Pursuing a career abroad may be a good idea, but the most common reasons are more complex than you think.
There are a lot of good reasons why pursuing a career abroad is a good idea, but a study by Statista reveals that the most common reasons are more complex than you think. Although many professionals seek overseas jobs to improve the quality of their lives and push their careers forward, the majority decide to move abroad to be in their partner’s home country or to help with a partner’s job or education.
These reasons are relatively popular among mums and women. Moving abroad because of your partner doesn’t mean you have to abandon your career, and it certainly does not have to be difficult. You too can prepare for a career abroad, and we are going to discuss how you can do that – and the stages you need to go through – in this article.
Finding a Job Abroad
After committing to the idea of moving to a new country, it is time to start your own job search. Fortunately, there is no better time to move to countries like the UAE and China than today. They are emerging potential markets, which means finding a job in these markets should not be difficult.
A good way to start is by checking with your current employer about the possibility of getting relocated. Many multinational companies already have offices in emerging markets, so you don’t have to find a new job at all. You have the opportunity to continue on your present career path and reach new heights in your professional life.
If such an opportunity is not available, then it is time to start looking for new ones to explore. There are a lot of ways you can find jobs in Dubai and other popular cities, but the best way to get started is by reaching out to recruitment agencies and submitting your latest CV. Once again, you benefit from the fact that these markets are growing.
Recruitment agencies actively seek professionals to fill key roles in cities like Dubai and Abu Dhabi. You only need to connect with the best ones to gain access to top opportunities in the region. These recruitment agencies work with top employers and international companies in finding the best professionals, and your profile will be submitted to many of these top employers for consideration.
Don’t worry about moving first, especially if you move to cities like Dubai because of your partner. Ideally, you want to have a job before the actual relocation, but continuing your search after moving to the new city isn’t a bad thing. Besides, you can go to more interviews and tap into new opportunities, all while having a capable recruitment agency helping you every step of the way.
Preparing for the Relocation
The real challenge is moving to the new city. Regardless of your reason to move, moving abroad to a new city requires you to go through some hurdles. The key here is preparing for the move as best as you can. The more prepared you and the family are, the smoother your relocation will be.
There are a few tips you want to keep in mind when relocating to a new country. First, do your homework. Take the time to research the new city thoroughly as you start preparing for the relocation. Find out everything about the city, from the best supermarkets to tourist attractions you can visit to get away from the hassle of moving.
You also want to do research about the local culture and customs. Culture shock isn’t uncommon among professionals who move overseas. It is how you handle the shock that will determine the outcome of the move. Keep an open mind, learn about local customs, and you will be able to adapt to the new environment quickly.
Don’t forget to prepare some cash reserves, especially for the early days after moving to the new city. Having sufficient cash reserves allows you to deal with unexpected expenses that you will undoubtedly come across while relocating. There is also the fact that the next pay check is at least a month away after the actual move, so have a cash reserve to be on the safe side.
Also, don’t forget to grab international insurance for the entire family before the actual moving day. There are some health insurance options that cover you internationally – they are designed for expats and professionals who are in the process of moving abroad. You don’t know how expensive medical services will be and your new health employer-provided health insurance doesn’t always kick in immediately.
It is also especially important to get your documents in order. The documents that usually appear unimportant – your birth certificate or high school diploma, to name some of them – may (and will) end up being crucial when you are in a new country with different rules. The best way to avoid a possible issue is by being thorough. References, statement of services, and even bank statements also need to be added to your bundle of documents.
You also want to prepare the kids for the relocation. The move is as difficult for them as it is for you. You can get them excited about moving to a new city, especially a city like Dubai. Get the kids involved from the start. Let them be a part of your preparation research.Listen to what they want (and need), and meet their expectations to keep them happy and at ease.
There’s one last thing tip to keep in mind as you prepare for your big relocation. Don’t forget to prearrange some meet-ups before your moving day. Moving can be stressful. There is no better cure for that than meeting old friends and catching up with them. Research your friends who are already in the destination city and find new people to connect. If you are moving for a job, the orientation program is also something that you don’t want to miss.
More Tips for the Relocation Day
Moving to a new country is not something you can do in a day. Chances are you still have to enlist the help of relatives or close friends to help ship items you cannot bring with you. That said, there are a lot of things you can do to make the actual moving days manageable.
Always start by packing your belongings smartly. Packing smart means
You also want to settle any remaining business before the actual moving day. If you have credit card bills or other loans that need to be repaid, contracts that you have to fulfil, or other unfinished business with a third-party, now is the best time to work on them. You want to move to the new city without worrying about unfinished business, don’t you?
Don’t forget to prepare the kids for the long move. The actual flight to the new city and other parts of the journey are often more stressful for them, especially when they have nothing to do. Pack a lot of entertainment onto your iPad, make sure you have enough snacks and drinks in your carry-on, and get the kids involved in some of the tasks you need to do during the actual moving day to keep them busy.
If you are not sure about handling the relocation yourself, don’t hesitate to get help. There are more moving companies that cater to expats today and their service offers can be quite interesting. For example, you can have your belongings packed, stored for a temporary period, and then shipped to your new apartment in Dubai for a single, highly affordable fee. A comprehensive service like this certainly makes moving much more convenient.
Last but not least, give yourself plenty of time in every part of the move. Arrive at the airport early so you have time to go through security. Give yourself plenty of time to unpack to avoid the extra hassle; packing smartly and being able to unpack the essentials first certainly helps. You want the process of moving to a new country to be as smooth and enjoyable as possible. After all, it is the first step towards life in a completely new environment. If that first step feels like a burden rather than a fun thing to do, the rest of the experience will feel like a burden too.
Moving to pursue a better career is an exciting thing to do. There are so many opportunities to explore, a lot of great recruitment agencies to help, and even services to make the move very enjoyable. Get the entire family excited about moving to a new city and prepare for a fantastic adventure abroad.
