Are you considering to work abroad?

Working and living abroad is an enriching experience, personally and professionally. A possibility to grow in every respect.  

As there is a high demand on most occupational groups and possibilities to work abroad do appear, a dream may become real more easily and fast.  However, before you definitely take the decision you should consider some aspects in order to make the step consciously and convinced.

Once you are convinced of the decision you have to address the concrete part, the planning of a personal and work life abroad. 

What do I have to consider while making the decision? 

Living and working abroad means to dive into another culture, a culture you may not be familiar with at all or you may have ideas about that do not correspond reality. So, are you ready to find out about other habits and give up your own? Are you ready to make an effort, to open, observe, perceive and adapt? Are you willing to learn a new language or attend a conversation and not understand what exactly they talk about? You may be a social outsider in the beginning. Moving is like resetting. You have to get out of your comfort zone. Are you ready to challenge yourself?

You should seriously think about these questions and answer them honestly to yourself.

When positive, start to plan step by step the concrete move.

1. Find the right job and location

The most important task is finding the right job and location for you. You can do this by either applying to an employer directly – if you have a concrete idea - or by contacting a recruitment agency to help you find the right job. A globally operating recruiting  agency, represented in several countries and continents, will be able to offer different locations and jobs.

2. Research your destination

Researching your potential destination will get you more comfort and calmness psychologically. You may have the impression to know the place already. This makes you feel good and helps you to better organize the whole process and all you have to prepare. Find out about the culture, habits and customs of your future home and learn some interesting facts. If it is important for you to go to the gym regularly, attend a book club, play tennis or sing in a choir, find out about the options in regards. It is also good to get familiar with the location, the city itself and the surrou

3. Save a “Buffer Fund” for your arrival

One of the best parts of moving abroad to work is that you are getting paid to travel. However, this doesn’t mean you don’t need to save up before your move. It’s important to save up a “Buffer Fund” to help you out during the first month and until you get your first salary.

There are always costs involved with moving abroad. In addition to travel costs, you’ll likely need to pay for at least one month’s rent and deposit upfront. You might also have to buy a few things that your accommodation is lacking, such as furniture, pots or an iron.

In many jobs, you may have to wait a month or more for your first pay check to arrive. Therefore, make sure you find out when you’ll get paid and save up enough to bridge the gap. However, keep a look out for those employers and agents who offer a ‘Golden Hello’ or ‘Salary Advance’.  Some employers and agents cover the costs of flights and the first months accommodation.

4. Look for housing

This might not be relevant to everyone, as some employers and agents offer housing as part of the package. But if you have to find your own accommodation, this is often the tough part. Several cities are quite expensive and lack housing. You definitely have to consider cost of housing when making the decision and when negotiating salary. For the first week you need a hotel or room so that you have time to check out the apartments to rent personally, to see them. You will find real estate agents online and apartments as for insights into costs of short term and long term accommodation.

5. Take care of business at home

Besides preparing for your new destination, you will also need to take care of business in your home country and leave everything ready to be away for a while.

Make sure you understand the bureaucratic processes involved in moving. Do you need to de-register? Should you notify your embassy (some countries recommend this)? Do you need to notify your bank or insurance company? Depending on whether you’re subletting or giving up your house or apartment, make sure you take care of utility bills. Do you need to store or sell your car and cancel or downgrade your car insurance?

Also, don’t forget about subscriptions and gym memberships. These can be easily cancelled, but you can easily find yourself in trouble if, for example, you close your bank account without cancelling direct deposits. It ay make sense to give somebody the power of attorney in case an original signature is needed.

6. Put your things in storage or sell?

Do you give up your apartment? Or do you sub rent it? Do you want to take your whole property with you? Moving is a great opportunity to go through all your things and declutter. This takes time, be aware.

7. Packing & Paperwork

Make sure you plan what you want to take with you, how much luggage you will travel with and consider mailing a few boxes of your things in advance, depending on how long you stay and how important it is to have your proper things.  Try to relax as usually you get everything you need everywhere unless you move to a really rural area somewhere far where things are not available. Then, take the most important things with you, especially prescription medicines you may not easily get somewhere else.

