TRANSCRIPT 🔗
83. Exploring International Career Moves with world explorer Richa Singh
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[00:00:05] Patricia Ortega: Imagine waking up to the chimes of church bells in a Tuscan village or the bustling Milan. You stroll in around 9am after a nice cup of coffee, maybe you work for a few hours, and you go home to your family on your two hour lunch break. This is truly La Dolce Vita, where you work, but you savor the food, the culture, and the relationships.
[00:00:25] It sounds like a pipe dream, right? Well, Richa is here as a procurement leader with 15 years of experience across North America, Asia, and Europe, including work at companies like Procter Gamble. And today she's here to help us dream about and even make international work a reality. Welcome, Richa.
[00:00:42] Richa Singh: Thank you. Glad to be here.
[00:00:45] Patricia Ortega: Yeah. I'm really excited to chat with you today because, part of our conversation, actually all of our conversation is really about considering the possibility that we can have a life in a culture and in a country that we really enjoy, but maybe don't currently live [00:01:00] in. So again, everyone in the U S. is not only looking for the culture and the life and how awesome it would be to feel like you're quote unquote on vacation every day, right? Um, but we also want work life balance, which is more possible internationally sometimes than in the U S corporate world. So, and this is how we first connected, right, that I saw that you lived in six different countries and have explored 25.
[00:01:26] Is that right?
[00:01:28] Richa Singh: Uh, yeah.
[00:01:29] Now I've explored more than 50, but yeah, six countries lived in is correct.
[00:01:34] Patricia Ortega: Oh my goodness. Explored 50. Oh my gosh. So tell us about your journey.
[00:01:40] Richa Singh: Yeah. So I grew up in India. I completed my engineering, MBA there and I started working there with Procter Gamble. And I think, uh, yeah, that's when I got really like interested in traveling to different places in Asia and Europe.
[00:01:55] And then I wanted a bit more. I wanted to live in Europe and, you know, like experience [00:02:00] that life more closely. And. Yeah, I just happened to have the right possibility, in terms of the opportunity that I wanted to get the kind of exposure I needed at the time. And Procter and Gamble provided that and some great support and yeah, after some great results that we delivered and my dream of living in Europe became a reality.
[00:02:24] And yeah, there was a personal equation to it as well. My husband was moving to Paris to pursue his MBA. So there was a time that when we were like, you know, in different countries, he was living in France. I was living in Belgium. Then he moved to Germany later on after his education. And yeah, that's how we got to experience three or four different locations over a span of four years in Europe.
[00:02:50] After that I wanted to, after four years in Europe, I, I really enjoyed that aspect of that work life balance and like living in beautiful [00:03:00] places. And I was starting to miss that connection with family and old life and friends and yeah, my, my brother lived in Canada and my parents were here as well.
[00:03:10] So we decided to come to Canada and find the best of both, like, you know, have those international experiences as well as be closer to family and friends. So yeah, that's in a nutshell.
[00:03:22] Patricia Ortega: Wow you've really lived in so many different places and you can see how it's not just your personal values, but also your work and also your family that kind of helped you to explore all these different parts of the world.
[00:03:37] So talk to us about going international for work. Like if we were to live vicariously through you, talk us into going international.
[00:03:45] Richa Singh: Yeah, I would love to actually, yeah, that's, it's like, I know we all have this dream, you know, that we're waking up in a beautiful land, exploring that, going in the trains in Europe, or at least I had that, like, you know, on my way to work, [00:04:00] I used to come across beautiful towns in Germany, like lakes and mountains.
[00:04:05] And sometimes it felt like it was tough to get to work because I wanted to just get down somewhere and, you know, just relax. And, and more than that, I think just exploring all of Europe, like, Portugal and Croatia. Then I think all of these Eastern European countries very close to the time of Christmas, you know, so, uh, we took a trip to Vienna, Budapest... and I think one more, Vienna, Budapest, and, uh, I'm struggling to remember the third one, but yeah, it was like somewhere in that area, and it was so beautiful, like, going to Christmas markets, trying to grab those, different potato items, and, you know, having hot tea, wine, everywhere, and, yeah, I think that was quite mesmerizing, and, uh, going to theaters, and operas, and Paris, and Vienna, that was quite an experience.
