I have two questions for you how many of you have moved abroad because you were
you have moved abroad because you were
you have moved abroad because you were offered a job can I see some hands okay
offered a job can I see some hands okay
offered a job can I see some hands okay about a third a little over and how many
about a third a little over and how many
about a third a little over and how many of you moved abroad for other reasons
of you moved abroad for other reasons
of you moved abroad for other reasons and then looked for a job okay about the
and then looked for a job okay about the
and then looked for a job okay about the same I know I did that one I’m a dual
same I know I did that one I’m a dual
same I know I did that one I’m a dual career professional which means that
career professional which means that
career professional which means that every few years my family and I moved to
every few years my family and I moved to
every few years my family and I moved to a new country and then I have to look
a new country and then I have to look
a new country and then I have to look for a job and since 2014 I’ve been
for a job and since 2014 I’ve been
for a job and since 2014 I’ve been living in the European Union where free
living in the European Union where free
living in the European Union where free movement of workers is a founding
movement of workers is a founding
movement of workers is a founding principle of the internal market where
principle of the internal market where
principle of the internal market where people are encouraged to travel to other
people are encouraged to travel to other
people are encouraged to travel to other countries in search of jobs yet finding
countries in search of jobs yet finding
countries in search of jobs yet finding meaningful decent work is no easy task
meaningful decent work is no easy task
meaningful decent work is no easy task it’s complicated enough to make a
it’s complicated enough to make a
it’s complicated enough to make a geographical transition to adapt to a
geographical transition to adapt to a
geographical transition to adapt to a new culture to learn new languages
new culture to learn new languages
new culture to learn new languages building a career while moving at the
building a career while moving at the
building a career while moving at the same time requires that skills interests
same time requires that skills interests
same time requires that skills interests and opportunities come together in a
and opportunities come together in a
and opportunities come together in a targeted way career transitions are all
targeted way career transitions are all
targeted way career transitions are all about the learning curve learning new
about the learning curve learning new
about the learning curve learning new social skills new technical competencies
social skills new technical competencies
social skills new technical competencies adapting as fast as possible
adapting as fast as possible
adapting as fast as possible I believe in today’s world of work
I believe in today’s world of work
I believe in today’s world of work individuals more than ever need career
individuals more than ever need career
individuals more than ever need career support in relearning professional roles
support in relearning professional roles
support in relearning professional roles in rewiring work relationships that’s
in rewiring work relationships that’s
in rewiring work relationships that’s why today I’m going to talk about
why today I’m going to talk about
why today I’m going to talk about managing career transitions in a dual
managing career transitions in a dual
managing career transitions in a dual career mobility context the dual career
career mobility context the dual career
career mobility context the dual career narrative looks something like this two
narrative looks something like this two
narrative looks something like this two people married or not embrace
people married or not embrace
people married or not embrace transitions together as a mobile couple
transitions together as a mobile couple
transitions together as a mobile couple one partner has an attractive contract
one partner has an attractive contract
one partner has an attractive contract to go abroad and the other is often
to go abroad and the other is often
to go abroad and the other is often traveling on what’s called an
traveling on what’s called an
traveling on what’s called an accompanying spouse visa or partner
accompanying spouse visa or partner
accompanying spouse visa or partner according to global mobility reports
according to global mobility reports
according to global mobility reports there were 50 million expats working
there were 50 million expats working
there were 50 million expats working worldwide in 2014 unemployed spouses
worldwide in 2014 unemployed spouses
worldwide in 2014 unemployed spouses were counted in the 50 million along
were counted in the 50 million along
were counted in the 50 million along with corporate transferees individual
with corporate transferees individual
with corporate transferees individual workers and students
workers and students
workers and students typically what we know about
typically what we know about
typically what we know about accompanying spouses or partners is in
accompanying spouses or partners is in
accompanying spouses or partners is in relation to the partner with a job
relation to the partner with a job
relation to the partner with a job simply put if an accompanying spouse
simply put if an accompanying spouse
simply put if an accompanying spouse cannot find career opportunities in a
cannot find career opportunities in a
cannot find career opportunities in a host country then a company cannot
host country then a company cannot
host country then a company cannot retain the employee we know several
retain the employee we know several
retain the employee we know several things about the spouses we know their
things about the spouses we know their
things about the spouses we know their gender composition we know age ranges
gender composition we know age ranges
gender composition we know age ranges employment or unemployment status in a
employment or unemployment status in a
employment or unemployment status in a recent 2017 survey here we are again
