Take your skills abroad
Kevin Flynn and Raj Sharma of Hays International discuss the Facilities Management opportunities available further afield.
Chance of a lifetime?
For many of us, being offered an opportunity to work overseas for a couple of years is a dream come true. Working for a global company can provide fantastic scope to progress your career at an international level, but there are some things you need to consider when taking your skills abroad.
What should you expect in terms of salary and lifestyle, and what kind of impact will it have on your CV? Where is your FM experience lacking, and where are some of the exciting projects or PFI schemes taking place?
People react in different ways to working abroad and naturally some will adapt better than others. Those in the 45-50 year age bracket will often find the choice difficult, as long-term plans for their family will be scuppered by a stint abroad. Many modern households rely on a dual income, so immediately the choice becomes one about whether you will both be able to work in the new location.
Will it affect either of your careers adversely and does the salary match up, especially if you consider that the total household income might be halved? For example, the Carribbean offers few opportunities for women, and few choices in terms of schooling for the kids.
Do you fit the profile?
Kevin Flynn of Hays International says, "There are usually two types of people who benefit most from working overseas. The first is someone aged between 28-35, unattached and with no children. They have a degree, 5-10 years’ experience in the UK, professional membership and a good track record.
"It also helps if they are self-sufficient and self-confident in order to make new friends and not get too lonely or homesick. An important point to consider is whether you’ll be able to return to the UK at the level you want, and whether the market will have moved on in your absence. Some people feel left behind by developments in the industry or the company they worked for.
"The second profile is someone who is older, has plenty of experience and perhaps children who have left home. They are looking for a change of environment to finish off their career by doing something a bit different," continues Flynn.
"Working abroad gives people a chance to experience different situations and further themselves. It can be a real plus point and add to someone’s employability back in the UK because they are increasing their knowledge base and experience of dealing with different situations.
"It can also make the final working years a lot more interesting, and this type of person may even consider staying in their new location after retirement."
Help wanted
The news for FM professionals is that skills shortages in the UK are common across Europe. Raj Sharma says many clients approach Hays when they can’t find people with solid, customer service skills in the country they are looking to recruit in.
This is because FM as an industry is not as mature on the continent as in the UK, where we have the benefits of support networks such as Institutes and specialist training programmes. Hot spots for FM at the moment are Ireland, Italy, Holland, France and Spain.
"There are a number of large outsourcing projects going on in the Far East as well," says Raj Sharma. "American companies have successfully picked up work in Hong Kong and South East Asia due to its history there, whereas UK companies are much stronger in the Middle East.
"We placed a lot of candidates in Abu Dhabi, Saudi Arabia, Dubai and Qatar in the past year. A huge great deal amount of work is in China , but it’s a difficult area to work in. There are a lot of barriers to entry for foreign companies, which in turn affects opportunities for FM specialists who might consider relocating there.
Languages are a very important pre-requisite. "We have a client who is currently looking for a Facilities Manager to move to Greece. Our challenge is to find someone with the right match of skills, but they also need to speak the language," explains Raj.
"Languages are may not always necessary, though, as long as you can find a way to communicate what needs to be done. Often our clients are looking for someone who can train people locally and transfer skills they’ve learned in the UK, because their experience is seen as invaluable abroad. In this case, a two to three year placement is ideal for both parties."
Incentives
With the pound so strong, it’s not as easy to find top paying jobs abroad as it once was. In the 1980s, the demand for workers from the UK to run PFI projects overseas was so great it was not unheard of for professionals to earn up to ten times their salary, when taking into account the tax benefits afforded by places such as the Middle East and the Carribbean.
In contrast to those halcyon days, you may even need to take a pay cut because foreign companies simply cannot afford to pay the equivalent of what it’s possible to earn right now in the UK.
For example, Kevin Flynn filled a position recently in the Caribbean which was only paying £22,000. The successful applicant had solid skills, professional membership and was in the middle of his career with a reputable company, but the client simply wouldn’t pay more for his expertise.
On the positive side, he also received free accommodation, medical insurance, a car, regular trips back to the UK (which were covered in his benefits package) and 30 days' annual leave. Tax breaks also mean that more money ends up in the bank, which certainly adds up fast. In addition, Flynn says companies operating in the Caribbean offer much more personal time, and there are lots of recreational activities to cater for all needs.
"My advice would be to go for it," says Kevin. "You may not have the chances for fast promotion, as all of the roles tend to be project driven, but many of our candidates have been very happy there and found the experience worthwhile for personal and professional reasons. You need to be realistic,"
Kevin continues: "If you are around 28 years old with a mortgage, it could be the perfect opportunity to pay it off and enjoy a new environment at the same time, but you shouldn’t expect to make a fortune.
"If you have a family or partner, an offer which seems very good may not be as financially viable once you weigh up extra transport costs, schooling, or the fact that your partner might not find work as easily. In this situation, a move can also create a lot of emotional pressures which you should take some time to consider."
Growing opportunities
Although there are a lot of PFI projects currently taking place on the continent, the market is still very much in its development phase. Countries such as Greece, Italy and Spain are legislating in favour of PFI FM projects, but operations are not as mature as those in the UK, which has really galvanised as a global leader of the industry over the past decade along with the US and South East Asia. British companies are benefiting from the increasing numbers of European PFI projects.
"In Bermuda & Trinidad, there is substantial Government investment in infrastructure projects, so the amount of work there is certainly increasing," states Raj Sharma. "Prague and Brno in the Czech Republic desperately need UK placements as there are a number of commercial office sites opening in the region.
"There are opportunities for FM professionals who are prepared to make the move. If you are serious, start thinking about possible locations you could live in, and keep an open mind when considering where to go.
The experience gained is invaluable. "Developing countries such as the Czech Republic might feel a world away from your life in the UK, but think of all the things you will see and learn from living in a vastly different environment," stresses Raj Sharma.
