Living abroad prepares you for a more fulfilling career, study finds

A new study by the British Council has confirmed what many successful expats could tell you anecdotally – that living abroad does wonders for your career, confidence and ability to adapt and thrive in new situations.

As the world becomes more globalised, the opportunities to live and work in different countries and cultures have increased massively. But to thrive in this new global environment requires a certain set of skills; skills that can be acquired by opening one’s mind to new places…

One of the best ways to do this, the study suggests, is by living in a country different from that of your birth and upbringing. Whether via college exchange programmes, employment secondment, or merely upping sticks and putting down roots in a new country, exposure to foreign climes is the best way to sharpen certain social skills, think more critically, engage with new experiences and adapt to unfamiliar situations.

The British Council surveyed thousands of UK residents – some native born, others expats or immigrants from different countries – and found that more than 80% of those who had lived or studied overseas displayed confidence in adapting to new situations. For those who had no international experience, this confidence sunk to just 70%.

In terms of speaking a second language, 26% of those who had previously lived abroad felt confident conversing in a foreign tongue, compared to less than 10% of those who lacked that direct experience.

Approximately half of those surveyed who had lived abroad also believed that the experience equipped them with direct skills in research, development, innovation and product improvement activities – which would suggest that the very fact they were taken out of their comfort zones triggered brain development in areas conducive to developing such skills.

The positive impact of international exposure was also evident in future employment opportunities, with 60% of those who have lived, or do live, overseas working in firms with an international focus. Such businesses tend to offer better career progression opportunities, higher salaries and more job security, the study found.

The British Council recommended, as part of the study, that more should be done within the UK to encourage Brits to spend at least some time abroad either studying or working – something that would be of benefit for business, the economy, and millions of people seeking to further their careers.