This article shows how Schein's career anchors can facilitate our understanding of the individual rationale for choosing to become an expatriate. These anchors and their influence on the decision to expatriate are discussed through examples, and an additional `internationalism' anchor, especially relevant to expatriation, is also introduced. Finally, two recent studies, one comparing self-initiated and assigned expatriates, and the other proposing a model of international assignment success, both relying on career anchors, are discussed.

Schein's career anchors are a significant contribution to our understanding of the career choices faced by individuals. They apply perfectly to the study of international mobility, at the level of the decision to undertake an international assignment as well as in analyzing the international adjustment. Knowing one's anchor enables one to better situate oneself relative to international mobility and the choices it entails.

A career anchor is what a person considers to be the most important and non-negotiable element in his/her career. It guides and compels all major career decisions. International mobility is the result of a major career decision insofar as it can involve several types of mobility and has a significant impact on personal and family life. Beyond the geographical boundaries, international mobility can involve crossing (1) vertical frontiers with greater hierarchical responsibilities, (2) horizontal frontiers with a change in function or a redefinition of current functions and (3) lateral or radial frontiers by moving closer to, or more commonly moving away from, the firm's decisional center

The technical anchor characterizes people who organize their career around a specialization or an expertise. Their work identity is built around their field of expertise. Any mobility decision depends on the perceived opportunity to improve one's technical skills or at least to remain a specialist whose expertise is acknowledged. People with the technical anchor will particularly value an international mobility centered on a technical expertise, which would, therefore, allow them to reinforce this expertise. They will adjust very well to a job centered on technical expertise and thanks to which they will feel that they are increasing this expertise.

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