What would you do ? Good steady job Vs Working abroad...
Discussion
Just interested to see other peoples perspectives or even experiences if they have found themselves in a similar position :
You have a good steady job, decent salary, good job Vs work life balance, little stress etc... no need to actively look for a job so to speak. Easy to plod along and do what you need to do. No desire per say to actively look for another job.
However you have an itch that needs itching : work abroad and chase the money for a few years.
I’m <30 so a good 5 years away wouldn’t impact my career what so ever, I’m young enough to make the change I’m both employment and lifestyle and would still have a good 20+ years working life left.
Background is engineering so there a plenty of opportunities out there abroad....
Like I say no need to be seeking alternative employment just an itch and a desire that needs exploring. The downside if you do go through with alternative employment you may have burnt a bridge locally....
So what have/ would you do if you were in a similar situation ?
You have a good steady job, decent salary, good job Vs work life balance, little stress etc... no need to actively look for a job so to speak. Easy to plod along and do what you need to do. No desire per say to actively look for another job.
However you have an itch that needs itching : work abroad and chase the money for a few years.
I’m <30 so a good 5 years away wouldn’t impact my career what so ever, I’m young enough to make the change I’m both employment and lifestyle and would still have a good 20+ years working life left.
Background is engineering so there a plenty of opportunities out there abroad....
Like I say no need to be seeking alternative employment just an itch and a desire that needs exploring. The downside if you do go through with alternative employment you may have burnt a bridge locally....
So what have/ would you do if you were in a similar situation ?
I'm in a similar situation currently.
Worked for the same company for 15 years now, had various sales positions within its different divisions, I'm 41 now and from 05 to 15 I chased the dollar. Worked long hours travelled lots and loved it, after 2 kids I moved to another division and took a higher basic but no commission but gained work life balance.
Now I've decided to leave the group as I'm a bit bored if truth be told, they are trying to keep me on by matching salary etc but I just feel I'm done.
I keep waking up in cold sweats hoping I've made the right decision after all I have a secure job with a global brand, just something feels like it needs changing.
I'd say do it whilst you can, my biggest regret was not trying harder to move to the US to work. Always fancied it and could have probably moved with current company just never put my mind really into it.
Worked for the same company for 15 years now, had various sales positions within its different divisions, I'm 41 now and from 05 to 15 I chased the dollar. Worked long hours travelled lots and loved it, after 2 kids I moved to another division and took a higher basic but no commission but gained work life balance.
Now I've decided to leave the group as I'm a bit bored if truth be told, they are trying to keep me on by matching salary etc but I just feel I'm done.
I keep waking up in cold sweats hoping I've made the right decision after all I have a secure job with a global brand, just something feels like it needs changing.
I'd say do it whilst you can, my biggest regret was not trying harder to move to the US to work. Always fancied it and could have probably moved with current company just never put my mind really into it.
If it were me, I would go.
What is to say that the company you have left for pastures new, would still be here when you get back? Companies evolve at a rapid pace nowadays.
You would probably return a far wiser and experienced person, hopefully with a good language under your belt. You may be more useful to them when you get back than what you are now?
Having English and being abroad can be a great thing, especially if your foreign company has dealings with the UK, USA, India, Canada, NZ etc.…
If you were to go, make sure you never say goodbye to the technology, whatever technology you are involved with. 3 years is a long time away from a CAD screen for example.
If I had my time again at your age, (I’m 55, mechanical engineering for 34 years) I would go.
I was approached by a Zurich based company via a head-hunter, about 21 years ago. I hesitated as to whether I should go to the London interview, so they offered to forego that and fly me to Zurich all expenses paid for the weekend for a chat. Inferring it was almost a shoe-in! I’d only bought my present house 18 months prior so I was in no mood for yet another big change. I could have gone for the chat if nothing else… In my top 3 of life’s biggest regrets so far…
What is to say that the company you have left for pastures new, would still be here when you get back? Companies evolve at a rapid pace nowadays.
You would probably return a far wiser and experienced person, hopefully with a good language under your belt. You may be more useful to them when you get back than what you are now?
Having English and being abroad can be a great thing, especially if your foreign company has dealings with the UK, USA, India, Canada, NZ etc.…
If you were to go, make sure you never say goodbye to the technology, whatever technology you are involved with. 3 years is a long time away from a CAD screen for example.
