📘 Part 3: Working abroad

This episode's vocabulary

Childminding (noun) - the job of a person who takes care of other people's children in his or her own home.

Seasonal (adj.) - relating to or happening during a particular period in the year.

Barrier (noun) - anything that prevents people from being together or understanding each other.

Hurdle (noun) - a problem that you have to deal with before you can make progress.

Liability (noun) - the fact that someone is legally responsible for something.

Bountiful (adj.) - large in amount.

At the drop of a hat - if you do something at the drop of a hat, you do it immediately without stopping to think about it.

Corporate ladder (noun) - a series of increasingly important jobs that someone can do within a company.

To the fore - to public attention or into a noticeable position.

Contingent on/upon sth -  depending on something else in the future in order to happen.

Etiquette (noun) - the set of rules or customs that control accepted behaviour in particular social groups or social situations.

Ingrain (verb) - to establish something such as a belief so firmly that it is not likely to change.

Portable (adj.) - possible to take with you if you move to a different place or job.

Considerate (adj.) - kind and helpful.

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Questions and Answers

M: Rory, what jobs can people do in another country for a short period of time?

R: Well, you can do just about anything these days. Can't you? Especially with the gig economy. I think the most common jobs involve like childminding and teaching, especially in the summer. And there are always lots of summer camps. You could apply the same logic to any seasonal job, though, like fruit pickers in Scotland, for example.

M: Will it be beneficial for young people to work in another country for a short time?

R: Well, it would be useful for them to do any kind of work anywhere for any period of time. Work helps you develop a sense of routine and meaning and responsibility. I suppose it would develop subjects specific knowledge if it's connected to a particular area that they're interested in. This is true of most people, but young people in particular, since they have exams and schoolwork to think of as well, so a little stint somewhere might do them some good.

M: What are the difficulties that people might face when working abroad?

R: Well, the language and cultural barriers might be the most significant hurdles to overcome, though they can't be overcome, so it shouldn't put them off. And of course, for young people specifically, staying in control of themselves might also be a problem.

M: Let's talk about working for an international company. What are the benefits of working for an international company?

R: Well, such organizations tend to be more stable since their liabilities and risks are more spread out across markets. Oh, and there are more opportunities for travel and meeting new people if you're into that. Lastly, it seems the opportunities to develop a personal brand are more bountiful, again, if you're into that kind of thing.

M: What personal skills do people need to work for an international company?

R: Aside from the language skills, I imagine flexibility and reliability. You're being asked to work between and across cultures, and you need to be ready to change plans and arrangements at the drop of a hat if something goes wrong. That kind of thing could potentially wreck a business opportunity.

M: Do you agree that practical experience is more useful than qualifications when working for an international company?

R: I think that will depend entirely on the company culture and at the level of which you're asked to work. There are some companies that will only hear you out if you carry the relevant degrees. And why wouldn't they? You can sort of see the logic there. However, as you progress up the corporate ladder, pieces of paper tend to matter less, then character comes to the fore.

M: Is it difficult for people to get the job at an international company?

R: It's a challenge for anyone to get a job doing anything these days. However, if you've got the relevant qualifications, experience, and the right character, life will generally be easier in this sense.

M: Let's talk about international companies in the future. How important would it be in the future for an international company to understand the cultures of other countries?

R: Well, that's contingent on where they operate. In Japan, for example, etiquette and cultural knowledge are as key to the success of anything as a good organization. Elsewhere in Russia, you can sort of let the money do the talking more often, cultures ingrained into people and changes very slowly. So I don't see this becoming any more or less of an issue anytime soon.

M: Will the location of the workplace become increasingly irrelevant because of the advances in technology?

R: Well, I hope so though, there are some traditionals, who believe you're only teaching if you're in a classroom. And I used to think the same thing, but it seems we really can pack up our jobs in a laptop and take them with us as long as there's an internet connection. Of course, some jobs are essentially fixed, like the work of a plumber or an electrician. But service jobs seem to be increasingly portable these days.

M: Do you think international companies should become more environmentally friendly?

R: Oh, well, we could all afford to be a bit less wasteful and more considerate to the environment, even just out of consideration for others and the planet. I'm not sure why international companies should be singled out in this regard, to be honest.

M: So should McDonald's be more environmentally friendly?

R: Not if it means my dinner is going to be more expensive this evening.

M: Rory, thank you so much for your answers. That's the end of the speaking part three.

R: Bye!

M: No. Yeah, we're going to continue with vocabulary and grammar.

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