Soft Skills for Success: How Living Abroad Built My Career Confidence

Last week at a cafe in Dublin, I ordered a coffee and ended up talking to the barista for 10 minutes about his finance thesis.

It wasn’t the conversation itself that stuck with me me, it was the fact that I started it 😳

Before moving abroad, I never started conversations with random strangers. But solo flights, new cities, global friendships, and a client-facing role taught me to open up quickly. Not just out of necessity, but out of excitement. Talk about a confidence lesson.

So here are 5 Confidence Lessons living abroad gave me that no webinar or career course ever had:

1. I became someone who speaks up - even when it’s uncomfortable.

Living abroad made me braver. Not quite in the “solo travel South America” way (yet!), but in the “ask the question / introduce yourself / start the email” way.

Whether it’s talking to a new coworker or a coffee shop stranger, I’ve learned how to open a conversation without overthinking it, and have seen all the good that comes from it!

That self-advocacy has changed how I show up at work and in life. I ask for more. I express what I need. And I don’t wait to be 100% ready.

2. You can miss people and still love your life.

There are days when I feel caught between places.

In Dublin, I miss my people in Philly.

In the U.S., I miss the variety, freedom, and community I’ve built here.

And sometimes, it shows up in the small, funny moments.

Like that time I was eating lunch at work with the most global group I’ve ever sat discussing, “the weirdest game show from your country.”

We went down a rabbit hole of nostalgia TV from 8 different countries. And I remember thinking, I never want to take this for granted.

Now maybe I don’t feel fully at home anywhere. But I’ve learned that home can be less about geography, and more about mindaet.

That missing people is part of loving them. And that building a life abroad doesn’t replace my foundation - it just builds on it.

3. If you’re thinking about moving abroad… do it.

Seriously. 100% yes.

Will it be hard? Absolutely.

Will it be worth it? Absolutely.

Home will still be there for you. But give it a full year - after the honeymoon phase fades, the really tough middle months are over and the real fun begins.

The freedom, confidence, and perspective you gain from building a life somewhere new will with you forever.

4. You’re not behind. You’re just using a different map.

When you live abroad, your timeline starts to look different.

Friends might be buying houses, getting promoted, or hosting baby showers - while you’re Googling if your visa renewal needs a notary.

But your path isn’t a detour. It’s the one you’re chose to follow.

And if it leads through grocery store crash outs, holiday airport chaos, and a bit of serious FOMO… it’s still leading you somewhere exciting.

5. Living abroad changed what I thought was possible.

My career has blossomed since I moved abroad. It cracked open my idea of what was realistic for my life, and showed me a bigger version of it.

Like now I work at Google - a place I once thought was pretty out of reach.

I have close friends from countries I couldn't have found on a map ten years ago. (Sorry American education)

And I chase opportunities because I’ve already seen what’s possible - for myself and the people around me.

So whether you’re abroad already, thinking about it, or just craving a big shift…

You’re doing better than you think. And your next chapter might be even bigger than you imagined.

Ready to boost your own confidence?

If you feel stuck in your career, you might not need a new course. You might need a new country. The resilience built as an expat is the ultimate competitive advantage. Let's Chat