by Emily Cotlier

I'm a technical writer working in New Zealand, and my jobs here have sent me to Singapore and Australia. When I told my friends and acquaintances that I was planning on moving from the United States, where I had lived all my life, to another country, their responses ranged from disbelief to envy. One person asked me, "Is that actually possible?" Others confessed that they didn't even have a passport.

Over time, I've found that many technical writers working in the Pacific Rim are expatriates from the United States, Europe, and India. In this era of globalization, many others are interested in exploring opportunities in different countries, or accompanying a spouse who is posted abroad. This article offers advice on finding technical writing jobs abroad, setting your own expectations for the new work environment, and getting involved in your new culture and country. It is based on my own experiences as an American expatriate working abroad, and on conversations with other expatriate technical writers. Although many of the examples are based on my own experiences, the information and advice can be applied to anyone seeking employment as a technical writer outside of their native country.

Finding a Technical Writing Job Abroad

Leaving your native country is challenging but rewarding. Two of the more difficult aspects are getting into the country where you want to go, and finding a job there:

Research jobs and work requirements before you go Some aspects of working abroad apply to everyone living and working as an expatriate. To begin your search, try these Web sites for basic information and job searches:

• http://www.overseasjobs.com/ [1]
  
• http://www.escapeartist.com/ [2]
  
• http://www.expatexchange.com/ [3]

It is far easier to get a job if you are physically present in the country where you want to work, and my first advice to anyone is to take the plunge and move, if this is possible. That said, it is possible to obtain a job in another country before you leave your country of residence by using the Web and internationally-oriented job agencies. The URLs provided are a good starting place.

However, be careful. In several instances, I have seen that the jobs offered to people outside the country often come with a catch - the company or organization may be troubled enough to have a bad reputation amongst locals, or they may have serious internal problems. So, do your research well before saying "yes" to an overseas job offer.

Use local employment resources when you arrive Depending on where you are trying to find employment, you may find that technical writing jobs seem elusive compared to other engineering and IT work. Local employment resources are valuable in helping to pinpoint available jobs. In New Zealand, for example, I found the most helpful job source to be a local IT newspaper, because it provided information about local IT recruiting agencies and specific IT job Web sites. Other good sources apart from the Web are local mainstream newspapers and the phone book, which should have a list of local writing and technical contract agencies. It's also worth checking out the local chapter of the Society for Technical Communication [4].

Network with your most professional manners One of the most helpful things is to ask another technical writer in the same country for their advice. Nowadays, you can make these contacts on the Web, searching for and participating in mailing lists, blogs, contract agencies, and professional networks such as LinkedIn. Be courteous, do your homework, and focus on professional questions. Don't expect a professional contact to be your complete immigration resource. I was once contacted by a woman seeking to work outside the U.S. She said bluntly that she wanted "my job", and not only wanted me to send her immigraton links, but to tell her which country to move to! I recommended a country far away from where I live.

Develop your resume or curriculum vita (CV) based on the country Be prepared to develop a version of your resume or CV for the document standards of the country where you want to work. Don't assume that your current resume or CV is so clear and well-organized that it would be understandable or appropriate for recipients outside of your native country. If you are job hunting in the United Kingdom, or in New Zealand, Australia, and Asian countries influenced by the British business model, these countries use long-format CVs instead of short-format resumes. (For an example, go to http://www.protocol.co.nz/ [5], and see Advice to Candidates-->Creating Your CV.) If your resume or CV is
not in the format locals prefer, your information will end up in the real, or virtual, wastebasket without being considered.

Additionally, provide detailed information about references. In your resume or CV, it's good to include detailed reference information, specifically email addresses, so that your references are easy to contact.

Bring your portfolio to interviews Once you have arrived and are meeting with employment agencies and prospective employers, your portfolio can help you compete against less-complicated-to-hire local talent. What kind of portfolio is best suited for an expatriate technical writer? I've found that it's good to bring a bound collection, CD, or flash drive of samples relevant to the position that you can leave behind with the interviewer. That way, the interviewer has specific samples on hand after the interview, which can demonstrate your skills beyond the interview.

Additionally, if you're interviewing in one country for a job in another, you might send along the portfolio to the hiring office prior to the interview. This can provide the interviewer with specific materials, provide a basis for interview discussions, and, again, provide tangible samples that remain after the interview.

Be prepared to explain your credentials Academic programs and degrees vary from country to country, and you will probably need to explain your credentials. For example, academic degrees in technical writing remain unusual outside of the US and Europe, and interviewers will want to know about your technical writing degree and what, specifically, it entails. It's helpful to provide the URLs of the universities you attended so that the interviewer has specific resources to investigate, beyond the details you provide during the interview. Also, the significance of your degree may vary depending on where you are. In Europe, a Master's degree is the standard after attending university, so having a Master's means that you are qualified, but you do not stand out.

Understand local currencies, salaries, and costs of living Although many job ads will include a salary range for technical writing positions, you may find it difficult to determine what that salary range really means if you're unfamiliar with local currencies, tax rates, and costs of living. When I first started working in New Zealand, I accepted a salary that sounded reasonable because I was thinking in terms of US dollars, when I should have been looking at New Zealand dollars. The local STC chapter or a local agency that recruits technical writers can often help you determine appropriate salary ranges and provide cost of living information.