[00:04:59] So yeah, so [00:05:00] fitting in work between all of that, and yes, work is a priority, but sometimes there's so much to explore and learn that, you know, like that, that's also taking away. And that's the, that's the beauty of life in Europe. There's so much to explore. So I hope I've given you some ideas of what exactly that could look like.
[00:05:22] Patricia Ortega: Yeah, absolutely. I think part of what caught my attention from what you mentioned right now is that you said, we have to work. It's a part of life. So of course, you know, we want to do a great job while we're at work, but for those hours that we're not at work, what's the best possible way to experience the beauty in the world, right?
[00:05:39] And traveling seems to be a way that you really optimize and capitalized on that time that you have that you're away from the office.
[00:05:47] Richa Singh: Yeah, and life goes on pretty fast, especially like if you move to a different location, you know, like you
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have this initial honeymoon period where everything is so beautiful and like you're totally engrossed in absorbing a new culture.[00:06:00]
[00:06:00] And after a while, I think once you've experienced that change and you know, you start missing a part of your old life and then there's this clash that you're trying to figure out what to change, what not to change, how to adapt in a totally different environment.
[00:06:14] So everyone I have spoken to over the years, they've all gone through that journey. It's pretty normal. Uh, that honeymoon phase is pretty normal. Then that plateau phase is pretty normal, then it's after all of that, that you adapt and absorb and adjust to a new life. It's all a part of it.
[00:06:34] So I wanted to give you an idea about the dream side of it, but also like this, this real side of it, the adjustment and the change that it is to absorb, you know. Because one day you might be okay to have your coffee, let's say, from a local coffee shop, but there will be, uh, once in six months you're going to be reminded of your Starbucks and you'll want your Starbucks in that particular place and, you know, some access to it.[00:07:00]
[00:07:00] Patricia Ortega: Yeah.
[00:07:01] Richa Singh: Pretty hard, especially my American colleagues. I know they used to start missing home just three, four days back when they, when they went to, uh, Europe.
[00:07:11] Yeah.
[00:07:11] Patricia Ortega: Yeah. Right. There's a, there's a very big difference between, I'm going to vacation here where, you know, I kind of live here on my own terms, and then I'm going to full on live and work here where now I need to actually adjust to the terms of the culture in the country. So we're definitely going to get a little bit more into that side, right?
[00:07:31] There's the dream of traveling the world or, you know, seeing a new country. Um, there's also some very real reasons that are not necessarily, Oh, I want to go live and see Belgium, so I'm going to go work there, but there's other reasons that might bring us to Belgium. Maybe it's, you know, your company sends you over to start a new organization or a branch of the company or lead a new team.
[00:07:52] So let's say now that you've completely convinced us. What is the first thing we need to think about [00:08:00] when considering an international career search?
[00:08:03] Richa Singh: So I think the first thing is always to think about what will you do when you get there, because most of us will not have the luxury to spend a few years without earning anything. So yes, naturally, that's the first question and sometimes when people have this option of their employer making helping them make that switch.
[00:08:24] It's always helpful because it's easier to make that transition. The good thing about Europe is employers are, for some countries, pretty open to sponsoring visas. So I think it's good to also check which countries at that point when you're thinking, which they are more open.
So I remember in general, and Netherlands, Ireland, Germany, these are, places where it's relatively easier to get an entry and to, you know, which have lots of jobs and lots of, uh, you know, Current expats there, so you have a community as well.
