Career Spouse - Culture Shock

Maria grew up in Eastern Europe, and at 25 moved to work for a pharmaceutical company in France. She was to spend the next 10 years there, acquiring a Ph.D and a husband, Charles, along the way.

Then Charles's chemical company moved him to England, and we were asked to develop a short programme to help Maria find employment making the best use of her qualifications, with her limited though rapidly improving English.

Initially we had to familiarise her with British commercial practice and etiquette. We helped her draft letters (often with technical content) targeted to named individuals within relevant companies, and gave her agency leads. Maria soon got an interview and a job offer - and in the week she accepted, two more requests for interview were received.

Resettlement for a spouse in a foreign country is often more difficult than for the main wage earner, especially when compounded with both language and cultural changes. Charles's employer had recognised this and Maria was the beneficiary.

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