Working abroad - Thinking about your dream job on sunnier shores – what should you consider when making this kind of decision?

Working abroad - Thinking about your dream job on sunnier shores – what should you consider when making this kind of decision?

There are many great reasons for taking a job abroad, this article gives an insight into the reasons you might want to take a job abroad, and some of the key issues to consider when considering relocation.

 Why move abroad

 “If you’re brave enough to say goodbye, life will reward you with a new hello.” Paulo Coelho

 1. Sampling different cultures

           - Living in a different culture can be very exciting and is not something everyone gets the opportunity to do, a short-term or long-term assignment in a different country can be just the ticket if you feel you are stagnating at home.

 2. Improving your employability and lack of opportunities at home

           - Working abroad shows that you have a strong skill set, otherwise you would not have been given that opportunity

           - Great for the CV, It shows maturity and thick skin, it proves that you are able to make big and bold decisions and can handle change.It is also a great talking point with potential employers, an interesting assignment in an exotic company can make your CV more memorable.

           - If you are struggling to find a good job in your preferred location, this could be the perfect time to make the bold step into moving abroad; it will reduce any gaps in employment on your CV which can make a huge difference in your job hunt, and will set you in good stead for when you look for work in your home country again.

 3. Better pay

- This is not always the case, but in many cases the reason expats are being considered is due to a lack of qualified resources in the base country, leading to improved salaries for ex-pats - if you are looking for a bump in pay, finding work in other countries could be the answer.

 Things to consider when taking on a contract position abroad:

1. Safety and Location

           - You must consider safety when deciding to move abroad. This does not mean you should avoid places that have a reputation for being dangerous or poor - some of these places may be the most rewarding or enjoyable places to live; you just need to research the area carefully. I recommend researching the best areas to live online, and reading forums from other expats in the area to get the best insight into whether you want to move to this country.

2. Accommodation

           - Make sure you have accurately researched the cost of accommodation, especially if you are being given an all inclusive rate where you are responsible for arranging accommodation. Beware of seasonal price hikes in tourist areas.

           - Pick a safe area to live. Find out where the best areas for an expat to live are; this does not mean find the best and most expensive area to live in, this is unrealistic. You do however need to find somewhere reasonable and somewhere safe. Talk to other expats.

           - I also recommend getting short-term accommodation initially as you will get to know the place better after a few weeks and may find a better area to live. AirBnB is an excellent tool for getting short term accommodation; rent an apartment for a month while you figure out the area.

           - I spent several weeks in a foreign country very different to what I am used to, and found myself staying in a less desirable area - I stayed for the 2 weeks I committed to on AirBnB whilst working out where the good areas were, and then moved to a better area. If I was tied into the original apartment for 6 months my time in the country would have been much more difficult.

 3. Transportation

           - Work out how you will get around day to day. Some places you can get taxis for cheap, other places it will be much more expensive. Similar with rental cars - do not assume rental cars will be similarly priced from one country to the next, and do not assume rental cars are the same price throughout the year - especially in tourist destinations, all prices tend to go up in high season.

4. Taxation

           - What does your rate include. Do they deduct taxes from your pay, or will you have to report taxes in your home country or in the country you are staying in.

           - Some places have notoriously low taxes, this should be considered when taking a job abroad as that extra 20-30% you save in not paying taxes can make it all worth while. Also be careful for very high taxes, it differs greatly from place to place.

                      - You need to balance out the taxation benefits with the environment. For example you pay little or no tax in some places, however you may find there are cultural differences which outweigh the financial benefits. Remember, you will be spending all of your time in this new location, good money may not be enough to consider it worthwhile.

 5. Insurance

           - Most companies will insist you have health insurance when picking up a job abroad anyway, whether permanent or contract, however this should be obtained regardless of your company's policy. Typically you can get comprehensive coverage for $40-80 per month depending on where you are working - of course in the USA this tends to be much more expensive, so research this first. Also, if you have a family, make sure you have life insurance as travel policies will only take you so far.

 6. Language

           - If you are anything like me, you speak your own language and a bit of gibberish; make sure you can get by in the country you are going to. This may be establishing that locals speak good enough English for you to get by, or that there are a lot of expats in the country already to help with your transition.

 7. Family

           - Family is always the most important factor when making such a big decision, there are multiple things to be thinking about here:

                       - How often will you be able to travel home; will your company pay for any flights home (this is definitely not a standard clause especially if you are contracting), if they do not pay for flights home how much will a flight cost you. You will need to factor this into your expected costs of living

                       - How easy is it to fly home, or have your family fly to you. Some airports have limited flight paths, which means you may need special transit visas to pass through certain countries, so you need to bear in mind if your family needs to obtain US B or C visas or UK transit visas, if they cannot obtain these, it could drive up the cost of flights.

                       - Education – If you are bringing family with you, what is the schooling situation for your children, and how much will it cost.

                       - How long can you go without physically seeing your family. It may sound fun to go away for 6 months or a year, but it can also be tough to be away from your family. Make sure you are comfortable with the full contract term, as it reflects badly on you if you leave a contract early, even if it is for good reasons.

 8. Seize the opportunity

           - You only get one life. I recommend taking opportunities abroad whenever you can to sample new cultures, not everyone has the opportunity to combine work with travel so you are lucky!

Conclusion

 There are plenty of good reasons to find work abroad, whether it is to find better opportunities or to broaden your own horizons, it can be very rewarding and can be as short-term or as long term as you like, there are many people who have built entire careers on working abroad. If you choose to look at ex-pat opportunities, make sure you have factored in all potential costs including accommodation, transportation, taxes and general costs of living, and ensure you research which countries you are prepared to work in and study the area to find the most suitable places to live.