| Thinking of working abroad? |
For project management consultants, the market is a worldwide one. That said it is predominantly
focused in Western Europe but there are opportunities in the Middle East and Africa. Western Europe has
recently become more attractive as the pound and Euro near parity.
Overseas work for UK project management consultants is available on both a contract and permanent
basis - and it is the nature of this work that is all covered within this rough guide.
How do I know I have the necessary skills?
From a professional perspective industry knowledge and experience is the most important skill
requirement. Traditionally, UK consultants have been very highly respected for their qualifications
and trusted by clients to complete a job efficiently and effectively. Generally, previous overseas
work is desirable (inducing a Catch 22 situation) but with solid, relevant UK experience a UK
project consultant will still be in demand for employment overseas.
Qualifications and industry experience are necessary traits for an Expat project consultant, but a
fluent second language for business is also a high sought after but not essential. Professional
capability is only half of the picture, as it takes a particular type of person to fit into the
lifestyle of work overseas. It is great to have a sense of adventure, but working abroad requires
much more than this. You should think long and hard about whether this is the right move for you
or not.
Benefits of working overseas
Apart from the raised profile of going to work overseas, there are some other very real benefits.
For most project consultants, the most significant is the opportunity to get involved in the
operational side of things and get out of the office. Overseas contract work, may require site
visits and a hands-on management approach that is often not used working in the UK.
There is also the potential for significantly higher pay rates to be negotiated. Skilled expatriate
project consultants can command a pay rate premium, which can also be further escalated if the
project location is classed as a hardship area, such as Nigeria and Iraq, where there may be
personal risk involved. A final key benefit is that of the experience of the assignment itself.
The ability to come into contact with different cultures and nationalities and broaden ones
knowledge is a key determinant in attracting contractors to work overseas.
Pitfalls to look out for when considering overseas work
Generally, there is a misconception that all work overseas includes tax-free pay. In fact, there
are only a handful of countries where pay is completely tax-free and very often there is a liability
to local taxation. The majority of countries will enforce some kind of taxation structure, but this
varies from country to country, and in the case of the USA from state to state.
As regards UK tax liability, the basic ruling is that UK Expatriates can only spend 90 days in the
UK in any one tax year to preserve their status as "non-resident" for tax purposes.
There are other general considerations to working abroad that should be thought about as well -
including: work place climate, hardship locations, and how being away from home will impact on
family life. Adequate research through speaking to colleagues, consulting with a recruiter, and
investigating yourself using online resources will all help to build a picture of whether an
assignment or location is suitable for you.
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