Let’s say you’ve been offered your dream job in another country. You already know you can do the job, you’ve been offered the position after all...but the job is just one piece of the puzzle. The rest of it requires up-rooting your entire life!
Relocating for work is an exciting and rewarding adventure and a great opportunity for personal and professional growth. But it is also a huge life-changing decision. It’s going to take a great deal of planning, courage, and strength. So, the question is, are you up for the challenge?
Here are a few things to consider before you make that leap of faith.
Relocation Costs
Whether you’re moving with a couple of suitcases or a truck full of boxes, relocating for a new job is going to cost you, financially and mentally! Depending on the size of the company, you may be able to negotiate a compensation package that helps with expenses and makes moving a lot less stressful.
Some companies may only be able to cover the basics of a one-way flight and necessary paperwork. Larger companies, on the other hand, may provide a more comprehensive relocation package. Be ready to have that discussion with your new employer and find out what level of assistance they can offer, if any.
To help you in your negotiations, here’s what you can typically expect from a relocation package:
- Visa and residency support
- One-way flight coverage for you (and your family)
- Interim accommodation and assistance in finding a permanent home
- Payment of a rental deposit
- Language courses
- Assistance in set-up procedures, such as opening bank accounts
- Financial aid covering relocation expenses (furniture etc.)
Language Barrier and Cultural Differences
If you’re moving to a country where you don’t speak the language, the smallest of tasks can become the biggest of challenges. Even if the working language is the same as your own, outside of the workplace is a whole other story. It can be frustrating and extremely isolating to be surrounded by people who you don’t understand and can’t communicate with.
But learning a new language can be fun and joining a class is a great way to meet other foreigners in your new home country.
Cultural differences can also cause a variety of challenges in relation to religion, approaches to work, and food and drink. Do a little research before you move and ask yourself if you are willing to adapt to a different cultural environment.
Coping with Change
If the idea of change makes you break out in a sweat, then you need to be prepared... relocating for work is changing pretty much everything in your life! You’ll be leaving behind a job that you know inside out and colleagues that you’ve gelled with. Maybe you’ll be leaving the only home you’ve ever known and saying goodbye to friends and family.
To help yourself accept and adapt to those changes, explore your new city as a tourist, make an effort to find and make friends, and keep to your usual routine as much as possible. And, most importantly... have patience.
Even if this is the job of your dreams, transitions can be a slow process and settling in takes time. Chances are it’s not going to feel like home straight away. There will likely be some teething problems and you may even feel homesick for the first few months. But things will get easier!
What About the Lifestyle?
The new job and the career opportunities your relocation offers may be the motivating factors, but work isn’t everything! Don’t forget about how relocating is going to affect other areas of your life.
First, is the new location the right fit? For example, if you’re a small-town kind of person, will you cope in a huge capital city? Or, vice-versa. What about the work-life balance?
The new job may come with a pretty pay packet, but if you don’t have the option of a life outside of work, then what’s the point? Also, check out the living costs. Will your new salary afford you the lifestyle that you desire?
If you have a family, you also need to consider how relocating will affect them. Will their lives be better or worse?
Sure, relocation does mean big changes, but it can also mean big rewards. If you think you can handle all of the above, then join us at one of our upcoming events and take the first step to a relocation adventure.
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