Must Read: Before saying yes to a Job abroad.

Professionals from all over the globe move from one place to another in order to search for a better future, life, and living standards. The agreement of a job offer is the most critical step which sets the road to your destiny. Companies are like people and they can be good, clever, and opportunists. Lately, I received a call from a young engineer, who was about to say yes to a position abroad without analyzing the following essential factors. Most experienced professionals know about these things by experience. I believe it is better to know it before you fall for any apparently tempting offer and regret it later.

The following are Key points to consider :

Tax Structure:

The tax structure varies greatly from country to country. There are countries where there are very heavy taxes if you are unmarried and earning in higher slabs. Similarly, there are few countries that offer zero tax policies and attract a lot of employers and employees. You need to understand the job offer clearly if it offers gross or net. Sometimes the gross amount looks very appealing but if you calculate with your relevant class, you might not like it. Moreover, you need to also check your social security. In case you lost a job what would happen to it? Sometimes employees keep on working for years and suddenly they have to leave the country after losing a job without any backup.

Living Cost & Insurances:

Each country has different rental and insurance costs associated with living. Similarly, the grocery cost may vary from place to place. Even in a single country, you would find huge differences from city to city. Therefore, it is very important to research the location where you are going to move if you say yes. This matter is a huge problem, especially for professionals in low-income countries where living costs are relatively lower. Imagine if you have to spend 90% of your income on living costs then what would be the benefit for you to move from one place to another?

Child Care:

This is a very pertinent topic especially if you are married and have kids. Some countries offer support to parents if they are earning below a particular level. Some countries offer childcare support to incentivize couples to have children etc. This information is very important especially if the offer you are agreeing to is on the lower side. Remind you a growing child in a foreign environment can be exponentially high than your country. Without analyzing the whole picture please don't just rush for it. You might have no idea what you would have to face if your family is struggling in a new country.

Know your worth:

Companies don't do charity while offering candidates. You need a good job and the company needs the right candidate. So this has to be a mutually win-win situation. Before going for an interview or discussion you should know exactly what should be your worth with your experience in that country. You could check with your LinkedIn network if you have wide enough. Alternatively, you can check with third-party websites. As an example, I am giving a snapshot of an international sales manager in Munich. 4735 Euro to 8770 Euro is the average income. This might look a lot with the lens of low-income group countries. Honestly, Munich is a very costly place and you would find it difficult if you are below this average income while having experience in international sales management. If you are being offered below this and you accept then you should know you have sold you quite cheaply. The price you set now would be your starting base in the new country. Would you like to start below average?

Know the Company you are choosing:

Company culture is the most important thing. You have to interact with the company every day. I can promise you if the culture of the company is not good then no amount of money could save you from work-related psychological issues. The culture of companies is not present on websites with catchy slogans like "We are a family". The real culture of a company is shared by employees on third-party websites. You would wonder why even many big names do not enjoy very high ratings from their own employees. I am sharing a screenshot from such a website which rates companies on the basis of reviews of their employees. For example websites like https://www.kununu.com rate some European companies. I am not sharing any company rating as I don't want to be in conflict with any organization. But you can read the following article on the internet about how this third-party site rank company.

Conclusion:

Relocation is a big decision and you should be aware of all important steps and matters before opting for a position for a career move. Don't rush, the company you are applying to needs you as you need it. Be brave, and keep yourself rightly informed before taking any decision.