Expats and Trailing Spouses

expats and trailing spousesAre you wondering how to make the most of your time as a trailing spouse?

Is it even worth working as a trailing spouse?

Where to find more information for expat women?

Find out from other working expat mums, trailing spouses and expat women what it’s like for them. We have brought together the key issues and where to go for more information.

 

Most trailing spouses do not work during their time oversees

A study by the Permits Foundation in 2008, cited in Economist report: up or out next moves for the modern expatriate, found that 82% of trailing spouses or partners had a university degree and 90% of them were forced to relinquish their own jobs in order to pursue their partner’s move abroad. Of these 90%, only 35% worked during their time living overseas.

The Brookfield Global Relocation Survey 2011 found that worldwide only 12% of partners of expats previously employed were able to find a job in their new home country. Many people like to point out that perhaps this was a personal choice. But the survey finds that actually 75% of the partners who were surveyed and not working while living abroad would like to be doing so.

There are no figures available on mums in particular, but I am sure there are even less working expat mums.

Barriers to working for trailing spouses

It’s not easy to work as an expat partner or expat mum.  When working, expat mums face all the well-known issues all working mums face: juggling work and family life, feeling guilty, regaining confidence after a period out of work, finding flexible work, finding childcare and lack of opportunities due to the recession.

However there are specific issues that are barriers to work for expat partners, and expat-mums.

What are the barriers to working for trailing spouses and expat mums?

How to overcome the barriers for trailing spouses

Regardless of whether you are male or female, being a trailing spouse can be extremely challenging and stressful. According to McNulty, a consultant who specializes in mobility issues, the most important thing for a trailing spouse to do is to take control of their situation and create their own opportunities. Speaking in the New York Times she discussed her own research: “What I found in my research is that almost all spouses face an identity crisis, but only about 10 to 15 percent did something about it, by becoming authors, getting an MBA or starting businesses,” she said. Most “felt they were victims, with no control.”

This, to me, shows that finding something meaningful to do is vital for your own sense of fulfilment. It’s key to be aware of the barriers, but they shouldn’t stop you. They can be overcome, and will certainly lead to a more fulfilling life.

 It really is vital to take the steps necessary to create a mindset that’s meaningful; reassert your identity as something portable, transient and more respectable and enriched than ever before. – Stephanie Katz of Expat Arrivals

Top 6 ways  to find work for trailing spouses

More information and links for expat women and trailing spouses

Resources for expat-women and trailing spouses looking to work:

Key articles for expat women and trailing spouses

 

12 Business Ideas for the Expat Mumpreneur

12 Business Ideas for the Expat Mumpreneur

The advent of technology has made it possible for expat mums to earn money from the comfort of their homes. The internet has become the de facto marketplace to offer products or services to a wide audience, no matter where you are. Whether you are a career woman taking a break, a stay-at-home mum looking to start a home-based business or supplement your spouse’s expat income.  Even though it may not always seem like that initially, when you are still lost in the shock of loosing your home country and independence, , there are a myriad of choices available to you!

Of course you need to think about something that is portable, and you can easily start in the next country or take back home.

Here are a few business ideas that work well for expat mumpreneurs, just to get you started:

Come up with an idea that is closely matched to your own skill set:

1) Translation services: If you have a flair for languages and are bilingual, you could offer translation services to visiting business people, foreign embassies and publishing houses.

2) Virtual assistant: Imagine being a personal assistant without having to leave your couch! You could undertake specialised skills like bookkeeping or market research to general everyday secretarial tasks like administration, customer service and screening email.

3) Business liaison: use your local knowledge to assist overseas businesses looking to gain a foothold in the country of your residence. Possible services include negotiating on their behalf, helping them understand local ethics and work culture and connecting them to local resources.

4) Consultancy or advisory services: tap into your experience, skills and domain knowledge to provide consulting services in your area of expertise. It could be anything ranging from IT to finance and marketing.

