Are you interested in working abroad?
Working abroad is the best of both the world: you can have a growth in your career while embarking on a once-in-a-lifetime adventure in a new location.
Many of us dream of making that type of move but feel intimidated by the idea of not finding the right job in the right place, but also taking the most important step of building a career and life in a different country. If you want to work abroad then, here are a few tips that should be kept in mind while doing so.
Do proper research- The world is a huge place, and there are so many locations where you can build your career. In deciding the place where you want to work, zoom out and consider the type of experience you would like to have:
- Is there any region in this world where you want to explore?
- What type of day-to-day life do you want?
- Is there any specific climate you are looking forward to?
- How comfortable are you in navigating your life in a new language?
If you are already working for an international organization, research the office locations in those areas where you are interested to move on. If you want to change gears, look for the companies that align with your perfect experience.
It is recommended to visit a place you are interested in moving to if it is feasible. However, always keep in mind that working in a city or country is not as like vacationing there. While hitting the tourist hot spots is great, try to explore the neighbourhoods where the locals reside, visit the grocery stores, and enjoy food in popular restaurants. Better would be to speak with other people who live there to get a sense of what daily life looks like.
If you are seriously interested in making a move, take a deep dive into the culture of that place. For this, you must watch documentaries, read articles about that city, learn basic phrases in their language, and even research commutes.
Move for the company, rather than for the place- When you get an opportunity to work in a foreign country, find out about the company, its reputation, how old it is, how many employees are working there, etc. Choosing the place is important, but more important is the company where you are going to work. As interesting as it is to shift to a beautiful place for the lifestyle and location, never do it at the cost of your career. There is nothing worse than moving to a place for a job that you don’t like doing it.
You should be proactive in researching the reputation of the company that you are considering. Before attending an interview, make a list of questions about the company’s working language, culture, and culture.
Prepare for the increasing pains- As exciting as it is to move and build a career abroad, such monumental change can cause anxiety too. When you start to get pulled into different anxious thoughts, remind yourself that it is natural to go through the growing pains, mainly during the times of transition. When you stay and work abroad, culture shock is a real thing. Cultural and routines norms that you take for granted do not exist in other nations. Rather than fighting against them, find the benefit of a different way of doing things. Most of the people, appreciate the effort and are more than satisfied to explain the ins and outs of their culture, so no need to be shy.