guide expatriation premier job 5

How do you develop your expatriate network?

Being surrounded by people is the key to a good experience!
Expatriation means stepping into the unknown, confronting a different culture and living an extraordinary experience. Even so, after the first few months of discovery and wonder, it can sometimes be difficult to live away from your own culture. Yet there are ways to protect yourself against what can be considered “expatriate blues”. When you go abroad, the question of integration arises. How do you develop your network abroad, whether professional or personal? Here’s our advice.

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Using social networks to better integrate expatriates

Expatriation entails upheavals, particularly in terms of social life. The expatriate will have to build a new life and, above all, a new circle of contacts. Social networks are a powerful communication tool that has become indispensable. Using social networks, and Facebook in particular, can be a great help during your expatriation. They make it easier to keep up with your loved ones, even from a distance. They are also an essential tool for immersing yourself in local life, keeping up to date with news from your expat city and events not to be missed during your expatriation.

You can prepare your stay well before you leave by joining social networks dedicated to expatriates, or by (virtually) meeting other people in the country via specialized forums. This is often the case for expatriates in Hong Kong. If you haven’t already done so, take out expatriate insurance in Hong Kong.

Hanging out with expats who already have some experience of the country will not only help you avoid isolation on arrival, but also provide you with a wealth of practical advice.

Build your professional network in your expatriate country

Professional opportunity is at the top of the list of benefits of expatriation. It’s an opportunity to develop your career. Expatriation not only gives you access to higher positions, but also to benefits such as a higher salary, mobility or installation bonuses…
Within the company you’re joining, you’ll automatically meet new people. Exchanging ideas over coffee, going out for a drink, asking for advice on a particular project… are all excellent ways of forging links.
In addition, there are many international networks specific to a particular industry. By finding out about your own, you’re bound to meet new people with whom you can collaborate or simply make friends.
One thing leads to another, and you’ll build up a solid professional address book and expand your network.
Networking in the workplace is very important, but don’t lose sight of the fact that you can meet people anywhere.

Participate in local activities during your expatriation

In fact, extra-professional activities also bring people together and foster integration in the new country.
Take part in events Taking part in events that are either professional or correspond to your interests is an excellent way to meet people and exchange ideas on subjects that interest you. It’s also an opportunity to learn more about the country, the city and to enrich yourself on a human level. What’s more, you’ll improve your language skills at the same time.

Register for sports activities

Sign up for sports classes in your neighborhood to meet the locals. Attend an aperitif organized for newcomers to the country (these events are often on Facebook).

Become a volunteer

Volunteering is a great way to discover the world of solidarity and mutual aid.
Volunteering can be an excellent way to forge links with new people. By committing yourself to a cause, you demonstrate your dedication and your desire to better integrate.

Keeping a blog during your expatriation

And don’t hesitate to write a blog about your experience in your new country. A blog can serve as a link between you and your family and friends back home. It can also help those who would like to experience the same thing as you, and thus become a point of reference for future expatriates. What’s more, by sharing your experiences, you’ll find it easier to unwind when the blues hit.
In fact, if you have a blog while you’re abroad, you’ll need to keep it going. Every visit or outing is an opportunity to share your expatriation on the web.

Arriving in a new country can be unsettling. It’s essential not to feel isolated, and to create a new social and professional circle to make the most of your expatriation. Building a strong local network is an easy solution to consider. Recreating a familiar environment can be important for people far from their home country.

And don’t forget, for your peace of mind, it’s essential to take out expatriate insurance to cover you at all times!

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