If I had my time again at your age, (I’m 55, mechanical engineering for 34 years) I would go.
I was approached by a Zurich based company via a head-hunter, about 21 years ago. I hesitated as to whether I should go to the London interview, so they offered to forego that and fly me to Zurich all expenses paid for the weekend for a chat. Inferring it was almost a shoe-in! I’d only bought my present house 18 months prior so I was in no mood for yet another big change. I could have gone for the chat if nothing else… In my top 3 of life’s biggest regrets so far…
You are treating the 2 as mutually exclusive, they are not, they can be complementary. I've spent large chunks of my career working overseas.
It gives me an advantage. Firstly I'm more flexible, so the company has greater opportunity to find me a job (my priority is s
t locations as there's more money & less people want to go). Secondly I have better experience the company needs.
Probably not the greatest time to be trying it but go for it, you really can't go wrong & it's only to your benefit,
It gives me an advantage. Firstly I'm more flexible, so the company has greater opportunity to find me a job (my priority is s
t locations as there's more money & less people want to go). Secondly I have better experience the company needs. Probably not the greatest time to be trying it but go for it, you really can't go wrong & it's only to your benefit,
Do it while you can. I was UK sector for all my working career until 4 years ago. Jumped on the opportunity to earn +40% more for the sacrifice of being away from home 50-60% of the year. Its a sacrifice I've made willingly to put me in a good position moving forward. FWIW I'm just turned 40 and hope that I have another 2-5 years overseas. 2 years clears the mortgage, 5 years puts me close to retiring from this industry and starting a small business at home.
If you do it just try not to adjust your lifestyle to your new income. It's very easy to fall into the trap of spending the extra dosh on fun and fancy things under the justification that you've worked hard for them. You have, but I guarantee you that if you don't commit to banking / investing a good portion of the extra money you will regret it when you come back to the UK sector.
If you do it just try not to adjust your lifestyle to your new income. It's very easy to fall into the trap of spending the extra dosh on fun and fancy things under the justification that you've worked hard for them. You have, but I guarantee you that if you don't commit to banking / investing a good portion of the extra money you will regret it when you come back to the UK sector.
I took an opportunity to move to Paris with work when I was 29. I spent two years there, and although there were frustrations it was a good experience. The downside was that when I came back to HQ in the UK, there wasn't a proper role available for me (watch out for this, it's a classic problem with internal transfers).
Rather than slog my way through endless internal interviews for a new role, I took up an opportunity with a different company in Southern California when I was 31. That was the move that changed my life: although I've bounced around a bit since then (Delaware USA, London again, Amsterdam, London yet again) I'm now happily settled in Los Angeles at the age of 48, all because I loved it here the first time around.
There's no guarantees that every foreign move will be great (I hated working in Amsterdam), but if you don't try it you'll always wonder!
Rather than slog my way through endless internal interviews for a new role, I took up an opportunity with a different company in Southern California when I was 31. That was the move that changed my life: although I've bounced around a bit since then (Delaware USA, London again, Amsterdam, London yet again) I'm now happily settled in Los Angeles at the age of 48, all because I loved it here the first time around.
There's no guarantees that every foreign move will be great (I hated working in Amsterdam), but if you don't try it you'll always wonder!
I work overseas and have been for nearly twenty years, in the construction business, i wish i had done it twenty years earlier. Ive loved 95% of it, some st locations or idiots in the work team that you have to put up with but theyre issues that i can work around in my head, so not really big issues.
On the plus side, i do sometimes work in some fantastic locations in Asia, always close to the sea, so not far to go for a nice weekend break to a resort or hotel, great salaries (to buy toys with when i get home), you meet a great diversity of work colleagues and make some great friends, oh and job satisfaction. Negative side is missing family (but they sometimes come out for holidays), having to fly back overseas after having a great break at home, idiots at work.
