RELOCATING PARTNERS FIND SUCCESS AND NEW OPPORTUNITIES ABROAD

Courtney Lind • November 27, 2019

Across the world, relocating partners are finding success in their career goals, aided by the support of their NetExpat consultants.

Relocating partners and spouses of expatriates on assignment face a unique set of experiences and challenges that begin the moment they start to consider an international move. There can be a great deal of uncertainty surrounding their new role in the host country – whether this involves working, integrating into the community, raising a family, developing a new social network, or any combination of these.

Each international assignment is entirely unique, and NetExpat consultants all over the world work with relocating partners to help them find success abroad. In the stories below you’ll see how three individuals have made the most of their time abroad and continue to grow both personally and professionally.

Therese Kaziule relocated with her husband and their young son from Brussels to Singapore 2 years ago and continues to enjoy all the new experiences and culture that the island nation has to offer. With the help of NetExpat consultant Alka Chandiramani, Therese was able to launch her own marketing and communications business and has since been growing her network within Singapore.

While the move hasn’t been without the challenges of missing family and the European culture, Therese is a strong proponent of taking the leap and exploring a new way of life abroad. As she tells Alka, “take the chance to move somewhere else. Don’t be afraid to push the boundaries and accept the unknown. To move and to settle into another country is fantastic and you will learn about other cultures and people - but also about yourself.”

When Gosia Makowska relocated from Poland to the UK, she already had an established business set up and used the relocation as a chance to grow this business in the UK and abroad. Her role as a Child Sleep Consultant involves solving children’s sleep issues using a holistic approach for her business, SleepConcept.

“As an expat partner with two small children (3 and 5 years old), I experienced new emotions and problems, and I realised that my mission could be further expanded to help relocating families not only in Poland and in the UK but also internationally. So, my goal now is to help as many parents as possible and also learn more about the local and relocating families,”says Gosia. Her NetExpat consultant Krystyna Leyland was passionate about helping connect her with as many people as possible that could assist in growing the business, one that is certainly a need experienced by families across the world.

Language barriers can often add a layer of complexity for relocating partners looking to break into the local market, as Francesca Vignato experienced when moving to Japan. As a native Italian speaker also fluent in English, she found that priority for many jobs was given to native Japanese or English speakers. But she continued applying within her desired field and eventually landed at an NGO.

As Francesca told her NetExpat consultant, Costanza Marinelli, “the very rewarding aspect is that I did not lose confidence and, in the end, it paid off. Thanks to your help, I had a number of interviews, I was even in the position to refuse an offer and to start working in an NGO.” As it is customary to go out and spend time socializing with colleagues outside of the office in Japan, Francesca has been able to create meaningful connections with her colleagues and is confident that this role is helping her to develop both personally and professionally.

We wish Therese, Gosia, and Francesca continued success abroad and look forward to hearing what they do next. They have also taken advantage of the NetExpat Community in order to connect with others abroad. Over 5,000 members strong and growing, the NetExpat Community is the #1 social network dedicated entirely to relocating partners. Through the platform members can connect with those facing similar experiences and challenges, enjoy access to local events, and access exclusive online content covering topics such as repatriation, job search, moving with children, and social integration.

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