Features
Work
The way we work, interact with our colleagues and other stakeholders, and the way we think about our skills and how to apply them — are all undergoing transformation. Among the drivers of this revolution in global employment are connectivity, smart machines, and the new media. The Institute for the Future (IFTF) in collaboration with Apollo Research Institute foresee and explain why in a technologically advanced world, the skills that we will be looking for in the next decade will be different. Let's explore together the critical skills for a successful career.
France
January is the month to make our resolutions, and hopefully stick to them – just like France did with its. The French Government has voted reforms that come into force immediately, and won't only impact the lives of French citizens, but also of expats in France. And if you are considering France as a future destination for your expat life, these changes may assist your decision. Here is an overview of what to expect in France in the new year.
Work
Cloud computing — the evolution of local area networks (LAN) — refers to online servers in the form of an application, which can be accessed at any time, and via any connected device (laptop, desktop, tablet, smartphone). Like every innovation, cloud computing can be looked at with skepticism, or as the ultimate tool to improve one's performance. Expat.com discusses the benefits of this booming technology, and urges employers to assess the objectives of their company before they rush into decisions.
Work
Employers and employees, backed by the advanced telecommunications industry, are the key players in a changing work environment that is defined by international mobility. The shift in employment trends (remote work, entrepreneurship, flexible working hours) has also revolutionised the motives for expatriation and traveling. Here we discuss several changes in the job market that every conscious employer should be aware of, if they want to excel in their field.
Work
Professional expats have a lot to consider before moving to a destination for work — the career prospects in their field, salary and taxes, language, and work-life balance are just a few. The latest HSBC Expat Explorer Survey has ranked the best destinations to live and work, and Europe shines as the best region for pursuing an international career.
Leisure
The new year is just around the corner, and people in different parts of the world are getting ready to celebrate it. For many, it is the ideal time to get together with family and friends, and for others — such as the expats — it is an opportunity to discover different traditions and cultural celebrations. Expat.com has spoken to expats, who haven't returned to their home country, and has asked them to share how they are planning to spend the first hours of the new year.
Moving
Moving abroad involves meticulous preparation and decision making. If you are a first time expat, it's okay to feel unsure about your choises — you already have enough on your plate. Are you immersed in long conversations with your family and friends about the next steps to securing a property? Some will argue that's better to rent a home abroad while others are ardent buyers. And what about your current home? Should you let or sell?
Everyday life
It is this time of the year again — the dispute over the Christmas tree, the endless shopping list, and Mariah Carey's hit in the background. But this year you are more of an observant than a participant in this hilarity. You are away from home — an expat in a foreign country — and when everything around you is about family and the people we love, you feel low and melancholic. Turn off your Facebook notifications (Facebook is argued to boost feelings of sadness and loneliness), and let us inspire you for a very merry Christmas away from home.
Cost of living
We hear that you have started working on your expat project. First you have to decide the country that best matches your needs, and then possibly the city that you would like to live in. Whether you are jumping off to this adventure alone or with your family, and regardless of your planned activity in the destination country — business, self-employment, retirement, leisure, etc. — an insight in the cost of living will boost your preparation levels. We are here to help you discover the most expensive cities in the world according to ECA International, a specialist in international mobility.
Everyday life
Earthquakes, cyclones, floods, droughts, are all legitimate conditions that you don't wish to run into when setting up your expat life abroad. But as nature's power is unfathomable, natural disasters cannot be utterly stove off. However, their catastrophic impact can be dwarfed with the key infrastructure in place, cross-sector coordination, and operative technology. So, before you let fears and misreport put the parachute on your expat ambitions, refer to our recap of this year's World Risk Index, and grasp the difference between exposure and vulnerability.
Qatar
Unskilled international workers in Qatar will no longer need sponsorship to be allowed to work in the country, as announced on Monday by the Ministry of Administrative Development, Labor and Social Affairs.
Everyday life
How much does the official language of the destination country affect your expat plans? And what does the communication language of multicultural organisations mean for international employees, and businesses' efficiency? Intercultural communication is one of the key elements involved in expatriation, and globalised workplaces are reforming — some faster than others — the ways they interact in order to defeat language barriers and to expose international talent.
