How Working Abroad Can Benefit Your Career

For architects and designers, working abroad can benefit your career in a number of ways. You can learn new skills, improve your knowledge of global architectural trends, increase your cultural sensitivity, and so much more. Here are some of the ways working abroad can benefit your career.

Traveling Helps You to Become More Open-Minded

Working in a different country allows you to experience life in a new way. You will be introduced to many new things, which will force you to step outside of your comfort zone. It is when you open yourself to new things that creativity can flourish. This will make you more adaptable when you return home. You’ll be more understanding of differences in co-workers. You will see projects in a new way and more willing to take risks and think outside the box when you are working.

Traveling Improves Your Empathy Skills

You will develop important skills faster abroad than you would at home, especially if you work in a country that has a different primary language than your native tongue. This situation will allow you to develop your ability to communicate and collaborate with people of different backgrounds. Since architecture and design both involve communication and teamwork, these experiences can be invaluable to your career.

Traveling Helps Diversify Your Portfolio

Chances are, if you work abroad you will encounter project types that are different than the ones you are used to working on back at home. This will improve your resume and design portfolio. These days, firms work on many different project types and are less likely to specialize in a specific niche. Having a more diverse portfolio will make you more attractive to firms who want an architect who can fill the role of a generalist.

Traveling Can Help You Grow Your Professional Network

Working abroad is a great way to meet new people and expand your network. Living and working in an unfamiliar place will force you to make connections. You’ll experience challenges and obstacles that are new to you, so you end up leaning on the people you meet for support. Not only will you make new friends, some of these connections could prove to be valuable to your career down the line.

An opportunity to work abroad in the architectural or interior design field can make a huge difference in your career. The experience of working in a foreign country can benefit you in many different ways. You can diversify your portfolio, improve important soft skills, expand your professional network, and improve your knowledge of design.

 

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