Expat Wife Academy

While the wife’s away…

Career-planning tips for expat stay-at-home moms

Many expat moms decide to re-establish a career while living overseas. Careful planning is the key to a smooth transition from stay-at-home mom to working woman.

Expatriate wives who are stay-at-home mothers might find that re-entering the workforce after a prolonged absence is fraught with issues that go far beyond cover letters and interviews. Many moms at the crossroads find themselves battling a crushing lack of confidence, the erosion of their skills, and the loss of their professional network. Even something as simple as putting together an appropriate working wardrobe can seem daunting when starting from scratch.

Low confidence levels have a way of sabotaging even the most determined efforts to restart a stalled career. That’s not surprising, considering stay-at-home mothers spend several years focusing on developing softer, more nurturing skills that aren’t always valued in the workplace. During that time away, things change: technology, corporate attitudes, client expectations. Many expat wives start to question whether they’ve still got what it takes to be competitive in an increasingly unforgiving business climate.

Job Search Strategies for Expat Moms

Working abroad is possible, but grabbing the first job that comes up can be self-defeating. A better approach, according to Dubai-based career coach (and expat mom) Nicola Supka, is for the expatriate to design a strategy to relaunch her career overseas. In an interview with Suite 101, Supka outlined a few steps every expat mom should follow on her journey back to employment:

Check Spousal Employment Restrictions

Policies regarding accompanying spouses vary from country to country. A call to the home embassy should clear up any questions about spousal employment restrictions. (An expat wife who is unable to work needn’t despair – she can use the time before the next international assignment to lay the groundwork for the job of her dreams.)

Be Clear About Career Goals

The jobseeker who takes the time to consider her passions and values will be better able to find a job that reflects her needs.

Upgrade Skills to Re-Enter the Workforce

Technology becomes obsolete with lightning speed, and industry-specific practices can change over time. Fortunately, the internet has made skills development a breeze for virtually everyone. A motivated expat mum might even decide to take the plunge and retrain completely, or upgrade her current qualifications by tackling graduate school – either locally or through a distance education program. That kind of effort is not overlooked by those doing the hiring. “Enthusiasm definitely counts,” Supka says. “Employers like to see that level of commitment.”

Take Advantage of Volunteer Opportunities Abroad

Volunteering is an easy way to explore options; a dry run for the real thing. However, it’s important to approach overseas volunteer work with professionalism. The best unpaid work affords the stay-at-home mom the opportunity to hone transferable skills, learn new proficiencies, develop contacts, and establish some credentials. (The fulfillment that comes from working for an important cause is an added bonus.)

Create a Winning Resume

Many moms who’ve been on a lengthy hiatus are concerned about that glaring hole in their CV. Nicola Supka doesn’t see it as a problem. “A resume is a sales document,” she says. “You shouldn’t lie, of course, but you can – and should – highlight what’s relevant, and downplay the rest.” Volunteer work has its place on a resume as well. “Employers don’t care if you got paid,” Supka says. “The important thing is that you did the work.”

Make Use of Networking Opportunities When Seeking Jobs

Supka advises expat jobseekers to tell everyone they meet what their career goals are. “You’d be surprised what other moms do for a living. Some of them are hiring people just like you,” she says. “Taking that risk definitely pays off.” Professional women’s associations are a rich source of networking opportunities, where expatriate women can gain the support of like-minded people, gain access to industry news and professional training, and possibly find a mentor to help guide them along their path.

Understand the Host Culture When Working Overseas

Odds are good that the business environment in the host country won’t be identical to the one back home. Meeting etiquette, preferred negotiation styles, gift giving, the cultural view of time – these are just a few aspects of intercultural business communication that can trip up the unsuspecting expat working overseas. Another potential minefield is the role of women in the workplace.

In some countries, it may be unrealistic for expatriate women to expect to achieve the same level of success they did in their own country. Women are also advised to pay special attention to dress codes, especially in more conservative regions.

Once an expat mom has determined her eligibility to work abroad, she can make the transition to full-time employment easier with proper planning. By establishing clear career goals, upgrading her skills, volunteering overseas, creating a winning resume, networking, and taking the time to understand the international business culture, she’ll increase her confidence – and the odds of finding the right job for her.

“Most people spend more time planning their holidays than developing a career plan,” says Supka. “But if you’re lucky, and if you put some effort into preparing for your job search, you can have something special – something that’s more than ‘just a job.’”

This article originally appeared on Suite101.com on March 15, 2010 © Maria Foley  

Heavenly Father, look down on us your humble obedient expat wives who are doomed to travel this earth following our loved ones through their working lives to lands unknown. We beseech you, oh Lord, to see that our plane is not hijacked or doesn't crash, our luggage is not lost or pillaged and our overweight baggage goes unnoticed.

Give us this day divine guidance in our selection of houses, maids and drivers. We pray that the telephone works, the roof does not leak, the power cuts are few and the rats and cockroaches even fewer.

Lord, please lead us to good, inexpensive restaurants where wine is included in the meal and the food does not cause dysentery. Have mercy upon us Lord if it be the latter, make us fleet of foot, to make the loo in time, and strong of knee in case we have to squat. Also give us the wisdom to tip correctly in currencies we do not understand.

Make the natives love us Lord for who we are and not for what we can contribute to their worldly goods. Grant us the strength to smile at our maids, even though our most treasured dress resembles a rag or they take bleach to clean our well-admired Persian rug.

Give us divine patience when we explain for the hundredth time the way we want things done and Lord if we ever lose our patience and thump them, have mercy on us for our flesh is weak.

Dear God, protect us from so-called "bargains" we don't need and can't afford. Lead us not into temptation for we know not what we do.

Almighty Father, keep our husbands from looking at foreign women and comparing them to us. Save them from making fools of themselves in nightclubs. Above all, please do not forgive their trespasses for they know exactly what they do.

And when our expat years are over Lord, grant us the favor of finding someone who will look at our photographs and listen to our stories, so our lives as expat wives will not have been in vain.

Amen

Source: Unknown

© Held by Author

Whatever the reason is, everything is possible if you put your mind into it. It doesn’t have to be easy but it is not too hard either. The best day to start planning your future is now if you have not started. If you have already began, then it is time to re-check and ensure that the plans are going according to budget.

Broaching the subject of old age is never easy even for those who are inevitably edging towards a time when both their physical ability and health will limit their productivity. This need not be the case as there is no escaping reality, however unpalatable it might be at the moment. Before jumping headlong into a packaged offer, ensure you have all the necessary information in order to ensure that it will be suited for your needs.

You will be able to make the most of your plan if you have in place a manageable budget right from the start. One must also avoid procrastinating. Beginning to plan for your retirement as early as when you start your first job is the best assurance for the future.

When investing in the future, asset protection is also paramount. One needs to put in place the mechanisms that will ensure a safe future for the investor.

Since you will be entrusting a large proportion of your money into a long term venture, getting an absolute guarantee of returns is necessary. There is no need to go into a contract without having adequate assurance on how future performance will be evaluated and steps taken to ensure that under no circumstances will your money be lost

Putting the family first is also absolutely essential in guaranteeing that a strategy will be successful in the long run. Be sure to get in touch with a reputable financial advisory services consultant in order to explore how to manage your estate in trust for your loved ones. In this way, you can rest assured that even if the worst happens, your assets and estate will be in good hands.

Take adequate caution to ensure that any plan you have about to donating to charity or family is outlined in detail in order to leave no window for doubt or ambiguity. The future is brimming with promise and taking the steps towards retiring rich and happy is but a beginning of a journey to prosperity and peace of mind.