Looking ahead

When E was offered a job overseas, I knew taking it would advance his career and put mine in limbo. A former journalist and editor, I had moved into PR writing after my son was born and worked part time from home.

I worked as a contract employee for a small PR agency, collaborating with consultants, strategists, media experts, event planners, marketers, writers, and designers. I enjoyed my work and my colleagues, and learned a lot from my clients, but after ten years, I was ready to re-charge my batteries. Moving to Belgium was the ultimate opportunity to break out of my comfort zone, take a sabbatical from business writing, and explore other creative opportunities.

Two years into my adventure, I’ve launched two blogs, pursued some hobbies, traveled across Western Europe, done some pro bono PR work, and expanded my network of friends and acquaintances online. Now it’s time to ask myself, what’s next?

We’re scheduled to move back to the U.S. in the summer of 2008. What then? Where does my new-and-improved self fit into the working world? What do I write and who do I write for? What do I have to offer clients that I didn’t have to offer before? What might I have I missed living abroad? What have I gained? And how does the entire expat experience translate into career benefits?

These are questions that are surfacing on my radar as I look ahead to resuming my professional writing career. Today I clicked over to Technorati looking for blogs on PR writing and marketing. It’s time to start wandering out of the coffee shop in my corner of the blogosphere and meet some of the folks occupying offices. What’s hot in communications? What strategies are proving to be effective in the changing PR landscape and what’s old news? Blogging jump started my creativity and took my writing to a new level, now it’s time to see where it might take my career.

Copyright 2007 Veronica McCabe Deschambault. All rights reserved.

February 15, 2007

Comments

[Char]

I'll email you some resources! I think the opportunities will be very abundant upon your return.

[Rick]

You hadn't heard? All the PR types were rounded up and sent to Guantanamo Bay, never to be seen again.

[V-Grrrl]

Rick, now I understand the Administration's communications problems. America NEEDS good PR and all the PR people have been gagged!

[furiousBall]

We all communicate only using our minds now, oh and there's a buffoon as president now.

[Nance]

Speaking as someone who has enjoyed 26 years in the same career, (and nearly that long in the same classroom!), I can scarcely imagine the mix of trepidation and exhilaration you must be feeling. But there must certainly be a vast array of opportunities given your skills and experience, not to mention that you must be giving thought to writing up a prospectus for an article for a magazine about your Expat Mom/Wife adventures. Parenting American kids who feel "stuck in the middle", too, in Belgium would make a great serialized feature. But you've probably already thought of that....

[insideout]

Write a book about the aventures of a woman living abroad and raising a family. The do's and dont's or living abroad for dummy's. I know not a lot of help! but hope I atleast got a smile for my efforts...I/O

[mamatulip]

I think Insideout might be on to something...take your posts labelled "Expat Essays" and put into a book. I'd buy it!

[V-Grrrl]

Wait Mama T, you're sayin' that that old line about "Why buy the cow when it gives milk for free?" isn't true?

;D

Thanks for the votes of confidence.

[Di]

Exciting times ahead ... I'm sure of it :)

[TB]

I wish you the best of luck in your online search. Having recently "retired" from the world of corporate communication and PR, I can tell you someone of your skill is sorely needed because everyone thinks they can write business communication these days. The trick is going to be getting plugged back in.

[Ortizzle]

Certainly you can do quality writing, V-grrrl. It's a question of finding a market that suits what you personally enjoy writing about. I would imagine there is plenty of room in the PR field where you were working before.

Your ex-pat experience: enough to broaden your horizons, but not so much that the culture shock is killing you (It took me a long time to jump-start my life again after 24 years of living overseas.)

Meantime: enjoy your overseas sojourn. There will be things you miss when you are back Stateside.

[Lux Lisbon]

I love the excitement of not knowing what's around the corner. You definitely get that as an ex-pat. It must be exciting though to know you are going back. We won't be going back to the US for at least 3 more years. I feel a tiny twinge of jealousy.

[Amber]

I think you should write a book about these years. You have enough funny and touching stories!

:)

[Arabella]

It sounds like you're very much on the right track. You have lots of time to come up to speed in that world, and you have significant writing talent--every bit as much as you used to, if not more--and more life experiences under your belt. I bet you won't have any problems with this next chapter of your professional life.

[tamar]

Good post, good questions. Consider exploring the burgeoning brave new-ish world of social media, which entails blogging for organizations, among other varied applications for your writing and blogging experiences.