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Advice for talent on the move

Tue, 19 Aug 2008 12:35

By Jan Coetzee, Managing Director, Manpower South Africa

Today’s labour force is highly mobile in a way the world has never seen before. Talent is on the move, both within and across national borders, and as a result, the face of the global workforce is changing dramatically.

The reasons behind this trend are many, ranging from shifts in demographics to job requirements and a growing shortage of talent in areas such as Engineering and IT.

However, a large part comes down to the fact that individuals are increasingly willing and able to find employment far from their homes.

A recent Manpower Survey of nearly 30,000 people globally revealed that 79 percent of candidates are willing to relocate for work, and 44 percent of those surveyed had relocated in the past.

Nearly one third of the candidates are willing to move anywhere in the world, and moreover 40 percent are willing to make the move permanently.

The motivations for these moves are as varied as the people making them; however, there are certain challenges and preparations which must be considered by employees before taking this leap.

As you can imagine, there are many different reasons for candidates to relocate for their work or decide to stay put and it may not always be an easy decision.

Before making the move, candidates need to consider their reasons for leaving, and whether they are mentally, and emotionally, ready to deal with the upheaval.

If you are considering relocating internationally, think carefully about your motivation. Manpower’s survey revealed that over 82 percent of respondents would move primarily for increased pay.

If you are thinking about moving to improve your salary, you may find it useful to move to where your skills are in short supply. Surveys such as Manpower’s Talent Shortage Survey can help point you in the right direction for your specific skill set. Results of the survey can be obtained at www.manpower.co.za.

If your attraction to relocating is based on gaining new business experience and potentially climbing the career ladder more quickly, consider looking for a large, multinational employer.

Opportunities to relocate are relatively common in these large organisations and in fact many now consider international experience a prerequisite for senior management positions.

Many candidates, specifically the younger generation, move away from home for adventure, or to learn a language. More than 47 percent of those surveyed in Manpower’s Relocating for Work Survey said they would move to learn a new language (this was particularly true among women), while 51 percent said they would move to experience a new culture.

If you are moving for one of these reasons, do your homework. Take time to learn the language before you go, and if possible, contact an employment service firm to assist in setting up employment for you before you arrive.

Finally, be prepared for a difficult transition period. Think hard about how you will cope if you are moving far from family and friends. Mentally prepare for a new cultural environment, and perhaps, even prejudice in the workplace.

Think through all the possible administrative roadblocks. If your profession requires certain formal qualifications, clarify well in advance of your departure whether you will need to take further exams before being able to work. A credible employment services firm such as Manpower will be able to assist with this process.

Manpower recommends that all professionals relocating for work consider the following:

1. Research every aspect of your move. Contact a reputable employment agency, to assess the opportunities ahead as realistically as possible.

2. Carefully consider your reasons for leaving and expectations of what you want to get out of your move.

3. Don’t underestimate how difficult relocating can be. Ensure you have the right mindset to cope with the stresses and strains. Leading employment services firms often offer psychometric testing to assess how well you will cope with the move as well as offering more practical advice on settling and finding work in a new place.

4. Learn the language and research various facets of the culture to set your expectations. It could be very different from what you are used to, and business etiquette can vary considerably across the world.

5. Get in touch with your local professional body and that of your prospective new location to be sure you understand the nuances of your profession’s credentials if moving abroad, and be savvy about the host country’s labor market structure and employment practices.

6. Obtain legal advice on tax structures.

7. Research local immigration laws and be sure you understand if there are likely to be stumbling blocks, e.g. bringing family members with you.

Relocating for work can bring many benefits; whether they are financial, cultural, career or business-related. However, in all cases, workers need to carefully consider the implications of their relocation on every aspect of their lives.

They need to be realistic about the challenges that lie ahead as well as the enrichment that will be brought to their careers and cultural experiences that they will encounter as a result of working abroad.

Jan Coetzee is the Managing Director of Manpower South Africa, a subsidiary of Manpower Incorporated, the global employment services with over 4500 offices in 80 countries. In South Africa, Manpower was established in 1999 and currently operates from nineteen branches in Johannesburg, Pretoria, Durban and Cape Town.