You have an education and a set of skills. If you plan on moving overseas, you should know how those qualifications will translate into a career. The first thing to seriously consider is hiring a quality global career coach for expats. They will be able to help you assess options and show you ways to broaden your prospects moving forward. In the meantime, let us look at one approach to exploring career paths.
Analyze Options
Let’s assume you have a degree in Environmental Science. Search for jobs that require a degree in that field. Some examples are; environmental educator, environmental engineer, environmental lobbyist, museum curator or naturalist, park ranger, recycling management, and waste disposal management. Make a list of all the careers that require your degree and work experience.
After you have made your list, eliminate those that do not appeal to you. This type of exploration requires you to know yourself very well. For example; Are you a people person or do you enjoy working alone? Do you like being indoors or would you rather be outside moving around?
After you have narrowed things down to a few careers you might enjoy, compare them with the work environment, salary, and upward mobility.
Compare and Contrast
Now, examine two career paths for this degree field: Museum Curator & Recycling Management.
Museum Curator – (Bureau of Labor And Statistics)
- Yearly salary is approximately $58,000. “Salaries can reach $45,000 with mid-career curators collecting around $75,000.”
- Administer collections, such as artwork, collectibles, historic items, or scientific specimens of museums or other institutions. May conduct instructional, research, or public service activities of an institution.
- “Typically work in museums, historical sites, governments, colleges and universities, corporations, and other institutions that require their skills. Most work full-time. Many positions require a master’s degree. May start your career as a Museum Technician.”People often gain experience through an internship or by volunteering in archives and museums”
Recycling Management – (Bureau of Labor and Statistics)
- Yearly salary is approximately $90,000
- Job potential is high. Over 10,000 jobs. Exact job numbers are unknown, but the number of jobs is increasing rapidly.
- “Managers keep the recycling facilities working efficiently and safely. They have a broad range of responsibilities, including overseeing site improvements, submitting budgets, and developing long-term goals for the facility. Material Recovery Facility (MRF) managers might also work with the sales team to identify new clients who might be interested in purchasing recyclables. When it is necessary to deal with the public or press, MRF managers are the face of the recycling operation”.
- “Managers are also responsible for recruiting, hiring, and training employees. Positions for MRF managers may require education beyond a bachelor’s degree. Many MRF managers have earned a master’s degree in business administration (MBA) or a master’s degree in industrial engineering”.
- Available positions in all areas of the U.S.
There are two career paths to consider.
The Museum Curator path offers less pay, fierce competition, and minimal upward mobility, than a career in Recycling Management.
Ultimate Life Goals
However, the idea of “overseeing collections of historic items, acquiring research funding, and conducting public service activities” for a museum may appeal to you. You may have no interest at all in being a recycling manager. Why not choose something you love doing if given the opportunity?
Katherine Whitehorn said; “Find out what you like doing best, and get someone to pay you for doing it”.
Most of us have bills to pay, so one option to consider is choosing the position that is easiest to acquire now, knowing that the Museum Curator job, (or whatever your dream career may be) is your ultimate goal. With this plan, you get to pay your bills, gain valuable experience, and place yourself in a position to meet influential people.
Know Yourself
Ask your self a lot of questions when exploring careers. Is this a temporary job or could this be a lifetime career? Do I enjoy the environment? Does it fit my personality? Will I be challenged? Will I be bored? Will being an expat make this career more challenging or will my particular set of skills be more desirable?
Success is a goal worth fighting for. Do not live your life according to someone else’s dogma.
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