A global mobility services team helps domestic and international organisations of all sizes that deploy an international workforce, ranging from frequent business travellers to those on more formal assignments lasting three to five years.
“Global mobility services involve supporting a relocation of an employee from Point A to B. It could mean from outside India to India or vice versa. There are various aspects to the job such as finding a suitable place for an employee and his family to live in, support them in settling in, find a school for children, and managing their compliance related to immigration, tax, local registrations and other services,” explains Shiivani Aggarwal, a certified Global Management Specialist and Chief Operating Officer, Formula Group.
A Global mobility services professional generally deals with the client’s HR as well as with service providers to deliver these services.
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“Communication skills are essential in this field as we have to talk to clients across the globe. Being empathetic towards the clients, who have to leave everything behind and adapt to a completely new culture is very important,” says Aggarwal. “People who have a background in human resource management or are currently in educational jobs will fit in easily in this career. This field could serve the purpose of students, who enjoy travelling, and are multilingual.”
Like most professions, this one too comes with its own set of challenges. The major responsibility is to set the right expectations for the employee, move as per the laid down policies, and ensure smooth relocation of the individual and his/her family. “At the entry level, the job involves a lot of field work, like going around the city, showing suitable housing options and orientation the client to the city. It also requires a lot of commitment. However; all the hard work eventually pays off,” says Aggarwal.
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Interestingly, another challenge is the perception regarding the job. Aggarwal’s own team mates have faced issues because this field is looked down upon and misunderstood to be like that of a real estate broker’s job. But these are just myths that need to be busted, she feels.
But with growing job opportunities, a career in global mobility maybe an unconventional choice but it is a lucrative one. One does not have to rely on rote learning to make it big in this field; all it takes is hard work.
However, at present, there are no courses in India that deal with global mobility. With the increase in mobility across the world and job outsourcing, this field will create a lot of job opportunities in the future, creating with it a need for specialised courses.