London, 14 November 2017
The current Jobswype poll underlines it again – working abroad is still attractive for a lot of people, even if they don’t represent the majority. The reasons are as different as the people themselves.
Some get sent abroad by their own company, some move for love, some think they’ll find better working conditions and better pay than in their home country, while others simply like the adventure of it all. They are all facing a complicated and complex enterprise, that shouldn’t be taken lightly. Without taking into consideration all reasons, because that would be impossible, we’ll give you a brief overview of what to expect and where to pay attention.
Moving abroad is always a life changing decision, that can’t be taken easily. In order to minimize inconveniences as much as possible, you should start by gathering all available information about the situation and the conditions in the other country.
Can you enter without complications or do you need a visa or a special working permit visa that is different from a touristic one? Do you have to prove that you own a certain amount of money? Citizens of the EU have it easier if they decide to move into another EU member state, but, as a general rule, every other state has their own rules and regulations regarding immigration. And one more thing – optimism is a good and helpful personality trait, but you should nevertheless know what you can expect from welfare in the foreign country of your choice in the unlikely event that you can’t find work or are injured. It could be a lot less than what you are used to from home.
Also of importance – what is the general situation of the job market in the foreign country? Are there professions where the demand outsizes the offer, is there a lack of professionals? If you work in one of those professions, you’ll have much better chances to find a new job. But even if that would be the case, it’d be pretty reckless to see yourself in the safe already. You aren’t used to the foreign system of job searching and don’t have any professional or social network to fall back on for advice or useful contacts. It can also be that life in the foreign country is ruled by different societal and cultural laws and standards. You must prove your intercultural competence. The first step: master the new language. Start taking lessons before you move, so that by the time you are in the foreign country, you’ll already be able to speak the language on a basic level. Informations about the cultural differences are usually also part of foreign language classes. You’ll know about them in advance, having the necessary time to adjust.