askST Jobs: Homeward bound from a job stint abroad? Hit your stride fast with these tips

In this series, manpower correspondent Tay Hong Yi offers practical answers to candid questions on navigating workplace challenges and getting ahead in your career. Get more tips by signing up to

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Q: Is overseas experience really valued by employers in Singapore? What can you do if it puts you at a disadvantage?

A: Broadly speaking, overseas experience matters for roles that require working with teams or clients beyond Singapore’s shores, says Ms Neha Thakkar, chief innovation officer at MyMoveAbroad, a consultancy for expatriation issues.

These issues include coordinating across countries, navigating different regulatory environments or shaping commercial strategies for diverse markets, adds Ms Thakkar, who has worked in more than 10 countries.

The extent to which overseas exposure is valued depends on the specifics of one’s role and industry.

“For leadership tracks, regional strategy roles, global business development and any role that demands cultural dexterity, overseas experience can shift from ‘nice to have’ to ‘expected’,” said Ms Thakkar.

Returning home after a stint overseas is not without risk.

But this can be mitigated.

“Without a deliberate plan, professionals may return to roles that don’t reflect the growth they gained overseas,” says Ms Thakkar.

For instance, employers may put limited weight on additional skills and networks from abroad they do not think can be sufficiently put to use here.

Employers focused primarily on the domestic market may see limited relevance in overseas experience, especially if it came from a region unrelated to their business needs, says Ms Thakkar.

“Roles that require deep local networks may also raise questions about the returnee’s connections on the ground.”

There are challenges too in adjusting to working in one’s home country, including in work culture, expectations at work and at home, as well as the pace of work. All these could affect one’s job satisfaction and performance.

The salary might not precisely pick up from where one left off overseas, Ms Thakkar says, but Singapore’s combination of competitive wages and low taxes often nets out positively for returnees.

“Plus, beyond the numbers, it’s hard to put a price tag on coming back to the comforts and safety of home,” she adds.

She has a few tips for those who wish to move abroad and maximise the value of their overseas experience when they come home.

The first is to be intentional about the overseas roles you select.

“Think about how your overseas experiences can improve business performance in Singapore,” Ms Thakkar says.

This is because standing out from other candidates requires you to articulate the impact of what you did abroad and how it addresses an employer’s needs here.

To do so, you will need to put together evidence of how what you did abroad addresses needs in Singapore. “Articulate impact by framing achievements in terms of outcomes: market growth, strategic impact and leadership under complexity.

“Bring stories that demonstrate cross-cultural fluency,” Ms Thakkar says, referring to the ability to tactfully and sensitively interact across cultures with different workplace norms.

While overseas, you should maintain ties back home, such as with mentors, peers, recruiters and industry networks.

“Think about what roles you hope to return to, which relationships matter and what value you can contribute to those relationships from abroad,” she says.

Industry and networking groups, such as the Singapore Global Leadership Network, exist to let globally mobile Singaporeans do so, she notes.

Stay informed about industry trends, the regulatory environment and talent needs in Singapore.

This allows you to better show why your stint abroad matters, by drawing better parallels between what you did abroad and what is required of you here, as well as dispel scepticism over how current your knowledge of Singapore is.

Ms Thakkar encourages those who have an inkling they might wish to return home to plan the process early, even as a contingency. You can also improve your employability upon your return by choosing overseas roles based on how much they expand the scope, responsibility and skill sets you can demonstrate, rather than where the roles are based.

“Make sure the skills you develop abroad are the skills you intend to bring home, and that they align with what the Singapore market values.”

Have a question? Send it to

askst@sph.com.sg