Moving
In 2015, the United Nations recorded 244 million international migrants, who are now part of the economies and societies they live in. People leave their country for a ton of different reasons (work, health, family, etc.), but they seem to have similar destination preferences. The United States hosts the largest number of international migrants (47 million), followed by Germany, Russia, and Saudi Arabia. Expat.com, the informative and interactive website for life abroad, is revealing the most popular expat destinations among its members — before looking into where American expats head to.
Malta
Sunny weather, relaxed lifestyle and entrepreneurial mindset — Malta is well on its way to becoming one of Europe's top expat destinations, attracting affluent foreigners, expats, and well-travelled professionals looking to not only reside permanently on the island but also develop a professional network.
Schools & studies
When relocating with children, the education system in the destination country is something you don't take lightly as a parent. Governments repeatedly make education reforms a priority, but there's nothing like ideal education system — yet. Singapore's students have just been announced the highest-performing in international maths and science tests, while Finland has for four decades been the paradigm of successful education. Your expat children will have to adapt to an education environment that is unique to the country, but don't underestimate the role of cultural and family values.
Banks and finance
It was only a generation ago that a successful living was very much defined by a stable job in a well-established company or the public sector. But millennials — backed by the advanced telecommunications industry — take on part-time and freelance jobs, work remotely, and aspire to become entrepreneurs. This shift in employment trends stemming from millennials' traits — open-minded, risk takers, and passionate administrators of their own lives — revolutionises the motives for expatriation and traveling.
Work
Moving abroad when you are young can be the best present you have ever given yourself. Youth — as your parents usually say — is all about first-hand experience, learning about the world, meeting new people, exchanging passions and ideas, and defining your career aspirations. Every year, thousands of students, graduates, and first-time employees choose to move abroad to satisfy their curiosity, and to build their personal brand.
Everyday life
The political and social debate on climate change, and the effects it has on all beings, our environment, and health is a matter of shared interest. According to migration experts, climate change will soon give rise to big waves of migration, indistinctively forcing citizens to move to less vulnerable countries.
Other Types
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If you've been searching for a stable, profitable, and strategically located country to grow your business or diversify your investment portfolio, Panama should be at the very top of your list. Panama is not just a country with a famous canal. It is one of the fastest-growing economies in Latin America, a regional financial hub, and a proven gateway for companies looking to expand across North and South America. With a dollarized economy, a territorial tax system, world-class logistics infrastructure, and investor-friendly immigration policies, Panama offers a unique combination of advantages that few countries in the world can match.
Everyday life
Moving abroad is often associated with adventure, discovery, and new opportunities. While it can be a deeply enriching experience, there is often a less visible reality behind the excitement of starting a new life abroad: exhaustion. In my consultations, expats sometimes describe a fatigue that never seems to lift, unusual irritability, a sense of disconnection, or the feeling that they are no longer quite themselves. What I have also observed is that this distress is rarely confined to one person. In expat families, when one parent begins to struggle, the entire family often has to adapt. Partners may feel isolated or lose their sense of direction, while children can pick up on their parents' stress, worries, or emotional fatigue, even when these feelings are never openly discussed.
New Zealand
Since June 1, foreign workers seeking certain work visas in New Zealand have been subject to new English language requirements. The government says the changes are intended to improve migrant integration and help prevent workplace exploitation.
Sweden
Since June 1, Sweden has tightened its work permit regulations. The new rules introduce higher salary requirements, stricter conditions for seasonal workers, mandatory health insurance in some cases, and increased scrutiny of employers.
Belgium
Belgium's latest reforms, which took effect on June 1, bring greater flexibility to the labor market in an effort to support job creation. At the same time, the government has introduced stricter requirements for non-European students.
United Arab Emirates
Foreign residents in the United Arab Emirates should take note: under UAE regulations, residence visas are generally canceled if the holder remains outside the country for more than 180 consecutive days. In most cases, affected residents must apply for a new visa before returning. However, several categories of expatriates are exempt from this rule and can retain their residency status despite an extended stay abroad.
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