Want to work abroad? Here are Five things you need to do
Working abroad is not only a great experience, but it can also launch your international career and open doors for new opportunities around the world. Your language skills will skyrocket, and your cross-cultural competencies will go through the roof while bringing all of those other soft skills along.
In short: If you have the opportunity to go work abroad – do it! To help you prepare, we put together some things to consider, facts to research, and questions to ask (yourself).
Learn all about visas and work permits
No matter how much you plan and organize, your dream of working abroad will ultimately hinge on your visa or work permit. Therefore, finding out what papers you’ll need to be able to legally work in another country – and what you need to do to get these papers – will be the first step. Make sure you factor in that obtaining a visa or permit could take some time and money. You’ll also need to know how long you can stay with said documents – are they connected to employment or can you stay there for a certain amount of time, no matter what?
2. Research the cost of living vs. your salary
Next up on the list of important things to consider: money. You might not know exactly how much money you will make each month, but you need to know what the industry average is and how it compares to the cost of living. You will basically need to figure out how much money you will have left once all the monthly costs (rent, bills, taxes, etc.) are paid. (Few things can be as depressing as living in an amazing place and not being able to afford anything.)
3. Find out how to find a job and a place to live
If you have set your heart on a specific city, research how easy it will be to find a job and a place to live. Check how people commute and how that factors into your budget and expectations. (Things might be easier if you just want to move to a certain country and are more flexible where you’ll work, but you will still need to be able to find a job and have a roof over your head.)
4. Consider how much time off you will have
One reason why you move abroad is probably because you want to explore a new culture – and you will need time to do that. It might not sound super important at the beginning, but find out how much vacation time (and sick days) you’ll get, as this can vary greatly between countries. All work and no travel can dampen the best adventure plans, so make sure that you will have time (and money) to explore and/or visit your family back home every now and then.
5. Start building a network
Having a network in another country is crucial – luckily, you don’t even have to travel there to small talk and schmooze: Use social media to find and connect with people in your industry. Asking someone for help, advice, and their proverbial “two cents” are always good ways to get a foot in the door, so become active on Twitter and LinkedIn, join groups or forums, and talk to expats and locals.
