Why do you want to live and work abroad?
Photo by Annel Peralta, a Filipino accountant living and working abroad
“When I first arrived here, I took on many jobs. I was a nanny. I was a cleaner. I was a nurse. Back in my country, I was licensed. But here, your license means nothing. I even know of a domestic helper who used to be a lawyer,” said Tita* as she showed me her graduation pictures from a 1990s yearbook.
In her cozy apartment that she has rented for more than ten years, I listened to her reminisce of a younger Tita* who first arrived in that country with doe-wide eyes and fear in her heart.
She told me how she hustled and dreamed and hustled more until finally, she is a recognized citizen with two passports—one from the Philippines and one from Belgium.
Back in the ’90s, people like Tita* thought of being overseas workers as the ultimate dream. But along with it comes the label that if you’re an overseas worker, you fall under any of these categories: a domestic helper, an au pair, a manual laborer, a cook, etc.
When you get out of the country back then, nobody expects you to to practice your profession.
Stop the willy-nilly.
When you see your previous colleagues rocking a winter outfit on a snowy day while you’re out walking sweated in the hot streets of Makati for client fieldwork, how does that make you feel?
When people around you start leaving for greener pastures, cooler weather, or a heavier pocket, you’ll have this compulsion to do the same. It’s normal. It’s human nature to desire something better for yourself.
But before you get excited, think about your intention. Why do you want to work abroad?
Money? Career?
The prevailing thought is money.
Focusing on money alone doesn’t help you in the long run. Most of your other colleagues think of the same thing. If you’re all after the money, your job search will come out randomly and all-over-the-place.
You will take whatever opportunity comes along through a headhunter, for example, as long as you know that it will give you the ticket out.
But if you’re someone approaching all this with an intention and a clear goal, here’s what you can do. Marry money with something else. Something like:
- Money + independence
- Money + industry experience
- Money + culture (people’s behavior and attitude toward foreigners)
- Money + work culture
- Money + specific company
- Money + skillset
- Money + internal environment (conditions at work)
- Money + external environment (general conditions of the country)
- Money + connections
The more combinations you can get, the better. Then rank.
For example, when I decided to work abroad, here’s the combination that worked for me: independence +skillset + internal & external environment + money.
I wanted a country where I can be independent. My definition of independent is not knowing anyone else and not having a close friend/relative nearby.
I wanted a work environment where I can re-use my existing skill set and experience without starting anew. That means either I get accepted in the same firm or the same role.
I also wanted a safe, peaceful, and cozy environment where I can cultivate my ideas and get inspired by the view.
And finally, I wanted compensation that will satisfy the lifestyle I’m comfortable with.
If you look at my list, it might seem like too much to ask.
But the moment you start defining what you want, your search gets tailored and narrowed down. You don’t get into the blunder of submitting multiple resumes to different companies in different locations and getting rejected in most of them.
That happened in the first few months of my career journey.
When it does happen, you’ll feel as if you already failed when you’re just getting started.
Weigh yourself against the limiting beliefs.
Living and working abroad is not for most people, especially if you’re already happy and content with your current situation. If some people are all for the money and the prestige that comes with living and working abroad, you might hesitate because of any of the following reasons:
- You’re a family-oriented person. You cannot stand being away from your family for long periods.
- You’re not comfortable dealing with people from different cultures and nationalities. You lack the courage to speak up and accept feedback without emotional attachment.
- You’re not a risk-taker. You just like being in your comfort zone.
- You’re not fluent in English. You know the basics but you struggle to explain business without using your local tongue.
- You lack the skill set that will make you successful in an international setting. You don’t possess the technical knowledge or soft skills that will enable you to thrive.
- You don’t have an expansion mindset. You’re okay with your current circle of friends/connections and you do not see yourself building a wider network in the future.
I’m not saying that accountants who are already living and working abroad are the exact opposites of the above. On the contrary, they are people who already dealt with their limiting beliefs before deciding.
Weigh your ability to bypass most of these limiting beliefs. Items 4 and 5 are easy to conquer. But with the rest of the list, you need deep thinking and inner conviction. Talk to people and ask for their perspectives.
If you can’t beat your limitations but still want to test yourself in an international environment, think about alternatives. You can also apply to a short-term mobility stint or engage in freelance work dealing with clients from different countries.
As for me, initially, I thought I wasn’t cut-out for living and working abroad. But a 7-month mobility stint in Singapore erased that doubt.
In Singapore, I learned firsthand the differences of culture and the nuances of dealing with people. The experience changed me. It awakened the wanderlust in me. After those seven months, I knew that I had to get out again.
I cannot fit myself in a comfort zone. I want to keep exploring.
If a seven-month experience from a small country can widen my perspective, what more can years of experience in a different country do?
Photo by Semina Psichogiopoulou on Unsplash
Attack the application process with gusto.
Once you’ve narrowed your search and dealt with your hesitations, start applying. This phase of the process warrants a separate article but I’ll give some major tips to gear you up.
When you look for jobs abroad, you have several options:
- Apply through a headhunter or recruitment agency.
- Browse through company websites and apply to them directly.
- Ask for referral from a colleague who’s already working at your target company.
This is also where having clear goals factors in heavily. If you did well in the narrowing down process, you’ll end up with less than five companies to impress.
Less than five companies to apply for seems to be a scary number. What if you don’t get accepted to all of them? But your target is to get accepted to at least one, right? At least one of these companies meets your criteria.
So…attack the application process with gusto to secure an offer from at least one of them.
Give it your best shot in the cover letter, the curriculum vitae/resume, and the interview. Don’t hold back for a bit.
The general rules for creating a clear, grammatically-free resume still apply. But if you want to highlight yourself from the competition, play to your strengths.
List down the relevant experience that you have. Be specific to the requirements of the role.
Tailor-fit your resume to each of these companies. For example, if you’re applying for a role where there is a need for PCAOB or IFRS experience, make sure you highlight that.
Final Thoughts
Back in the living room where I sat facing Tita*, I saw the past and future staring at each other with equal interest.
I (a young, inexperienced accountant) am a product of a world driven by technology and endless opportunity for the skilled and the capable. Tita, older, wiser, and more experienced, is a product of a system that believed in luck and hustling rather than ability.
But both of us are dreamers who refused to settle in our comfort zones. Using different methods, we extracted ourselves from our birth country and dipped our toes into a foreign land.
At some point, you’ll find yourself in our shoes, too.
For you, living and working abroad will be a journey of discovery, reflection, and change. That journey is what you make out of it.
Stop wondering and asking people whether living and working abroad as an accountant is worth it.
Experience it. Then, let your experience answer that for you.
“Why do you go away? So that you can come back. So that you can see the place you came from with new eyes and extra colors. And the people there see you differently, too. Coming back to where you started is not the same as never leaving.” – Terry Pratchett, A Hat Full of Sky
This is Part 1 of a 3-part Audit Adventure (Audventures) series on living and working abroad as an accountant/auditor in a public accounting firm. In Part 2, prepare for the move and in Part 3, learn how to survive in a new country.
P.S. Are you still looking for an opportunity to live and work abroad? Join other accountants and auditors shaping a happy and meaningful career, whether inside or outside your country. Subscribe to Busy Season Journals.
*Tita is not her real name. It is a Filipino term of endearment for an older woman, whether a relative or not.
