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3 Steps to Deal With Culture Shock While Working Abroad

3 Steps to Deal With Culture Shock While Working Abroad

Working abroad looks glamorous at first which can be combined with the excitement that comes with travelling to a new place, but there are a lot of surprises that are associated with it.

These surprises or what can be better called as ‘unique experiences’ often make people to think twice about their decision. The disadvantage about it is that they are felt days after moving to a new place when the period of fun and enjoyment starts to wear off. What these people working abroad experience can be termed as “culture shock”.

Culture shock, though it may drastically change a person’s view of going for jobs abroad, should never come as a barrier in terms of career development; which was the first goal often when it comes to working abroad. It is always safe to remain prepared for it in order to tackle it effectively. Otherwise, it can lead to extreme stress, which in turn will affect your work and also your personal life.

Here are three steps that will help you to ease yourself into a new and different environment while working abroad.

Set Up Your Own Coaching Business 

STEP ONE

There is a lot of excitement and energy at the beginning when anyone moves to a new place to work, but often it happens that all of these evaporate after reaching the place. So it is always better to be prepared for the worst and this makes it easier to get up when you feel yourself sink into the abyss of cultural shock; ending your honeymoon period in that place.

Do an extensive research about the place. Before accepting a job offer to work abroad, check out the place and do research about the living conditions and how hospitable it is towards expats. Get to know the traditions the people in that place follow. You can buy a good guide book and learn some of the basic dos and don’ts that you need to follow.

Do not make your expectations go high. If you leave with the feeling that it will be a smooth ride, that’s not true. Whenever someone enters into a culture that is different, that person will feel not at all connected with the new one. It will make everything that you come into contact with in the new place feel strange. So, you should never keep your expectations high regarding this fact that you will never suffer from culture shock.

Ask the organisation if they have any local orientation programme. If your organisation helps you to get oriented to the new place and culture, then it is a great thing. Ask the corresponding HR person if there are any programmes provided by the company that helps its expat employees to get acquainted with the new culture.

STEP TWO

 When you start working at the new workplace abroad, you will gradually get to understand more differences that separate you from the people of that place. Whether it affects you professionally, in your personal life or both, you might begin to get irritated at even the smallest of things. Here’s how you can deal with it.

If you can’t beat them, join them. Living in a place without accepting the differences can take a toll on you. So it’s better to incorporate those local traditions as long as you can and feel at home. Accept the differences and it will make you feel a lot better.

When in Rome do as the Romans do. Do not know how to act in certain situations. Take the cue of the local people there and just copy them. It will save you a lot of trouble. You can also take the help of your colleagues to understand the local cultures and traditions.

Do not offend the local culture, language and traditions. There is one thing that you should do no matter how irritating it turns out to be, never offend the local culture, language and traditions.

Interview questions and answers

STEP THREE

The third step is all about accepting the differences so that it becomes normal to you. If you do not do that, you will continue to go deeper into the pit of cultural shocks. What steps you can take in that direction:

Try to learn the local language. Nothing brings you closer to the people of a different place than their language. If you are able to even speak a few words of the local language, you will feel a sense of acceptance. You just need to put a little effort and a good local friend or colleague who can help you with your mission to learn the language.

Understand that this is not a permanent thing. You do not have to stay in that place forever. If you were transferred or have moved for a project, you should focus on the work and see this time as work vacation. Also, you can always go back home after getting the required experience that you needed.

Above all, be patient. Patience will always be the best companion when you are suffering from cultural shock. Be patient and do not get stressed.

When you are in a new place, always try to make friends if possible. Get to understand the rules and laws of the place. Culture shock, though it sounds intimidating at first, can always be dealt with. Follow the above tips and have fun working in your favourite job destination.

Author Bio

 Hasib is a career coach, blogger and a professional writer working for the job portal – Naukrigulf.com. With an interest in providing career counselling for professionals, he has contributed a number of articles related to the topic on various online platforms.

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6 Mistakes to Avoid When Searching Jobs Abroad

The Six Mistakes to Avoid When Searching Jobs Abroad

Searching jobs abroad can be a challenging process if you are committing certain job hunting mistakes. Working overseas brings in a lot of opportunities and international exposure apart from other benefits such as learning, meeting new people and understanding the new culture. Hence, you cannot afford to miss any chance to getting that excellent job offer by remaining unaware of these common job-hunting mistakes.