[00:08:56] And so I think it's important to understand the visa rules [00:09:00] for your country with the country that you want to go to. So pick out two, three locations you're interested in research about them, and then see what kind of industries are there. What kind of switch are you willing to make? Are you only looking at certain positions and certain industries, or are you open to experimenting and what's available in these countries.
[00:09:22] So like, I think Netherlands has a very good base of a lot of software companies. And I think also some oil companies. And Ireland is also, quickly expanding and Germany has lots of metal industries, lots of car manufacturer industries as well.
[00:09:39] So, so yeah, so take your pick and then research about the visa, research about the options that you would like to explore. And the best part is that as long as you're being transparent in the interview process, a lot of employers would be open to sponsoring your visa for which could be about two to three years.
[00:09:58] And then there are countries [00:10:00] like Germany, which have relatively easier rules for becoming a permanent resident also for- for those who are looking for a longer term plan. So yeah, that's in a nutshell.
[00:10:12] Patricia Ortega: Yeah, that was super helpful. You talked about considering the culture and where you'd want to live in the communities.
[00:10:18] Um, you talked about visas, right? It- it's not just picking a country and saying, I'm gonna go there. It's getting the permission and what are the requirements? But then you also brought up, if you're going to make a career change in a situation where your company isn't sending you, probably the most important thing is to look at what industries are present and whether your career and your goals for your career align with what is abundant in those areas.
[00:10:43] So that was really helpful. Let's say we've gone through some of those pieces and we're ready for more. If we move forward with this process, what are some of the logistical barriers or challenges that you think we'll need to watch out for?
[00:10:57] Richa Singh: So that's, that's a great question because you know, this [00:11:00] is where I tell people that they know about the language and culture on a holistic level in the previous step, but this is where they need to get into a lot of depth, uh, into it.
[00:11:11] So, I think language as far as visa is concerned is not the biggest barrier because you know all of the countries have their visa regulations clearly listed on the right resources on their website. It's available in English and other languages. Where language becomes a challenge is when you're In a country and you're trying to get in touch
with certain people and that's where I believe the way to get around that is to be in touch with expat communities. And a good way to do that is there are lots of groups on Facebook, which used to be pretty active when I left there, and expat groups. And I think now also they remain active and there's some on Instagram as well where people post this kind of information for expats to be aware of.
[00:11:56] And culture is actually going to be a [00:12:00] challenge throughout the process. From the beginning to the end. It's about understanding something which may seem very different from what you are familiar with. So, for example, I think the communication style might seem quite direct, and it might also seem quite indirect depending on the country that you're interacting with.
[00:12:20] And sometimes I feel like there's a lot of emphasis on describing feelings here in North America, you know, whereas certain other cultures, it's very different. That level of, like fully understanding who you're talking to and what they're thinking is not always too apparent and then yeah, the communication style is let's say there's there's something called a culture parameter.
[00:12:46] And yeah, the communication, let's say, considered a straight line. There's one end of it is. Let's say U. S., which is super direct, and Canada is also similar, and the other [00:13:00] spectrum of it is some of the Asian cultures where the communication is super indirect. Europe kind of lies somewhere in the middle, most of them are European countries.
[00:13:08] So yes, there's some distance to navigate in terms of communication. And think the way to think about it is that both sides have pros and cons, you know, like direct communication has some pros and it also has some cons. Sometimes you're not like sure how your message is perceived.
[00:13:26] You're just sharing what you want to share and they're not like fully understanding that. And that's the benefit of indirect, you can be quite mindful in how you say that and, you know, leave it to the other person's judgment. But the downside is sometimes the other person might not get what you're trying to say.
[00:13:43] So yeah, those are some of the nitty gritties that I see people getting frustrated early in the process itself. And the way around that is just, you know, just saying that, okay, this is how people do things. They're accepting it and, making peace with it.
[00:13:58] Patricia Ortega: Yeah.
[00:13:59] I think what you're [00:14:00] doing is you're digging deeper into, it's not just the language, it's a way of being that's different. It's a way of communicating. So while you might translate the words you want to say, the message you are sending could be completely different.
