The Go-Getter: Boosting Their Career

Go-Getters are highly educated expats who move abroad for job-related reasons. While they are happy with their career prospects, their personal life often suffers a bit.

With more than every fifth expat (21%) categorized as a Go-Getter, they make up the largest share of the world’s most common expat types. Go-Getters move abroad to boost their career: close to three in five (58%) cite finding a job abroad on their own as the most important reason for moving to another country, followed by 31 percent who were recruited by a local company and ten percent who planned to start their own business abroad.

Maybe it’s their strong career focus that motivated them to invest in their education: ten percent of Go-Getters hold a PhD, compared to seven percent globally — only Students have a higher share of expats with a PhD (11%). Another 45 percent graduated with a master’s degree, and 33 percent have a bachelor’s degree. When it comes to their career field, the Expat Insider 2018 survey shows that Go-Getters mainly work in education (16%), IT (12%), and manufacturing & engineering (9%). “Working life in Germany is very satisfying, especially for engineers like myself, as there is an abundance of jobs and opportunities available,” says an expat from Singapore, who moved abroad after finding a job on his own.

Spending 44.7 hours per week at work, Go-Getters are slightly busier than the global average (44 h). Despite that, 64 percent are satisfied with their working hours, a result just slightly above the worldwide average (62%). Additionally, 59 percent are happy with their career prospects, compared to 55 percent globally. “The job I have is very exciting in terms of the future, and the salary is very good,” reports a British Go-Getter living in Vietnam. In fact, close to three in five Go-Getters (59%) believe their salary abroad is higher than what they’d make in a similar job back home (vs. 53% worldwide).

Putting work first might have an impact on their personal life: close to one-quarter of Go-Getters (24%) are currently not living in the same country as their partner. This isn’t only the highest share among all expat types, but also twice the global average (12%). Therefore, it’s no surprise that close to one in ten (9%) are unhappy with their relationship, which is also the highest share among the various expat types. Maybe this is one of the reasons why, although 71 percent of Go-Getters report being happy with their life abroad, this is still five percentage points below the global average (76%).

It’s not only their relationship that sometimes seems to be tough, but making new friends abroad can also be hard. Close to three in ten Go-Getters (28%) find it hard to make new friends, compared to 25 percent globally, and making local friends seems to be even harder (41% negative responses vs. 36% globally). In fact, 42 percent of Go-Getters are mainly friends with other expats, eight percentage points more than the global average (34%). Moreover, 25 percent don’t feel at home abroad yet, and another 18 percent believe that they never will (vs. 22% and 18% globally).

The Explorer: Looking for an Adventure

Explorers move abroad for a personal challenge and seem to master it very well. While they find it easy to make friends and appreciate the options for socializing abroad, they’re not always happy with their career prospects.
The Optimizer: Searching for a Better Life

Optimizers see many potential benefits in their move abroad, and usually they aren’t disappointed. They value a good work-life balance and don’t have trouble settling in abroad.
The Romantic: Relocating for Romance

Romantics move abroad to be with their partner and do their best to fit in (e.g. by learning the local language). While they find it easy to make local friends, their job situation is often unfavorable.
The Foreign Assignee: Moving for Their Employer

Being sent abroad by their employers, most Foreign Assignees are extremely satisfied with their job and career. However, they struggle to feel at home abroad, and most of them already have plans to return home.
The Traveling Spouse: Supporting Their Partner’s Career

Moving abroad for their partner’s job, Traveling Spouses often face an unsatisfying life abroad. They struggle with low career prospects, find it hard to make friends, and many want to return home at some point.
The Student: Educating and Being Educated

Students move abroad for their education and are very eager to learn the local language. While they’re highly educated and satisfied with their career prospects, their financial situation doesn’t seem too bright.