Asim Qureshi/ Linked In

Some advice to fresh grads.For your first job, try working abroad. You’ll learn a lot more than job skills. You’ll learn life skills. You’ll learn perspective.You’ll also be different to those around you so you’ll bring fresh perspectives – and that’s far more powerful than you probably realise – you will challenge things more.
There is a big difference in mindset between people that have lived in different countries, away from home, and those that haven’t. Well-travelled people are just more open-minded – they’re more accepting of other views and cultures – and they empathise more.
Living abroad means you’ll experience being a minority with the slightly edgy fear that entails, you’re the different one and will have to make changes to fit in.
When I left the UK for Malaysia, my mum thought she was losing her son, my dad didn’t know what to think, my friends thought I’d never quit my job let alone migrate. I had never lived outside the UK, didn’t know anyone in Malaysia. It wasn’t easy.But the best thing it did for me was rip me out of my comfort zone.You’re only young once – make the most of it – and so get out of your comfort zone right from the word go.