“Go East Young Man” ; Ex-pat job hunting in Asia

[Satorialist]

Gentlemen: What advice do you have for someone who has an inescapable desire to "Go East"? Like many of you; my dream is to establish a life-long career in Asia. And like many of you; turning the dream into reality brings more questions than answers.

I can imagine how strange that must sound; but I feel, and truthfully, have always felt, a siren call to "Go East"....it is in my bones--always has been. I'm caucasian American aged 28 whose determined to strike out a career for myself in Asia for the long-haul. I hold a business degree; have experience in marketing; e-commerce merchandising; mortgage banking; real estate investment; exposure to Asia (traveled Vietnam, China’s ‘little sister’); currently learning Mandarin & Japanese; and currently preparing MBA applications with the aim of entering a Global MBA program [in Asia preferably, hopefully matriculate Fall 2011 but more likely Fall 2012].

I have researched, but alas, remain confounded as to how to realistically make the transition. I'm not focused on one particular industry, my interests are deep and wide. Thus, aside from teaching English (which a long-haul career does not make); what steps should I be taking?

 

[mkarim]

I think you have good, long-term, very achievable goals. Follow your dreams...

 

[dragon8]

Originally Posted by mkarim

I think you have good, long-term, very achievable goals. Follow your dreams...

Exactly. Follow your dreams while you still can.

 

[Lord-Barrington]

Originally Posted by Satorialist

Gentlemen: What advice do you have for someone who has an inescapable desire to "Go East"? Like many of you; my dream is to establish a life-long career in Asia. And like many of you; turning the dream into reality brings more questions than answers. I can imagine how strange that must sound; but I feel, and truthfully, have always felt, a siren call to "Go East"....it is in my bones--always has been. I'm caucasian American aged 28 whose determined to strike out a career for myself in Asia for the long-haul. I hold a business degree; have experience in marketing; e-commerce merchandising; mortgage banking; real estate investment; exposure to Asia (traveled Vietnam, China’s ‘little sister’); currently learning Mandarin & Japanese; and currently preparing MBA applications with the aim of entering a Global MBA program [in Asia preferably, hopefully matriculate Fall 2011 but more likely Fall 2012]. I have researched, but alas, remain confounded as to how to realistically make the transition. I'm not focused on one particular industry, my interests are deep and wide. Thus, aside from teaching English (which a long-haul career does not make); what steps should I be taking?
1) Join a North American multinational 2) Get transferred to Asia with an expat package. "Striking out" alone in Asia is a terrible idea for many reasons. Most companies don't need an employee who doesn't speak the language, doesn't know the culture, and doesn't understand the work environment which, wether you like it or not, is the situation you are in. Furthermore, from absolutely everything I've heard on the subject, those who are "lucky" enough to be hired directly by Asian firms face lower pay, longer hours, and a generally worse work environment than their expat brethren working for multinationals. Ask yourself this fundamental question: What can I do that a (Vietnamese, Chinese, Japanese, etc) worker with my experience can't do? If you don't have an answer to that, stay home.

 

[Pantisocrat]

Join a reputable banking establishment and opt for jobs in their Asia based outposts. I think you have a thing for Asian women but just don't say it.

 

[ThatGuy]

Sounds like you have done a lot of types of work.

You're chance of being expatriated is slim due to your age and experience.

It's also a long road to work in a US MNC and getting offered a post.

However, you may have a language skills edge. Keep it up and your are won't matter as much when you can actually communicate with the local people.

 

[LaoHu]

Originally Posted by Lord-Barrington

1) Join a North American multinational
2) Get transferred to Asia with an expat package.

"Striking out" alone in Asia is a terrible idea for many reasons. Most companies don't need an employee who doesn't speak the language, doesn't know the culture, and doesn't understand the work environment which, wether you like it or not, is the situation you are in. Furthermore, from absolutely everything I've heard on the subject, those who are "lucky" enough to be hired directly by Asian firms face lower pay, longer hours, and a generally worse work environment than their expat brethren working for multinationals.

Ask yourself this fundamental question: What can I do that a (Vietnamese, Chinese, Japanese, etc) worker with my experience can't do? If you don't have an answer to that, stay home.

This is a very good question to help focus your thinking. In my experience it's your network that differentiates you. In the beginning you'll have one in North America that the people in China won't. If you stay long enough and perform well enough, you just might develop a network in China that others will pay you to access.

 

[globetrotter]

Originally Posted by Lord-Barrington

1) Join a North American multinational
2) Get transferred to Asia with an expat package.

