The Best and Worst Advice I’ve Received as a Foreigner

Living abroad is an adventure, to say the least. You meet all kinds of people, and boy, do they love to give advice—whether you ask for it or not! Over the years, I’ve received some real gems and, well, some advice that belongs in the trash bin. Today, I want to share two standout moments: one that almost made me question everything, and another that unknowingly gave me the push I needed.

The Worst Advice: “You Won’t Get a Job Because You’re a Foreigner”

Picture this: I had just finished university in Australia, and I was working as a barista to make ends meet. One day, a finance guy (at the company I worked for dropped a “helpful” little nugget of wisdom on me. He said, “You should stick to being a barista because, as a foreigner, you won’t get a job in your field. No one’s going to hire you.”

Yikes, right? Now, here’s the kicker—this guy was a foreigner too! I couldn’t help but think, “Aren’t we supposed to be cheering each other on or something? Did I miss the memo?” I mean, if anyone should understand the hustle, it’s him, right? For a couple of weeks, those words rattled around in my head. But here’s the thing—I’m stubborn as a mule and I know my worth. Instead of letting his negativity sink in, I decided to prove him wrong. Shortly after that conversation, I went on holiday to Brazil, and while I was soaking up the sun, I made a promise to myself: I would find a job where I felt respected, I would travel, and I would work in marketing, my passion.

And guess what? I did all of those things. So, here’s a tip from me to you: don’t let other people’s insecurities mess with your mojo. Trust yourself. You know what you’re capable of, even if they don’t.

Moving Abroad: Empowered from Inside and Out in a Foreign Land coming Spring 2025!

The Best “Non-Advice”: “That’s Not What You Want”

Now, the best advice I got wasn’t even really advice, but it hit home just the same. Back when I was a barista, I had a supervisor who was super sweet and pretty sharp. During my yearly review, she went through the usual checklist—told me I was doing a good job and all that jazz. But when she got to the part where they ask if you see yourself becoming a supervisor one day, she just said, “Let’s skip this part because that’s not what you want.”

At first, I was like, “Wait, what? Why can’t I be a supervisor? Does she not like me?” But then it dawned on me—she wasn’t saying I couldn’t do it. She was saying that wasn’t my dream. She knew I wanted to do something in the field I studied at university, and she was right. If I’d stayed on that path, I’d probably be a manager by now, and my life would look totally different. But her words made me refocus on what I truly wanted, and it set me on the right track.

So, even though it wasn’t a traditional piece of advice, it was exactly what I needed to hear. Sometimes, the best thing someone can do is remind you of what you really want—especially when you’re caught up in the day-to-day grind and lose sight of the bigger picture.

Takeaway

As a foreigner, you’re going to get all kinds of advice about what you can or can’t do. But here’s the deal: only you know what’s right for you. Trust your gut, stay true to your goals, and don’t let anyone else’s doubts throw you off course. Your journey is yours to shape, so go out there and make it amazing!

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