving a helping hand because you know how to express yourself and ask what you want. And lastly, it will open more opportunities for you.
You Will Expand Your Network
No one could have said better than Keith Ferrazi. In his book Never Eat Alone, he stated “Today’s most valuable currency is social capital, defined as the information, expertise, trust, and total value that exist in the relationships you have and social networks to which you belong.” Indeed enough, your success in life is determined not only by how much you know, but who you know. By expanding your network, you make yourself more open to other possibilities and opportunities. As long as they are the right people and your relationship with them is genuine and substantial enough, you may tap on them when the time arises, whether it be career growth, investments, new projects, or business expansions.
But networking does just go on singular direction either. It goes both ways. You too become a part of their connections, and you be ready to be tapped when the opportunity comes. Before you know it, you are already on your way to climb the career ladder or be part of a growing startup. The probabilities are endless. That is if you network enough.
It Provides A Global Perspective Of Your Industry
There’s more than a way to skin a cat (as an animal rights advocate, I sort of hate this phrase). And as our tasks and jobs get more complex, the methods and principles behind it gets compounded. That means no matter what industry you are in, chances are the people on the other side of the planet do it differently.
I once went back home on a two week vacation and had a chance to compare notes (yes, I still do notes) with an old colleague who works on the same industry. It turns out what we know, how we do things, and the results we look for are worlds apart. It’s not necessary that one person do it better or more properly, it’s just our methods are varied. I went back to work with more ideas, fresh concepts, and simple innovations. Working abroad provides you with the mindset you can never obtain at home. Plus, if your new country is a prime destination for other expatriates, then learning the industry from workmates from other country gets more exciting, because this means more opinions, more theories, and a better understanding.
It Looks Good On Your Curriculum Vitae
Working overseas will not only improve you as a person, it will add on oomph to your credentials as well and improve your chances of getting hired and/or climb the corporate ladder. Being an expatriate means you are independent, resourceful, and creative. It also means you can take calculated risk and are never afraid of trying new things. This also shows you are a team player and can work well with others, having interacted with people of various background, ethnicity, and culture before. Also, you have more unique skills and fresher ideas with you, having gone through your job from a different outlook (see global perspective above). These makes your credential jump out from the rest, separating you from the other sheltered applicants.
But this advantage isn’t limited from what’s written on your resume, but gets carried into the interview process as well. You’ll have more things, experiences, and topics to discuss in relation to your gig(s) abroad. The skills you learned, how you find them beneficial, and the way things are done oversees. The possibilities are endless. An entertained interviewer is just as important as an impressed one.
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