5) Freelance writing: if you have a way with words, then there are a whole host of writing jobs on the internet and in more traditional offline media. A good way to build up a body of work would be to start blogging about a topic that interests you like travel, expat life, local politics or career change.

6) Life, career or expat coach: your experiences as a career woman or as an expat can be invaluable to people looking to move abroad, secure an expat job or ace an interview. You can monetize your expert knowledge by teaching others how to go about it through webinars or selling your ebooks online.

Unleash your creative side: 

7) Sell your artistic work: you have painted your whole life but never considered selling your paintings. Now is the time to let the world see your paintings, sculptures or even photographs you have taken. Make a catalog of your work and take it to the local art galleries. Create a personal website to display and sell samples of your work.

8) Earn money off your hobbies: are you the crafty type who makes handicrafts, gift items or designs ethnic jewelry? Get the local gift shop to stock your creations in return for a good sale margin. Or better still, sell them on ebay.

Start a small business from home:

9) Day care centre: why not consider taking in a few more kids while you are caring for your own? Check with your local business bureau on how to go about getting a daycare licence. Spread the word and let people in the locality know that you are starting a daycare centre.

10) Catering/cooking classes: put your culinary skills to good use by starting a home based catering service. Homemade organic food is in big demand. So if you bake cookies or make jams at home, you could sell them on the internet or supply your local cafe or bakery. If you are an expert in ethnic cuisine, consider offering cooking classes out of your home.

11) Beauty salon: if you have had formal training as a beautician, then you could consider converting one of your rooms at home into a salon. Else, if you have a friend who is a beautician, you could ask her to work out of your home for a share of the revenue.

12) Tutoring/music lessons: have a flair for teaching? you could start a home tutoring service if you have sound knowledge of a subject. Or if you play a musical instrument rather well, giving music lessons is an option too.

Author: Tishana Ince - Tishana is an international move specialist at FeedbacQ, a service that connects expats and would-be expats to quality-verified international movers worldwide. A serial expat and entrepreneur herself, she enjoys yoga, tennis and dancing.

 

Apr 16, 2013 | 0 comments View Post
Top 6 ways to find work for trailing spouses

Top 6 ways to find work for trailing spouses

Yes, I know there are lots of barriers to working for trailing spouses, and even more for expat mums. But it’s key to overcome those barriers if you want a fulfilling life of your own.

McNulty, a consultant into mobility issues, says in the New York Times: “What I found in my research is that almost all spouses face an identity crisis, but only about 10 to 15 percent did something about it, by becoming authors, getting an MBA or starting businesses,”. Most “felt they were victims, with no control.”

This, to me, shows that finding something meaningful to do is vital for your own sense of fulfillment. Here’s the top 6 things you need to do:

1. Decide what YOU want to do

It really makes things easier if you, rather than just trailing along, make a conscious decision about what you want to do. Your options are limited. You can: work, study, volunteer, take time out looking after the family, pursue a hobby or re-think your career.

These are all viable options, especially when you keep in mind your next move. If you want to return to work at some stage, continuing to add activities to your CV can make things a lot easier in future.

Read more on: What are my options?

2. Actively engage with project/job choices of the leading spouse

The job-finding process might seem something your partner is doing. But you can actively engage up front. Consider whether you can get a work permit, whether there might be jobs in your line of work, and what your partner can do to help.

Robin Pascoe, author of  ‘a Movable Marriage’ would only join to countries that would work for her as a journalist. Some couples alternate whose career will be leading at their next country-move. In my case my husband once negotiated a voluntary job at his employer’s local charity project for me, before accepting the move.

3. Ask your partner for help

Your partner could help to research potential job opportunities and help establish methods of acquiring the relevant work permit or working visa.

4. Be organized up-front

Sort out practical issues, such as childcare/schooling before you leave. Do take advantage of all the resources and support services available on-line and off-line to help you with this.

Make the necessary contacts for finding work in advance. This is very viable thanks to social media tools such as LinkedIn and expat bulletin boards and forums. Get in touch with the local Chamber of Commerce, register with various employment agencies and network with friends, family, your partner’s employer and other expats in the area.