recent 2017 survey here we are again
recent 2017 survey here we are again global platform found out that 88% of
global platform found out that 88% of
global platform found out that 88% of their members are women
their members are women
their members are women maybe that’s why many studies up to now
maybe that’s why many studies up to now
maybe that’s why many studies up to now have focused on gender dynamics within
have focused on gender dynamics within
have focused on gender dynamics within dual career couples and also cultural
dual career couples and also cultural
dual career couples and also cultural adaptation of the spouses yet what we
adaptation of the spouses yet what we
adaptation of the spouses yet what we understand less is how they manage their
understand less is how they manage their
understand less is how they manage their careers how do they make career
careers how do they make career
careers how do they make career decisions what do they think about
decisions what do they think about
decisions what do they think about networking how do they network my own
networking how do they network my own
networking how do they network my own dual career experience has extended
dual career experience has extended
dual career experience has extended nearly ten years in multiple countries I
nearly ten years in multiple countries I
nearly ten years in multiple countries I am a student of European politics and
am a student of European politics and
am a student of European politics and integration but my personal choices and
integration but my personal choices and
integration but my personal choices and my family life took me away from Europe
my family life took me away from Europe
my family life took me away from Europe to Asia to the Middle East and then to
to Asia to the Middle East and then to
to Asia to the Middle East and then to the United States I have to say that in
the United States I have to say that in
the United States I have to say that in those previous relocations I felt
those previous relocations I felt
those previous relocations I felt isolated from formal career support and
isolated from formal career support and
isolated from formal career support and don’t get me wrong I didn’t have trouble
don’t get me wrong I didn’t have trouble
don’t get me wrong I didn’t have trouble finding a job I can be creative in
finding a job I can be creative in
finding a job I can be creative in finding meaningful work for myself but
finding meaningful work for myself but
finding meaningful work for myself but often connecting the dots to build a
often connecting the dots to build a
often connecting the dots to build a career takes something a bit more
career takes something a bit more
career takes something a bit more structured today
structured today
structured today my family has a new assignment we have a
my family has a new assignment we have a
my family has a new assignment we have a contract for six years to live in
contract for six years to live in
contract for six years to live in Denmark and possibly longer often on I
Denmark and possibly longer often on I
Denmark and possibly longer often on I work in the field of Human Resources and
work in the field of Human Resources and
work in the field of Human Resources and through my projects I meet other spouses
through my projects I meet other spouses
through my projects I meet other spouses like myself who are starting over again
like myself who are starting over again
like myself who are starting over again in a new country these spouses are not
in a new country these spouses are not
in a new country these spouses are not somebody’s wife somebody’s husband they
somebody’s wife somebody’s husband they
somebody’s wife somebody’s husband they are global professionals and like many
are global professionals and like many
are global professionals and like many job seekers they have transitional risks
job seekers they have transitional risks
job seekers they have transitional risks they face challenges
they face challenges
they face challenges one because they have moved they
one because they have moved they
one because they have moved they experience a break from their social
experience a break from their social
experience a break from their social networks they’re away from their
networks they’re away from their
networks they’re away from their families primary contacts friends and
families primary contacts friends and
families primary contacts friends and two they get disconnected from their
two they get disconnected from their
two they get disconnected from their professional circles peers co-workers
professional circles peers co-workers
professional circles peers co-workers with whom they share similar
with whom they share similar
with whom they share similar problem-solving approaches how many have
problem-solving approaches how many have
problem-solving approaches how many have you have felt that isolation when you
you have felt that isolation when you
you have felt that isolation when you moved abroad I think social isolation
moved abroad I think social isolation
moved abroad I think social isolation and professional disconnects make it
and professional disconnects make it
and professional disconnects make it very difficult to start over often
very difficult to start over often
very difficult to start over often people find themselves stuck in between
people find themselves stuck in between
people find themselves stuck in between roles and identities
roles and identities
roles and identities Herminia Parra of inside Business School
Herminia Parra of inside Business School
Herminia Parra of inside Business School calls a phenomenon liminality a state of
calls a phenomenon liminality a state of
calls a phenomenon liminality a state of being stuck in between what we hope or
being stuck in between what we hope or
being stuck in between what we hope or what I hope is to avoid being liminal
what I hope is to avoid being liminal
what I hope is to avoid being liminal for too long and this is why I seek
for too long and this is why I seek
for too long and this is why I seek guidance so in my recent transition to
guidance so in my recent transition to
guidance so in my recent transition to Denmark I found formal career support
