How international experience can benefit your career

Have you ever wanted to work in the UK? Or move across the Tasman? The benefits of international work experience are far-reaching. 

For starters, making the decision to work abroad forces you to step outside your comfort zone, which opens up opportunities to develop new skills and have new experiences.
 

From an employer’s perspective, hiring managers are looking for professionals who have been exposed to more advanced processes and structures in international jobs. A good example of this is Australian companies seeking digital and e-commerce specialists, from more established markets like the UK. Because the local market is younger, digital 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 candidates who have worked in the big multinationals in the UK and Europe – their experience is looked upon very favourably in the Australian market.

That said Australia remains a desirable destination for those looking to work overseas, especially for professionals from the UK. The recently introduced Temporary Skills Shortage (TSS) visa enables professionals with desirable skills to live and work in Australia for up to four years, depending on the terms of the visa.

With some global markets being challenged at the moment, there is no shortage of roles for good international candidates. 

With that in mind, it’s worth considering the skills to be gained from international work experience. 
 

Here are some of the ways going global can help you take your career to the next level.

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.

Accepting 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.

Whether it's an international internship or a longer-term role, overseas experience on your CV will give you a valuable competitive advantage when you return home. A global perspective is highly regarded by employers, which will open you up to excellent opportunities into the future.

The lifestyle factors of working overseas are not to be underestimated. You’ll get the chance to see new places and make new friends. After all that international networking, 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!