5. Be prepared to work for less pay at a lower skill level initially

You might have to prove yourself in a new country, take up a course or obtain new certificates or degrees before being fully accepted. Your first job can be a good stepping stone to learn the basics in a new culture, your next job may well be at your own level again.

6. Build a portable career and focus on building transferable skills

Transferable skills are those skills you can take into another job or country without losing their value. Read more on identifying your transferable skills.

A portable career is something you can take easily to the next country. This could for instance be Internet-based. This includes blogging, freelance writing, online PA work, computer programming or website development jobs. You could set up an Internet-based export business, teach English as a foreign language, or set up a business catering for the international community.

You can even take your current job with you. A German lady who worked for a publisher, negotiated a more flexible job, working from home in the UK, and flying back in several times a year for key meetings. A life-coach coaches clients by phone in Greece and the UK.
For more ideas I can recommend: ’Jo Parfitt – A Career in Your Suitcase: The Expat and Trailing Spouse’s Guide to a Career on the Move’, ‘Robin Pascoe – A movable marriage’

So, yes, you might have to be prepared to work for less pay at a lower skill level and it might take longer before you have found a job that works for you. But it could just be key for your sense of fulfillment to keep control and reassert your identity. Go for it!

Author: Inge Woudstra is the founding director of Mum & Career (www.mumandcareer.co.uk), a community site for professional working mums in the UK. She is a trailing spouse, mother of a 7-year-old, and has re-located 3 times in 10 years time. 

May 15, 2012 | 0 comments View Post
Barriers to working for trailing spouses and expat mums

Barriers to working for trailing spouses and expat mums

It’s not easy working when you are a trailing spouse and expat mum. First of all, working expat mums face all the well-known issues all working mums face: juggling work and family life, feeling guilty, regaining confidence after a period out of work, finding flexible work, finding childcare and lack of opportunities due to the recession.

On top of that there are a set of more specific issues:

Setting up a family in a new country takes time and energy

Most expat partners initially have little time to work. Children need more support and attention after a move, and on top of that all other practicalities do too. It typically takes between 6-12 months to sort out all practicalities of moving and rebuild your social and practical network -schools, sports clubs, dentist, GP, hairdresser, favourite shops
Most of the family and household tasks are done by the stay-at-home partner. Expat jobs offer high rewards, but in return request dedication. Companies usually expect long working hours, jobs often include a lot of travel, working flexibly is not an option, and especially after just moving, will be really full on. Basically you are on your own.

Finding work and becoming effective in a new culture easily takes 1-2 years

The job context is different in each country. It takes time to understand job-titles and requirements, adapt a CV accordingly and/ or even acquire new degrees. Networks need to be found, as do places to hunt for jobs. Once a job is found, it takes time to become effective. As a result most women don’t even bother to get started.

There is no support network to help with childcare, finding a job or sorting practical issues

Some of the issues any working mum faces are much harder in a new country without a support network. As one of the people I interviewed for this article said “My worry wasn’t just finding the right school, but finding how on earth the schooling-system worked in the first place”

Ulrike D., German expat who is an executive coach explains: “Childcare options in the UK are costly. In Germany my friends and family would be helping out, here I have to outsource which brings high extra costs. In addition commutes are much longer and clients can be far away, so I need much longer days of childcare than I would in Germany.”

Clearly it’s not easy to work as an expat mum, so if you decide not to, you will not be the only one. Actually for some partners the opportunity to take a career break can be attractive. It can be a chance to provide the time and space to re-think career direction, a point reported by 25 percent of the non-working partners surveyed by The Permit Foundation (2008) who stated that they did not wish to work while abroad.

If you do want to work though, do not despair, it can be done! Top 6 ways to find work for expat mums and trailing spouses

Author: Inge Woudstra. She followed her husband abroad, giving up her life and career in The Netherlands, and relocated 3 times in 10 years time. She has one seven-year old son. Now she lives in the UK and runs Mum & Career.

