Count the Cost Properly
Recently, I have had a number of people calling me and asking me to advise them on their imminent career moves into 'troubled' countries. But the paypack is mouth-watering...hmmm. I hear them asking me: "Please advise me on what to do...".
Whenever someone comes to me with such an inquiry, what comes to my mind immediately is that this person is really attracted to this job offer because of the remuneration or other package or benefits attached to the job offer. Most times, these jobs are jobs that are based offshore. And if they are offshore, it means the employee seeks to expand his 'global' scope of professional experience, which in itself is very valuable. Most bluechip companies today will prefer a candidate that has multi-cultural experience in his/her job experience.
However, every opportunity needs to be properly thought out so that one does not jump into trouble, rather than opportunity. It is very tricky since, in most countries that are considered by the media to be 'war-torn', it is not really every part of that country that is experiencing war. For instance, in Nigeria today, in spite of the security challenges it is currently facing, it is not really impacting in every part of the country.
Hence, my first advice would be: Research using Media to understand and grasp the current security or safety challenges that abound abroad. Understand the nature of the conflict - ethnic, religious, etc. This is very important as the war lords might not come after you anyway. You might need to research further to understand the international relations between your country and the country you are entering to ascertain how that climate and 'conflict' might impact on you. Who is currently in control of the area of that country where you are entering? Rebels or imcumbent Government? How does each of these entities percieved your origin country's role in the conflict. It is very difficult to know whether your country is neutral because your country might belong to a larger organization or regional block that is pro or con to the either side of the conflict. You need to clearly understand this.
Secondly, you are probably, 'tempted' by the pay pack. Now, you need to ask yourself :'Is this paycheck worth sacrificing my union with my wife and kids?' or 'Is this paycheck worth dying for?' There is absolutely nothing wrong taking a life-threatening risk as I believe major innovations and discoveries have come this way. Living life on the edge could be very rewarding but again 'wasting a life for trivia'is sick and pathethic. At least applying the CBA(cost-benefit analysis) tool, if the benefit greatly exceeds the cost, then a risk-loving person might have more to gain than lose by taking up a job in a war-torn environment.
Thirdly, get closer to the News. Not all news are news really. We must begin to undertsand that the journalists are in the news business for varied reasons. For one, their news must sell for revenue sake. So also must they sell some political agenda, so you must get to the root and convince yourself that this nation is really at war. Otherwise, you might turn down the job offer for fear of death when you have simply fallen for the 'scare-crow'. Not all news on those News Media is exaclty the way it is being portrayed. Get your own view of the events. The same news, when viewed from an American station could be interpreted differently from a Chinese or Russian news media. Your work is to find out the truth for yourself in order to make that all important career move.
Fourthly, find out how easy or hard it is to move out if that region in case you made an erroneous judgement. This might be the most important research. Nothing is so disheartenig as once you entered that country, an emergency arises and ALL flights are called off. You will be forced to remain in a FOREIGN TROUBLED land. Wow! Get all the facts on how easy or hard it is for you to move out quickly just in case you entered and found out you landed in a Dragon's hornet.
Finally, find out your origin country's bilateral or other-lateral relations with this country as well as your country's embassy and ambassador's presence in that land. If there is none, it signifies an alert and if there is, it means something. You will be better off knowing.
Remember, ignorance will not save anyone. No matter how juicy or 'tempting' and offshore job might be or no matter how risky, it will be wise to make INFORMED DECISIONS. Those kind of decisions you make and for a long time you savour and yearn to explore further in your one-time life time.