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13 May 2008
 
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Home / Changing Direction / Working Abroad

Working Abroad Advice

Have you always dreamed of owning a gite in France, preparing a breakfast of croissants and hot chocolate for your paying guests and taking leisurely strolls down to the morning market? Maybe you’ve always fancied a slice of the Spanish hospitality scene or running a fishing boat in Florida? Check out the country of your choice with a cheap flight from www.lastminute.com  

So what should you consider if you want to pack it all in and head off across the high seas?

  • Firstly, you need to carefully consider your country of choice. If you have a limited budget then certain countries will be off the map. Consider the actual cost of living where you choose – can you afford to buy a house? How much will day to day living cost you? Are there sufficient employment opportunities to support the lifestyle you want?
  • Remember the cost of everything is relative to the amount of money you earn – bear this in mind when looking at jobs or starting a business. It would be wise to have some savings or a back up plan if things get financially tough.
  • Consider language barriers, attempting to start a new life is difficult enough when you don’t speak the language, starting a business with no local language could be disastrous. Imagine trying to talk to the Inland Revenue in the UK if you didn’t speak English?
  • If you are taking your family with you then you have to consider facilities such as health care providers and local schools – can your children continue with their education, how disruptive will the move be to them? Removing children from their support network of friends and family can be extremely hard. Living in a country where you don’t know anyone can be a very lonely decision if you put yourself in a position where no one can visit you or you are unable to get to know locals.
  • Can you actually find the work you want? If you are looking for specific jobs do you have the appropriate qualifications for that country? Are there jobs available in that sector? If you want to start a business then do your research – is there a local need for it? Have other businesses of that type succeeded? What red tape do you have to overcome?
  • Many countries will require you to have residence and work permits which you have to apply for in advance, with some countries having strict entry criteria.
  • One way to think about relocating and working abroad is to imagine you have just moved to England. How would you go about finding a house? What would be the first step in finding work? How would you handle tax or other government payments? If you can make a list you can then think about some of the issues you may face when you move abroad.

Moving abroad is a big step which will have a long term affect – with good research, planning and realistic expectations it can be a hugely positive experience. If you want to find out more about working abroad then you will find lots of useful information at Transitions Abroad. If you are thinking about emigrating then 4 Corners is a very useful site.