[00:14:11] It could actually be offensive when you intended to be forthcoming, or it could be seen as improper or, maybe you don't get your point across if you're coming- from you talked about the parameter, right? If you're coming from a
more discreet communication style or communication culture to one that's more direct, that also lends itself for a lot of interpersonal miscommunications.
[00:14:33] So I can understand that. So you've got these things to think about, right? Uh, we talked so far about culture, about industries, about the visa situation, which of course is a whole other world, um, finding expat communities. So there's at least a layer of familiarity in this new context.
[00:14:51] But sometimes the issue is more internal. I'm curious what the biggest internal conflict or challenge that [00:15:00] you or maybe your clients faced before or during the transition.
[00:15:04] Richa Singh: Yeah, I think, um, so those expat communities I talked about, they're super reliable, you know, and people will help straighten out.
[00:15:12] They've gone through these kinds of situations. That logistical barriers and they'll help sort it out for you. But sometimes people, fall into the trap of working with agencies that are not fully aware of how to navigate that process. They're selling that. And just being super clear and making sure you're finding the right resources, doing the right due diligence before trying to work with someone. Um, don't just go by what they're telling you. Find out if they have credible success stories, and most of the European countries on their website, like I have never had to use any agency, but I know a lot of people who've asked me for guidance after spending, thousands of dollars and trying to get those answers through some of the agencies.
[00:15:56] The biggest challenge comes, which I briefly mentioned, you know, you've [00:16:00] gone through the honeymoon period. You love being there. You've done it all. And now that boredom is starting to set in where you're missing your pre past life as well.
[00:16:08] And you're like, you know, considerably thinking what to change and what not to change. So, so that's the biggest thing that a lot of people experience and that I have faced as well, multiple times, more than I can count. I'm a person who always likes to have a backup, you know, so I need to have a backup strategy in my mind that if this doesn't work out, what am I going to do?
[00:16:30] And that just gives me that internal satisfaction that hey, I'm here, I'll do my best. But if it doesn't work out, I have nothing to worry, you know, so that just calms our minds. And I don't know if you're like that and you like backup, please think about good backup. And then I think one of the important things is also to remember your why. You know, so if you can't do this, you can't do any major changes in life, if your why is not clear.
[00:16:58] So if your why is clear, like [00:17:00] my why was that I want to experience this learning of adapting to different culture. I know it's not always going to be easy. I'll have lots of my own blind spots to look at, which I might not be thinking about and which I'll get to hear about in the feedback. And then it's about up to me how I take that feedback, you know, whether I see it as an attack on my character, or I see it as some behavior that I need to be aware of, you know, in a certain situation. Let's say I like to be pretty straightforward and transparent with people, but yeah, we were just discussing this example.
[00:17:37] So this would be easy. Let's say I have, I'm working with someone and I have a direct report who, who doesn't like this kind of a style, you know, and who would prefer someone who can give them feedback in a way that's not super direct and just like hinting towards something and leaving it to them to figure out.
[00:17:56] So all those, like, this is a very simple example, but you [00:18:00] know, there are several adjustments like that that you would require. And the only way to do that is, hey, this is not about me. Thank you. First step. This is about them. They need they'd like it this way. And as their manager, this is my responsibility.
[00:18:16] I'd like to be able to work for different people. And this is something I'd like to be able to do for them. So that's just one example.
[00:18:24] Patricia Ortega: Yeah. Yeah, no, I mean, it, it sounds like when you talk about these challenges, they begin internally, but they also can obviously have an impact on our relationships, not just in the culture, but then bringing it into that work context, right?
[00:18:40] When you manage a team where everyone maybe previously had a leader that is from that culture, there's a lot of assumptions going back and forth. And in some ways, what I think you're saying is you're going to get a lot of feedback because you're in a completely new environment and this learning curve is going to happen in real time.