May 15, 2012 | 0 comments View Post
How to go from Alienated Expat or Trailing Spouse to Feeling Like a Local?

How to go from Alienated Expat or Trailing Spouse to Feeling Like a Local?

Life Coach Carole Ann Rice gives great insights on leading a more satisfied life for expats and trailing spouses.

There can be fewer, more awesome life changes than that of a relocation of job, home and country. Taking a giant leap of courage and faith to uproot and cast your net across uncharted waters is an adventure many are called to but few are chosen. Perhaps the leap is even bigger for those of us you who follow their partner in his or her new adventure.

Although it may appear that all your birthdays have come at once as you embark upon a new life in a new country, it can also seem that a catalogue of high tension nightmares are ready to unfold before you too.

In the ranks of what causes the most stress in our lives after unexpected bereavement, moving house, changing jobs and divorce are right up there as life challenges guaranteed to raise the blood pressure and test our resolve. Not mutually exclusive components to relocating either.

So as a stranger in a strange land, who can you turn to when all around you is unfamiliar; when family and friends back “home” are gleefully awaiting your good news and you’ve a long way to go until you feel settled and sure of your new life?

Although many international organizations have HR departments committed to helping new employees segue into their new positions with ease and comfort, monitoring well-being and ensuring a seamless relocation, some of you may seek a more personal but neutral support with whom you can share your anxieties.

This is where coaching can be most powerful. Offering confidential and unconditional support (usually via the telephone, at a time that is convenient) the coach provides a listening ear or a hand to hold, instilling motivation or inspiration if you so desire. But unlike employer, partner or family the coach has no agenda other than the client’s desired goals and outcomes.

Change Management – Who Are You Now?

Leaving behind all that is familiar some people view a relocation as a new start; a new beginning perhaps where they leave behind things they no longer want in their lives. Traumas, bad relationships and life’s disappointments seem to become a thing of the past as you pack your case and face a new future full of possibilities.

But as we all know we take our past with us and although avoidance and distractions work for a while in new surroundings, who we are remains the same. Confidence, motivation and clarity are probably the main issues that clients bring to their coaches. These are all areas that require inwardly driven strength and cannot be effectively achieved by outward stimulation such as a new environment and a new job.

When an individual has been subjected to a major life change, as an ex-patriate would be, it can take time to assimilate what repercussions the shift has made on their Self and catch up with who they are now “being”.

This is a great time for reinvention. What better time to let go of things that don’t work for you? To be the person you have always wanted to be? To make this the proverbial first day of the rest of your life?

There is no time like the present but what if along with your family photos and favourite CD collection you packed your insecurities, your procrastination and all those debilitating and destructive fears and habits that you were hoping to dump at passport control?

You Are What You Are

Back in the 1980s a techno band called the Thompson Twins retired from the pop world and spent months lolling around Caribbean islands, lying in hammocks and chilling like there was no tomorrow. Then they came running back to grey and smoky old London.
“It gets boring in paradise” they cried as they returned to the familiar assault of metro life.

Funny how a palm tree, pagoda or a sweeping seascape can start to become a dull and familiar sight as the Piccadilly line or black cab. Back in a daily work grind it could seem to the ex-pat that they’ve just swapped one hamster wheel for a more exotic rat race.

Wish You Were Here?

So what do you do if the dream doesn’t add up? What if the shock of the new has become the same old routine wrapped in different clothing? What if the grass wasn’t greener but just another shade of the same colour palette? The freedom no more than a vast emptiness? The sarong just another work suit?

Working with a coach you can start to reassess your situation and in doing so discern what is real, what is a distorted belief you may be holding on to or just finding out what it is that is making you feel so dissatisfied.

This investment in a coach could make the different from turning pain into paradise and save you the cost of a return ticket home.

Author: Carole Ann Rice MD of the Real Coaching Company. Why not book a free 30 minute telephone session with her now?

May 15, 2012 | 0 comments View Post