Denmark I found formal career support
Denmark I found formal career support through my husband’s workplace a public
through my husband’s workplace a public
through my husband’s workplace a public institution with growing number of
institution with growing number of
institution with growing number of foreign employees I think I can say at
foreign employees I think I can say at
foreign employees I think I can say at least in that country there is a an
least in that country there is a an
least in that country there is a an adaptation a transition into
adaptation a transition into
adaptation a transition into acknowledging this as a as a problem
acknowledging this as a as a problem
acknowledging this as a as a problem that requires a solution the human
that requires a solution the human
that requires a solution the human resource department that processed my
resource department that processed my
resource department that processed my husband’s contract connected me to a
husband’s contract connected me to a
husband’s contract connected me to a private company and through them I was
private company and through them I was
private company and through them I was able to take classes on local work
able to take classes on local work
able to take classes on local work culture I learned how to use LinkedIn
culture I learned how to use LinkedIn
culture I learned how to use LinkedIn even though I had a LinkedIn account
even though I had a LinkedIn account
even though I had a LinkedIn account I learned to grow my network but more
I learned to grow my network but more
I learned to grow my network but more importantly I gained access to my first
importantly I gained access to my first
importantly I gained access to my first local network when I arrived so I’m sure
local network when I arrived so I’m sure
local network when I arrived so I’m sure many of you know the general advice for
many of you know the general advice for
many of you know the general advice for anyone who’s a working age is to start
anyone who’s a working age is to start
anyone who’s a working age is to start and keep meeting new people in different
and keep meeting new people in different
and keep meeting new people in different professional contexts because even if
professional contexts because even if
professional contexts because even if you’re well established in your career
you’re well established in your career
you’re well established in your career networking is a valuable tool I’ve
networking is a valuable tool I’ve
networking is a valuable tool I’ve already mentioned that I meet spouses
already mentioned that I meet spouses
already mentioned that I meet spouses like myself and I find that often they
like myself and I find that often they
like myself and I find that often they vary greatly in their approach to
vary greatly in their approach to
vary greatly in their approach to networking or what value they find in it
networking or what value they find in it
networking or what value they find in it and I think it has something to do with
and I think it has something to do with
and I think it has something to do with occupational identity which is something
occupational identity which is something
occupational identity which is something you build over time I noticed that
you build over time I noticed that
you build over time I noticed that specialists especially who are nurses or
specialists especially who are nurses or
specialists especially who are nurses or rocket scientists they maybe don’t find
rocket scientists they maybe don’t find
rocket scientists they maybe don’t find as much value in broadly networking
as much value in broadly networking
as much value in broadly networking because they’re interested in very
because they’re interested in very
because they’re interested in very specific roles and they would like to
specific roles and they would like to
specific roles and they would like to advance in a narrowly defined career
advance in a narrowly defined career
advance in a narrowly defined career track but one of the transitional risks
track but one of the transitional risks
track but one of the transitional risks they have is an extended period of
they have is an extended period of
they have is an extended period of unemployment and this is because their
unemployment and this is because their
unemployment and this is because their job options are limited to what’s
job options are limited to what’s
job options are limited to what’s available in the local market so perhaps
available in the local market so perhaps
available in the local market so perhaps what networking could help them do is to
what networking could help them do is to
what networking could help them do is to get a little creative and find
get a little creative and find
get a little creative and find interprofessional solutions to their
interprofessional solutions to their
interprofessional solutions to their situation and I have a great example
situation and I have a great example
situation and I have a great example because through LinkedIn I met someone
because through LinkedIn I met someone
because through LinkedIn I met someone who used to be a primary school teacher
who used to be a primary school teacher
who used to be a primary school teacher in England and is now a training
in England and is now a training
in England and is now a training coordinator for one of the top hearing
coordinator for one of the top hearing
coordinator for one of the top hearing aid companies in Denmark
aid companies in Denmark
aid companies in Denmark I think that’s career support magic well
I think that’s career support magic well
I think that’s career support magic well that was a specialist then there are
that was a specialist then there are
that was a specialist then there are generalists like myself I can speak for
generalists like myself I can speak for
generalists like myself I can speak for myself that I’m flexible in the work
myself that I’m flexible in the work
myself that I’m flexible in the work that I do and I’m open to exploring
that I do and I’m open to exploring
that I do and I’m open to exploring different roles and I tend to look for
different roles and I tend to look for
