New American Expat: Thriving and Surviving Overseas in the Post-9/11 World [Paperback]

William Russell Melton (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 2005

People are taking jobs abroad more than ever, yet overseas employment has never been more complicated or risky. New markets and new opportunities draw professionals overseas, even as the world as we understand it continues to change. For no one is this change more striking than the American Expatriate. Faced with shifting and sometimes hostile attitudes, Americans can no longer relocate expecting a warm welcome and an easy transition. Without the proper tools and preparation, working overseas can be an overwhelming proposition.The New American Expat: Thriving and Surviving Overseas in the Post 9/11 World is an essential guide that shows Americans how to be safe and secure, as well as successful, in their overseas assignments. The New American Expat provides a clear plan for thriving in the experience, with tips on how to find a job, negotiate a compensation package and set up a new home base. In addition, this is the only book to address how to be a good American while living and working abroad, highlighting the fact that we are all ambassadors for our culture and home countries.Brimming with checklists and practical advice, The New American Expat is required reading for anyone looking to turn his or her overseas assignment into both a career opportunity and a rich, fulfilling experience. As a former expatriate and the director of a company that has provided cross-cultural training to thousands of international assignees, this book should be read by any American considering an overseas assignment. Melton approaches post- 9/11 expatriation with a wealth of information that is both insightful and practical.-Diane McGreal, Director of Trainers, Berlitz Cross CulturalThe New American Expat offers much more than a narrow look at the post-9/11 expatriate environment. Melton provides an excellent overview of expatriate needs, ideal for someone heading off on his or her first assignment, as well as numerous checklists and resources that would be helpful to even the most-seasoned expat. -Tara Nielsen, Director worldwide Services, GMAC Global Relocations ServicesThe New American Expat is more than a survival kit for those embarking on an overseas assignment. It is an alphabet soup of practical information, resources and timely guidance from the author's own experience. You can be sure I will recommend this book to any member contemplating an expatriate experience. -Nelson Joyner, Chairman, Federation of International Trade Associations (FITA)I sincerely wish that Melton's book had been available to me 25 years ago when I began my off shore odyssey; adjustments would have been much easier and mistakes much less traumatic.-Marc Bradshaw, International Safety and Security Consultant, The Marcus Group Ltd.This book covers the whys and what ifs of finding and taking an overseas job....If you are thinking about work abroad this is a good starting point.-Transitions Abroad Magazine July/August 2006An in-depth guide to the challenges of living abroad in today's world. Based on his extensive experience as an expatriate, the author provides practical information and insights for Americans embarking on overseas assignments, with special focus on safety, security and topics such as 'how to be an American' while living and working abroad.-Transitions Abroad Magazine September/October 2006ContentsAcknowledgmentsPrefaceIntroduction1 The World at Your Doorstep2 Finding Your Job Overseas3 Closing the Deal: Negotiating Your Compensation Package4 Getting There: Moving Family and Belongings to Your New Home5 Being There: Living and Working in a Foreign Country6 Safety and Security in the Post-9/11 World7 Coming Home: Returning to Your U.S. Home and JobAppendix A: Recommended Reading on General Expatriate IssuesAppendix B: Expatriate Internet Resources with General Information and Advice on Expatriate IssuesAppendix C: Resources and Organizations to Contact for Information Regarding International JobsAppendix D: Government and Private Organizations that Provide Information and Assistance for Expatriates and for Companies Employing ExpatriatesAppendix E: Resources for Learning More About Specific Foreign CountriesIndexAbout the Author

Editorial Reviews

Review

"I sincerely wish that Melton's book had been available to me 25 years ago when I began my offshore odyssey." -- Marc Bradshaw, International Safety and Security Consultant, The Marcus Group, Ltd.

"Melton provides an excellent overview of expatriate needs...checklists and resources that would be helpful to even the most-seasoned expat." -- Tara Neilson, Director, Worldwide Services, GMAC Global Relocation Services

"More than a survival kit for those embarking on an overseas assignment. I will recommend this book." -- Nelson Joyner, Chairman, Federation of International Ttrade Associations (FITA)

"This book should be read by any American considering an overseas assignment. A wealth of information...both insightful and practical." -- Diane McGreal, Director of Trainers, Berlitz Cross Cultural

About the Author

William Russell Melton has more than twenty-five years experience specializing in international business, both as an international lawyer and executive manager. During this period, he has lived and worked in seven different countries-the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Saudi Arabia, Germany, Singapore, Switzerland, and Bahrain-and has served both as International General Counsel for U.S. corporations and as the Managing Director for operations based in these countries. His experiences includes setting up new operations in more than twenty countries, recruiting and managers distributors and other partners globally, and restructuring and turning around under-performing foreign operations. The companies he has worked for have ranged from small start-ups to Fortune 500 companies, and the thus understands the special issues faced by both small and large business in the international business arena.

Product Details

• Paperback: 248 pages
• Publisher: Nicholas Brealey Publishing; Trade Paper edition (April 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1931930244
• ISBN-13: 978-1931930246
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.8 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #868,811 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

159 of 171 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Laundry list of moving tips - reads like a stack of pompously written post-it notes., January 18, 2006

By 

Dude (nyc) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: New American Expat: Thriving and Surviving Overseas in the Post-9/11 World (Paperback)

I am moving to Europe, and having been given 4 weeks from initial contact to the first day of work, I am ravenously devouring information about relocating as an expat. First of all, I would highly recommend these two books Expert Expatriate and GenXpat. I would not recommend Melton's book.