Here’s the list of mistakes that you should always avoid-at any cost:

Not Sending Across the Right Message

In the competitive global job market, employers are busy with job applications from numerous candidates, out of which only a few deserving ones are short-listed. Hence, in their busy work schedule, they hardly get more than a few minutes to read your entire application thoroughly and extract the required information related to your qualifications, experience or career objectives. Therefore, failing to deliver a clear message is one of the biggest mistakes in your job search. Give them a short and clear message that save more of the time and gives a clear message, thus increasing your chances of selection!

Not Differentiating Yourself

You need a distinct reason to make the employer choose you over other job seekers. Hence, it is vital to analyze your strengths and present your achievements, skills and competencies in an impressive manner. Every employer looks for skills suitable for his job description. Hence, it is imperative that you study the requirements of the job role carefully and customize your CV as per the job requirements.

Developing Negative Thoughts

Job search is a full-time job in itself that requires patience and positive thoughts. It’s not that you start getting calls from the interviewers the moment you send your CV to a company. Hence, losing hope and developing negative thought about the delay in your desired results is another big mistake. Stay positive and have patience. All you need to do is focus on your job hunting.

Hesitating to Highlight Your Achievements

It is not the time to sit back and think that your achievements are not worth mentioning for the future employer. Stay confident and prepare yourself to present your work and accomplishments in the previous job confidently. In this age of cut-throat competition, if you do not take a step forward to grab the job offer, others will do! However, at the same time, it is also important to mention those achievements that are work related and somewhere relevant for you next job role.

Applying for Any Job Opening

Job hunting is not about applying for every another job opening. It requires finding the right job vacancy that meets your career plan and then applying for it. Randomly sending your application for any job takes more of your important time and takes you off the right track of your job search. Hence, it is important to analyze your requirements such as the type of job you wish to pursue, any preferred location or companies, etc. Planning and following the set criteria for your job search helps you to save your time and energy for the right jobs.

Taking Job Rejections Personally

If any employer doesn’t shortlist your job application, it is not advisable to take it personally. Remember, the company is not familiar to you and makes the selection on certain basis that is suitable for a particular job, such as qualification, work experience, skills, etc. Hence, instead of keeping your morale down, look for the right opportunity that demands the skills and qualifications that you possess!

Good luck!

Author Bio: Swati Srivastava is an avid writer who loves to pen down her ideas and career tips for job seekers and professionals. Her articles are published on several reputed career sites.  

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Things to Know Before Considering to Working Abroad

Things to Know Before Considering to Working Abroad

Working abroad is a great way to develop skills, gain global work exposure, experience different culture and boost your employability.

The various advantages associated with working abroad attract many job seekers to consider working overseas.

Some popular benefits include:

  • It is an excellent way to kick-start an international career
  • Learn new skills and languages
  • Get to know the other culture and people
  • It is exciting and adventurous

Numerous job opportunities are available in the international job market. However, being able to enjoy these benefits does not limit to your dream, but requires you to prepare in advance. Researching the job market and carefully planning every step of your job search paves the path for a fulfilling career.

Here are a few things that you should consider before you plan to take your final steps forward for a job abroad:

Set Up Your Own Coaching Business 

 Ask Yourself a Few Important Questions-

Have you analyzed your cost of Living and income?

At times, in the excitement of living and working abroad, job seekers forget to make an analysis of how much their international job offer earns them and how much amount they end up as expenses. Undoubtedly, it is important to have your savings, greater than your cost of living. Hence, before choosing a job and the work location, research about its cost of living, salary offered in your industry and job role.

Does your job meet your career goal?

Moving abroad is not the only thing you want to achieve! Everything is done with a purpose, Right? So, it is equally important to find a job that meets your long-term goal. Ask yourself, what do you want in life? What type of job interests you? Is this what you actually wanted to do? Any career decision taken after considering your knowledge and interests always proves beneficial in the end.

Do you possess the required skills?

Before choosing or applying for any job abroad, consider the skills that your new job demands. Different jobs require different complex skills, and hence, take your time to develop those important skills to meet your job requirements.

