 While working in an expatriate capacity, one of the most effective ways
to stay connected to the home office is to engage a reliable person, or
mentor.
Preferably, these individuals should be senior managers who can
have an impact on career direction and—who have a schedule that allows
them to provide the necessary assistance. Mentors can make expats’
accomplishments known to key personnel, watch for career opportunities,
arrange for interaction in company projects and events and keep them
abreast of corporate developments, products, policies and strategies.
A mentor affiliation is a strategic part of overseas assignments, and
engaging the right person needs to be an ongoing effort. If the
selected mentor moves away, the expat would be wise to have one or
several other candidates in mind to fill the role.
Before moving abroad, a company should have a plan in place to utilize
the employee’s newly acquired skills. John McNamara, national director
of international assurance at the New York-based accounting firm
Deloitte & Touche says: “managers discuss which job each of the
company’s 200 expats will take after returning. Before the person goes
abroad they sign a written commitment, which includes a job guarantee
at the end of the assignment. If they come back and you don't take
advantage of what they have learned…they can easily get disillusioned.”
In closing, consider this quote by Florence Stone, American Management
Association. “Mentoring is a trend sweeping through corporate America.
It has gone beyond the hundreds of thousands of informal relationships
of ambitious employees and managers—who look for ways to achieve their
career goals faster through the help of an experienced advisor.
Increasingly, companies are running formal mentoring programs as they
see how they can shorten learning tracks, speed managerial advancement
and build the next generation of leaders.”
 “Reprinted with permission from Relocation Today Volume 7,
Issue 5 by BR Anchor Publishing, Wilmington, NC. Publisher, Beverly D.
Roman is the author of twenty relocation titles for adults, teenagers,
preteens and young children. Contact her at
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
, or 910.256.9598. See her books at www.branchor.com
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