[00:18:59] And so [00:19:00] get into the mindset of saying the feedback is on your behavior, not on your identity.
[00:19:05] Richa Singh: Yeah, yeah, and I like how you put it. Like, it's totally about the environment. So we think about self awareness as something that we, us knowing ourselves, but it's not just that. It's us knowing ourselves and also understanding our environment.
[00:19:19] Both of those things. So internal self awareness and external self awareness and that external self awareness changes every time you change an environment and you have to develop it in a wholly different way. And of course, your internal self awareness also changes because your values, beliefs, everything changes, you know, so every time you make this kind of a change, it's about developing self awareness in a completely different way.
[00:19:45] Patricia Ortega: Oh yeah. And this is the, the beautiful part because the way you grow as a person is by knowing yourself better. So that's a self-awareness, right? But the, you cannot grow beyond your blind spots. So when you get to have not only another [00:20:00] person, but someone who's in a completely different environment now give you feedback, that is even more valuable because you're
seeing it from such a different perspective versus if.
[00:20:10] Having feedback from yourself is very, very limited. Having feedback from a twin or a family member gives you more insight. Having feedback from someone at work gives you a separate in additional insight. But now having someone from the other side of the world, from a completely different context, I mean, it's really, enlightening the kind of information that you can learn about yourself and about others as well.
[00:20:33] Richa Singh: This is also where, you know, I want to emphasize the role of people I call oasis in the desert for me. Like there's always people who are super empathetic that you'll find in every country that, you know, go out of the way to help you adjust in a new environment. And they'll give you the feedback quietly.
[00:20:51] They'll tell you that, Hey, this is how you're being perceived, you know, look for these people because the sooner you find them and sooner you start getting that feedback and in a [00:21:00] way that, you want to hear it, the better it is for you.
[00:21:04] Patricia Ortega: Yes. This is great. So find someone who has that kind of personality that's going to be a champion, but also give you that feedback.
[00:21:12] I love that. Okay.
[00:21:13] So thank you for sharing that. So now let's get a little bit more practical about the career search. Some very specific tips, right? What have you found to be some tips and strategies that maybe we wouldn't think of when we're trying to go into an international career search.
[00:21:30] Richa Singh: So I think, let's start with the beginning, like from the time that you're applying and trying to network for the job. So resume, I believe, like my understanding is mostly I used a one pager, uh, one page CV when I was in Europe, uh, in North America, I haven't used one.
[00:21:48] I don't know what's the trend there, but that also differs from industry to industry. So always best to check what's the latest information on those expat groups. Or, um, it's particular to your industry, if [00:22:00] you can find. I mean, now it's with LinkedIn growing the way it has, I think it's also easy to pick up people in the companies that you want to target and, you know, getting some firsthand information. Though there's a watch out there.
[00:22:13] People in Europe think very differently about networking and it's very different here because, you know, I feel like there's this way that we network here in North America that, hey, we were open to sending those cold calling, um, emails and say that, hey, this is what I liked about your profile and I'd like to get on a coffee chat virtually and, uh, and that's great, but it's just different there, you know, so.
[00:22:38] That's why I'm saying that the community is again, the expat community is a big help because they've gone through that multiple times. They know that, uh, how that changes life and they are open to having those coffee chats. So like being careful who you pick and choose and, um, and yeah, like what their preferences could be.
[00:22:57] A lot of Americans there, especially in Germany [00:23:00] that I remember that I met. So yes, uh, you know who to reach out to. And then I think the interview process... it's quite formal there. It's quite long as well. Generally it takes six to eight months on an average with every company. And I think me and my husband, between the two of us, we've done this for more than 15 countries.
[00:23:20] You know, there was a time when we were trying to explore which country do we both come in together. You know, so, so yeah, I got this experience in a lot of other countries as well. And this, this six to eight months is a huge timeline to, to build and very different from what people might be used to here.
