After the paperwork and international moving process (including the visa, work permit, housing search, etc.), you're now well settled in your host country and starting your new job in a new company. You have a career plan and are determined to climb the ladder. But how to ensure you have a successful career abroad? Here are the common mistakes to avoid.
Do as you did in your previous job back home
On paper, there's no reason to change your habits. You're doing a job that you already know. You're either going through your first move abroad or have already had several experiences in different countries. The second option tends you make you feel even more confident. There's no need to panic. Just tend to do what you used to at your previous company, without changing a thing, and work as you always have. This is the first mistake to avoid. Because this attitude, even if it claims to be based on good intentions, will not prevent your foreign colleagues from seeing it as a sign of pride. Remember that a job is never 100% the same from one company to another. The employer changes, the colleagues change, and so does the working environment, and being abroad puts you in an even more particular situation. Moving is precisely about not relying solely on your own knowledge but rather embracing what you learn in the host country.
Thinking you know it all and imposing your views
Once you've settled in your host country, you're on the road to success. You're evolving in the professional environment you coveted, working in a good environment. Why bend to the rules of the new company? After all, they will not drive your career. You'd rather rely on your own choices and influence the company more or less head-on. This is another common mistake often made by serial expats, that is, people who have lived and worked in many countries. It's also the behavior of those who refuse to question themselves and err on the side of conscience. But you run the risk of burning your own wings. Regardless of your years of experience, it's best to behave as if you know nothing, which is true because moving abroad is like starting all over again. But "starting again" does not mean "starting from scratch". You're moving forward in your career, and at the same time, you keep on learning with each professional experience. Learning to relearn rather than imposing your thinking, because you'll be learning throughout your career.
Thinking you have to be 100% operational on your 1st day
This is a common mistake people make at a new company abroad. Out of a desire to do the right thing, they start at 100% even though they're not yet operational. And that's normal. No one is totally competent in the first few months after joining the company. This is even truer abroad, where the first months can be months of poor performance. It can sometimes feel like you have to relearn everything and understand nothing, and you should expect this when moving to another country. Language, culture, habits, everything is different. We tend to think that these elements have nothing to do with our career, when in fact, they punctuate every moment of our lives. So there's no point in trying to "hit the ground running" as soon as you settle in or feeling "like trash" as soon as you can't get something done. You'll go through these stages again and again throughout your career.
Not adapting to the foreign country's culture
At work, everything's fine. Outside, however, it's a different story. You dislike or criticize everything. Transportation is no good 鈥� too small, too crowded, too present. It was better in your country. The host country's inhabitants have habits you don't want to imitate. What's the point of adapting to the culture? It won't rub off on your career. Yet adaptation is essential if you want to build a thriving career abroad. After all, the host country's corporate culture is still part of its culture. You need to understand the customs and/or understand them to socialize and advance professionally. Else, you'll fall into the abyss of the proud and arrogant. Don't snub informal meeting places on the pretext that they "don't bring you anything". Behave appropriately with your neighbors. Play sports, and try out new activities. Visit your city. Learn about its history. Take an interest in your new surroundings. Eat and cook locally. Make new friends. Learn the right tips and behaviors to build your network. The world is smaller than you think. Your network could be enriched by your interest in the country.
Skipping the host country's language
You think you have every reason not to learn the host country's language since everyone in the company speaks English; all your professional contacts speak English; English is the No. 1 language of business anyway; you're only here for a year, so you shouldn't be overzealous. But in the meantime, you're here, in a new country. Adapting to your host country's culture also means learning the language. Of course, no one is going to order you to enroll in a language school for a month's stay. But even for a month, you're still learning survival vocabulary. And if you stay longer, you can learn even more and even better. It's essential for your career because speaking the local language can open doors that would otherwise remain closed if you spoke only English. Speaking the local language can also take you places you never thought possible. What if you end up staying longer in the country? What if you get promoted? What if you set up your own business abroad?
Boasting about your career
Beware of the "cool expat" image floating in the collective unconscious. We sometimes see it at social and professional events and gatherings (here again, the images are full of clich茅s). You know a lot of people, have had several experiences abroad, are a "serial expat" (strangely enough, "serial immigrant" sounds "less cool"), and tend to boast about your career. Sometimes, you even embellish it a little. This is another faux pas to avoid if you're looking to build a successful career. Because in these environments, you could well be bragging to a future colleague or superior. However, there's a fine line between an honest account of your successes and bragging. Don't overdo it. If you're asked to talk about your adventures abroad, don't overestimate yourself, but don't underestimate yourself, either. Don't detach your professional life from life in general. Talk about what you love, your discoveries, your activities outside work, etc. That's why it's so important to learn about the culture of a foreign country. Business meetings aren't all about talking business. People tend to break the ice by talking about different topics. What will you talk about if you're not interested in your host country?
