Graduate Job Vacancy - 8 Essential Questions For Expats' Trailing Partners

Unless you're retired or independently wealthy, moving abroad also means finding some way of financing your life overseas. There are various ways to do that, whether as a relocation with your existing employer, finding a new job on spec when you hit the ground, or perhaps working as a freelancer in some shape or form.

But what of your accompanying partner (assuming you have one)? What sort of position will they find themselves in?

At the turn of the millennium my wife and I moved from London to New York as part of an inter-company transfer. I'd been promoted to managing editor by the publisher I worked for, so it was a step up the career ladder. Plus the company could sort out all the finicky visa issues, help us with accommodation and so on. So it seemed like a great opportunity.

Moving to the States though meant my wife was unable to work. She'd had a great job as an account director in the UK. But as she'd been planning to leave her company anyway the move wasn't a big quandary for her from a career perspective.

However, as she was only eligible for a tourist visa it did leave her with limited alternatives when we arrived. To start with it was great, as she was free to scout around for an apartment for us. And after the stresses of her former job it gave her some breathing space to do some courses, exercise and pursue some personal interests.

Eventually though she got a job at the only place she was entitled to work: the British Consulate. But the position was boring and there were limited possibilities. So she left and took up voluntary work instead.

This so-called 'trailing spouse' situation is a long-running theme in expat circles. Over the centuries it has been predominantly wives who were affected, as they followed their diplomat or military or businessman husbands around the world from one international posting to another.

But as social structures have changed there are increasing numbers of same-sex partners, or men following their wives or girlfriends on expat assignments too. And in this era of globalization the trailing partner is becoming evermore common.

If this is a situation that you are facing - whether you are the 'lead' or the 'trailing' partner - then there are a number of considerations to think through before deciding whether relocating will be your best move.

For one, will the person doing the 'trailing' have to give up their job in the move?
If so, what impact will that have on:
a) your total household income, and
b) their prospective career progression
But aside from such financial considerations, there are other - sometimes less tangible and immediate - impacts to be aware of.

In its 2008 Global Assignment Policies and Practices (GAPP) survey, KPMG noted that 34% of the firms it questioned said dual career couples increased the chance of their employee's assignment being a failure. And there are many reasons why an overseas posting could raise problems for the accompanying partner, including:
• Loss of identity from giving up a job/career
• Loss of independence from giving up their salary
• Taking an alternative job in the new location that underutilizes their capabilities, or that they simply don't value/enjoy as much
• Inability to obtain a work permit or find employment in the new location, causing frustration and boredom (an endless round of lunches and shopping, or idle days being housebound?)
• Social isolation as a result of the change in work status
• Social isolation from being cut off from the home country support network of family and friends
• Loneliness if their employed partner works long hours and/or has to go on frequent business trips
• Isolation caused by cultural and/or linguistic barriers
• Changing role at home, for instance if they engage domestic help such as a cook, cleaner or nanny, or if they have to undertake more corporate entertaining.

So given the importance for employers of keeping their staff motivated and contented - which in turn is often affected by the happiness of their significant other - some firms are providing various levels of support to accompanying partners.
Indeed, KPMG's GAPP Survey reported that among the firms that participated nearly 7 out of 10 offer some form of assistance to the accompanying spouses/partners of assignees. Unfortunately it is almost never compensation for the loss of the affected person's salary. Instead it may come in the shape of:
• Assistance with obtaining residency visas and work permits
• Career counselling
• Financial assistance for retraining
• Help with language learning and cultural awareness
• Advice on available support organisations, such as networking groups and sports clubs

If you are a trailing partner then, some key questions to chew over before you commit to the move are:
1) Will you be able to obtain a work permit for the host country?
2) Are your skills/qualifications recognised and accepted in the country to which you are moving?
3) If you plan to seek work in your new location, what job opportunities are there in your sector?
4) How vibrant is the country's economy? What are its economic growth prospects?
5) Will you have to contend with any language differences? Will that be a problem?
6) Will there be any assistance with the transfer and integration process from your partner's employer?
7) How will your domestic set up change as a result of moving abroad? (For example, larger/smaller accommodation, provision of domestic staff, residence in an expat enclave/closed community?) Is that a positive improvement?
8) As an accompanying partner, how do you envisage spending your time while your partner is at work? Is that a situation you relish?