Taking The Plunge: Working Overseas
We’ve all fantasized about picking up and moving elsewhere to start a new life. And while working overseas sounds incredibly glamorous (and it can be) and like a one-in-a-lifetime opportunity, there are quite a few practical issues to tackle before taking a more long-term travel plunge. Here are a few questions to ask yourself to see whether or not you’re ready for that move.
Does the culture fit you?
There are so many aspects of our own culture that we take completely for granted - and we don’t often realize this until we’re in a completely new culture. The speed of life, the language, the way people treat and interact with each other, daily schedule structures, and even just how people interact with the environment around them will all be different. Not being prepared for that is an easy way to leave yourself open to some profound culture shock. If you have a chance, a longer-term trip to the country in order to get a feel for it is definitely helpful and depending on your work situation, you might be able to even get this covered in part by a bidding company. However prepping yourself beforehand by learning the language, specifically from someone who lives there, can be a major help with curbing the culture shock a bit. You can learn a lot about a place through the language itself.
Where will you be living?
Depending on where you go to work, you may have a location picked out for you and provided, or an area that you can expect to live in. If you’re thinking of moving and finding work after, learning about what type of work is accessible to different areas is key as well. As such, it’s important to research your options ahead of time. Check out a condo for rent in the area, see the kind of rental prices, how they differ from areas, what transportation is like, and how that might affect your work life. Do be aware that not all overseas positions provide accommodation. Get clarification on what your living situation will be and do your research on what kind of digs you can expect to find.
What standard of life will you be able to afford?
With the costs of living, you also need an idea of what your salary will be, so don’t go taking any jobs ahead of time that aren’t clear about what you will earn. While rent will take up the largest portion of your budget, you’re going to want to get an idea of the basic costs of living beyond your accommodation. There are websites that can give you overseas cost of living comparisons, helping you get a good estimation of the costs of groceries, entertainment, nights out, personal purchases, and even utilities. As such, you can see if your new job is going to help you live comfortably, or whether you might need to bump up your savings a little to make sure that you’re completely covered once you get there. Costs of living can also factor in what area you live. Cheaper transport might make it easier to live a little further from your future workplace, for instance.
Are you ready to learn a different professional etiquette?
A lot of overseas companies look to hire expatriates because they want people who know the culture they come from. However, you are likely to be the majority of your work with the natives of the country to which you are moving. That means that you may have to get used to an entirely different kind of business etiquette. To make sure that you make a good impression in your new role, take the time to learn about the professional code of conduct within the country you’re moving.
How are you going to get taxed?
One of the most overlooked and complex questions you need to ask is how working overseas is going to affect how you pay taxes. This depends not only on the country that you’re moving to but also the country that you’re moving from. So long as you’re a citizen, some countries will demand that you pay taxes to your home country unless you have a permanent home overseas. Make sure you take the time to get in touch with the tax and revenue branch of your government, tell them your situation, and be certain of how your taxes are going to be affected by working overseas.
Moving to work in another country doesn’t have to be a disaster. In fact, it’s often the most pivotal, life-changing, positive decisions people make. And while there are bound to be a few bumps in the road along the way, getting yourself informed and prepared will assure the smoothest transition to your new job and new life.
