5 Things You Need to Prepare Before Working Abroad

If you’re an adventurous person who likes to travel, meet new people and experience different cultures, working abroad might sound like a dream come true. However, it’s not all fun and games. Finding a job in another country can be daunting – fierce competition, boring paperwork, financial risks, and culture shock might make you ask yourself: is it really worth it? Luckily, if you take all the necessary steps to prepare, you can facilitate the entire process, and even manage to have fun doing it. Here are some tips to help you get through.

Save up!

First things first, you need to make sure that you can afford to move to another country. Sure, you’re eventually gonna start working and earning money, but moving abroad for a job can actually require some big initial investments. You should do thorough research about living expenses and have enough money saved up. Chances are, you won't get your first check for at least a month (and maybe even more), and in the meantime, you’ll have to pay rent, food, transportation, etc., so it’s important to have a safety net in case things go south.

Sort out your visa

Most countries have different types of work visas, so make sure to find out which one you actually need. Check all of the requirements beforehand. Do you need to have a confirmed job? Can you apply yourself or through your employer? Are there any language requirements? For example, if you’re going to work in Australia, and you’re a non-native speaker, you’ll probably have to take a PTE course in order to get a visa. Also, make sure to check what happens if you quit or get fired – can you still stay in the country and for how long?

Get familiar with working conditions

Differences between employment laws can vary quite a lot, so make sure you’re familiar with them. For example, you might be getting less (or more) vacation days than in your home country. These laws can also affect company culture, along with cultural values and work ethic within a country. For instance, some countries value hierarchies more than others. Also, the approach to teamwork can be quite different, as some cultures favor individualism over collectivism. Anyhow, get familiar with these differences beforehand, and, if they seem too extreme to begin with, consider choosing a different country.

Prepare for culture shock

Work culture isn’t the only culture you’ll have to adapt to. Even though new experiences when you’re traveling seem like a fun adventure, moving to another country is a whole different story. In the beginning, everything seems new and exciting, but that honeymoon period won’t last too long. Soon, you’ll start noticing things that might seem a bit weird and out of your comfort zone. But don’t worry, this is completely normal. Just make sure you know what to expect and get familiar with the culture before you arrive – you’ll probably end up loving it later on! If things get too overwhelming, you can always find a community of people for your home country who can help you cure your homesickness.

Make connections

Thanks to the internet and social media, it’s never been easier to connect with people on the other side of the world. Use this to your advantage to meet locals before you arrive. If you’ve already found a job, connect with your future colleagues, and if not, there are always Facebook groups, and even specialized apps and websites, filled with people willing to help. This requires almost no effort, but it will mean a lot to you once you arrive – you’ll immediately have someone to turn to if you’re feeling confused and overwhelmed and they’ll gladly help you settle down.

Back to you

These tips are only the beginning of your journey. Hopefully, they can help you navigate through the entire process, but you’ll have to figure out a lot on your own. Every country is different, so this list might grow even longer depending on where you’ve decided to go. Just remember – you can never do too much research!