for relocating partners: Careers GETTING STARTED
FOR THE ACCOMPANYING PARTNER AS WELL AS THE RELOCATING EMPLOYEE, RELOCATION OFFERS A RANGE OF OPPORTUNITIES TO ADVANCE CAREER PROSPECTS AND ENHANCE SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE. NARROWING DOWN THE OPTIONS, USING OUR HANDY CHECKLIST, IS A USEFUL STARTING POINT.
he majority of accompanying partners will be keen to make the most of life in their new location by seeking opportunities for employment and/ or training. Add to this the fact that many couples need both partners to be working in order for a relocation to be financially viable, and providing spousal careers support of some kind becomes something that make sound business sense for forward-thinking employers.
T Finding a job in a new area, or even a new country,
however, can be a daunting prospect, with many decisions to be made. To keep things simple, you may decide that you want to continue in a similar job, with a similar employer, in your new location – at least initially. Alternatively
the relocation can offer the exciting
prospect of moving into a new type of job or retraining in a new career area. How do you go about exploring the possibilities? And how do you make things happen? If you feel you’ve reached a ‘dead end’ with career development, career counselling could be what you need to get out of the rut. A career counsellor, consultant or coach will help you determine the direction you want your career to take, and identify local employment opportunities and learning resources. Cultural awareness, language assistance and visa requirements may also need to be covered. A counsellor can also help with job applications and CV and interview preparation. They can provide support via a range of methods – face to face or through telephone, Skype or email contact.
CONSIDERING YOUR OPTIONS Deciding on the right career and job for you at this point in your life is about considering:
• What do I want in a job? • What can I offer an employer? • What options are open to me? • How do I get in?
Start by asking yourself the following questions and jotting down your thoughts.
• What do I like most – and least – about my present job? • When was I happiest during my career? What was it about the job content/environment that worked for me?
• What kind of people do I enjoy working with? Next, consider the practicalities, such as:
• How long can you afford to spend jobhunting and getting established in your new job/career?
• How much do you need/want to earn, now and in the medium term?
• Are you able to spend time retraining? Full time or part time? For how long?
• How far are you prepared to commute? • What hours do you want to work?
You should be able to start drawing up a list of criteria for your new role. Large or small organisation? What kind of hours? How much contact with clients or colleagues? How desk-based? Commercial or community organisation? And so on. Working for oneself is becoming an increasingly popular career choice. Options includes starting your own business, going into partnership with a friend or colleague, buying a franchise, and freelancing or contracting for a number of different organisations. You may think that it’s not realistic to aim for your ideal
job straightaway. It’s true that some career aspirations require you to undergo extra training or build up experience first, but having a career goal will help you plan your next step. You need to consider what you can offer an employer
in terms of qualifications, experience, skills, and personal qualities and strengths
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