Excited to read this book, as supported by promising reviews, I ordered it 2nd day delivery, and tore into it tonight, when it arrived. I was met by a style of writing reminiscent of a college paper hastily written the night before its due date. Broad generalizations, cliches, and laundry lists of tips are the fabric of this work.

I normally don't write reviews of books, especially now as I am in the middle of moving, but I am so disappointed in this, that I feel compelled to say something for the sake of other inquisitive minds. Perhaps the other reviewers are friends of the author, or have different standards of literature; some of the reviews (in praise) were more articulate than William Melton could ever be! I will give specific quotes, in the hopes that the writing may speak for itself.

Introduction xvi:
Speaking on globalism, "Our new world neighborhood presents us with two divergent paths from which to choose: one based on mutual understanding and tolerance of our differences and a contrary path characterized by cultural, religious, and ethnic intolerance and the enmity that invariably follows. It is up to us which path we choose....These tensions were heightened by the events of September 11, 2001, a day that shattered our assumptions...and sent us hurtling down a path of uncertainty."

Wow, thanks Yoda. I'll try not to pick the "dark path" of "enmity." I didn't realize that a study of globalism, or the current anthropological worldview could be so easily reduced to two paths: good and bad. Personally, I think it is better not to make grandiose statements about subjects one knows little about. It might send one "hurtling down a path" of bad writing.


P. 15
"...I have developed the following attitudes ...when I am living in another country:
- It is their country, not mine.
- They have the right to run it the way the want to.
- Things aren't *always* better in the U.S. (* denotes italics)
- Most people in the world don't actually want to be just like Americans
- If I try their approach, I might like it."

Wow again. This would be great for an 5 y.o. ex-pat who's moving kindergarten classes. As an adult, I was hoping for something a little more... sophisticated? "It is their country, not mine." Is this the name of a new movement in international relations? Well, a certain president would do well to study that line, but...



Pp 96-98

Two pages worth of material are devoted to "Spouse and Partner Issues." I am moving without immediate family, but I would assume that anyone with a family will want more than two pages devoted to such considerations. May I refer you again to Expert Expatriate.



P. 113
"... as long as a good faith effort is being made to apply for and receive the required work authorization as expeditiously as possible."

The book is rife with cumbersome language, symptomatic of gratuitous use of the thesaurus. "Expeditiously?" How about "quickly"? Again, old tricks to fatten up a limp college paper.



P. 118
"Be cognizant of the restrictions and prohibitions on what can be legally brought into the country..."

Cognizant? What he really means is "aware." Cognizant implies something else. This sloppy writing is pervasive. At the risk of seeming nit-picky, I offer these as a few examples of a larger deficiency of his writing.



To be fair, there are some nuggets of information in the book that I found helpful. And in the process of moving overseas, one must piece together the planning of the journey through the kaleidoscope of opinions that one inevitably solicits. So it is helpful in that way. But The New American Expat is just that, an avuncular recount of journeys taken across the globe. A collection of tips in a quasi stream of consciousness catalog, i.e. "And don't forget to do this, and don't forget to think about that, remember to be open minded!" But it is not constructed in a way to stimulate the planning process for your own trip, and it does not aspire to organize the seemingly overwhelming mass of details associated with relocation - which is what I expect a $25 book on the subject to do.

I strongly urge you to thumb through the book in person if you still want to buy it. I bought it online because neither Barnes and Nobles nor Borders carried it. The bright side to this story is the ease with which I returned this book to Amazon.

13 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Packed with Knowledge!, October 3, 2005

By 

Rolf Dobelli "getAbstract" (Switzerland) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: New American Expat: Thriving and Surviving Overseas in the Post-9/11 World (Paperback)

This book offers a refreshing voice of common sense, balance and experience. Books on this subject walk a tightrope between being too politically correct to address relevant stereotypes or, conversely, too fixated on stereotypes to transcend them. Author William Russell Melton manages the task effortlessly, thanks to his experience working in more than 20 countries. Relevant for those merely contemplating work abroad, as well as for those who just sat on their suitcases in order to zip them shut, this volume should prove to be a tremendous asset to any Yankee relocating to King Arthur's Court (or anywhere else). Melton advises Americans to be themselves, but to use common sense and show a little deference. For instance, listen more and speak less (and not so loudly, please). The author's goal is to develop confident world citizens who can interact adroitly on the world scene while staying true to their American values. The 23 pages he devotes to post-9/11 security abroad are frankly insufficient given the book's subtitle - but the quality of the information is top drawer. Melton even adds advice on how to make the transition when you return back to the U.S. We very strongly recommend that any American thinking of overseas employment should study this book - otherwise, things could get ugly.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars GOOD CAREER ADVICE, May 22, 2005

By 

Erik W. (San Francisco) - See all my reviews

This review is from: New American Expat: Thriving and Surviving Overseas in the Post-9/11 World (Paperback)

I am in the process of trying to find my first international position, and this book provides some excellent advice on how to go about finding a foreign job, and also how to position yourself to get the job after you find it.

The chapter on expat contracts is the best source I have found explaining all the various compensation issues in a clear manner - not only what the issues are, but also how compensation packages are structured and what should be covered in the contracts. There is a very complete outline of an expat contract at the end of the chapter.

Melton also talks about what the the expat's reasonable expectations should be, explains issues from the employer's perspective and describes what the recent trends are for expatriate benefits and allowances.