After coaching many expatriate and repatriate spouses, closely observing many of my friends and family and being an expatriate myself I feel expatriate spouses mainly need assistance in the following areas:
- Relocation assistance: Once the relocation process goes smooth, they could start their job search more quickly and with a more positive, confident attitude. Thus relocation assistance can indirectly enhance the job search process.
- How and where a spouse can learn the local language: Help and encourage the spouse to identify and take on-line or in-person language classes as language barriers can increase isolation. Learning local language includes local lingo, e.g. when I came to US I had an excellent written and verbal English but one day I was stuck answering my 3 year old son. We were sitting on a couch watching TV. He suddenly said, “Mom, scoot over”. I said “What scooter? you want a scooter”. He said, “No mom, scoot over”. Then my husband said, “Just move… scoot over means, move.” So after that I started paying close attention to nuances in the local language.
- Volunteer work assistance: Expat spouses need assistance in utilizing their time and to be challenged intellectually. Visa restrictions may not allow expat spouses to be employed, but they can still volunteer. For example, when I came to the US, I used to feel very bored. Being human resources professional I love interacting with people. So I started volunteering with a women’s organization, and through that organization I could develop new skills, take some classes and make some good friends along the way.
- Employment assistance: In order to help expat spouses who would like to find employment, it would be helpful to include information on employers who sponsor work visas.
- Job search coaching: Including interview coaching, resume preparation, transfer of skill set and identity issues would be particularly helpful.
- Assistance in establishing a small business: Some spouses wish to establish their own business or a portable career. So when they relocate again they will have something to do, they wouldn’t be starting from scratch again. Online careers are great for trailing spouses. Provide related information including how to adapt to local business practices and regulations, how to set up a small business in the local setting. www.score.org is a great resource for this. I have helped many spouses in establishing on-line tutoring, website development business, selling their paintings on internet, etc.
- Preparation on local dress code: I know this sounds silly but I struggled with the concept of what to wear where. What’s appropriate dress for my husband’s co-workers house if I am invited for dinner, what’s for my husband’s office if I am visiting there, what’s for Christmas parties, etc. It was a big challenge for me then as I wanted to be included in the group.
- Cross-cultural training: To have a short discussion about local culture with the spouses is a good idea.
- Connecting expatriate spouses for practical support from another expatriate spouse during the settling-in period. In my experience the best source of support and assistance would be another expatriate spouse who had already settled into the location.
- Further education: Targeted information for those spouses who want to pursue further studies or need to take re-qualification exam at the host location. For example, in the US for Degree Evaluation go to –
Foreign Credentials Service of America
1910 Justin Lane
Austin, TX 78757-2411
Phone: 512-459-8428
Fax: 512-459-4565
email: info@fcsa.biz
www.fcsa.biz
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Divya Gupta, MBA, PCC, ACPEC, CPRW, ACCC is the ICF certified Executive and Career Coach, can be reached at –
divya@ConfidentCareer.com
www.ConfidentCareer.com
http://divyagupta.wordpress.com
Connect me on http://www.linkedin.com/in/DivyaGupta1
Follow me on http://twitter.com/DivyaGupta1
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Tags: Coaching, expatriate, relocation assistance, repatriate, spouses
