In this week’s issue we interview both a Russian working in Britain and a Brit working in Russia. On the one hand, working abroad can have the disadvantage of contributing to a brain drain in one’s own country (as highlighted in our opinion poll), but it also has the advantage of offering a great, character-building experience for the individual.

American Chris King of real-estate agency Colliers HIB has been in Russia for three and a half years now, and he says that there is no comparison between working in Russia and working in the United States and that the challenges of working in a different culture are massive. He says that three years working in Moscow are like six years working in New York in terms of experience gained, and that a lot of foreigners in Moscow thrive on the energy and success of solving problems.

Irina Klusova of recruitment agency Professional’s Business says that with a few exceptions (such as the real-estate business) the job market for foreigners in Russia is actually quite limited, because expats expect hefty benefits packages. She points out that expats are increasingly being replaced by Russian nationals who have Western MBAs and work experience in the West or in Western companies. She adds that while such international experience is a definite plus for Russians, there is a danger of becoming out of touch with the Russian market if one spends too long abroad.

But, in general, experience in foreign countries is an asset upon returning home, as it makes the individual look more daring, adventurous and flexible. It also develops a person’s transferable skills, such as patience, which is often needed, for example, for a foreigner to get a driver’s license in Russia.