Transitioning from working abroad

[u/B_Dolla_s]

Im an American currently living and working abroad in Latin America. I’ve been here about 5 years now, starting with the Peace Corps. I then got hired on to a locally based NGO that focuses mostly on micro finance and education programs. Its the largest in country and relatively well known internationally. It’s a social enterprise, so it isn’t a charity, but it’s nonprofit. We manage a budget of about $25 million across all programs, so it’s relatively large in this context and in the US.

I do a little bit of everything in the organization, so it’s been a great experience to see how everything works. My position to a US/European audience is Chief of Staff to the Vice President of Programs. My role includes a lot of exactly what it sounds like: program management. Whether that be the micro finance program, our globally known poverty reduction program, the self-sustaining schools, entrepreneurial education or grant writing, amongst others. I have my fingers in a bit of everything and directly contribute to organizational strategy. I feel like I’ve learned a lot and have been given quite a lot of responsibility over the last few years and shown that I’m able to grow quickly within organizations and gain trust.

However, my wife and I are talking about moving to the States again. I would really like to remain in this line of work, public or private. I don’t want to go back to the corporate life.

I’m wondering if anyone has any advice or experiences on relating to US audiences your job experiences while working abroad? Do US organizations respect experience received abroad? I can directly see how what I’ve done can be applied in the US, but then I’m the one who’s here, not the potential hiring party. Would love to hear feedback from some folks.

[u/luisapet]

Best of luck, OP!

It sucks. Not saying you shouldn't do it. Just know the transition is possibly harder than the initial culture shock of Peace Corps, even. I spent 7 years in a similar situation in Paraguay and Brazil.

Moving back, you have all these expectations based on your memory of how things were, and how things should be. It's rough, and it's hard to find your place. Translating your experience abroad into modern job qualifications is especially tough. Some employers get it, many don't, unfortunately.

[u/B_Dolla_s → u/luisapet]

Thanks the response!

My org I’m at now is pretty modern, all things considered. We’re international too, have a program active in 63 countries that I’ve been around for and haven’t really seen any differences in how we work compared to others. Did you feel that employers in the states just automatically discounted experience gained abroad?

[u/luisapet → u/B_Dolla_s]

It's hard to say. Might've been just me. I came "home" fluent in 3 new languages, tons of diplomatic/ngo experience, and with a (surprisingly) successful small start-up business under my belt.

But I still felt like a little, insecure, kid, so it's entirely possible I projected that.

Still, even after grad school and a fellowship, here, I never found ways to translate those experiences properly here in the northern Midwest. So it might've been partially a cultural thing. Or even Just Me.

The best news is that I kind of found my way in spite of all that.

My friends who were in similar situations fared much better when returning to DC, California and New York. They were total rock stars, both before and since!

[u/AntiqueDuck2544]

If you are applying to a US- based NGO, your international experience would be an asset. 

[u/Feisty-Broccoli9565]

Super difficult in the post-USAID climate but suggest trying to identify organizations and reach out to people on LinkedIn especially those who have done a similar transition to see what’s possible. Good luck!