Whether one relocates to another EU country such as Belgium, or a non EU country such as the USA, is the HR jobs market largely the same worldwide, samely competitive, with employers looking for the closest tick box person specification match and fit on all the essentials and desirables? HR, unlike the Stem and medical professions, is not in global skills shortage demand that they would actively look to bring people in from elsewhere.
Add into the mix language, lack of national qualifications and localised experience, immigratIon and visa issues outside of the EU, knowledge and understanding of the labour laws there, and it can suddenly become to look far more challenging than one faces at home.
Thus, whether a UK HR Practitioner wishes to relocate to work in Brussels or Los Angeles, what are typically the logistical complexities involved, can most people actually do or pull off a career move of that nature in practice (or is in impossible in both relative / absolute terms) or are the vast majority already on or in a senior level role in the UK and either transferred by existing organisations in the UK, their target country or headhunted in advance by an international executive search boutique?
What could be difficult at home could be 5 times more demanding elsewhere as you are also not one of them who tend to get first preference in their jobs market.
I have always believed that if one wishes to succeed career wise outside of their home country and / or home regional operating market, i.e. UK & Ireland, EU and EMEA, you first need to be able to build, show and demonstrate a certain career track record of success at home. Otherwise, if you cannot do, hack it or have what it takes to first work yourself up into a certain position at home where you have all the immediate advantages such as language, right to work, education and experience, it will be even more difficult trying to do it aboard in another country. If one cannot get an HRBP role in London, why would they suddenly obtain one in New York?
I also understand the USA who only wants the creme de la creme and best of the best from around the world, one would typically need to be a Chartered Fellow with 5+ years of progressive experience to get in there. They would not facilitate a transfer for an HR Administrator as local candidates fill those roles.
There is a very good saying in life that one may change the skies they are under and soil they are on, but are essentially the same person as you cannot just alter your personality, professional profile and conjure up new and more experience overnight. It's a gradual process.
Therefore and in closing, if one has difficulties in getting jobs in the UK, could the same problems just follow them elsewhere, or follow them in a slightly different form, but that would perhaps be for new and different reasons as well, with cultural also added into the mix?
Does a global HR market also exist, but one needs to be at the very top of the profession to partake in that?
