A Guide to Global Assignments
By JB Shelton

anaging a global career is fraught with complexity: physical and psychological, family and financial. Whether your company asked you to work in another country or you're an adventurous self-starter fulfilling a lifelong dream, your decisions before, during and after your assignment will undoubtedly change your life.

Consider that the average U.S. corporate assignment has shrunk to 18 months, which barely allows for acculturation. Assignments of six months or less provide even less time to adapt, and they can range from frequent trips back and forth or multiterm virtual projects working with global teams to multinational assignments with fewer visits home. As you consider these options, ask yourself whether your objective is to prepare yourself to live and work in an expatriate capacity - or just to get exposure that increases your effectiveness in a global role from the home office?

Worldly wise Mabel Miguel, director of the Office of International Programs and professor of management at UNC Kenan-Flagler, was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and has been in motion ever since, spending time as a student in Barbados and France and with corporate and academic research, teaching and training stints in Turkey, Venezuela and New York City. She offers this guide for acculturating in a foreign land.

Know Thyself

"Mindblowing," "adventure of a lifetime" and "discovering my true self" are responses Miguel typically gets from students when they are asked to describe their ideal expatriate experience. Her courses focus on international career realities.

"Self-knowledge, research and realistic expectations are key when you consider the decision to work in another country. Do you crave an ambassadorship after a multicontinent career? Are you envisioning a yearlong family bonding experiment in Geneva? How do your personal and career goals mesh with the assignment's pros and cons?" she says.

Consider your long-term goals as you evaluate an overseas assignment. Ask questions before you make the move to a new home and job in another part of the world. What will my job responsibilities and authority be? Precisely what do you expect me to achieve?

"I cannot overemphasize the importance of clarifying employee and company responsibilities," says Miguel.

Make the Most of the Opportunity

How do you increase your chances of success as you accept an expatriate assignment?

1. Miguel, fluent in English and Spanish and "tolerable" in French and Turkish, says that, surprisingly, proficiency in another language, although preferable, isn't essential. Instead, she emphasizes, "Learn enough to meet, greet and ask simple questions."
2. More important than language skills, global business savvy means applying your knowledge, skills and talents by complementing - neither disrupting nor disregarding - local business procedures.
3. Successful expatriates share personality traits. An explorer's adventurous openness to new experiences. A toddler's energy and curiosity. A Cirque du Soleil performer's flexibility and team approach. Mother Teresa's empathy and courage in connecting with people and adapting to their cultures.
4. "It's incredibly important to keep your home office aware of your accomplishments," Miguel adds. E-mail is a blessing but insufficient to keep you visible to headquarters and aware of information, events and opportunities important to your career development. Keep your networks alive by reporting your achievements, seeking advice and visiting headquarters as often as you can manage.
5. Ask and be clear about compensation and company support. Will you be paid in local currency? Will the company pay for relocation, and will you receive an ongoing housing allowance if the cost of housing far exceeds rates in your current location? What is the cost of living in the area in which you'll be stationed? Are there special tax issues of which you will need to be aware? Although some companies are still very generous, particularly when sending senior executives on expatriate assignments, for most transferees, "Expatriate financial packages no longer mean megabucks," says Miguel. "Corporations now focus on revenue-neutrality. The company won't lose money on you, but you'll come home with incomparable experiences."
6. Relocation will affect your family, whose happiness will affect your satisfaction with the assignment. So Miguel insists, "Don't feel strange about discussing personal and professional support for your loved ones."