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Onsite Opportunity -

This might sound like a thousand bells to the ears of many fellow IT Geeks. Onsite means working at the clients' base overseas. It has a certain degree of charm associated with it, which always allures our young technocrats into its realm. Nice chance, it is indeed, but techies should always make a well informed decision taking all the pros and cons into consideration. Any decision made professionally or otherwise has always some impact, which may or may not be foreseeable. Hence one should engage in an analytic and rational thinking before arriving at a conclusion and avoid making impulsive decisions. It is somewhat similar to the impact analysis one would do to assess the impact of a request of change in your software! Mind you your career is no less important than the software you support or develop, by any means.

It's all about money, honey...

One of the biggest arguments given in favor of Onsite opportunity is Money. People say you can save much more onsite than you can in an offshore assignment. This much more can not be some astronomical sum though it surely means more than offshore saving. But the priorities should be set right. What is it that makes you go for an onsite break? Is it money that you are chasing or is it happiness that you are after? Being rich and happy is not same thing as one of my friend from LogicaCMG puts it "Wealth is not necessary to make you happy but to recognize this fact you need to be wealthy". Very true, Bill Gates might be the richest man on this planet, but that doesn't qualify him to be the happiest as well. An artist, a Sweeper or for that matter you might be a happier person than him. Anyways these days every decent IT company in India pays handsomely to buy all the comforts money can buy for a man, even offshore.

Or is it a new found reputation?

Reputation is another aspect which makes Software professionals decide in favor of an onsite assignment. Certainly a couple of Visas stamped on your passport gives substance to your resume. Some even go to the lengths of believing that a visa stamp is a mark of credibility and intellect. Of course needless to say, a visa can guarantee the above only if a person is inherently credible and intelligent. Yes, the stamp would add a new dimension to your profile, for sure.

Period of Stay..

You should be very sure how long you want to stay abroad. What is your preference - short term or long term? In certain cases such offers come with a lock in period to stay onsite or sort of bond to stick to the company. Onsite projects aren't rosy always. You do get a lappy, a mobile phone and all sorts of conveniences but then you have to be on the go 24/7, if you are on on-call support. Your day, your night all belongs to the project you are working for.

A new culture..

Culture and social life of a country has great influence on its inhabitants which may be a barrier for settling in for people of a different country and culture. One of our project manager went to India after more than 5 years of stay in UK because he missed his people and culture. Moreover he didn't want his daughter to grow up and adapt to European culture, which sounded alien and weird to him. I've seen several instances where associates living abroad on a long term feel lonely and cut off from their world after few years of stay. The world where they were born and brought up, where they had their own people to share the joy and sorrow with is something one invariably wants to return to. I know of many instances where people are desperate to return home. In fact, it's a common feeling that Indians become more patriotic when they stay away from India!

Food..!

Food is a major disadvantage in a foreign land since you will seldom find common Indian food there and that which is available might not suit your taste buds. Of course cooking can be done once you get settled, but you need to be prepared to toss some junk food down your throat in the early days of your stay abroad. As a fall back plan, Priya pickles,Maggie and Haldirams often find more space in a techie's luggage than clothes!Travel excitement..Discovering new places and visiting countries that only were spotted in a Bollywood number previously, is also something that comes with an onsite trip. A very positive point in favor of the decision. As in our country we seldom go abroad for a vacation, onsite assignment can be a blessing in disguise to realize overseas dream.

Choice of cheese..

One aspect, often overlooked or not given due importance, is the nature and quality of work, which I believe should be emphasized more than any other criterion. Make sure you get the cheese you love and that it is not moving away with your location. The choice of cheese varies from person to person ranging from coding, analysis, onsite co-ordination, management or anything else. Secondly the technology that you would be working on should match your profile and should be something you see your future in. There are loads of examples of putting people of one technology in the other or the development guy into support or vice versa.Being an optimist is always good for development of inner self. If you see the brighter side of the picture always, even the darker side might turn into a brighter one, someday. So always look forward to a new opportunity but just try to see the things as they are as it can't be always the way you want them to be. Like every other thing, onsite opportunity has its pluses and minuses, so think well before you take your decision.