Just Released! 2011 Global Relocation Trends Survey Report (Expats)

Hi Everyone, The annual, well-respected and highly quoted Global Relocation Trends Survey Report has just been released, by Brookfield Global Relocation Services.

Here are some excerpts from their press release today:

* 61 percent of global companies surveyed are expecting to transfer more employees in 2011 than in recent years, according to the just-released 2011 Global Relocation Trends Survey Report, published by Brookfield Global Relocation Services.

* The percentage of new hires for international assignments hits an all-time low (8 percent).

* Meanwhile, only 9 percent of international assignees are 20 to 29 years old (tied for the lowest percentage in the report's history).

* While there are some signs of improvement, obtaining spouse/partner employment during international assignments continues to be a struggle. In this report, 60 percent of spouses/partners were employed before but just 12 percent during assignments.

* 18 percent of international assignees were women, compared to a historical average of 16 percent.

* 68 percent of international assignees were married and less than half (47 percent) had children accompanying them, an all-time low.

* Just 74 percent of companies provided cross-cultural preparation - the lowest percentage in the history of this report -While this benefit may be an easy one to cut to reduce costs, it is difficult to ensure the quality of web-based or self-service cross-cultural preparation that is usually offered as an alternative.

* As a consequence, although companies are increasingly focusing on cost reductions and efficiencies in their international relocation operations, amazingly, 92 percent of companies did not formally measure return on investment (ROI). When asked why, 50 percent of respondents indicated that the principal reason for not measuring ROI is that they do not know how to achieve it.

* China, Brazil and India are top emerging destinations; China, India and Russia cited as most challenging destinations for both expats and relocation managers.

* The location of a company's headquarters is a significant factor in that company's optimism: Those headquartered in Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) were more optimistic than their counterparts with headquarters in North America. For example, 64 percent of EMEA-based companies expected to send more employees on assignment this year, versus 58 percent of companies based in North America.

In all, 118 multinational firms participated in the worldwide survey; combined, these firms manage a worldwide employee population of 5.6 million. Brookfield Global Relocation Services will present key findings of its 2011 survey on Thursday, April 21, during a complimentary webinar that will provide a comparative analysis of the key global mobility issues facing businesses today. All webinar attendees will receive the full Global Relocation Trends Survey report. To register, please click here.

Brookfield Global Relocation Services is a full service provider of corporate and government relocation and assignment management services to more than 250 corporate and government clients. Brookfield Global Relocation Services manages over 50,000 relocations in more than 110 countries throughout the world, and funds over $3.6 billion dollars in relocation expenses annually. Brookfield Global Relocation Services is an operating company of Brookfield Residential Property Services, a leading global provider of real estate and relocation services, technology, and knowledge.

Worldwide ERC® EMEA Global Workforce Summit: Free Conference Registration for Corporate/HR Professionals

Hi Everyone, If you are a Corporate/Human Resources (HR) Professional who might be interested in attending the Worldwide ERC® EMEA Global Workforce Summit in Amsterdam, June 23-24, you are invited to sign up now, for free.

Just like they did for their Summit in Shanghai last month, the Worldwide ERC® is offering this opportunity to Corporate/HR Professionals, but just like Shanghai, the free spots are limited.

The offer is open to "all corporate HR professionals responsible for the talent management and global mobility of their company’s employees."

To learn more, please click here. Then, if you have further questions, please contact Vice President, Meetings and Member Alliances Cici Thompson at Meetings@WorldwideERC.org. Thank you.

Are You An Expat Woman In Singapore? Andrea Martins at PrimeTime & CRCE Events Next Week

Hi Everyone!  If you are an expat woman living in Singapore, I invite you to join me next week at the following events hosted by two great local networks in Singapore:

Seminar Topic: Trailing Spouses: Be Inspired to Live Your Best Life In Singapore!
Host: Career Resource Center for Expats (CRCE), American Association of Singapore
Date: Wednesday 10 November
Time: 10am-12pm
Cost: $10 CRCE members, $20 non-CRCE members
Venue: American Association of Singapore
Address: 10 Claymore Hill, Singapore, 229573
Phone: 6733-4257 (online registration now full, so please phone to register instead, thanks)

"Come and enjoy a powerful presentation from visiting international guest speaker, Andrea Martins, co-founder of the ExpatWomen.com.  Andrea will share with us some of the wisdom she has gained from 3½ years of answering thousands of emails from expat women around the globe, plus inspirational stories of expatriate women that she has interviewed who have turned their lives and careers around abroad.  Learn how you can:  

