Experience Working Abroad | What you Should Consider
The experience of working abroad is one of the best decisions that you will ever make. It sounds cheesy but you really can learn a lot about yourself and about different cultures and ways of life. It is perfect if you’re open-minded and are ready for a new challenge out of your comfort zone.
Working abroad will give you international experience that you cannot get anywhere else and it gives you a new perspective on things that you consider to be ‘normal’. Let’s face it. The world is not the same as it was ten years ago. We are now more globalised and international than ever before. The UN estimates that there are over 232 million people living abroad, which is 3.2% of the population. A huge number and of course many people don’t have the privilege to choose.
I had the fantastic opportunity to live in Australia for just under two years. I had both backpacker jobs and I also worked professionally as a teacher. A British citizen living in Australia- very common, I know. There are more than 1 million of us after all. Australia actually has the most British economic migrants, followed by Spain, the US and Canada.
These ‘7 things to consider’ can be applied to working abroad in any country, but they use Australian examples as this is the only country (so far) I have had the pleasure of working abroad in.
1. Climate
The first thing you should consider about the country you are going to live and work in is the climate. Australian’s climate can be extremely hot. There are shorter days and no one drives at night. Whilst travelling through the Northern Territory, I could not stay awake and I passed out in the car due to the heat(the aircon broke).But it can also be very cold too. Did you know that you can ski in Australia?
This means you need to think about whether or not you could work in the heat? Or in the cold? Consider how it will impact your everyday life. For example, I used to wake up around 5am to exercise, as this was the only time it felt comfortable in the Australian summer. A big lifestyle change and one I have not kept up since returning to the UK.
2. Culture and Language
Importantly, wherever you decide to go, you will need to respect their culture. It is extremely important and you will find that it goes a long way with the local people. Consider the countries, history, religion and festivals. Embracing culture and taking part in local events will likely be a highlight of your experience abroad.
This is also an exciting opportunity to learn a new language. You will be able to fully immerse yourself and research has shown that you are more likely to fully acquire a language this way (much faster too).
However, if you are going to an English speaking country, then you will find that if you are a native speaker then this can go a long way with the local people. It’s likely that you’ll find it easier to get work compared to those from non-English speaking nations.
3. Travel opportunities whilst working abroad
Whilst you are experiencing working abroad you will have the opportunity to travel.
Now this is so important and you will probably find yourself talking to people from the country about places you have been and they have not been to yet. This is very common, because you are much more likely to travel to a country or even nearby countries when you are a visitor in that country.
For example, Australia is huge, it is 76% of Europe and Perth is the most isolated city in the world. If you decide to live abroad in Australia, then New Zealand and the Polynesian islands will be easier and cheaper to go to, than if you went from home. Likewise, if you lived in Central America, you would have access to the rest of the Americas on your doorstep! This is definitely a huge benefit.
4. Money
Money is important, because you might not have the safety net of your family or friends to fall back on if you’re abroad. So ensure you have some savings before you go (if possible) for those potential desperate moments…
However, when choosing the country you want to go to consider what salary you will earn in comparison to your salary at home. Weigh up the living costs of the place you will visit too. Rent? Food? Will you need a car? Or use public transport?
Personally, I found it is a misconception that Australia has a much more expensive standard of living. Genuinely, I don’t think this is the case. Certain items definitely e.g. peppers (capsicum) in the supermarket and of course if you live in Sydney or Melbourne, you will have higher costs. However, the minimum wage is higher, I was taxed less as a temporary citizen and teaching was paid double what it is in the UK.
5. Distance from Home
It is a good idea to factor in how far away you will be from home. If there was a family emergency, would you be able to get back? Or what about a friend’s wedding? Being away from your comforts, friends and family can be very difficult. Especially if it is your first time experiencing working abroad.
Again, from my experience in Australia, it seemed very far and the time difference makes you feel the distance the most. You find that during mornings and evenings you have weird, broken conversations with your loved ones at home and it can become difficult to stay in touch. Arguably, this is the main reason I am no longer living down under.
6. Visas, Medical Care and Qualifications
Of course, this is an obvious one. You need to check whether or not you will have the right to work in the country you are going to. There are many options to work abroad, but a lot of countries have restrictions for different ages and the country you are from. If you are aged between 18-30, then you will have more options . Many countries offer working holiday visas ranging from 6 to 12 months to 24 months depending on the country. These include and are not limited to: Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore and Taiwan. Remember to check the current rules of the country, as they are subject to change!
Moreover, check out what the situation will be for medical care when you are there. Do you need to get insurance? Or does the country have a reciprocal system based on your country of origin. For example, as a British citizen, you have free access to Medicare in Australia (but you must sign up for it) as their citizens use the NHS when they are in the UK.
Interestingly, if you are going to do a professional job, you need to make sure that your qualifications from home will be accepted in the country you are going to. This could be a lengthy process. For my teaching qualification from Britain to be accepted in Queensland (all states have different rules) the whole process took 8 months, so you should factor time in too. If you are interested in teaching in Australia, you will find more information here.
7. Friends and Colleagues
So, you have got this far, but what will you do once you have to leave all your wonderful friends at home? I believe that it is easier to make friends with people who are in a similar situation to you. Other foreigners want to explore new places and give advice on their experiences. That is not to say that people from the country will not want to be friends with you, it’s just usually a bit harder to form those friendships. However, from experience if you want to make friends with the locals you could either live with them in a shared house or to socialise with work colleagues.
Truly, I believe that this is the best part of the experience of working abroad. You make friends with people from all over the world and learn so much about what’s out of your bubble. This also creates a network from around the globe, which you can use professionally or for recommendations if you’re travelling.
There will also be helpful Facebook groups you can join to make friends. Usually if you type into the groups ‘expats in’ followed by the name of the destination, you might find some people that share similar ideals to you!
Are you ready to experience working abroad?
What are you waiting for? Do your research and start planning, it is not easy as there is a lot to consider! Think about your goals and why you want to do that. Write them down and when it gets difficult you can look back and see why you went in the first place.
Fully immerse yourself, ask lots of questions and enjoy what will be one of the most exciting experiences of your life. The experience of working abroad! I’m sure I will return to another country one day to experience this feeling again, it’s hard to stay away.
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