Work Abroad? Not to burst your bubble...

[Openbar]

So my recommendation for anybody wanting to do finance/accounting/consulting abroad? Start at home, get experience in a reputable firm/bank/MNC, and forget about it for 2 years...there's no real subsitute for quality US industry experience.

Double-down on that. Get the top-flight experience, then go hunting as an expert.

It was mentioned only once, in reference to the EIB, but the multilateral banks, such as World Bank Group, Asian Development Bank, etc., offer tremendous opportunity for many with several years of brand name experience. Fairly competitive pay for all kinds of skills from HR to finance to resource extraction/management to sewer construction. Tax-free in the countries of work, salary gross-ups for American taxes (when the foreign earned income exclusion is breached), "official" status (next down from "diplomatic" status) in countries other than your home, huge support systems for first-time expatriates, benefits at developed country government levels. Downside is that staffing is based upon a quota system rooted to a great extent in the politics of their ownership (sovereigns) and initial contracts are for three years or so. They pay relocation both directions. Great way to get out there, travel extensively (I was on the road 50-70% while based in Asia) at top hotels on their dime, and meet some fairly important people in client governments and local business that you can leverage later, if you don't want to stay. Generally a good place to spend years 4-8, if you're not on the golden path in your current job.

 

[Aliblahba]

Ive been working abroad for seven years. The hardest part is finding that first break. Be tenacious. If you want it bad enough it will happen. Once you get your foot in the door network. A lot of opportunities are found by networking. Talk to as many people as you can. I purposely schedule long layovers and arrive in the airports early to B.S. with professionals in the bars. Always dress accordingly and keep you credentials on throw away thumbdrives.

When you're abroad and working you become more marketable to prospective employers. Don't lose that momentum once it starts. I made a lot of sacrafice in the beginning, but the dividends were worth it.

 

[Hooligan Harry]

Viralate and anyone else who works abroad in the resource sectors, I'd like to pick your brains for a minute, of all those exotic locales you've worked in (remote Canada, damn where were you, Labrador, Flin Flon, NWT?? brrrr), what place did you like working the most?

Which place had the best combination of good money, safe, good locals to work with , decent camp accommodation, food, etc.

I'm asking because the chance to work abroad will definitely come up for me (again) in the future and I'd like to do it. However, I've been told by a few people who've done so that its not all its cracked up to be.

one old guy I met on a job site, who had worked all over the world in his 40 year career, told me something like this "listen kid, a job site is a job site, its doesn't matter if you're in Kuwait, Brazil Canada or Algeria; you wake up, go to work, go to bed and do the same thing everyday until you're rotation is up then you go home. You make good money here in Fort Mac, its safe, and you can take lots of leave, make your money here then spend it abroad traveling".

Its makes sense to me and thats basically what I"m doing, what are your guys' thoughts?

Dude Im fortunate in that I dont work on site, but I do travel from site to site a hell of a lot, so have been to tons of them. The old guy you spoke to could not have been more correct in what he said. It does not matter where you are, when you are on site you might as well be on the moon in the vast majority of cases. They are remote and they are pretty shit.

But what they offer is great pay and a lot of time off, and they also become a mini base for you to work from and hit up the countries for a few weeks at a time that are close by. Its a lifestyle built for single men.

With regards to the conditions provided in the camps, thats not based on the countries, thats based more on the companies you work for. They have to provide everything from security to food. They try to make it as comfortable as they can though, purely because skills are tough to find and they dont want the turnover.

 

[scotian]

Viralate and anyone else who works abroad in the resource sectors, I'd like to pick your brains for a minute, of all those exotic locales you've worked in (remote Canada, damn where were you, Labrador, Flin Flon, NWT?? brrrr), what place did you like working the most?

Which place had the best combination of good money, safe, good locals to work with , decent camp accommodation, food, etc.

I'm asking because the chance to work abroad will definitely come up for me (again) in the future and I'd like to do it. However, I've been told by a few people who've done so that its not all its cracked up to be.

one old guy I met on a job site, who had worked all over the world in his 40 year career, told me something like this "listen kid, a job site is a job site, its doesn't matter if you're in Kuwait, Brazil Canada or Algeria; you wake up, go to work, go to bed and do the same thing everyday until you're rotation is up then you go home. You make good money here in Fort Mac, its safe, and you can take lots of leave, make your money here then spend it abroad traveling".

Its makes sense to me and thats basically what I"m doing, what are your guys' thoughts?

Dude Im fortunate in that I dont work on site, but I do travel from site to site a hell of a lot, so have been to tons of them. The old guy you spoke to could not have been more correct in what he said. It does not matter where you are, when you are on site you might as well be on the moon in the vast majority of cases. They are remote and they are pretty shit.

But what they offer is great pay and a lot of time off, and they also become a mini base for you to work from and hit up the countries for a few weeks at a time that are close by. Its a lifestyle built for single men.

With regards to the conditions provided in the camps, thats not based on the countries, thats based more on the companies you work for. They have to provide everything from security to food. They try to make it as comfortable as they can though, purely because skills are tough to find and they dont want the turnover.

Thanks Harry, pretty much what I thought, I've put in some serious time in work camps over the years. Some are really nice, great food, clean, etc.

Some are FUCKING DUMPS though, one I stayed at last year for 1 week had bears breaking into our camp trailers, into the kitchen, one moring I got into my work truck and theres fuckin bear paw prints all over the engine bonnet and wind shield!!! Another one, I contacted a nasty ass infection called MRSA, not cool!!

