Understanding and Overcoming the Challenges of Pursuing an Expat Career

by Megan Fitzgerald

It’s important to understand the challenges you will face if you decide to pursue an expat career. I always recommend making a list of these obstacles so you can develop a plan to address them. This will set you up for success as you start your search for jobs overseas.

Those who have been considering work abroad for some time are likely aware of many of these challenges. However I’ve found that many people are not aware of all of the solutions available to overcome these obstacles and realize their dream of living and working abroad.

For this reason I’ve shared possible solutions to the some of the most common challenges:

Language skills

The problem: Not speaking the language of the country you want to work in will limit the job opportunities available to you – particularly countries where your mother tongue is not spoken at all.

If you are an English speaker, as it is the language of business, you will have more opportunities than those who speak other languages. Many jobs require not just an ability to speak, but fluency, which can be hard to achieve when not using the language regularly.

Possible solutions: Find and target countries who speak your language. You’d be surprised how many there are. There are over 50 countries who have English as an official language, over 30 countries where French is an official language and over 20 where Spanish is spoken.

Learning a language as part of your career or business development plan is also an option. Finding opportunities to immerse yourself in the language through study courses abroad or even several weeks of holiday would be important. This would help you both learn and assess your ability to actually operate in that language in your target country.http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif

Work Permits

The problem: Most of the time you are required to get a work permit or visa in your target country to secure a job abroad. This most often requires a job offer and the company facilitating the process.

Depending on a country’s immigration policies, there may also be limits to the amount of visas issued each year. If that number is relatively small then you are likely competing with the top talent globally for those visa slots.

If you are an accompanying spouse...

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Holidays and House Guests

by Piglet in Portugal

I was recently asked by a friend living in the UK: "Do expats still take holidays and if so where?" What a strange question and one I’d never considered!

So what's the deal with expats and holidays? Do you return to your homeland to visit family and friends, explore your new country or are you still tempted to travel to foreign shores?

Some expats, having fulfilled their dream of moving abroad, may prefer to "holiday at home" - a perfect opportunity to explore their new country. For instance, Portugal has so many places to explore, from its outstanding beaches and cruises along the Douro River to city breaks in Lisbon and Porto. Not forgetting the numerous historic towns and villages such as Tavira, Obidos, Tomar and Evora, just waiting to be explored. That's before you take into consideration the multitude of other styles of holiday on offer, like wine tours and activity holidays such as surfing, kite-surfing, horse riding and bird watching, to name but a few. Phew! I ask you, why be tempted to holiday elsewhere?"

However, if you've already "discovered" your new country, does the desire to holiday in a foreign land still beckon?

Many years ago, when choosing a holiday destination, we would spend ages studying glossy travel brochures, deliberating over which country to visit, and even longer deciding on the most suitable area before deciding on what hotel to stay at. However, I no longer yearn to travel due to family ties - the arrival of our first grandchild, who lives in France, closely followed by our second grandchild, who lives in England, means we now take frequent “holidays” to both countries. Decision made! No more glossy brochures, and the “dream” tour of Canada and Alaska remains a dream unless winning the Euro Millions Lottery makes it a reality!

Sadly, as many expat retirees have seen their pensions and income diminish over the last few years, and workers on a low income battle to juggle their finances, holiday budgets may only stretch to visiting family or friends back home. So the question of where to go does not arise. But what if you have no family ties or budget restrictions, where would you choose to holiday? Has becoming an expat really changed the way you view holidays?

On the other side of the coin when family and friends visit you do you consider this to be a holiday?

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Americans, You’ve Been Warned!

by Expat Focus columnist, Toni Hargis

If you’ve read my book, you’ll know that I go to great pains to keep Americans apprised of British customs, sayings and manners. Not that we all take tea at precisely 4pm every day, or consort with the Queen on a regular basis, but there are some things that while minor, make all the difference.

If you’ve yet to read Rules, Britannia, let me recap a few of my tips:

Please – While the meaning of “please” is usually implied in the tone of an American request, the word itself is not always used. In the UK, its absence will draw audible intakes of breath and small children may well find the cookie, or toy they are requesting withheld until they “ask properly”. The word “please” is used by everyone regardless of background; it is said to everyone regardless of station, so that includes waiters and other people paid to serve you.

He/She – Again, while no harm is meant in the US by referring to a person as “he” or “she” while they are standing right in front of you, it’s considered very rude in the UK, and often elicits the rhetorical and shocked question “Who’s she? The cat’s mother”. Seriously. If you can’t remember, or don’t know, the name of the person you’re talking about, simply say “We were just discussing…..”.


Read more about language problems:
http://www.expatfocus.com/toni-hargis-281011

Top Three Differences between Mortgages in France and the UK

by Sharon Hill, French Mortgage Direct

Most people buying a French property need to raise some type of mortgage finance to help them make their dream come true. Often, the Estate Agent selling the property will offer assistance, putting the buyer in contact with a local bank. The local bank will rarely be in a position to offer advice and guidance and the purchaser could end up with a mortgage but no knowledge of the French mortgage market.

