Expat Assessment Quiz- Should You Move Abroad? Let’s Test If

That’s why I’ve created the Expat Readiness Assessment Quiz. This isn’t just another online personality test – it’s a powerful tool designed to help you gauge your readiness for the expat plunge. By assessing key personality traits that research has shown to be crucial for expat success, this quiz can provide valuable insights into your strengths and potential areas for growth.

Why is this important? Because 40% of expats fail at living abroad. Understanding your readiness can make the difference between a challenging but rewarding experience and a frustrating ordeal that sends you packing for home. This quiz can help you:

1. Identify your expat strengths
2. Recognize areas where you might need additional preparation
3. Set realistic expectations for your expat journey
4. Guide your pre-move planning and skill development

Armed with these insights, you’ll be better equipped to make informed decisions about your expat plans and set yourself up for success. But before we dive into the quiz, let’s talk about why so many people are drawn to the expat lifestyle and the challenges they might face.

The Allure of Expat Life

The idea of starting fresh in a new country is exhilarating. Whether it’s for career opportunities, retirement, or simply the thrill of the unknown, more people than ever are choosing to live abroad.

There is an estimated 5.1 to 9 Million Americans Living Abroad
–Association of Americans Resident Overseas

And it’s not just US citizens moving to other countries. The UN estimates there are now over 280 million international immigrants worldwide. That’s a lot of people taking the leap!

But what drives people to become expats? There are multiple reasons, career moves, leveraging geographic arbitrage, or even just wanting a better quality of life. It’s not just about the adventure – many see it as a path to personal, financial, and professional growth.

The Challenges of Living Abroad

But let’s get real for a moment. Living abroad isn’t all Instagram-worthy sunsets and exotic food (though those are definitely perks!). It can be tough. Really tough. I remember my first week living in Egypt, standing in a grocery store, unable to read any labels, feeling completely lost and overwhelmed just trying to buy food. It’s moments like these that make you question your decision.

Research highlights some common challenges faced by expats:

• Language barriers
• Culture shock
• Homesickness
• Difficulty making friends
• Navigating unfamiliar bureaucracies

These challenges directly correlate with the key traits for expat success that our quiz assesses:

• Language barriers and difficulty making friends test your extroversion and openness to experience.
• Culture shock challenges your emotional stability and adaptability.
• Navigating unfamiliar systems requires conscientiousness and problem-solving skills.
• Building relationships across cultures relies heavily on your agreeableness and cultural sensitivity.

Understanding these connections is crucial. It’s not about avoiding challenges – they’re an inevitable part of the expat experience. Instead, it’s about recognizing your strengths and areas for growth, so you can prepare effectively and approach these challenges with confidence.

Five Key Traits for Expat Success

Our quiz focuses on five key personality traits that research has shown to be crucial for expat success. The comprehensive study by psychologist Paula Caligiuri found that “personality characteristics play a significant role in expatriate success”. Specifically, the study noted that “individuals high in the Big Five personality characteristics of extroversion, agreeableness, and emotional stability” were more likely to be successful overseas.

Let’s see why each of these behaviors and traits matter in day-to-day expat life.

1. Extroversion: The Social Butterfly Effect

Extroversion is all about how you interact with the world around you. Are you energized by meeting new people, or do you prefer the comfort of familiar faces?

As an expat, you’ll be constantly surrounded by new people and situations. Your ability to reach out, make connections, and build a new social network can significantly impact your experience. I remember feeling overwhelmed at my first expat meetup in Merida, Mexico. The room was buzzing with conversations in multiple languages, and I felt like a fish out of water. But I took a deep breath, plastered on a smile, and introduced myself to the person next to me. That one conversation led to a friendship that made my entire stay more enjoyable.

However, don’t worry if you’re more introverted. While extroversion can make some aspects of expat life easier, introverts bring their own strengths to the table, such as the ability to observe and adapt to new cultural norms more subtly.

2. Openness to Experience: Embracing the Unknown Head On

How excited are you by the prospect of trying new things and embracing unfamiliar situations? This trait is crucial for expats because, let’s face it, nearly everything in your new life will be an unfamiliar situation!

From trying exotic foods to navigating different social norms, openness to experience helps you embrace the novelty of your new environment rather than feeling overwhelmed by it. I’ll never forget the first time I was served chunchullo (small intestines) at a business BBQ in Colombia. My initial instinct was to recoil, but I reminded myself to stay open-minded. Not only did I manage to eat them (with some coaching from my gracious hosts), but the experience became a funny story that helped me bond with my new colleagues.

3. Emotional Stability: The Calm in the Storm

Can you keep your cool when things don’t go as planned? Spoiler alert: as an expat, things will often not go as planned!

Emotional stability is about maintaining equilibrium in the face of stress and uncertainty. It’s what helps you navigate the inevitable ups and downs of expat life without becoming overwhelmed. When I missed my connecting flight in a country where I didn’t speak the language, it was emotional stability that allowed me to problem-solve effectively instead of panicking.

This trait doesn’t mean you never feel stressed or upset. Instead, it’s about how quickly you can recover and adapt when faced with challenges.

4. Agreeableness: The Relationship Builder

Agreeableness is about being flexible, cooperative, and considerate in your interactions with others. In an expat context, this trait is crucial for navigating different communication styles and social norms. It helps you build positive relationships with locals and other expats alike. I had to teach my Austrian girlfriend the importance of this trait, as Austrians are direct and blunt in their communication style, whereas Americans tend to be “fake nice.”

