Taking up a job abroad can be life-changing. Whether it’s an opportunity provided to you or something you are looking for, moving abroad unveils you to an exciting world of experiences and challenges.

However, if you are someone who is interested in moving to a foreign land for job opportunities, it is important to have an introspection of a few things first.

You should be asking yourself questions like –

• How does the idea of moving abroad feel like?
• Why are you considering this job?
• Are you ready for such a kind of experience?
• Is it the perfect time to move out?
• How do you picture yourself working at a new location 2 years from now?

After you have done a serious introspection and are charmed by the idea of taking a job abroad,  and are ready for an amazing and enticing experience full of adventures, learning, challenges, and growth. I can guarantee that moving overseas for a job is a scintillating rollercoaster ride.

Before you make up your mind to buy that one-way ticket of moving abroad, here are a few things you need to consider.

1. The paperwork involved

Moving overseas usually involves a lot of paperwork.

While everyone is aware that getting a work permit visa is the most important thing required for moving abroad, there are many other documents too. Be it your degree or your resume, it is essential to be aware of all the paperwork necessary to avoid any hassle later.

Sorting out your visa issues as soon as possible should be a priority. Visa regulations vary from country to country, so make sure you are aware and have an updated approach towards it.

Although your employer will be helping you to go through the entire Visa process, you must have answers to the following questions.

• What kind of visa will you need?
• Can you switch jobs with the kind of visa granted?
• What if your employer fires you?
• How long can you stay after the job expires?
• Does it serve you to have a residential visa as well?

Getting the paperwork done requires a lot of patience and effort from your side. You have to be very vigilant about your approach and work in an organized manner if you don’t want any trouble later in the process.

2. Cost of living

Even if you’re getting a salary hike to move abroad, it’s also very important to consider the cost of living there.

With great income, comes great expenses!

The cost of living might increase drastically compared to your home country so it is important to consider-

• Will you be able to afford it?
• Does your company provide you with accommodation? If not, how much you’ll be spending on your accommodation?
• Do you need a new bank account?
• What about the tax regulations of that country?
• How do you plan on commuting around?
• Annual trip to visit home
• Cost of school fees, if you have any child
• Are you considering saving for an emergency?

It is cardinal to do the math between your monthly earning and expected monthly expenditure before deciding to move abroad so that you have a solid idea about your finances.

3. Health Matters!

Often people ignore this part, but for me, health should be a priority and understanding the medical laws of a country is a thing to be taken into account seriously!

We all know that medical care has become an expensive thing recently, so don’t forget to dig in about the health insurance policy for your targeted country. Check if your employer contributes towards your health insurance and if the same is covered in your employment contract.

It would be best if you also considered the following to ensure you face no health-related issues later-

• Are you healthy and fit enough to live alone?
• How much will it cost to see a doctor for a regular check-up?
• The hospital conditions and medical facilities around the place you are located.
• How will you manage any situation of a medical emergency?

There are plenty of cases of people returning home just because they fail to consider their health-related issues. Once you have all the necessary information and a plan of action to go with for a healthy living, you are one step ahead in securely making the decision to move abroad.

4. Homesickness is a real thing

Initially, you might be so charmed with the idea of working abroad that you might ignore the teensy challenges you’ll be encountering every day.

Moving abroad for work means leaving all your family and friends behind. It’s like starting with a new life all alone. While it does not sound much of a thing, but it is tougher than anticipated in practice.

Apart from the cultural shock, you’d be getting; you might also face the disturbing feeling of loneliness in a new country. If imagining this makes you uncomfortable then you should be considerate of the following-

• Are you ready to have a new social circle?
• Are you okay staying at home for the weekend when all your colleagues are hanging around together?
• Do you take charge of initiating conversations and are willing to reach out to these new people for help?
• The difference in time zones is likely to create a distance between your closed ones. Does this sound fine to you?

Although you don’t delve over the realisation of being this lonely in the initial days of your work, there comes a time when you feel exhausted and need some company. So, it is important to be considerate about your emotional state before planning a job abroad. If you are a family person and can’t get four days without hearing from your family, then it’s going to get difficult for you.

But if you are a lone wolf, then you might be well prepared for this change already.

Conclusion

Indeed moving abroad for work is a great opportunity to grab on, but before you make up your mind- do your research. You need to be honest with yourself while making the decision of moving abroad. The more research you do, the more introspections you have, and smoother your transition is likely to get.

Don’t be hesitant about the challenges you’ll encounter but be considerate about what suits you best in the long run.

AUTHOR BIO

Abhyank Srinet holds a Masters in Management degree from ESCP Europe & has an engineering degree with a specialisation in Instrumentation & Control. His interest in the digital landscape motivated him to create an online startup for Masters in Management application consulting (MiM-Essay), focused on spreading quality information about the MiM degree; performing application consulting services for clients. He is the chief consultant of the company and takes care of Business Development and Digital Marketing side of the company. He is very passionate about writing and marketing.