[00:23:37] Uh, Yeah, and, uh, yes, the networking is different, resume is slightly different, interviews are going to be more formal, the process can be longer, and then, yeah, I think there's the other aspect about titles and the roles. So I think you get great learning, you get great work life balance, you get many opportunities, it's just that It [00:24:00] might not be at like certain level that you're probably aspiring to. Let's say a director plus, you know, it might be, you have to make certain trade offs to be able to get that learning.
[00:24:10] For sure. And it's always easy to get that, uh, earlier in career, or let's say, even if let's say in a parallel role versus always looking for, you know, the next level and trying to move ahead. Yeah. So that's also just something to think about.
[00:24:25] Patricia Ortega: Yeah. So it's a lot, you know, I think the goal for us having a conversation and recording it, sharing it with everyone is, you know, most of us think...
[00:24:35] within our country, at least in the U. S., right, because there's not as much around us. When you're in Europe, you can be in a different country with 20, 30 minutes, right? It's train right away. It's so much easier to be a quote unquote international. And so I, I really thought this was a good opportunity to just open up the world for consideration.
[00:24:57] And what you mentioned is [00:25:00] that when we open up this world, it's absolutely possible, but there's some skill building along the way. There's some questions to answer with regards to, what is a typical resume? And again, in some countries it's a CV and in some countries it's a one or two page resume, right?
[00:25:13] What does that look like? What is best practice? How is interview going? Thanks. If you're going into a job search thinking you're going to be hired within a month or even two or even three right now knowing it is almost three quarters of a year to go through this process, right? There's a lot more planning involved and it actually.
[00:25:32] You know, if you go on LinkedIn right now, it's, it's an employer's market at the moment. And so people are like, I've been searching for eight
months and this is, oh my gosh, it's so much going on. But now to know you started with the company, but before you know, if you're going to end up with them, it's going to be another eight to nine months.
[00:25:49] I mean, that can really change your process, right? So these are all things that you want to get to know about. So, Let's assume everything goes well in this job [00:26:00] search process and we get the offer, we get the job, we're excited, we're moving internationally, we pack our things, we take the flight, we move in.
[00:26:07] Again, you talked about the honeymoon phase. We absolutely love the culture. But then I remember you telling me that we can really take a tumble. And I know we've talked a little bit about the culture and communication, but is there anything else that we need to consider or learn about before we go to another country that might be unexpected?
[00:26:29] Richa Singh: So here's where I would say that, you know, I've learned this the hard way. Like, no matter how much you prepare, there will be surprises, you know? And yeah, I remember when I was moving from Germany to Canada, I had a mentor and, you know, I was like getting my bags ready. And I have prepared everything.
[00:26:47] I have done all this research. I know what exactly I'm going to do for the next three months when I go and like, nothing is going to go wrong. Everything's fine. And she was like, just be prepared that something will go wrong. And I [00:27:00] was like, no, I can't do that. You know, that's not how I work, but I realized it the hard way that that's so true because there are so many variables in this process and not everything is going to be in your control, so there'll be surprises.
[00:27:13] And that's where your learning is going to come from, you know, uh, how you handle those surprises. But you will reach there and yes, you had the superb three month plan on how to land perfect job and maybe that will not happen. Or let's say you will not find the kind of house that you want to look for.
[00:27:30] And, you know, there will, there'll be like some workarounds to that, but the overall process is going to be fun. And as long as you have that why in sight, that honeymoon period will carry you through those initial challenges, you know, six months, one year, that will not be difficult.
[00:27:48] And I think the most important thing I've realized that's helpful in these situations to have that presence to handle those surprises, is how well you are focusing on your self care. [00:28:00] And I know it's like a simple thing because you know, we're- we're living in one routine and we're taking care of them, all made our ways of going to gym or a walk or whatever, but when you're in a new environment. Everything gets toppled the way you know, things all like all the pillars of your life, your family, your work, everything gets touched in different ways and how to bring them together.
