Moving abroad for work can be a really rewarding experience. It offers you the chance to try new things and meet new people, gives you something interesting and unique to put on your CV, massively broadens your life experience, and helps you to improve job prospects and get ahead in your career. It’s an incredibly life-changing decision, and, as such, is one that shouldn’t be taken lightly. There’s a lot that you need to think about before you can make any commitments, and even once you have, you’ve got a lot of work ahead of you before you jump on your plane. Keeping that in mind, here are ten things you need to do before moving abroad for work.
- Research Your Potential Home
Before agreeing to move, you need to do plenty of research on your potential new home and consider whether or not it genuinely is the place for you. After all, a number of things are going to be completely different, including the culture, the language, the cost of living, the climate, and so much more. If you can’t deal with these differences comfortably, then you’re going to struggle later on. You also need to visit the country a few times to see what it’s like for yourself. If you are moving to a colder climate (colder than you are used to) there are a lot of things to consider to make sure your home is well protected and heated. I recommend checking out Heat-Line as they are an award winning company that specializes in the developing and manufacturing of advanced heat trace, heat cable and water pipe freeze protection solutions for residential and commercial/ industrial markets.
- Look Up Your Employer
It’s vital that you look up your future employer and find out as much about them as you can before making any commitments. Make sure that you do plenty of research on their company and find out whether or not their beliefs match up with your own. After all, you don’t want to work for a company that you disagree with morally. You should also contact a few of your potential coworkers, especially those in similar roles, and see what they have to say.
- Speak To Your Family
Unless you plan on moving alone, you need to speak to your partner and children and see what they have to say. Although this is a big opportunity for you, you need to respect their opinions, even if they think it’s a bad move. If they decide that it’s a good idea, then you’ll need to look into schools for your children and potential jobs for your partner. You should also see if there’s a way for you to come home on a regular basis to see any extended family you’re leaving behind. You may not be able to make it home for every holiday or birthday but there are many options available online to send gifts if you cannot make it in person. Learn today what options are open to you.
- Discuss Salary And Benefits
Before you accept the position at your new company, you need to look up the cost of living in the country you’re moving to. This way, when your potential employer offers you a job and states your salary, you can negotiate with them and ensure that it will cover all of your monthly expenses. You should also consider any benefits you’re being offered, including holiday days and insurance, and make sure that they are all equal to or better than what you have currently.
- Consider The Relocation Costs
As you’re discussing salary and benefits, you should ask your potential employer about employee relocation costs and find out whether or not they will cover any of these for you. With shipping, flights, and more, moving abroad is a pricey endeavour, so most companies will offer a relocation package, as well as help you obtain the visa and permits you need to work in their country. If yours doesn’t, then they might not be the kind of company you want to work for.
- Sort Out The Paperwork
Almost every country requires you to secure a visa and permits before you’re allowed to work there, so it’s vital that you research requirements for your potential new home and ensure you obtain what you need to. You will also need to open a bank account.
- Start Learning The Language
Unless English is the first language in your new home, you should start learning the new language before you get on the plane. Although you won’t be fluent by the time you get there, you should be able to soften the language barrier a little by learning a few simple phrases and conversational skills. That being said, if you’re struggling, you shouldn’t worry about this too much, as you’ll start to pick it up much easier when you’re surrounded by people that speak it.
- Figure Out Regular Transport
If you’re planning to drive around your new city, then you need to ensure that you have a valid license there. You should be able to use the one from your home country for a little while, but you need to check with local driving license authorities to see how long that is the case. They should also be able to tell you how you can apply for a new one. If you’re planning to use public transport regularly, you should do your research and see if you can find a travel card or pass.
- Find Somewhere To Live
Of course, you can’t move abroad unless you have somewhere to stay, so make sure that this is organised well in advance. Your new employer should be able to help you with this process and may even put you up in a hotel or temporary accommodation until you’ve found somewhere more permanent. You will also need to sort out your current property and decide whether you want to sell or rent it out. This can be a lengthy process, so start on it as soon as possible.
- Pack What You Need
Once everything else is figured out, you need to start packing up your home. Even if your new boss is paying to ship your belongings overseas, you should only take what you need to. This way, you don’t have to worry about unpacking everything when you get to your new home. If you plan on returning some point in the future, then these things can be placed in storage, but, if not, you should work out what to sell, what to donate, and what to throw away. Whether your new employer pays for the move, or if you are paying for it out of your own pocket, check for reputable movers and reviews online. Look into local moving services by Bekins Moving Solutions and ensure that the experience is a smooth transition for all involved.
Moving abroad for work is a time-consuming and complicated process, but, hopefully, with the tips above, you’ll find the ordeal much easier to cope with.
Language is a biggie Chantal. I feel at home in Spanish-speaking lands because I speak the native tongue, so locals open up to me. A bit different in Thailand, where I speak only a few words of Thai.