A Move For The Better: Relocating For Secondment
Traveling for work is a sweet pipe dream for many working individuals. It offers the best of both worlds – all the excitement and fulfillment of global travel and living abroad without having to sacrifice career advancement or support your stay financially without your main source of income. Being first in line to be considered for overseas postings is a major incentive for many people to work harder and win recognition in their office. But these sorts of assignments may come rarely, and not always in situations where you can take advantage of them.
Work Abroad? I’ll Second That!
The practice of secondment, most common in the law and commerce sectors but available throughout most private and public workforces, is a formalized process for temporarily transferring an employee from their existing position to a temporary new one in another department, or even another company. Restrictions are in place to safeguard the interests of the seconded employee and the companies involved, and the whole practice is focused on cooperation and mutual gain. There are many reasons companies offer or agree to secondment of their employees – be it an opportunity to bring in training and skills from outside the company, improve the CV of an important worker, or build a stronger relationship with a close business partner.
Help Your Business, Help Yourself
Unlike a standard mission-focused foreign assignment, most businesses which have policies on secondment allow for employees to make their case to be seconded themselves. If you’re hankering to travel abroad and you can think of a way your stay there could benefit your employer, then prepare your case and work hard to make sure you’re in good standing at the office before making the pitch.
A Readymade Relocation
Traveling for a secondment position lends itself to a good relocation in a number of ways. A secondment allows a complete sea change, working at a different job disconnected from your past work, relieving the pressure some people feel on assignment. Most secondments have a built-in time period, giving you a clear schedule to plan around and an obvious point to return to the security of your previous job. Legal protections mean that should something go wrong, an employee is usually free to end their secondment at any time with no penalties.
As with any travel abroad, sound preparation is key to a successful secondment. If you take the time to research your new position and new home, you will be able to hit the ground running and make the best of your time on location. You can buy more time for these preparations by enlisting a professional moving firm, such as Allied, to handle the busy and complex work of relocating to an overseas firm, allowing your efforts to be concentrated on the new job and new way of life.
To find out more about Allied's moving services, or to book a consultation, visit www.alliedpickfords.com.sg or call +65 6862 4700.
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