• Feel that you are not alone in your feelings of ‘loss of identity’ 
• Overcome challenges as a trailing spouse
• Think more creatively about your career path abroad
• Focus on making your time in Singapore a positive life and career experience"

Seminar Topic: Inspiring Stories from International Women Around the World

Host: PrimeTime: Business and Professional Women's Association
Date: Thursday 11 November
Time: 6:30pm-10pm
Cost: $45 PrimeTime members (by 6 Nov), $50 PrimeTime members (post 6 Nov), $60 non-PrimeTime members (includes dinner)
Venue: Traders Hotel, Singapore
Address: 1A Cuscaden Road, Singapore
Phone: 6738-2222

 "We invite you to be inspired by Andrea Martins, co-founder and director of ExpatWomen.com, the world’s largest website dedicated to women living abroad.  From her many interviews, Andrea will share the stories of enterprising and successful expatriate women who have followed their passion and started new lives and new ventures from hotels to print media companies, foodie retreats, bikini boot camps and a Fiat touring club. Come and be inspired by women like you who are creating a new life abroad!"


If you are in Singapore and would like to come (or know someone who might), thank you in advance for your support - I look forward to meeting you there!

Warmest wishes, Andrea.

ps. My apologies for using my name in the blog title... I am told that it helps with SEO (search engine optimization), so I am testing if that is true. :-)

Have You Ever Worked Abroad? Would You Like 3 Free Coaching Sessions & A Free Book?

Hi Everyone, Elizabeth Kruempelmann of Global Citizen Coaching is updating the work abroad section of her 2004 book The Global Citizen: A Guide to Creating an International Life and Career (affiliate link) and she is looking for your story of working abroad.

If you have ever worked abroad (as an employee or as a freelancer), or if you have ever taken part in a work-exchange program, internship or volunteer program abroad, Elizabeth would love to hear from you (about what obstacles you faced, how you overcame them and what tips you could offer others). 

Elizabeth says your story does not need to be long: 50 - 300 words is great.  She is just looking for words of wisdom for others who aspire to work abroad.

In return, for each story included in her updated book, Elizabeth is willing to offer three free coaching sessions (on the subject of your choice) plus a copy of her updated book!  That's pretty impressive as an incentive for writing only 50 - 300 words - so get your thinking caps on and give it a go!
 
Deadline for submissions to Elizabeth is next Monday, 24 May.  The stories selected for inclusion will be announced by Elizabeth (to her network) on 31 May.

Thanks and good luck!  Andrea

The Myths Of Working Abroad

Hi Everyone, If you have contemplated working abroad, but have always found a reason not to go, take a look at Stacie Nevadomski Berdan's great two-part series (on w2wlink - a community dedicated to professional women) that refutes the following 10 myths of women working abroad...

Myth #1: Women don’t do as well as men overseas.
Myth #2: Women aren’t accepted as equals in international business circles.
Myth #3: It’s only for young/junior professionals.
Myth #4: I can’t go; I’m married.
Myth #5: I can’t go; I have children.
Myth #6: I don’t speak a second language.
Myth #7: My market is the most important, fastest-growing place for business.
Myth #8: It’s not necessary in my field or industry.
Myth #9: Out of site, out of mind.
Myth #10: Such transfers are few and far between.

Read Countering The Myths Of Working Abroad - Part 1

Read Countering The Myths Of Working Abroad - Part 2

About Stacie:
Stacie is a co-author of the book Get Ahead By Going Abroad: A Woman's Guide To Fast-Track Career Success. We interviewed Stacie as one of our Expat Women Success Stories earlier this year. You can read our interview with Stacie here.

Thanks and enjoy your weekend!

Challenges Of Dual Career Households In A Global Economy (For Americans Abroad)

Hello Everyone, If the topic of expat dual careers interests you, we invite you to read Leila Heron's article that we uploaded this week.

Leila's research and focus concentrates on US expats, but there might just be something in the article for you, even if you are not American. (The data table itself is very interesting.) :-)

Here is Leila's Executive Summary:

"The global economy, growing numbers of dual income households, and the increase of international assignments are producing pressure on American multinationals and the Federal Government to provide career transition assistance to spouses/partners worldwide. New support programs emphasizing entrepreneurial skills training and internet savvy show promise to boost employment opportunities abroad."

Have a great day/evening! Andrea