"Striking out" alone in Asia is a terrible idea for many reasons. Most companies don't need an employee who doesn't speak the language, doesn't know the culture, and doesn't understand the work environment which, wether you like it or not, is the situation you are in. Furthermore, from absolutely everything I've heard on the subject, those who are "lucky" enough to be hired directly by Asian firms face lower pay, longer hours, and a generally worse work environment than their expat brethren working for multinationals.

Ask yourself this fundamental question: What can I do that a (Vietnamese, Chinese, Japanese, etc) worker with my experience can't do? If you don't have an answer to that, stay home.

+1

the question is, what can you do that a local can't? if you can answer that, you're all set.

another question - why are you sure that you will enjoy a "lifelong" career in asia? it happens, not uncommonly, that you could get there and find that you hate it.

in any event - I became an ex-pat two ways, a few times I picked up and moved myself. that is risky and I was lucky it worked out, and it wasn't especially lucrative either time. and I was moved by a corporation, which was better in all ways. I had a pretty good skill set, in selling.

sorry that I can't be more helpful, good luck

 

[Eason]

Sartorialist, what about your girlfriend/wife and many, many friends in the USA? Won't you miss them?

Second, cosin what globetrotter said- how do you know you'll love it. You do you know that "the East" (let's refer to it as "the Orient" from here on in this thread, shall we?) is more varied than the occident? How many times will you move from country from country before you find a place you can stand living? Perhaps you should try that before you ask a multi-national to move you somewhere.

 

[Lord-Barrington]

Originally Posted by Eason

Sartorialist, what about your girlfriend/wife and many, many friends in the USA? Won't you miss them?

Second, cosin what globetrotter said- how do you know you'll love it. You do you know that "the East" (let's refer to it as "the Orient" from here on in this thread, shall we?) is more varied than the occident? How many times will you move from country from country before you find a place you can stand living? Perhaps you should try that before you ask a multi-national to move you somewhere.

This brings up another good points, namely that Asia's work culture is nothing like what you're used to in North America. I too fell in love with the Orient several years ago but I understood pretty quickly that working there, unless you're on a sweet expat package, can be pretty rough. Long hours, incredibly rigid hierarchies and a general lack of interest in innovation (not always, but often). I spend all my vacation time in Asia but I work in NA and so far I'm happy with the arrangement.

 

[Lovecraft]

If you're going to sojourn in the Far East I'd recommend restricting your sojourn to the following countries: Japan, South Korea and Taiwan. The rest of the East is by and large a cultural rubbish heap and not worth seeing with the exception of Nepal and Tibet (where foreigners are not permitted to travel to due to the ongoing Chicom occupation there).

I'd also recommend you visit Japan at least once. I visited once and it was an absolutely captivating experience. The Japanese are a very civilized people, and Japan is without a doubt one of the most civil, clean and technologically advanced places I've visited.

Also, the peoples of Far East have not been infected with PC nonsense and thus still recognize and appreciate the greatness of the White people, so by just being White you're afforded great respect there.

 

[Eason]

I think the last part of that post was missing a (5).

 

[Fuuma]

A word or warning; Asia may feel cool at first glance with the nice scenery and all but it is actually filled with asian people. I am hiding in an a hotel room right now, bastards are crawling everywhere outside and I'm afraid to go out.

More seriously how can you like every country in there indiscriminately, you just like the idea of "the orient" or something or is it about the cheap prostitutes? Places in asia have really different cultures...

 

[Pantisocrat]

ha ha. This post reminds me why I hate white people so much.

Originally Posted by Lovecraft

If you're going to sojourn in the Far East I'd recommend restricting your sojourn to the following countries: Japan, South Korea and Taiwan. The rest of the East is by and large a cultural rubbish heap and not worth seeing with the exception of Nepal and Tibet (where foreigners are not permitted to travel to due to the ongoing Chicom occupation there).

I'd also recommend you visit Japan at least once. I visited once and it was an absolutely captivating experience. The Japanese are a very civilized people, and Japan is without a doubt one of the most civil, clean and technologically advanced places I've visited.

Also, the peoples of Far East have not been infected with PC nonsense and thus still recognize and appreciate the greatness of the White people, so by just being White you're afforded great respect there.

 

[Eason]

Cheap prostitutes! Cheap prostitutes! There's an oriental in my condo right now, changing the door handle of my front door. He just hocked up an enormous solid loogie, and, luckily, spat it outside my door instead of on my tile floor. How thoughtful he is.

Originally Posted by Pantisocrat

ha ha. This post reminds me why I hate white people so much.

Whites have a certain regality that other races lack. If only I was white...