Lack of understanding can be catastrophic for buyers especially if they assume that French mortgages operate in the same way as in their home country. Without professional help, buyers could end up having their mortgage application refused by the lender resulting in not being able to proceed with the purchase, or with a mortgage unsuitable for their needs.

When choosing which French mortgage is the most suitable for you, it’s important to understand how property finance works in France.

Here are the top three differences you should be aware of:

1. No Non-Status Loans

Self-Employed applicants often ask if they can apply for a non-status loan. This means that they would like to obtain finance for their property purchase without providing any proof of actual income or outgoings but this is not possible in France. French lenders are legally required to ensure all loans and mortgages are “affordable” for the borrower and therefore non-status loans are not available.

If you can’t prove your income, you should consider alternative means of http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.giffinance as a French mortgage won’t be possible for you.

2. It costs money to register the mortgage

In almost every country, mortgage lenders charge borrowers to take out a mortgage in the way of arrangement fees. However, in France, there is an additional cost to arranging a mortgage which is the cost of the guarantee. Each mortgage in France is registered and a guarantee is taken out by the bank to protect their funds.

A few different types of guarantee exist but non-resident borrowers are...

Article continues: www.expatfocus.com/france-differences-between-french-and-uk-mortgages

Tales from a Spanish Village - Two Old Fools Fight Over Thongs

by Expat Focus Columnist Victoria Twead

I always thought writing would be a gentle pastime. Sitting at a desk, fingers busily tapping the keyboard, ideas flowing from mind to computer in a steady creative stream. But it’s not like that in our household. For a start, if the words won’t come, I pace the kitchen, deep in thought. If Joe speaks, I snap at him, annoyed that he’s breaking into my train of thought.

Living in a tiny village in Spain is definitely inspirational. I can work undisturbed, gazing out onto the mountains between paragraphs. No sounds apart from the bee-eaters chattering as they fly through the valley in flocks, or Uncle Felix’s mule clattering through the streets. So there should be no distractions, right? Wrong, I’m afraid.
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“Vicky! Come and see this eagle,” Joe calls, and I abandon everything and race to look. We're not expert enough to identify it, but that doesn't matter. To watch an eagle wheeling in the endless, blue sky over the mountain tops is a joy and a privilege.

Or, “Vicky! Paco’s just given me this huge bag of vegetables. What shall we do with them?” I turn away from the computer to admire the contents of the carrier bag he’s holding out, crammed with glossy red and green peppers, courgettes and purple aubergines. So I search for recipes that require these delicious ingredients, and start preparing and cooking, my manuscript forgotten...

Read more at: http://www.expatfocus.com/victoria-twead-200911

Expat Experiences: The Bahamas - Jeremy

Who are you?

Hi, my name is Jeremy and I'm a Belgian guy.

Where, when and why did you move abroad?

I lived for 5 years in North America, after that almost 2 years in Central America.

Now I'm living in The Bahamas... Why? Hmm... Do I really have to answer this one? :-D LOL

Well, let's say that at first I came here twice as a tourist and destiny helped by the love of a local mermaid brings me back to the Bahamian shores, but not as a tourist this time.

What challenges did you face during the move?

Ha, ha... Yes, we can speak about challenge! Hmm, probably the biggest one was to learn how to cross a street and arrive still alive on the other side as everyone seems to drive on the wrong side of the road here :-D LOL

After this first learning, the second one was to be the driver of the car and get used to also do my best to stay on the wrong side of the road, no matter what... Just joking but not so easy at first. Other than that, nothing really complicated except maybe about immigration laws and more especially the application of it in real life. Each immigration officer here seems to have its own perception of the law and it is kinda difficult to find two of them thinking the same way or just willing to apply the basic law as it is supposed to be...

Read more about life in the Bahamas: www.expatfocus.com/expatriate-bahamas-experiences-jeremy

Expat Experiences: The Netherlands - Julie, Rotterdam

Who are you?

Julie, 27 years old, French (Parisian).

Where, when and why did you move abroad?

I moved to Rotterdam end of April 2011 to follow my partner who has been transferred overthere.

What challenges did you face during the move?

I didn’t know I must register to the cityhall and give some papers to get the sofi number to be considered as citizen. I needed this number to find a work, to be paid, to open an account, to get an apartment.. for almost everything here. And also, as we are not married, I had to do a lot of paperwork to do more. He didn’t have to do it as expat.

How did you find somewhere to live?

We looked on the website of Pararius and took appointments to visit some apartments.. and found one after 2 months!

Are there many other expats in your area?

We don’t know. My colleagues told me it was an expat district, but I really have no idea.

What is your relationship like with the locals?

It is very fine. Except when guys stop us to know if we are not looking for any weed as we still have a French matriculation on our car.

What do you like about life where you are?

It is quiet and nice to live. The city is modern and also, you can go everywhere if you have a bicycle.

What do you dislike about your expat life?

It is quite difficult to do all the paper without getting any...

Read more about Julie's experience in Rotterdam: www.expatfocus.com/expatriate-netherlands-experiences-rotterdam-julie