Wanderlust and Career Adventures

The ramblings of a millenial in Europe...

February this year I celebrated my one year anniversary since I decided to move to the Netherlands. A year into my journey felt like as good a time as any to look back, reflect and perhaps take the opportunity to share some of the most important lessons I have learned on my journey so far.

Below you will find 6 lessons, thoughts and my 2 cents worth of advice from my journey to date:

1.   Be sure about why you want to make the move.

Chances are that this will be the most significant change you will make in your career. Having a clear understanding of why you want to take this change is the first step towards having a truly international career.

Moving to Europe was something I had always dreamed about and when the opportunity came my way, I grabbed it both hands. The move overseas was about testing my limits and seeing what I was capable of as a young professional (and millennial) within HR.

Looking back over the last few months I have not only grown professionally but also had the opportunity to mature in areas within my personal life. Change is scary but can be extremely rewarding!

2. Do your research.

The more you know the better. Research is key to ensuring that your international move is not only seamless but also successful. Understanding your chosen destination will make all the difference.

Some of the key areas you should look into are:

- Visa regulations: e.g. moving to Europe is much easier if you hold an EU passport as this allows to work in most EU countries with little to no restrictions. Some companies, are however willing to sponsor international talent based on their technical skills and experience.

- Cost of living vs. Average salary: the cost of living varies across Europe and this will no doubt have a significant impact on your quality of life. Moving internationally for work is no doubt exciting but having a good understanding of how your finances will look and how to negotiate your new salary also extremely important.

- Tax systems: as the saying goes, there are two things in life that are inescapable - death and taxes. No matter where in the world you move, you will no doubt have to pay taxes. Take a moment to look into how the tax system in your new country works and don’t be afraid to seek professional advice when it comes to interacting with the tax authorities.

3. Have a plan A, plan B and Plan C.

Chances are things will not go as initially planned and the success of your international venture will depend on how adaptable you are as an individual. Do your best to balance being pragmatic and being optimistic - this step in your career is meant to be exciting but things will no doubt go wrong at one point or another. My mantra when things look a bit dark has always been “It’s all part of the adventure”.

4. Develop a thick skin.

The road to building an international career is filled with rejection and the ability to bounce back will definitely come in handy. I think I lost track of how many rejection emails I received before landing my first opportunity. My advice would be to remember who you are, what you have to offer and to keep throwing your hat in the ring until it lands.

5. Acknowledge the fact that you will be starting some things from scratch

Whilst your skills and experience will travel with you, your personal brand may not. Most of my energy over the last year and a half has been focused on how I wish to present myself professionally and re-establish my personal brand.

6. Network, network, network !

The HR & Talent Acquisition community in South Africa is a tight knit one and I felt I was pretty well connected. With my move to the Netherlands I now had to start the process of building my network all over again. Don’t understand the value of having a strong network and surrounding yourself with professionals that can open up doors, point you to opportunities and ultimately help you to grow. Consciously network, talk to people, be open to new things.