INTERNATIONAL CAREER? NO BRAINER!
In today’s modern world, companies are operating over so many international boundaries, so the more languages and experiences with different cultures you can bring to a company, the more you can help expand its global reach. “Home grown” talent is great but there’s something about people who have been exposed to different cultures and experience that only comes with working overseas.
Working in another country forces you to step outside your comfort zone, which opens up opportunities to develop new skills and have new experiences. At Acquire we continue to see a demand from our clients for professionals who have been exposed to more advanced processes and structures in more developed overseas markets. An example of this would be local Australian companies seeking business partnering specialists from more established markets like the UK and US. Because the local market is younger, professionals who have spent their entire career based in Australia may lack the experience of their overseas counterparts. It’s a similar story for FMCG and retail candidates who have worked in the big multinationals in the UK and Europe, their experience is looked upon very favourably in the Australian market. With that in mind, it’s worth considering the skills to be gained from international work experience.
Uplift your communication skills – working with people from other backgrounds exposes you to different working styles, forcing you to develop stronger communication skills and confidence as you progress your career. In multinational companies, for example, teams are usually made up of professionals from various parts of the world, giving you the chance to develop cross-cultural communication skills.
Build your global brand – taking a role in another country will help you to establish a network of valuable contacts. This will help you stay abreast of the latest developments in your field as you progress your career, especially if your overseas role is in a more developed market.
Stand out from the crowd – overseas experience on your CV will make you more competitive when you return home. A global perspective is highly regarded by employers, which will open you up to excellent opportunities into the future.
Think differently – working in a new country will force you to be more resourceful and independent than you need to be in your home country, opening up new creative channels and ideas.
Challenge “normal” – the lifestyle factors of working overseas are not to be underestimated. You’ll get the chance to see new places and make new friends. When you’re forced to network, you might find yourself taking up new hobbies and sports. Plus, we actually see a lot of our candidates meeting their partners in their adopted country!
If you decide to make the jump and move overseas you need to do your research, remember you’re not going there for a holiday! Wherever you decide to move to (and even if it’s an “internal” move) remember that the culture of your company will be grounded in the culture of the country. Arrive a few weeks early and get to know the culture before you start work, as there are cultural nuances that impact workforce management (if you don’t get them right, you can cause problems!).
Accounting, you will either love it or hate it but you’ll have to agree that one thing it does offer is a reasonably stable career path. It also opens the door to global mobility and in my opinion that’s an awesome thing. With a career in accountancy and finance, the financial hubs are always going to be most in demand. London, New York, Hong Kong, Singapore and Tokyo are the places people want to be. But the big player on the map today is China, it’s one of the most important markets for us all and will define the global business context for decades so we can’t afford to overlook the people and opportunities that it offers. As companies continue to put more demand on their workforce we will continue to see an increase in global flexibility. With some global markets being challenged at the moment, there is no shortage of roles for good international candidates.
It’s true that often there is a lot of hard work and boardroom grind behind every Instragram moment we see, but you’ve got to admit that having a job that allows you to network as a world traveller is pretty cool. We’re always hearing that the world is getting smaller but until there’s a global travel ban imposed upon us all, I truly believe that we should take advantage of any global career opportunity that falls our way. As an employee you’ll get exposed to new ideas from different cultures and that can only be a good thing. You may be given exposure to new training, communication and experiences that are rolled up into a multinational organisation as well as finding yourself a master in how to adapt to cultural differences as a business leader abroad. You’ll find yourself working in more of an intergenerational workforce, that now includes millennials, Generation X and baby boomers, whether you’re in a management role or not, travelling will shape your way of thinking in a more innovative way.
At Acquire we recognise the true value of a global mobility and more specifically attitudes towards how this generates a more highly skilled workforce. We are building partnerships in communities throughout the world to strengthen the talent agenda and find sustainable solutions to the challenges of today and tomorrow. With that we are excited to announce one of our most recent partnerships with London based recruitment consultancy Communicate Recruitment Solution. Both Acquire and Communicate are passionate about realising opportunities for individuals. Perhaps you’re interested in discovering more about living and working in London? Or have already booked your flights – then we maybe able to help you out! Communicate Recruitment Solutions are a niche, London based consultancy focused exclusively on the provision of high-calibre finance professionals. Their clients range from SMEs to FTSE 100 businesses, they partner with many leading businesses and they are on over 100 Preferred Supplier Lists (PSLs) including Marks & Spencer, BT, Tate & Lyle, King.com, Sony, Nando’s, Discovery, Sky, Inmarsat and G4S to name just a few. Communicate was established in 2004 and specialises in five areas: Core Finance, Tax, Treasury, Audit and Finance Executive Search. Communicate has a dedicated team of 25 Consultants, and with 70% of their contractors and interims being Aussies or Kiwis they know how to support people with overseas experience!
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