I had a good steady job (for life) in the UK before i went overseas, its just that im not one for sitting still and was given a great opprtunity to go to my first assignment overseas and thats what kicked it all off and im still doing the rounds. Worked in Vietnam for around 12 years off and on, Thailand for 2 years, (nearly killed my liver), Indonesia for 4 years, now back in Vietnam.
t locations or idiots in the work team that you have to put up with but theyre issues that i can work around in my head, so not really big issues.On the plus side, i do sometimes work in some fantastic locations in Asia, always close to the sea, so not far to go for a nice weekend break to a resort or hotel, great salaries (to buy toys with when i get home), you meet a great diversity of work colleagues and make some great friends, oh and job satisfaction. Negative side is missing family (but they sometimes come out for holidays), having to fly back overseas after having a great break at home, idiots at work.
I had a good steady job (for life) in the UK before i went overseas, its just that im not one for sitting still and was given a great opprtunity to go to my first assignment overseas and thats what kicked it all off and im still doing the rounds. Worked in Vietnam for around 12 years off and on, Thailand for 2 years, (nearly killed my liver), Indonesia for 4 years, now back in Vietnam.
I worked (also in engineering) in the UK until about 8 years ago but was getting in to a rut. A great opportunity came up to work in Germany and I took it, and I'm still here.
It changed my life in so many, many positive (but only a couple of negative personal) ways and I'm so glad I did it, my life has never been better. I often think "if I hadn't tried it I would never have experienced a,b,c,d,e,f,g... etc"
And this is the advice I would give. You're young and have a long and hopefully interesting life ahead. Do it, you can always go back home.
It changed my life in so many, many positive (but only a couple of negative personal) ways and I'm so glad I did it, my life has never been better. I often think "if I hadn't tried it I would never have experienced a,b,c,d,e,f,g... etc"
And this is the advice I would give. You're young and have a long and hopefully interesting life ahead. Do it, you can always go back home.
At your age I would.
Not really the same situation, as this was all.within one big company, but a few years ago when I was 27 I was offered a job abroad and took it. Three years living overseas, it was fantastic. Great experience, made new friends, did something different at work and paid off the mortgage.
The project came to an end and we're all back doing different things but whenever I talk to anyone I was over there with we agree it was probably the high point and we'll struggle to find anything as good again!
Not really the same situation, as this was all.within one big company, but a few years ago when I was 27 I was offered a job abroad and took it. Three years living overseas, it was fantastic. Great experience, made new friends, did something different at work and paid off the mortgage.
The project came to an end and we're all back doing different things but whenever I talk to anyone I was over there with we agree it was probably the high point and we'll struggle to find anything as good again!
Thanks guys, just needed a little reassurance I suppose 🤪
Totally understand the comment re money and lifestyle, I am pretty structured and have a plan so I’m not fritting money away so to speak.
My wife and I have been reading into it a fair bit the past few weeks (Although it won’t be until my child is born) we are fairly set on Bahrain to begin with. I have a friend out there who works for a large company so im hoping it’ll be a good start. Failing that there’s plenty of civils/project engineers being advertised.
Probably one for a different topic (and something I’ll be taking professional advice on) how did you “bring your money” back - assuming you’re in a tax free country I have a read that there a limitations you how long you can stay in the UK (30 days? ) for the first year etc...
Totally understand the comment re money and lifestyle, I am pretty structured and have a plan so I’m not fritting money away so to speak.
My wife and I have been reading into it a fair bit the past few weeks (Although it won’t be until my child is born) we are fairly set on Bahrain to begin with. I have a friend out there who works for a large company so im hoping it’ll be a good start. Failing that there’s plenty of civils/project engineers being advertised.
Probably one for a different topic (and something I’ll be taking professional advice on) how did you “bring your money” back - assuming you’re in a tax free country I have a read that there a limitations you how long you can stay in the UK (30 days? ) for the first year etc...
-BFG- said:
Probably one for a different topic (and something I’ll be taking professional advice on) how did you “bring your money” back - assuming you’re in a tax free country I have a read that there a limitations you how long you can stay in the UK (30 days? ) for the first year etc...
Simplistically if you work full time overseas, it's 90 days in your first complete tax year.In the absence of local regulations to the contrary, I have money paid directly into my UK bank account
Agree with most of the above.
I started a similar thread on here 10-11 years ago which led to a series of discussions with a PHer and an interview for a Role in Cape Town. I didn’t land the job but the experience affirmed that a global role was what I needed for long term satisfaction and contributed a lot to instilling the self belief that I could make it stick.