[00:28:23] It's a whole new dynamic every time. So yeah, so I don't mean to like discourage anyone, but this is where I think, uh, keeping your white clothes, making sure you have time for self care and you're prioritizing your health and... not trying to do too much at this time. Like my problem is I'd like to try and do everything together that hey I need to sort this out and feel comfortable but you cannot do everything together you know. So you have to plan that hey this is the probably the first thing I need to do, get a place to work and then I need to start doing this [00:29:00] and probably this comes next and I can't do all of that together in one time.
[00:29:04] Yeah.
[00:29:05] Patricia Ortega: Yeah, I mean, essentially what you're saying is the situation has a lot of unknowns, right? Even though you can help us see the lay of the land, ask a lot of the right questions, right? Ultimately, the truth of the matter is that this is going to be an adventure, an experiment in some ways and...
[00:29:24] Richa Singh: Yes.
[00:29:24] Patricia Ortega: The sooner you and I, all of us really can get into the mindset that we need margin in our lives so that we make room for those unknown and unexpected things. We'll be able to have not just the energy, but the mental clarity and the emotional space to handle and be resilient through those bumpy situations.
[00:29:46] Richa Singh: Yeah, yeah, that's true. That's how I have learned it that now. I like to prepare as much as I can but and that's also... Like coach, I always tell them that there are going to be things outside your control, you know, and that's [00:30:00] going to happen. It's about how you embrace that whole journey. Yeah.
[00:30:05] Patricia Ortega: Thank you for that.
[00:30:07] Well, we've really taken a trip around the world with you, if you will? And so you may have sparked the travel bug for some of us, and we may want to learn even more, maybe in our specific context. So what are some resources that you can point us to? Where can we get started? Whether working with you or just generally speaking, learning about the international career moves.
[00:30:29] Richa Singh: Yeah, sure. I'm happy to help with that. In my case specifically what helped me a lot in Germany, I remember was this lean in group, uh, that you must be familiar with, Cheryl Sandberg, lean in organization. And they were pretty active in a lot of, uh, places in Europe. And this, this community was a lifesaver in terms of adapting to a whole new culture, you know, so, if you're a part of their team, they will help give you a picture of everything that you might require, whether it's [00:31:00] related to work or non work. And most of the community members, like there were some locals, but it was heavily expat community. So that became like my source of inspiration, and also like people who made it It's super easy for me to adjust once I left PNG. Like when I was working with PNG, it was like, it was my organization whose resources I can rely on.
[00:31:22] So
yeah. So any means that you can find, you can learn about, always explore that. I haven't seen Lean In as active in Canada, but it was, I know from a lot of friends that it's quite active in almost all of the European locations. So specifically for women, make the most of that.
[00:31:40] And then with FB, and Instagram and LinkedIn groups, you know, find out. All of them will not be great or active, but you know, wherever you can get information about your industry or the kind of work that you're looking for, that could be super helpful. Where I like to help people specifically is helping the [00:32:00] transition. Once they have their job, because, you know, I feel like when people make up their mind and they start looking, there are plenty of resources they can find to get a job.
[00:32:10] But after they get a job, and they're there, that's another whole transition. And I didn't get any information about that. And there was not a lot of, uh, help available. So it was like learning through experience, learning the hard way, but I tried to put a little ebook together about it, uh, about one year ago, which has been quite well received on a lot of people.
[00:32:31] It's a free ebook that I provide to people. So that just be anyone who is making that transition. They know some of the things. And how to work on them more specifically. So like we talked about culture, you know, but like what parameters under culture can you think about and how to adjust your style and make it a habit.
[00:32:51] So all of these things I go into depth in that ebook and it's an 18 page ebook. I wanted to keep it very concise. And what I [00:33:00] do is I let people read that and then, come to me with specific questions or challenges that they are facing and. Yeah. I like the guiding people through that.