Yes this job lifestyle is built for single men like me, thats why I love it (for now), its also really good at making married men single too!!!

 

[Aliblahba]

The worst thing about remote sites is listening to to married guys bitching. Their wives are fucking somone and spending all the money. Ive worked with DOZENS of guys that go back with ZERO in the bank. Some stay here because the wife wont let them come home.

This is the single mans life.

 

[BackToBasics]

The worst thing about remote sites is listening to to married guys bitching. Their wives are fucking somone and spending all the money. Ive worked with DOZENS of guys that go back with ZERO in the bank. Some stay here because the wife wont let them come home.

This is the single mans life.

THIS.

There is nothing more aggravating that having to lose an entire day of work because your co-worker had a bad phone call and is spending the next 24 hours paranoid until they can sort it out on the next contact. Then you get to groan to yourself when he goes full beta and is alloting tens of thousands (hundreds of thousands in one case I knew) trying to buy off her loyalty. Then you shake your head and pat him on the back as the inevitable occurs, and he has to burn leave time on divorce proceedings.

Probably sucks to be that chump too. :amuse:

Bottom-line, if you're leaving behind anything you're going to worry about, DO NOT LEAVE. Life is about choosing your priorities, and working overseas is too huge a commitment to play second-banana to anything not overseas. If this isn't your top priority, DON'T DO IT.

 

[scotian]

The worst thing about remote sites is listening to to married guys bitching. Their wives are fucking somone and spending all the money. Ive worked with DOZENS of guys that go back with ZERO in the bank. Some stay here because the wife wont let them come home.

This is the single mans life.

Ali you are, of course, absolutely right! I've seen it too many times, guy works his bag off up north making big $ (and spending big $ too!) and he then attracts some gold digger whore who likes the all inclusive trips down south, designer hand bags, shopping in Vegas, etc. Then he decides, fuck this, I don't wanna work away forever, I want to work 40 hours/week and be home every night, and just like that, the bitch is gone and usually takes everything with her!

So long as I work in camp and away for long periods of time, I will remain single, its fucking stupid to start a new relationship under those conditions!

 

[xmlenigma]

I have to say there are truths on both the sides. But, its too diverse and too many parameters to discuss.

Some guys are talking blue collar and trades, some guys are talking degree, some technical, some accounting and some financial/ banking, some IT and some non-IT engineering.

Its so variable that I think you got to get specific.

Yes, some companies & countries in certain areas will BOW DOWN & hire US/UK expats for crazy $$$ & packages.
Other places, your US experiences may not be the BEST to handle / manage the LOCAL drama/ staff / operations.
Other places you could be a great resource to be a liason to the western world, others you could be too Americanized for their chaotic way of working..

So when you do step out.. get specifics on the Area of Expertise/ Education & Specifics of getting into that country.

PS: As someone mentioned a Portuguese knowing engineer could not find a company to sponsor work visa after 4 months of living in Brazil.

At the same time, when I asked GM he said its pretty cool & easy as there are lots of expats in SP, but when I applied online to several MNCs, no replies and I realized that the Visa & working Language is an issue. Then again, GM said, he knows of Expats working in SP, who might not have started with knowledge of Portuguese.. SO I've asked him to FIND OUT.. how they got through.. to the companies and so on..

 

[Pilgrim37]

Viralate and anyone else who works abroad in the resource sectors, I'd like to pick your brains for a minute, of all those exotic locales you've worked in (remote Canada, damn where were you, Labrador, Flin Flon, NWT?? brrrr), what place did you like working the most?

Which place had the best combination of good money, safe, good locals to work with , decent camp accommodation, food, etc.

I'm asking because the chance to work abroad will definitely come up for me (again) in the future and I'd like to do it. However, I've been told by a few people who've done so that its not all its cracked up to be.

one old guy I met on a job site, who had worked all over the world in his 40 year career, told me something like this "listen kid, a job site is a job site, its doesn't matter if you're in Kuwait, Brazil Canada or Algeria; you wake up, go to work, go to bed and do the same thing everyday until you're rotation is up then you go home. You make good money here in Fort Mac, its safe, and you can take lots of leave, make your money here then spend it abroad traveling".

Its makes sense to me and thats basically what I"m doing, what are your guys' thoughts?

That Old Guy was correct..heed his words.

My Dad did the expat construction tour for about a decade too long..into his 60's.
Although ,my mother enjoyed going to some of the places,Turkey,Iran in the 70's before the Islamic takeover,...most of the places were remote in hell holes either service wise or culturally,Nigeria,Saudi,Tanzania,Korea.

After a nice cushty posting in France my Dad decided on another posting to the Middle East Kuwait and Saudi.
That was the straw that broke the camels back and my ma quit.

It's a lifestyle that's a novelty for a while, but if you're married or in LTR you better choose decent places to work ,or don't do it for more than a few years...otherwise you'll be divorced before you know it.
I'm not sure how my ma put up with being stuck indoors in some of those hellholes everyday!

 

[americanInEurope]

From my experience if you don't have a security clearance or don't work in IT or banking, the chances of you getting a high paying job overseas is nill. And even when you work in IT and/or banking, a lot of the time you have to compete with locals that are just as qualified. Working a clearance job for the US gov't is increasingly becoming the only way to work overseas and make a decent living.

 

[rozayINTL]

Even in investment banking/wealth management I'm not sure that it's easy to transition abroad. At least not from the U.S. to a south american country. I'd love to be proven wrong on that though.