Globalization and the development of multinational organizations have led to an increase in the number of people spending part of their lives living and working in foreign countries. While the contemporary literature has focused on organizational expatriates sent overseas by their employers, self-initiated expatriation is becoming an important area of study in its own right. Studies on self-initiated expatriation explore the labor market positions of individuals who have relocated under their own initiative. However, no comprehensive book exists on the dynamics that underlie this type of mobility. This edited volume offers a holistic picture of self-initiated expatriation and the groups that pursue it, emphasizing many aspects for departure including career development and career capital. It is the first book on the market to explore the issues pertaining to self-initiated expatriation from a variety of perspectives with important theoretical and practical implications.

In an era of global war for talent, companies face difficulties in finding highly skilled employees. Self-initiated expatriates have the potential to fill this talent gap. National economies thus have an interest in creating favorable conditions to attract self-initiated expatriates and provoke their repatriation, and this book explores the conditions that achieve the return of employees with skills that are in demand outside of their home countries.

Reviews

"If you are interested in understanding a major source of global talent--professionals who initiate their own expatriation to seek work abroad--you must read this book. The book addresses the different types of self-initiated expatriates, what drives them to expatriate, how they fare abroad, and establishes why self-initiated expatriates are organizational assets." – Phyllis Tharenou, Flinders University, Australia

"The management of expatriation is of growing relevance and interest, but only scant attention has been paid to the issue of Selted Expatriation. This book, written by leaders in the field, takes a holistic perspective to provide both theoretical and practical contributions about Self-Initiated Expatriation. A ‘must-read’ for scholars and students interested in global people management." – Yehuda Baruch, Rouen Business School, France

"Working internationally has become a normal part of working life in many regions of the world. A profound body of knowledge exists about expatriation in its classic form. This book goes one step further and looks at self-initiated expatriation. Leading experts in the field present fresh insights, making the book a fascinating read for researchers, students of the field and practitioners alike. Highly recommendable!" – Wolfgang Mayrhofer, Vienna University of Economics and Business, Austria

"With the phenomenon of self-initiated expatriation on the rise, this book is a very welcome contribution to the field of expatriate management." – Anne-Wil Har...