Campus

Did your partner/family go with you?

My wife and two kids joined me. Having kids and joining playgroups in order to meet local people helped my wife to integrate. After three months she was saying hello to everyone on the street and I had no clue who all those people were.

What made you want to go on assignment?

I was asked to consider an assignment by a Partner during some international training and thought that this would benefit my growth and development. It’s a unique opportunity and experience for me and my family.

What were your concerns before you went?

What about my new house – to be constructed? Great timing – my wife is just pregnant!

Describe how you feel about your assignment?

Unforgettable, a rewarding and a great experience; if another opportunity will appear we will certainly consider or even go for it.

Can you share one interesting/funny/amusing story regarding your assignment?

When we lived in the Netherlands, seven feet below sea level, we did not really worry about flooding. Whenever it starts raining in the US people are concerned about flooding and once during our assignment our basement annex master bedroom got flooded.

How has your assignment benefited you?

It is the best decision I ever made – after getting married! It is really a unique opportunity and a great experience to learn about different cultures and experience the American way of life.

What’s so important about people having global experience?

Facing challenges and dealing with it – you get out of your comfort zone and experience, things are handled differently on the other side of the world. This even helps you if you are locally focused – gives you a better understanding that people are different and react differently on situations compared to yourself.

In your own words, describe how global mobility is important to you / for KPMG

Great, exciting and unique experience.

What best describes the benefits of global mobility to someone’s career?

• International experience
• International network
• Learn how to deal with challenges
• Boost for professional and personal growth
• Understand the process of global development and deployment of tools and guidance

What is the one key piece of advice you would give someone considering an assignment?

Don't think, just do. I was told this and it became true – all issues why not are operational matters and you will find a solution for it – so take this opportunity.

How does global mobility benefit clients?

A better KPMG contact to the parent company or subsidiary that understands the culture or the KPMG people in that country.

What do assignees get – what’s in it for them?

Boost for professional and personal growth. It has taught me to focus more on the process rather than the ultimate outcome and taught me to be more patient and understanding as other people do not act the same way I do.

How does global mobility help support our global objectives and aspirations?

It attracts people and demonstrates that we are part of one global network of member firms serving international clients.

What do you think is the most important thing that has changed about you as a result of global mobility?

I developed personal competencies in the area of personal effectiveness, leadership and communication skills by participating in and managing product development projects in a 'political' and international setting. And, further, I developed and strengthened the international cooperation within IRM in the area of professional practice and risk management.

Who helped you the most before going on your assignment?

Global mobility team and prior assignees with sharing their experiences. The GMPs were very helpful in preparation and transitioning to a new country

How did the experience match with your expectations?

To answering all these questions I've read again my International Assignment Application forms and must admit that the assignment matches the expectations 200 percent.

Were there any ‘character building’ moments that in hindsight were valuable to you?

Having three trees fallen down into your house and still attend the cocktail party in the evening (after securing the whole family first, of course) showing resilience and getting such recognition.

In your own words, describe emotionally how it feels to be an Assignee?

Uncertain, insecure, exciting, overwhelmed, relieved and at the end very pleased (repeatedly for each challenge you face).