Every move abroad comes with a lot of paperwork to take care of. You may need a visa or a work permit, change the residency, organize a tax payer number. All this should be done with some time ahead as it takes a while usually. In some countries it is even harder to get paper work done in the summer. Be aware of that. In Italy for example some companies close completely down in August. You will not be able to reach anybody. Companies working with employees from abroad usually have departments to take care of things or at least being able to inform you properly of all the steps you have to take. Part of the paperwork is everything around banking in your home country and the new country. Account, credit cards and so on. What and how does it work? What is the most convenient and easy option for you? Depending on the bank, you may find yours in the other country which may make it easier. Watch out regarding hidden costs when it comes to cash machines, credit cards etc.

8. Prepare psychologically for a new culture

As mentioned above, moving to a foreign country always means experiencing a cultural switch. The initial excitement will fade a little after a while. You probaly start feeling how different everything is and see it slowly in a more realistic and less romantic way. You may even get a little homesick, miss some friends, family, customs or spots.

This is why you should be prepared for this beforehand. These feelings will come up anyhow, but not reflecting about it before will probably lead you to abandon your plan and move back quickly. After all the effort and generally this is a pity and to be avoided. The experience should be positive and help you grow. It takes a while. Try to keep exploring and enjoy yourself as much as possible. Go on weekend trips, meet other expats at meetups and allow yourself to dive in without prejudice.

9. Try to learn the language

If you move to a country where you don’t speak the language, it is recommendable to learn a base of it before arriving in your new country. Communication is language. And communication helps you to get involved, understand the culture and act properly according to different rules. Try to at least learn the basics and consider taking a crash course to make you feel more comfortable.

 10. Get a medical check up

Get a medical check-up before you leave home, especially if you’re moving to a country where healthcare is expensive. You should stock up on prescriptions for any medication, check as for vaccines and get a health insurance on site.

11. Get international health insurance

You definitely need healthcare insurance covering you in a foreign country. In some countries you are covered in case of emergency. Routine check-ups are not covered and you also want to make sure to get the best treatment possible as quality of healthcare may vary a lot. There are healthcare insurance options that work perfectly, are reliable and do cover all costs, even a delivery. Travel insurance does not cover a longer stay, living in a country abroad. Be careful in regards and do it properly.   

12. Start building a network

We life in an interconnected world. Reach out to people you might know in your new destination or to people that may be able to make you a contact in a new destination. You will be astonished how well we are already connected somehow, everybody knows somebody somewehere. You can make a post on social media, research groups that share a hobby or interest or attend a Network like InterNations. InterNations does organize events, parties, meetings of Expats.

13. Be the first one to make a step and adapt!

When you arrive in a new country or city, remember that you are the new one arriving. Your are the guest and you don’t know anyone. It is in your interest to get to know new people and be involved. You do need them, they do not need you. This does not mean that there aren’t welcoming people but it means that you should be humble and make an effort, respect the new culture and adapt instead of trying to impose your own rules and habits. A good example for this is dinner time. In northern countries you may have dinner at 7 pm. In southern countries you can not invite anybody at 7 pm. Even though they may show up the first time to be polite and accommodate, the second time you will have difficulties to maintain this schedule. In Italy and especially Spain for example the rhythm – due to the climate – is different. Offices close at 8 pm, not at 5 or 6 pm. Nobody is ready for dinner at 7. Do not expect that other countries function as your own. In some places administrative things work better, in others they work worse. This does not necessarily mean it is better or worse, but it is different. Everything has advantages and disadvantages. This is important to understand. Always look for the positive sides, for what you can learn. In Germany people are punctual and they may get upset when you are not. When somebody tells you, let’s have a drink on Thursday night, it means having a drink on Thursday night. When you say so in Italy….the chances are 50 – 50 that this will happen or maybe even less, maybe the person having said so doesn’t remember. Is this bad? It is different and it may also have advantages. For sure it is not on purpose or hostile, so don’t take it personal. Stay always open, don’t judge, observe and respect local habits. Once knowing people you may try to apply your own rules and by then some people will accept that and go for it. Until then, remember that you are the new one and the guest in a country. Be respectful and try to learn. Every place has good and bad sides. Embrace them all and you will grow.

“Die beste Bildung findet ein gescheiter Mensch auf Reisen“

Johan Wolfgang von Goethe