"The first book to deal specifically with the 'GenXpat' generation - the 25-39 age group that typically sets off for the expatriate life when career is their primary consideration. This is my kind of book - it's informative, practical, and you get a real sense that the author knows what she is talking about." Ian Burns of Blackwell's Business & Law Bookshop, writing in Publishing News; "For young, single professionals just starting out as expats, with laptops instead of knapsacks, GenXpat should indeed help carve out successful lives abroad." Robin Pascoe, author and 'Expat Expert'; "Filled with anecdotes and first-hand experiences, GenXpat cleverly gives the wide-eyed college graduate or young professional good tips on how to get overseas and thrive once they're there. "Diane McGreal, Director of Trainers, Berlitz Cross Cultural; "GenXpat offers real-life scenarios for today's young expatriates, as well as strategies for navigating the transition successfully. I will recommend this book to my clients and their employees as they embark on their overseas assignments." Louis Lima, Director of Training, Prudential Global Workforce Development
GenXpat: The Young Professional’s Guide to Making a Successful Life Abroad is the first guide written for the new generation of young, internationally and culturally mobile professionals. These young professionals from "Generation X" – the generation most broadly defined as between the ages of 24 and 39 – are more than 62 million nationwide* and have their own unique set of challenges. Often single and in the earlier stages of their careers, GenXpats tend to go into their expat experience dramatically unprepared and underserved.
Wrapped up in fast-paced careers that increasingly involve travel and frequent international relocation, many young people find themselves bouncing from one exotic assignment to another at the cost of work/life balance, meaningful relationships and a sense of continuity or connection. Margaret Malewski, who has lived the "GenXpat" life, wrote GenXpat to help young professionals achieve the personal fulfillment they need to succeed in their international careers, including information on how to:
- make an informed to decision to move
- optimize an expat contract to ensure their personal needs are met
- juggle work and relocation logistics
- deal with culture shock and cultural differences
- build social networks abroad
- manage the question of romantic relationships, be it by dating across cultures, embarking on a long-distance relationship or moving with a partner
- prepare a smooth re-entry to the home country, workforce and culture
Full of real-life examples from GenXpats who are now working for multinational companies, GenXpat explains what to expect when starting an expat adventure.
About the Author
Margaret Malewski grew up in Montreal speaking English, French and Polish and interacting with many cultures. On leaving Canada in 1992, she began a decade of expatriation that led her to work in countries as varied as Poland, Switzerland and Israel. GenXpat combines her personal relocation experience with that of her colleagues and leading research into this modern phenomenon.
