Are you willing to take the plunge?

Nothing is impossible. It is difficult but not impossible. I have be working abroad for 4.5 years now. I left during a time when many of my peers will having a good time in Singapore. Singaporeans will only look to overseas when times are bad in Singapore, but not pro-actively seek to work abroad as part of the career development plan. let me list down a list of issues, challenges and mindset issues that Singaporeans face:
1) unless you are the lucky ones posted by some big companies, you need to plan this way ahead. May take years. Most Singaporeans wait until they lose their job or they hit a plateau in the career and start looking abroad. It doesn't work that way. Planning ahead means, do you need to learn or improve your 2nd language, do you need to invest in an overseas education, do you need to start attending overseas job fairs etc You don't just suddenly want to work abroad and start looking at a list of challenges and come back whining that it is difficult. Most Singaporeans just do not plan early enough until it is too late or they are too old.
2) instead of buying a flat, are you willing to spend most of your net worth in an overseas education?
3) are you willing to leave your wife and kids in Singapore while you rough it out alone for a few years?
4) are you willing accept local terms and package and compete against foreigners? are you willing to take a step back in terms of pay and aim for longer term benefits.
5) are you willing to delay your marriage and strike it alone abroad?

Chances are, many of us don't want to make sacrifices or don't know what is involved when working abroad.Unless you are posted by your company, most of us take a reactive approach. It never works and hence it is 'difficult'. It is difficult because:
1) most of us expect to find overseas jobs on some classified page and apply for it.
2) it is difficult because most of us expect companies to pay for 'hardship' allowances and have 'family considerations'.
3) it is difficult, because most of us do not have the right skills and exposure to undertake the overseas job. Gosh what have you been doing the last few years? Planning to retire and work in Singapore your whole life? well, you reap what you sow.
4) It is difficult, because most wives cringe with fear whenever husbands travel to China and forbid them for overseas assignments or posting.
5) our ideal of overseas jobs is - expatriate package, children education taken care of, great lifestyle.

I apologise if I have offended anyone in the process, but I think some of us need a wake up call and do something about their lives if they are serious about going abroad.

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