How much prepared are you for overcoming the possible barriers?

When working abroad comes a few challenges also. And how much do you succeed majorly depends on your planning and willingness to overcome those shortcomings. Language barrier comes as one of the biggest challenges for expats working abroad. You need to ask yourself how efficient you are to overcome this by learning the foreign language. Knowledge of a second language not only makes it easier to live and work in a new country, but also increases your employability.

Cultural shock is another barrier that prevents expats to stay in a foreign location for longer. Hence, analyze how much mentally prepared are you to overcome the cultural shock. Plan some networking with other expats living in your job destination to understand the work environment, join online communities to exchange ideas, etc. Cross-cultural knowledge always helps to prevent culture shock.

If you are clear with your answers to all these questions, you are almost prepared to work overseas. Do a little research about the best employers in the international job market, visa and work permit, qualifications required, skills needed and other important things required to get a job.

Author Bio:

 Swati Srivastava is an avid writer with a keen interest on the extensive domain of job search and career counselling. Her articles are published on several reputed job search portals and online career magazines.

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It’s the Time to Overcome the Top 4 Barriers to Work Abroad

No one wants any obstacles in the path of their career progression.

When it comes to working abroad, several common barriers might slow down your speed. When planning to work in a foreign country, particularly Gulf countries where you can get a perfect blend of tax-free income and a great experience to explore a new world like Saudi Arabia, Oman and Qatar, no obstacles should stop you in your career progression!  

Job search

Here we will discuss some of the common barriers people face to move abroad- Understanding the Language, Cultural Difference, Safety Issues, and Home Sickness

Language Barrier

The understanding and knowledge of the country’s language you are relocating to, is extremely important. However, when you fail to understand the foreign language, it becomes a barrier for you to live and work abroad.

Solution: Learning a language is not something that you can’t do! For instance, if you are moving and looking for a job in Oman or any other Arab country, learning Arabic becomes the first step to break the language barrier. There are several ways to learn a new language- join classes, online learning, books, conversation groups, CDs/DVDs, etc.

Cultural Barrier

Understanding and adapting to a different culture is the next common hurdle you face in your plan to work abroad. Particularly moving to a location where religious beliefs are strictly followed, such as Gulf countries, it becomes vital to be aware about the cultural and religious norms.

Solution: Try to gain general understanding of the country’s traditions, beliefs, and moral values of its natives. For instance, business etiquettes in Muslim nations include handshake with men,

but approaching a female employee for it is not considered good. Similarly, you will find different culture while working in the European nations. Hence, prior knowledge of the culture, lifestyle, and its people is important for your relocation. You can join various groups online and chat with fellow expats.

Safety Issues

Moving abroad sometimes might cause you to face safety issues due to unfamiliarity with the location. Safety issues become a more serious concern particularly for women working abroad. No one expects that anything bad will happen to him/her in an overseas location, but it is always advisable to be prepared about any bad situation.

Solution: When living alone in a new country, avoid hiring any unlicensed private taxi. For women, it is recommended not to walk alone at night or be friend with any stranger without knowing him/her. You can also keep a map of the new places you will be required to travel on daily basis in the initial few days to avoid any confusion. Remember, you will gradually come to know about the new place and the new people. Until then, be cautious!

Experiencing Homesickness

Nostalgia is a common feeling people face when living abroad without friends and family. A new job, a new place and new people- these are together sufficient to make you feel alone at times. However, it is a challenge that you should overcome as soon as possible as it can affect your mental peace and health.

Solution: The best way to fight homesickness is to find positive reasons of your stay away from your home. A high paying job, global work exposure, or career opportunities; are these not the motivating factors for you? Yes, of course! Moreover, in today’s Internet age, it is not difficult to stay connected with people in other countries. Hence, it is possible to avoid a sad feeling and connect with your friends and family on social networking sites, video chats, and talk to them at reduced call-rates. Above all, it’s the time to find new friends in your new “home”-your new work country.

So, if working abroad has always been your dream, it is the time to say “Good Bye” to all these barriers.

Good luck!

BIO

Swati Srivastava is an avid writer who loves to pen down her opinion on economic issues, career advice, and global issues. To contact her, send her a message on LinkedIn