Full-time versus contract work and taxes In some countries, you want to research the tax position of being a full-time employee versus being a contract employee. Contract employment is often tempting to expatriates - it pays well, and the end date of the contract can seem like a convenient time to "return home." However, if your situation changes, in some countries (such as Australia) it can be difficult to transition from being a contract worker to being a full-time worker, due to tax complications.

A career counselor is a good investment If you are making a long-term move to a country where there are significant professional and cultural differences, I recommend a session with a career counselor in that country.

Yes, it costs you money. But a career counselor will tell you the things that your friends, and your professional rivals, never will; they will help you fix problems and market yourself effectively. I know a career counselor in Wellington who says that a significant chunk of her business is expatriates making the transition to working in New Zealand.

In addition, they should be able to provide you with the information on full-time versus contract work in their country.

Working Abroad

The challenges aren't over when you land a job. Although you may find the day-to-day work of a technical writer to be the same abroad as it was in your homeland, you may find the office cultures to be very different. Take time during interviews to ask about software tools and language requirements, so that you know what to expect:

Anticipate differences in the tools available to you At your desk, you might not have the same computers and software tools that you had used before. Be patient about this. During nine years in New Zealand, I have seen periods when the exchange rate made the latest IT-ware prohibitively expensive, and times when IT departments snapped up software licenses to take advantage of a favorable exchange rate. Additionally, software companies may not provide any local support or training in your particular country, or a program simply never became popular amongst local users and distributors. If you're in a work environment where the tools are different and you expect to "repatraite" some day, plan to keep up with tools and technologies being used back at home, not just what's being used in your new, temporary work environment. You cannot go wrong educating yourself about shareware and exploring local software options.

Clarify language requirements You may find that language is an issue--using different versions of English, for example. One company I worked for wanted British English in the manuals and online help "because we're proud to be a New Zealand company, and that's our heritage." Another company preferred to use American English "because the US has emerged as our main market, and we consider American English to be the standard for IT." Find out which version the employer prefers, and keep reference books on hand, especially as you're adapting to new language requirements. As a "foreigner", you may also be asked to help co-ordinate, or even perform, translations.

Expect cultural differences to come to work with you Diplomacy in the workplace is especially important when working abroad, and you should take time to learn about the expectations and preferences of the native culture. For example, in loud and hectic Philadelphia, I was considered quiet and soft-spoken. Compared with the even quieter, very reserved New Zealanders and their more relaxed atmosphere in the workplace, I'm a brassy, formal dynamo. When there's a conflict at my job, I have to stop and ask myself; is this about office politics, or is it a culture clash? Sometimes, the two are intertwined. I've made some changes to my work style, and I've learned to be more patient.

Expect some stereotyping International stereotypes about Americans are projected onto me, both at work and in my social life. In the IT field, Americans are considered talented and very up-to-date in how they work, but we are also thought to be blunt, overly independent, and spoiled with benefits, salary, and Aeron chairs. When the American government does something that's criticized internationally, it's certain that I will have several awkward water-cooler conversations.

This is almost never personal - people usually distinguish between a government and an individual person. Remember that, as an expatriate, you can provide the facts about your home

country without apologizing or being an ambassador. Curiosity and stereotypes aren't always negative. During each US presidential election, my desk has been thronged with people asking for an explanation of the electoral college system. In 2001, after 9/11, I had neighbors leaving flowers on my doorstep, as a way of expressing their condolences to an American.

Enjoying the Experience

The most disappointing aspect of living and working abroad is that, even after nine years,I have seen less of New Zealand than many tourists have. In my experience so far, working in another country means just that--most of my time is spent at work.

Be prepared to tell your story If you do end up living and working abroad, be prepared to tell your story of why you're in Country X, as you'll be asked frequently. Fellow expatriates I've met agree that we wish we could use a tape or a CD to tell our stories, or walk around with an FAQ printed on a T-shirt. I've found that keeping my story short and focused satisfies curiosity while allowing conversations to move on.

Get involved in local culture If you're homesick, use the expatriate resources available to you, but without overdosing on them. It's too easy to cocoon yourself during your time off with other expatriates and media from your homeland, but breaking out of that has been very rewarding for me. Take time to get out and make some local friends, to explore, and to experience the differences of being in another place on the planet. My local friends have drawn me out, taken me along on road trips, and helped me gain a sense of the real New Zealand beneath the tourist veneer.

Conclusion

If you are interested in working abroad, know that it is possible to land a job, adapt to the environment, and enjoy your time in a different country. You may even decide to stay in that country, or move on to somewhere different. Thorough research and preparation, some expectation-setting, and open-mindedness and respect for others' differences will allow you to enjoy the benefits of working and living abroad. Good luck!

Emily Cotlier is a technical writer living in New Zealand as an expatriate

Contact Emily at eacotlier@xtra.co.nz [6].

Employment [6]

• International [6]
• Contracting [6]