Moving abroad for work – guidelines
Moving abroad for work may be one of the best decisions you made! It will be an enriching and valuable experience. However, at the same time, it can be a bit scary choice to make. You are moving to a foreign country, you don’t know the language or the city. However, challenging yourself is the most important aspect of a successful career. With that in mind, I support your decision, and I am here to show you how to make your transition smooth and easy.
We are going to cover together what are the essentials of moving abroad for work. Use this guide as a checklist that will help you relocate without forgetting anything important.
Congratulations! You got the job!
Writing blogs is my second job. Although, I shouldn’t call it that way. It is more of a hobby, something I very much like doing. Recently, I got a promotion at my primary job and I understand the feeling of excitement once you get the affirmative response from your future employer. So first, I want to congratulate you on your success!
On another hand, if you are still considering to apply for a job abroad, in that case, I wish you all the luck in this world!
However, before moving abroad for work, there are things you need to think about. Let’s look at what you must do to prepare for moving abroad for work:
- find a moving company
- research your destination
- learn the language
- prepare your paperwork
- save up some money
- build a business network
All of these steps are some of the essential tasks you need to work on before moving abroad for work.
Finding a moving company
First and foremost, you have to find a quality moving company. Moving abroad for work is not your usual type of move. There are many pesky tasks you need to complete. Furthermore, to know everything about this type of relocation, best is to ask the pros. Moving companies have special programs for work-related transitions. Check with the agent what are benefits and options you have.
Before deciding on a moving company, smart advice is to do a comparison of moving quotes. It’s the best way to find the most affordable solution for your budget. Do not go for the first company on your list!
Research your future destination
The first thing you do after moving to any foreign city is to learn your way around. Find out what is the best commute option or what grocery store to use. Meet your neighborhood and find the quickest routes to work.
On the contrary, no one is expecting of you to learn the city by heart before moving there. Nevertheless, reading about it is useful, and you can find out valuable information before you move. Do not underestimate the power of the internet!
One more advice I can give you is to find cheap storage solutions in your future town. In many cases when moving abroad for work, you have to ship some of your stuff before the move. If your apartment or a house is not yet ready, storage units are a perfect way to store your possessions until ready for moving in.
Learn some language essentials
Learning a foreign language is not easy. It requires a tremendous amount of time and a lot of practice. However, if you are moving abroad for work, learning the language is a must. Leave a good impression by learning some of the most common phrases and sentences. This is not difficult, especially today when you have so many language learning apps.
It really pays out in the long run, not only for work but for your personal life. Also, if your employer notices that you are willing to learn the language, it is a sign that you are taking the job seriously. Otherwise, if you don’t want to learn the language, it might leave the impression that you are not there to stay.
Prepare your paperwork
Moving abroad for work comes with a lot of paperwork. Make sure to check everything on time. You must find out everything about taxes and work permits. Contact the embassy of your future location, they will provide all necessary information. Moving insurance is another important aspect of moving abroad. Different companies have different options, be sure to check them on time.
One more thing to think about is banking. Check with your bank what are your options when moving abroad for work. Can you use your accounts and credit cards? You will probably have to open a new bank account once you move, so check if you can link both accounts and transfer funds.
Save up some money
After moving abroad for work, you will need to have a safety fund to settle in. Check what’s the currency rate, and if needed buy foreign currency before your relocation. In many occasions, it is better if you exchange your money after the move, but again, it all depends on the currency rate.
Think this thru, you don’t want to lose money on the exchange. Having this safety fund means moving abroad stress-free.
Build your business network
Moving abroad for work is much easier if you already know some locals. If this is the case, use those connections to build a business network. The more people you know, the more successful you’ll be.
If you don’t know anyone living there, there are ways to meet people. Check if your future company has a forum online. It’s a perfect way to introduce yourself to the employees and make some connections before your arrival. Not only it will be useful for your business, but you might get some valuable tips about the job and the country.
Use all the resources at your disposal!
Throw a farewell party
I realize that I didn’t put this on the list, but if you are moving abroad for work, a farewell party is a must! Leaving your home country is difficult. You are cutting connections with the people you know and love, only to move to the unknown. While it is scary, it is also good for you. Nevertheless, make an effort to stay in touch with everyone. In this day of age when technology rules the Earth, it is easy to communicate with every part of the globe! Stay connected!