Are you a global citizen - Viewpoint - careers advice blog Viewpoint careers advice blog

Are you a global citizen - Viewpoint - careers advice blog There is lots of news around at the moment about the need for “skilled migration”, the importance of “transferable skills” and the shortage of “STEM skills” (science, technology, engineering and maths).  Yet, while companies expand globally and international travel becomes easier and cheaper, the world is growing smaller in terms of technology that gives us all easy access to video conferencing, social media and internet information.  This means that there is no longer the need to meet people face to face and travel to other locations as frequently as in the past.   It is all too easy to stay where we are. Vacation vs. vacancy   Many of us are really keen to travel to new places on holiday, to trek along the Inca trail in Peru or climb to Mount Everest base camp, visit a hot, exotic beach on a remote island or walk along the Great Wall of China.   Our sense of adventure takes hold on holiday, but how many of us are really keen to take up a longer term challenge and live and work abroad? Many of the countries we seek out on holiday may not be the ones we would choose to live and work in, yet they offer growing economies, exciting and colourful cultures and history and the chance to learn and differentiate yourself in your career. More and more, global companies are looking for people who can demonstrate that they are, what I term, “global citizens”.   How can you manage a multi-national company, deal with international clients and understand customer needs if you have never really experienced life outside your own location? It takes far more than an exotic holiday to appreciate doing business, general life and the diverse, rich, cultural heritages in these locations. Go global So how do you go about becoming a true “global citizen”? Here are some ideas: Become more “worldly-wise”:  Take an interest in world news and its impact on other nations, learn about different countries, their environmental issues, economy and cultures and take an interest in other people, their backgrounds and experience. Think about your “transferrable skills”:  Not just what you can bring to the table in terms of business knowledge and sharing of expertise, but your flexibility, resilience, empathy, resourcefulness, communication and inter-personal skills. Think of examples of where you have demonstrated these in your current job (and also perhaps while on some of your more adventurous holidays!) Be open-minded:  Be careful about pre-conceived ideas, be tolerant of others’ cultures and beliefs, be cautious not to emphasis differences or to generalise about a location or stereotype people. Individuals are not representative of their country or culture and we are all human beings above everything else. Polish up your language skills:  If you learned Spanish at school, then try to remember how to at least say the common courtesies: being able to say “hello”, “nice to meet you”, “please” and “thank you” go a long way in locations where people may not always speak your language. Join internal business projects: See if you can join business projects where the teams comprise people from around your company’s global offices. This way you will make contacts, get yourself known and learn more about working in multi-national teams. Pick up the phone and talk to your colleagues overseas:  Get to know them and move away from email, texts and non-verbal communication. Read your company’s annual report:  Most people think annual reports are just full of figures. Yes, the accounts are all in the back of the report but the front half should give really interesting information about your business in each of the regions or countries in which it operates.   What’s more, it is written in straightforward language as the report is tailored not just for big investors but small shareholders (like employees) and the general public.  Companies are encouraged to write them in a clear and understandable way.    If you can’t find a hard copy, it will be published on the internet. Finally, expand your horizons:  Don’t look back on your life and think “What if…” Be brave, do your research and try a move.       Your employer will know what opportunities there might be in their overseas offices. Are you up to the challenge? If you are up for a challenge and adventure, think you have the business knowledge and cultural empathy, resilience and flexibility to open your mind and go to live and work abroad, then be brave and consider it.   Instead of reading about the shortage of skilled migration, you will be part of resolving the problem â€" a “global citizen”. //