The success of an international assignment depends on many factors. According to the PriceWaterhouseCoopers International Assignments Key Trends 1999/2000, the most common reason for failure is intercultural adaptability of the spouse. Companies are realizing that providing assistance in finding employment can aid in the spouse‘s adjustment. Benefits of a working spouse include additional income and a sense of continuity. It can help them understand the culture, and develop their own social bases and support networks.

Spouse employment is also becoming a factor in accepting an assignment in the first place. A 2001 survey by PWC and UK- based Market & Opinion Research International (MORI) entitled Managing Mobility – A European Perspective, found 49% of respondents gave “employment opportunities for spouses” as a key barrier to mobility. Recent figures show it is no longer just women who are the ‘trailing spouses’; about 18% are men. Both private and public sector organizations are starting to realize that to manage international assignments successfully they will have to focus on the needs of dual-career couples.

How do you go about finding a job in a foreign culture? First, investigate how your partner’s company could support your efforts. Some organizations provide various options including: job hunting trips prior to relocation, inter/intra company networking, career counseling, local job search assistance, legal assistance with work restrictions, membership in professional associations, attendance of workshops, educational support, child care provisions while conducting your job search, language lessons, and cross-cultural training. They may even offer some of these services in-house. One good example is Shell, which established its Spouse Employment Center (SEC) in May 1995 in response to an internal survey that highlighted a concern for spouses’ ability to maintain their own careers.

In some cases, it might be difficult finding a match for the partner’s exact field of expertise. Local employment consultants may help the spouse explore different ways to utilize skills and find alternative employment. Partners may need to “tilt their hats” a bit and see their skills in a new light.

In the United Kingdom, FOCUS Information Services Career Development Program (CDP) provides comprehensive career assistance to accompanying partners on assignments in the UK, and teaches the basics of effective job searching. The program runs for eight weeks and is open to all FOCUS members, regardless of nationality. It is a unique supportive environment created by expatriates and professional career consultants. The CDP uses the power of networking to re-build self-esteem and gain important contacts in the UK. Participants also receive the incredibly valuable “Launching Your Career in the UK Job Guide.” While the CDP is not a job placement service, it gives participants the resources needed to find work in the UK.

While difficulties exist, the rewards of choosing to work overseas can make the effort worthwhile. The benefits include career continuity and no gaps in the work history, international experience that will make a resume stand out and additional income. Networking with others in a similar situation can help reassure accompanying partners that they are supported in their job searches, and that their careers are “continuable” overseas. It could be the key to establishing your life here.