Working abroad in construction: what should you know before you make the move?

Moving to a different country for work is on the bucket list of many professionals itching to travel the world and experience a different culture, all while continuing to build up their skill set and climb the career ladder. Employers are ever keener to give staff the opportunity for a placement abroad, as construction expands on a global level. 

But for those making the move, what is the experience really like? How difficult is it to make the switch on a professional and personal level? And what advice would they give to anyone else planning to do the same? Building spoke to several professionals within the construction sector who are either working abroad or have recently returned, to find out what practical steps they advise, what they found challenging, and what they were able to pick up along the way – as well as to one employer about the employer’s responsibilities. 

See below for profiles from:

• Frank Webster, Wilson James (Dubai)
• Louise Curran, Turner & Townsend, Canada
• Will Marshall, Gleeds, Hong Kong

Building also spoke with David Carey at Turner & Townsend, who supports the firm’s staff making overseas transfers, to find out about the employer’s role. What support should the employers give, and which areas are better left for the individual to sort? Click here to read more

Louise Curran, cost consultant at Turner & Townsend, Toronto, Canada

Has worked in Canada and Brazil

I was four years into my career at Turner & Townsend when an opportunity came up in our São Paulo office in Brazil. After seven months out there, I decided to move to Canada. 

How much help did you get from your firm?

Both of my moves were internal transfers within Turner & Townsend. As well as receiving help with my travel, I was given accommodation for the first few months in each country, while I found my feet and looked for my own place.

Our HR team produced a lot of guidance on what to expect locally and how to get yourself setup administratively in each new location, and everything you needed to register for – from signing up to public healthcare, to immigration requirements, to opening a bank account.

What practical steps should you consider? 

Everything was difficult at the start in Brazil due to the fact my Portuguese was pretty limited. It made all the administrative stuff – like finding a doctor – quite challenging. However, my new colleagues were incredibly helpful, accompanying me to government appointments to sort out my ID and to the bank to help me to open an account. The bureaucracy involved in setting up a bank account was a hurdle, and I got rejected by a few banks first. But I got a huge amount of support. I also enrolled in Portuguese lessons. 

Without any language barrier, the move to Toronto has been a lot smoother. Some things in day-to-day life function a bit differently from the UK, for example banks generally charge fees for holding a current account with them, and a family doctor is difficult to find, which makes you appreciate the accessibility of NHS GPs back home. In Canada, you’re only entitled to public health care (which you must apply for) after you’ve been there three months. Therefore, you need to be enrolled in temporary full medical insurance and afterwards it is wise to have a private medical top-up too to cover any supplementary health services not provided under the public system.

One thing I didn’t realise was that when you switch over your driving license, your British license gets taken away! That was a surprise at the time, and you have to remember to collect it from the consulate before you leave the country for good. 

But overall, the Canadian lifestyle in Toronto is pretty easy to adapt to when coming from the UK and isn’t as hectic as the pace of life in London.  

Any advice for others looking to work abroad? 

Being adaptable, patient and open-minded is essential when working overseas as things can function very differently in different countries. Be clear on what it is you want to get out of the experience of working abroad and define these goals early on with your new management when you arrive. This will ensure you give yourself some direction as you get settled into the new working environment and new role.

Remember to take important life documents with you, such as your birth certificate. You never know when you might need them for registration purposes or to complete paperwork.  

Don’t be afraid to ask for help at the get go. At first, I was a bit nervous about asking for advice, but as soon as I did I wished I’d asked earlier – rather than struggling to try and do something on my own.