Austrians tend to be very direct when giving feedback, so my girlfriend will often state exactly what she thinks without sugarcoating it. For example, my mother was excited for my girlfriend to try a schweinebraten (pork roast) recipe she made especially for her. My girlfriend gave my mom her honest feedback, “It’s too salty.”

via GIPHY

I had to explain to here that Americans often give insincere compliments to avoid being impolite, such as saying “the schweinebraten tastes great” even if they don’t genuinely feel that way.

5. Conscientiousness: Organized And On Point

How organized and responsible are you when it comes to planning and following through? Expat life involves a lot of paperwork, planning, and attention to detail.

From visa applications to reading rental contracts in a foreign language, setting up bank accounts to figuring out the local transportation system, conscientiousness helps you stay on top of the myriad tasks involved in establishing a new life abroad. I credit my conscientiousness for helping me avoid a potentially disastrous situation when I double-checked my visa requirements and realized I needed an additional document just days before my move.

Remember, no one is perfect in all these areas. The goal of the quiz is not to discourage you if you score lower in some traits, but to help you understand where you might need to focus your preparation efforts.

Beyond Personality: Practical Considerations for Expat Success

While personality traits play a significant role in expat readiness, they’re not the whole story. There are several practical considerations that can greatly impact your expat experience. Let’s explore some of these key factors:

Language Skills

Can you order a coffee in the local language, or are you relying on hand gestures? Did you know 53 countries have English as the de facto primary language? Are you moving to one of these blue colored countries?

If not, it’s time to take some language lessons. I’ve been living abroad for nearly 12 years, and I regrettably and shamefully admit to only speaking English fluently. Do I have an issue living abroad? No. However, life is much easier if you have at least “survival” level local language skills. While it’s possible to get by in many places with just English, learning the local language can dramatically improve your expat experience. It opens doors to deeper cultural understanding and helps in day-to-day tasks. Even mastering a few key phrases can go a long way in showing respect for your host culture.

INSIDER TIP: Learn A Foreign Language- I recommend Rosetta Stone language lessons as a primary way of learning. You can get a special one time price with no monthly subscription costs using Nomadic FIRE special link. 

Previous Travel Experience

Have you dipped your toes in international waters before? Prior travel experience, especially to cultures different from your own, can be invaluable preparation for expat life. It helps develop adaptability and gives you a taste of what it’s like to navigate unfamiliar environments.

Financial Preparedness

Do you have a solid financial cushion to support your move? Moving abroad doesn’t always come cheap. Having a financial safety net can reduce stress and give you the freedom to fully embrace your new experience without constant money worries.

Health Considerations

Have you thought about healthcare in your potential new home? Understanding the expat healthcare options in your destination country, including insurance requirements and the availability of any medications you need, is crucial for a smooth transition.

I’ll never forget the first time I got sick in a country where I didn’t speak the language. Let’s just say it involved a lot of stress, miming, and Google Translate. Not my finest hour, but it taught me the importance of being prepared on all fronts – not just personality-wise, but practically too!

If you purchase an international insurance policy, you’ll get access to English-speaking customer support agents that can help you navigate medical care in a foreign country.

 INSIDER TIP : Healthcare Coverage Abroad- Most health insurance will not cover you for any injuries sustained outside your home country. To get protection while living abroad, there are two options:

• Travel Health Insurance– This will cover you for unexpected medical issues while overseas. However, the coverage requires you maintain insurance in the United States or your respective home country. I pay roughly $50 per month for complete coverage with no deductible.
• Expat Medical Insurance– If you retire abroad, expat health insurance is a more complete option. Expat Medical Insurance is the “normal” insurance you are familiar with to from home. Coverage is built for people who live in a country versus traveling. While more expensive than Travel Medical Insurance, premiums are still cheaper than the US. 

Ready to Assess Your Expat Readiness?

Now that we’ve explored the key traits for expat success and some practical considerations, are you ready to see how you measure up? Our Expat Readiness Assessment Quiz is designed to help you gauge your strengths and identify areas where you might need some extra preparation.

Remember, there’s no pass or fail here. Whether you score high or low, the quiz is a tool for self-reflection and growth. It’s a starting point for your expat journey, helping you understand where you stand and how you can set yourself up for success.

So why not take the plunge? Click below to start the quiz and take your first step towards your expat adventure. Who knows? You might be ready for that Argentine café or Mexican restaurant sooner than you think!

No matter what your results are, remember this: every expat started somewhere. The fact that you’re here, considering this life-changing adventure, already says a lot about your spirit and curiosity. So go on, take the quiz, and let’s see where your expat journey might take you!

The journey of an expatriate is filled with challenges and opportunities. You’ll likely stumble through language barriers, ordering bizarre dishes by mistake or accidentally insulting someone with a misplaced idiom. Plus you need to adapt to a new, and sometimes frustrating, pace of life. You might find yourself tapping your foot impatiently in endless queues or wondering why shops close for hours in the middle of the day.

Trust me, we’ve all been there. By understanding and embracing these five key personality traits—extroversion, openness to experience, emotional stability, agreeableness, and conscientiousness—you can significantly increase your chances of success living overseas.

So, whether you’re packing your bags for a new adventure or simply contemplating the idea of living abroad, remember that your personality can be your greatest asset. Embrace who you are, and get ready to make the most of your expatriate experience! After all, life is too short to stay in one place.