different roles and I tend to look for non industry specific jobs technical
non industry specific jobs technical
non industry specific jobs technical writing editing I know some people do
writing editing I know some people do
writing editing I know some people do graphic design you can work in any
graphic design you can work in any
graphic design you can work in any industry with these jobs so generalists
industry with these jobs so generalists
industry with these jobs so generalists tend to like networking broadly but
tend to like networking broadly but
tend to like networking broadly but maybe what their challenge is is to make
maybe what their challenge is is to make
maybe what their challenge is is to make a story connecting those dots and
a story connecting those dots and
a story connecting those dots and building their career so specialist or
building their career so specialist or
building their career so specialist or generalist
generalist
generalist these professionals require transitional
these professionals require transitional
these professionals require transitional support especially in finding and using
support especially in finding and using
support especially in finding and using their networks so one question I ask
their networks so one question I ask
their networks so one question I ask myself as I meet these people is is
myself as I meet these people is is
myself as I meet these people is is there a perfect Network for all and I’m
there a perfect Network for all and I’m
there a perfect Network for all and I’m going to say yes to be positive there is
going to say yes to be positive there is
going to say yes to be positive there is a type of network that’s a mix of
a type of network that’s a mix of
a type of network that’s a mix of internal and external relationships it’s
internal and external relationships it’s
internal and external relationships it’s called a membership organization and
called a membership organization and
called a membership organization and maybe because of social media and how we
maybe because of social media and how we
maybe because of social media and how we connect today in the world
connect today in the world
connect today in the world we’ve forgotten the value of what
we’ve forgotten the value of what
we’ve forgotten the value of what membership organizations provide
membership organizations provide
membership organizations provide what it is is that you have a local
what it is is that you have a local
what it is is that you have a local group and individuals pay to become a
group and individuals pay to become a
group and individuals pay to become a member but these individuals are very
member but these individuals are very
member but these individuals are very diverse they can be working in public
diverse they can be working in public
diverse they can be working in public sector private sector managers or
sector private sector managers or
sector private sector managers or students they come together they create
students they come together they create
students they come together they create activities or projects this is their
activities or projects this is their
activities or projects this is their internal relationships and then through
internal relationships and then through
internal relationships and then through the projects that they create and the
the projects that they create and the
the projects that they create and the roles they take on they build
roles they take on they build
roles they take on they build relationships in collaboration with
relationships in collaboration with
relationships in collaboration with local business community and that’s
local business community and that’s
local business community and that’s their external relationships as expats
their external relationships as expats
their external relationships as expats or as an expat myself because I move
or as an expat myself because I move
or as an expat myself because I move frequently I enjoy the ability to know
frequently I enjoy the ability to know
frequently I enjoy the ability to know that there will be an organization for
that there will be an organization for
that there will be an organization for me when I go there to my next
me when I go there to my next
me when I go there to my next destination and that I could explore
destination and that I could explore
destination and that I could explore different roles while I’m transitioning
different roles while I’m transitioning
different roles while I’m transitioning because I think in today’s fluctuating
because I think in today’s fluctuating
because I think in today’s fluctuating world of work being in one role in one
world of work being in one role in one
world of work being in one role in one company is something that’s a little bit
company is something that’s a little bit
company is something that’s a little bit rare and I think in this accompanying
rare and I think in this accompanying
rare and I think in this accompanying spouses are on to something larger
spouses are on to something larger
spouses are on to something larger they’re part of a global change of the
they’re part of a global change of the
they’re part of a global change of the way we build our career I think their
way we build our career I think their
way we build our career I think their transitional experiences can inform
transitional experiences can inform
transitional experiences can inform different segments of the working age
different segments of the working age
different segments of the working age population especially now especially in
population especially now especially in
population especially now especially in the European Union as we talk about
the European Union as we talk about
the European Union as we talk about integrating other mobile groups into our
integrating other mobile groups into our
integrating other mobile groups into our labour market so there’s no better way
labour market so there’s no better way
labour market so there’s no better way than to empower people by assisting them
than to empower people by assisting them
than to empower people by assisting them in their career transitions thank you
in their career transitions thank you
in their career transitions thank you [Applause]
”
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