If you have always dreamed of combining work and travel in an overseas assignment, you may be in for a rude awakening. It's rare for U.S. information technology professionals to get offers abroad. It can also take months to get a working visa, making the hiring process too long for most employers. And comparatively low pay usually discourages IT workers.
Many factors can make an overseas assignment a terrible experience.
Barry Kozloff, president of Selection Research International, tells a story of a senior IT person working in eastern Europe. It was a recipe for failure. The employee and his family were brought back early. The answers could include a desire for career advancement, travel or adventure. Still, there are some exceptions to these experiences.