I left uk 10yrs ago, aged 30, for what was in my head a 3 year gig. My job in UK was as secure as it could be, I could have snoozed my way through to retirement. My job here is performance based but ‘those who can’ do very well and there’s a proven track record of those starting at the bottom making it to the very top. Having said that there are also more than a few plodders who have been around forever and will be here forever more. Companies need plodders just as much as they need go-getters.
I used to be a project engineer but now work centrally on engineering/project governance and globally to implement/audit/troubleshoot when needed. I used to travel a lot and have some fantastic stories, less so now although I’m about to deploy to Africa again for a few months. My role can be frustrating but I could never describe it as dull or uninteresting. I also started an unrelated side business last year that is doing well and allows me to implement elements of my day job into something that could well match my current salary.
At 40 I’m now looking at what comes next. I don’t expect it will involve a move to UK even though there are internal roles on offer, and in any case I’d much prefer not to. One thing I’d say about global engineering companies is that there’s always expansion and areas of the business that are underperforming or mismanaged by locally recruited personnel. With a reputation for being able to affect change (and GTO’s mindset of being willing to travel where others won’t) then there’s always work available.
Overall I’m more than glad I made the change. I still find it a privilege to live in places I’d never otherwise visit and work with people whose lives are so different to mine. My whole outlook on life has been changed and I’ve never once thought ‘what If’ about that easy street to retirement.
I started a similar thread on here 10-11 years ago which led to a series of discussions with a PHer and an interview for a Role in Cape Town. I didn’t land the job but the experience affirmed that a global role was what I needed for long term satisfaction and contributed a lot to instilling the self belief that I could make it stick.
I left uk 10yrs ago, aged 30, for what was in my head a 3 year gig. My job in UK was as secure as it could be, I could have snoozed my way through to retirement. My job here is performance based but ‘those who can’ do very well and there’s a proven track record of those starting at the bottom making it to the very top. Having said that there are also more than a few plodders who have been around forever and will be here forever more. Companies need plodders just as much as they need go-getters.
I used to be a project engineer but now work centrally on engineering/project governance and globally to implement/audit/troubleshoot when needed. I used to travel a lot and have some fantastic stories, less so now although I’m about to deploy to Africa again for a few months. My role can be frustrating but I could never describe it as dull or uninteresting. I also started an unrelated side business last year that is doing well and allows me to implement elements of my day job into something that could well match my current salary.
At 40 I’m now looking at what comes next. I don’t expect it will involve a move to UK even though there are internal roles on offer, and in any case I’d much prefer not to. One thing I’d say about global engineering companies is that there’s always expansion and areas of the business that are underperforming or mismanaged by locally recruited personnel. With a reputation for being able to affect change (and GTO’s mindset of being willing to travel where others won’t) then there’s always work available.
Overall I’m more than glad I made the change. I still find it a privilege to live in places I’d never otherwise visit and work with people whose lives are so different to mine. My whole outlook on life has been changed and I’ve never once thought ‘what If’ about that easy street to retirement.
-BFG- said:
Thanks guys, just needed a little reassurance I suppose ??
Totally understand the comment re money and lifestyle, I am pretty structured and have a plan so I’m not fritting money away so to speak.
My wife and I have been reading into it a fair bit the past few weeks (Although it won’t be until my child is born) we are fairly set on Bahrain to begin with. I have a friend out there who works for a large company so im hoping it’ll be a good start. Failing that there’s plenty of civils/project engineers being advertised.
Are you taking <wife + v.small baby> with you...or planning to be abroad, returning periodically for up to the 90days in total each year?Totally understand the comment re money and lifestyle, I am pretty structured and have a plan so I’m not fritting money away so to speak.
My wife and I have been reading into it a fair bit the past few weeks (Although it won’t be until my child is born) we are fairly set on Bahrain to begin with. I have a friend out there who works for a large company so im hoping it’ll be a good start. Failing that there’s plenty of civils/project engineers being advertised.
I think that would weigh on my mind....if they stay, does she have a decent support network? If the come with you, how well will she cope? Behind every successful man is a strong woman!
All cases are different, but a young baby can be a draining thing, especially the first born!
