Moving Abroad Doesn't Mean Starting Your Career from Zero

Why an international move can shake your professional confidence — and how to find your footing again.

Moving abroad can open exciting doors, but it can also make you question everything you've achieved professionally.

According to Eurostat, in 2025, around 30% of highly educated EU citizens working in another EU country were overqualified for their jobs, compared with approximately 20% of nationals. For non-EU citizens, the figure was even higher, at around 41%.

Behind these numbers are people with experience, qualifications, and ambitions who sometimes struggle to find their place in a new job market.

Why does moving abroad affect our confidence?

Psychologist Albert Bandura's self-efficacy theory helps explain part of this experience.

Our confidence in our ability to succeed is shaped partly by previous achievements and the feedback we receive from others.

But when we move abroad, the familiar signals of professional success can disappear. Our network is smaller, our qualifications may be less recognised, and even simple professional interactions can feel unfamiliar.

Suddenly, we may begin questioning abilities we never doubted before.

Another useful perspective comes from career construction theory, developed by psychologist Mark Savickas.

It suggests that careers are not simply a sequence of jobs. They are also stories through which we create meaning and express our identity.

Moving abroad doesn't erase that story. It challenges us to find a way to continue it in a different context.

What can you do?

Before focusing on what you feel you're missing, take a moment to reflect:

- What have I learned about myself by adapting to a new country?

- How can I use my international experience to shape my next professional chapter?

Having experienced an international career transition myself, I know that adapting takes time. It can challenge our confidence, but it can also reveal strengths we didn't know we had.

You are not starting from zero. You are bringing everything you've learned into a new environment.

Coaching can help you reconnect with that experience, recognise your strengths, and explore your next steps with greater clarity and confidence.

Your career story didn't end when you moved abroad. You're simply writing its next chapter.

References

- Eurostat — Migrant Integration Statistics: Over-qualification (2025 data).

- Bandura, A. (1977). Self-efficacy: Toward a Unifying Theory of Behavioral Change.

- Savickas, M. L. (2005). The Theory and Practice of Career Construction.