Peter Woolford of the Kforce recruitment firm offers tips on how to evaluate a job abroad. It’s essential you ask yourself these three questions:
* Will you learn new marketable skills?
* Will you be recognized for your accomplishments?
* Will you earn raises and promotions faster?
If the answer is “yes” to one or more of the above, it’s critical you take these steps:
* Speak to the people in your organization who have completed an overseas assignment, to gauge its impact on their personal and professional lives.
* Ask about your say in the job’s duration: Will you be able to cut the job short if it doesn’t work out or family issues arise? On the other hand, will you have the option to extend the assignment if you love it?
* Get all the facts — in writing — about compensation. Be wary if the plan is to pay you as a local employee in the host country rather than as an expatriate with U.S. salary and such benefits as tax assistance, specifically geared toward maintaining your current level of financial well-being.
* Examine carefully any family issues, which often are key to a successful experience abroad. Pay particular attention to the probable impact of an overseas assignment on your spouse’s career and your children’s educational opportunities.
* Discuss upfront the fallback scenarios if the overseas position doesn’t work out, or what your next steps will be upon completing a temporary assignment successfully. There are likely no guarantees, but get as much information as you can about your options when you return.
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