[00:33:10] Patricia Ortega: Very cool.
[00:33:11] So this resource is not just, you know, when you get a job, come check out this resource. It's actually a resource that if you're curious about what it would be like, this might be a good starting point even to just sort of anticipate what it would be like to help you make the decision of whether or not this is a good option for you, assuming that you're not being sent by your company, right?
[00:33:33] Assuming that this is a decision you have decided to make an international career move. Um, that ebook sounds like it would be a really great resource. Okay. Final thought. I'm so curious. You've been all over the world. What's, for you, the most beautiful place that you have lived in?
[00:33:50] Richa Singh: Oh, most beautiful, I would say, for me, it's Bonn, in Germany.
[00:33:55] There was a nice, quiet town. Like, I think about 30 minutes [00:34:00] away from Cologne. Uh, so yeah, it's- that was really beautiful, peaceful, we lived right by the Rhine River, you know. So when we felt like we can go boating, and we had like about five or six kilometers of landscapes, just right next to the river. Some animals and a Japanese garden and things like that.
[00:34:20] So yeah, that was like, that was like my zen place.
[00:34:24] Patricia Ortega: Oh, that sounds beautiful. Okay. And so-
[00:34:28] Richa Singh: You reminded me of it.
[00:34:29] Patricia Ortega: Really?
[00:34:30] Richa Singh: I hadn't thought of that in a few months.
[00:34:33] Patricia Ortega: Oh, good. Well, it sounds like a beautiful place. I love it. So that's the most beautiful place you've worked, you've lived in. Is there a place that you have your eyes on now that you maybe you want to live in or you want to visit that you haven't yet since you've been in so many countries, right?
[00:34:52] Richa Singh: Yeah, I think that now living wise, I don't have like, um, a lot of goals there. It's probably where, [00:35:00] let's say, life or opportunity takes me. And I'm open to that always. But yeah, I think I really want to visit Machu Picchu in Peru. That's like top of my list. And also I'm greedy. So New Zealand is also pretty high on my list.
[00:35:18] Patricia Ortega: You said Machu Picchu, New Zealand and where else?
[00:35:22] Richa Singh: Japan.
[00:35:23] Patricia Ortega: Oh, Japan.
[00:35:24] Richa Singh: Japan, yes.
[00:35:25] Patricia Ortega: Okay. Machu Picchu, New Zealand, Japan.
[00:35:27] Richa Singh: What about you?
[00:35:28] I'm curious to know your answer as well to this question.
[00:35:30] Patricia Ortega: You know what? I, I went to Europe a while back. It was a beautiful trip. I mean, we went to Germany and London and Paris and Switzerland.
[00:35:40] So many places. Italy, Spain. The place that I didn't visit, that I really want to check out. I want to see Greece. I feel like Greece is such a beautiful place, right? Um, there's something about when I see pictures and there's like the beautiful...
[00:35:57] Richa Singh: Yeah.
[00:35:57] Patricia Ortega: Like the the waterfront [00:36:00] and you've got like the whites and the blues and the creams.
[00:36:02] There's something about that image that I'm like, I want to go, I want to go see Greece. So one day.
[00:36:09] Richa Singh: It is one of my favorite places as well. Like out of the ones that I have visited, I rank Maldives, Greece and Croatia, uh, and also Iceland. All these four are pretty high. Yeah. Greece is beautiful.
[00:36:22] Patricia Ortega: Wow. This is lovely.
[00:36:24] Well, hopefully if you're listening, you get to live and or work in one of these beautiful places. But thank you, Richa, again for spending time with us today.
[00:36:34] Richa Singh: Thank you for having me. So it's a pleasure to talk to you and hopefully lots more people. Thank you.
[00:36:42] Patricia Ortega: Yeah, absolutely. Everyone, thank you for listening. Know that we love you. We're praying for you. We'll see you on the next one.
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