Why Not Work Abroad?

Choosing to work abroad is an option that you can use to not only take a different step in your career, but also to expand your personal horizons by experiencing a different culture and environment.

After I finished university, I was sure that I wanted to work abroad before I got my career established at home in North America. New Zealand was an obvious choice for me because that's where my mother was born and since I have citizenship there, I'd be able to enter the country and start working right away with no concern about work visas and things of that nature.

So I moved to New Zealand after graduating and started looking for my first post university job!

After a lot of knocking on doors - quite literally - I managed to get a contract position at the biggest company in the country, the national telecommunications provider. I was a bit disappointed at first since it was really a temporary position and was only scheduled to last for 3 months.

3 years later, I was still working there.

I had turned a temp position into a fulltime one and had obviously liked the company (and country!) enough to work abroad for this length of time.

I was fortunate when I moved overseas because I moved to a country where I didn't need to worry about getting a work permit and there was no language or culture barrier to deal with.

Depending on what country you are planning on moving to there might be a number of issues you'll need to sort out long before you are able to work abroad.

Before You Work In Another Country:

1. Make sure your passport is up to date and isn't about to expire within six months.

2. Be sure to verify what additional papers you will need and how long they will take to acquire. Do you need a work permit? How long does it take to acquire? Will an employer get one for you or do you need to arrange it yourself?

3. Are there medical considerations (ie. immunization) that you need to take care of before you can work abroad?

4. Are there language considerations? Do you speak the local language and if not, where can you learn it and how long will it take you to learn it?

5. Are there cultural considerations? Is the country you are thinking about moving to quite a bit different from what you are used to in terms of culture and customs?

6. What is the tax situation like? Is it higher than what you are used to?

7. What is the standard of living like? Is it better or worse than what you are accustomed to?

8. Where will you live? Not only what city will you live in but specifically where will you find accommodation ie. in a house/apartment, in a compound with other expatriates?

9. Will your employer pay for your visits home while you work abroad or will you need to pay for this yourself?

Before you decide to work abroad, ensure you cover your bases and fully understand what you are getting yourself into. If your new employer wants you bad enough they should be ready, willing and able to support you and help you adjust to your new surroundings.

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