Thinking your career is a straight line
Projecting yourself is essential. It allows you to set goals. Remembering that we live in the present is just as important. Contrary to popular belief, a professional career is not a straight line. Some people live almost as a carbon copy of the plan they have imagined. The path is flawless, from the first steps at school to the first permanent contract abroad. But having a zigzag career isn't that bad, and having a straight-line career can also be fraught with pitfalls. Instead, remember that your career is built and evolves, just like you.
Not having goals
Having goals constantly reminds you of where you're going. Why are you pursuing a career abroad? What does "building a career" mean to you? People rarely take up a position abroad just "like that". And even if you do, the immigration procedures will be tedious enough to make you rethink your background and goals. Regarding your career, don't aim too low or too high. Don't leave too quickly or too soon. Before you get to the 10th floor, you go through the first. You don't fly to the 2nd floor; you walk. Others will run or take the elevator鈥攏o big deal. Everyone uses different means. The important thing is to feel "good about yourself" wherever you are.
Not setting limits/ setting too many limits
Having goals is a good thing, and so is taking risks. In fact, it is even recommended if you want to have a thriving career in an increasingly competitive world. But there's no need to break your fangs, so act wisely. Don't lose your values to make a career. And don't get bogged down in a foreign adventure if you know you're not cut out for it. On the other hand, don't set yourself too many limits. Don't think of leaving the country within 2 months if you don't get a promotion. That's excessive. Don't think you've failed your move abroad as soon as you've failed an assignment. That would be too harsh. Learn to be balanced to stay motivated and move forward in your career. Ask yourself regularly: how far are you prepared to go for your career abroad?
Comparing yourself to others
Workers at any level tend to compare to one another, especially when moving abroad. We've already seen the dangers of boasting. The dangers of comparison can be more subtle, for there is the valuable comparison that helps move forward. You can draw inspiration from another successful immigrant, not to imitate them in every way, but to adopt their best practices and apply their advice. On the other hand, an ineffective comparison blocks your career path, paralyzing you instead of helping you move forward. You don't understand why you're stagnating while your friend from the same business school is leaping up the ladder four by four. We underestimate our successes and overestimate our failures. Avoid this kind of comparison. It's better to refocus on yourself and forget about others. Remembering that you are unique is not a sign of pretension. It's just the truth.
Fear of failure or success
Since a career abroad is not a straight line, there will be sharper bends than others, perhaps, potholes, forced stops, or backtracking. Don't see failure as the end of the road. The road goes on and builds on your experiences. Likewise, don't diminish yourself so much that you don't see (or fear) your successes. Sometimes, we tend to limit ourselves out of fear of success. We fail to anticipate future responsibilities. We think the suit will be too big, when in fact it will gradually adapt to our shoulders. In all this, remember that work is not what defines you entirely. You are not a mistake, a failure, or a success. On the contrary, you make mistakes, have experienced and will experience failures and successes. Changing how you talk about your background will help you better envision your career abroad.
Not daring to say "no", not asserting your rights
What does your employment contract say about overtime, working on Sundays and/or public holidays, etc.? We often overlook "little arrangements" made by the company, even though they contradict the law. This is even truer abroad. We're not always familiar with the laws of the host country. It's a faux pas to be avoided, but it's sometimes hard to escape. You don't want to be seen as the "foreigner who complains" and thus damage your career. On the contrary, don't let it go to waste. Speak up. Why don't you get paid overtime? Why do you have to take work home with you? Why does the manager call you outside of working hours? Why has the company appropriated your personal research work? Staying silent risks plunging you into guilt and rumination. Get help if needed. You have the right to assert your rights.
Believing that only one type of career is possible
We're back to the question: what does "career" mean to you? You may think you understand the expression, but in fact, anyone can define it however they like. In the past, "career" was synonymous with success in the company: you climbed the corporate ladder and became an executive with responsibilities, benefits, etc. Younger generations no longer recognize themselves in this definition. Some no longer aspire to a "career"; others understand the career of a music or sports star but have difficulty imagining it in the company. Still, others adapt the expression to their passions and visions because there's no single type of career. For you, a career may mean managing your professional and private life. For another, a career may mean pursuing a passion. For another, a successful career means becoming an entrepreneur, a senior executive, a gardener with a published book, or a chef with millions of followers on social media. The important thing is to stay true to yourself.
Do's when building a career abroad
Enjoy life in your host country. Don't spend all your time at work or thinking about work. Have fun, discover the country, and make friends. Dare to shake up your habits and build new ones. Dare to be ambitious and take risks. Test and experiment. Be balanced, observant, patient and a good listener. Live your expatriation without putting pressure on yourself. These are just a few of the tips you'll need to continuously see as you build your career abroad.