I’ve not worked abroad, but have worked for US companies for over 30 years: *many* trips across the pond (& round Europe), for up to 3 weeks at a time. Enough to convince me there is nowhere in the US I would like to live “permanently”
Our second was born months before a made a major (& risky!) leap to what was essentially a US-based startup. Best fiscal & career decision I have made. SWMBO had family support near: although I was at home, the hours were long the first few years.
Aside from that, I too would urge the appalling YOLO-driven words: go for it!
mikeiow said:
Are you taking <wife + v.small baby> with you...or planning to be abroad, returning periodically for up to the 90days in total each year?
I think that would weigh on my mind....if they stay, does she have a decent support network? If the come with you, how well will she cope? Behind every successful man is a strong woman!
All cases are different, but a young baby can be a draining thing, especially the first born!
Support network for mum is VERY important, especially if you are working hard to secure your role and build your career.I think that would weigh on my mind....if they stay, does she have a decent support network? If the come with you, how well will she cope? Behind every successful man is a strong woman!
All cases are different, but a young baby can be a draining thing, especially the first born!
Again thanks for the input it’s all duly noted.
We will be going as a family, My wife’s done a fair bit of reading up of what to expect lifestyle etc...(although it’s not the real deal) I/we will have a good friend and his wife for support.
I am well aware of the commitment/sacrifices my wife is making for me.
I plan on looking for a 3 bed apartment/villa so there will always be the option of flying friends/family out should it get a little too much.
They are in a similar position with a new born and also speak the local language.
We will be going as a family, My wife’s done a fair bit of reading up of what to expect lifestyle etc...(although it’s not the real deal) I/we will have a good friend and his wife for support.
I am well aware of the commitment/sacrifices my wife is making for me.
I plan on looking for a 3 bed apartment/villa so there will always be the option of flying friends/family out should it get a little too much.
They are in a similar position with a new born and also speak the local language.
I went a while ago, but more because I just felt the urge to travel and see new things rather than work abroad. I also wasn't happy with my career, so didn't do anything to maintain it in the 4 years I was away. I got a couple of random jobs as I stayed abroad as well as running a travel blog to support myself.
I came back with a wife and child to my old career after 4 years, so although maybe it could be argued I dropped my career opportunities a bit, I don't think I've harmed myself by doing it. Usually it's of interest to employers anyway, rather than a sea of the same CVs of non-risk taking people 'focusing on their careers' and forgoing living a little.
That said, it's probably bad timing to do such a thing, many countries are shut for visitors now, which will add a headache to it all. And I see you aren't going alone either, which makes it more complicated too. Still, if you aren't settled/saddled with a mortgage and multiple older kids, then go asap rather than sit on the idea before it comes more difficult, as it does as you get older with more responsibilities. I could make it work now, but the incentive and guarantees would have to be solid and large to attract me from my position now (mortgaged home owner with 3 kids).
I came back with a wife and child to my old career after 4 years, so although maybe it could be argued I dropped my career opportunities a bit, I don't think I've harmed myself by doing it. Usually it's of interest to employers anyway, rather than a sea of the same CVs of non-risk taking people 'focusing on their careers' and forgoing living a little.
That said, it's probably bad timing to do such a thing, many countries are shut for visitors now, which will add a headache to it all. And I see you aren't going alone either, which makes it more complicated too. Still, if you aren't settled/saddled with a mortgage and multiple older kids, then go asap rather than sit on the idea before it comes more difficult, as it does as you get older with more responsibilities. I could make it work now, but the incentive and guarantees would have to be solid and large to attract me from my position now (mortgaged home owner with 3 kids).
If you have few repsonsibilities in the UK, then take the opportunities. I had some great experiences in the past -mostly not the actual work bit, which can be the same anywhere.
Having said that, "abroad" can mean working in a great location, with fantastic culture and/or activities, or working shifts in a secure compound in the middle of nowhere/the sea with no experiences outside of work beyond transfers to the airport. It's not always better.
Having said that, "abroad" can mean working in a great location, with fantastic culture and/or activities, or working shifts in a secure compound in the middle of nowhere/the sea with no experiences outside of work beyond transfers to the airport. It's not always better.
Gassing Station | Jobs & Employment Matters | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff