The Benefits of Localized Career Counselors

In today's global economy employment opportunities are becoming an illusive goal, particularly in regions with high unemployment. According to the International Labor Organization (2000), approximately one-third of 3 billion potential workers are unemployed, under-employed or subsist on annual wages far below the poverty line. As an expatriate partner looking for work in your 'host country', you may ask, "What does this have to do with me?"

As a relocated expatriate partner, you are forced to compete with host country citizens. They hold multiple advantages.

• They are fluent in the language and know the linguistic nuances and expressions.
• They have amassed a lifetime of contacts and family connections that will heed their call for assistance as they pursue gainful employment in a tight market.
• They know the political, social, economic and cultural landscape. They are experts in navigating their way around tough situations.
• They have no inherent self-esteem concerns that accompany an international relocation.
• They act with self-assuredness; confident of the rules of the game.

If you have been offered a spousal assistance benefit, consider hiring a local career consultant to 'level the playing field.'

Local Consultants Can Customize the Job Search Appropriate to Host Country Culture and Norms

The resume is often the first contact a potential employer has with an applicant. Typically, corporate personnel give each resume about a 10-20 seconds cursory glance, and then discard those that are disorganized or too wordy and file the rest (NY Dept of Labor: 2000). About 1 to 2 resumes out of 100 actually result in an interview.

Local career counselors have expertise in preparing 'host country' resumes and cover letters. They know the local job market. Counselors are well versed in the local language and job search protocol. While one to two page resumes are common in the US, ten page curricula vitas are not uncommon in Europe. In Europe and Latin America, personal data such as age, sex, marital status, number of children and even the names and occupations of an applicant's parents are included.

Local Counselors Have Local Contacts and Networks for Employment Assistance

Many job opportunities are never advertised, rather more than half of the positions filled are through an informal network. The 'Hidden Job Market' can only be accessed through networking, cold calling and informational interviews. Locally - based career counselors have a storehouse of contacts -- government officials, employment officers, plus a cadre of locally-based expatriates in their private address book.

An REA Career consultant, Sara L. reports, "I referred a client, gathering information about a new career field, to a personal contact in the my community who works in that field. Although it's not a job requirement, I go out of my way to use my personal network for the benefit of my clients. According to Richard Nelson Bolles, author of What Color is Your Parachute?, one in every 200 resumes results in a job offer. More effective, however, is the informational interview, where one out of every 12 informational interviews results in a job offer.

Local Counselors Have Knowledge of Events Affecting Search and Appropriate Advice

Although it is illegal in the US to ask an applicant questions related to sex, age, race, religion, national origin or marital status, or to delve into an applicant's personal life for information that is not job-related, such questions may be the norm overseas. Responding to and asking personal questions demonstrate the ability to create rapport; a skill valued in the US, but, perhaps more so overseas

Local Counselors Experience Dealing with Local Vendors, Medical Professionals, Schools

Counselors have on the ground experience with the locals. Karen M., an REA International Consultant, in Germany, had these words to say, "I believe it is so important to have counselors located where clients are relocating because the counselors are personally current with what is happening. The changes that have occurred in Germany over the past 12 years alone are amazing -- politically, business-wise, geographically, even shopping (extended store hours, convenient ready-to-eat foods, large Wal-Mart type operations.) These changes have contributed to a different way of life and attitude that someone who may have lived here 20 years ago would be surprised by."

Local Counselors Have Possession and Awareness of Host Country Life Skills Relayed to Client

To succeed internationally, whether as a non-working or working partner, requires assimilation to the host country's culture. Employers place a premium on dress, manners, effective body language and the subtle rules of knowing precisely what to say and do in a given situation. While an interviewer reaches a decision about the applicant within five minutes, it only takes seconds for the interviewer to determine whether an applicant should be considered further as a candidate. Local counselors understand the norms, mannerisms, and customs and can alert their clients to international taboos and inform them of the life skills required to achieve one's objectives.

Local Counselors Provide Partner / Family Transition and Adaptation Assistance

It takes more than one-third of new executives a full year to adjust in their new position for a domestic relocation (Spencer Stuart: 1998). International relocations are indisputably more difficult. Cross-cultural adjustment, particularly for partner and family, may be the key to how well an expatriate performs on his or her global assignment (Black and Stephens, 1989 & Black and Gregersen, 1990). Locally-based counselors may be available to ease the transition from a stable and predictable life stateside to an unpredictable life abroad. There are many instances where counselors directly assist with emergency daycare, hand delivery of resumes and recommendations of appropriate after-school activities for their client's children.

Susan Ginsberg, the Director of International Services at REA states, "We have Career Consultants worldwide covering over 40 countries with 11 different language capabilities. Although our Consultants are locally-based, our support system and research is centralized to ensure consistent service delivery."

Recalling his own personal relocation experience, the arsenal value that a local counselor brings to the expatriate and family is immense. Kevin M., a REA Consultant adds, "We did our own research (relocation from Mexico to Israel) and we heard a lot on the television news and newspaper. However, it was our local counselor in Israel that gave us the complete and accurate knowledge -- that is the "real deal". This assistance gave us incredible power to make the right choices and decisions regarding our lives and career changes."

In summary, local career counselors work to empower accompanying partners to make the right choices while in active support of the expatriate and the entire family.

Tonya Foust Mead has a background in management consulting and market development and is president of Shared Knowledge http://www.expage.com/sharedknowledge. She provides assistance to expatriates moving to Brazil in her role as an international counselor for Ricklin-Echikson Associates (REA). Contact the author at [email protected].

Ricklin-Echikson Associates, Inc. delivers customized programs to address the diverse needs of Expatriates, Repatriates and Career Expatriates. REA consultants, located throughout the world, are International Human Resource professionals who have lived and worked abroad and are experienced in career/life planning and cross-cultural issues. Services assist the spouse and family in acclimating to the new country and culture. For additional information about REA's International Services, contact Susan Ginsberg at 800-593-3311 or [email protected]