Thinking About Moving Abroad? Questions to Ask Before You Decide

If your browser history is full of searches like "how to work abroad", "living in the UK" or "how to find a job in another country", could you pause for a moment?

Slowly, put the keyboard down.

Everyone says something different and you don't know who to trust? Your head is spinning?

That's the mind. It spins.

You don't usually expect this kind of post from me. But at one point I came across this question so often that I couldn't ignore it. At the Hack'n Break Innovation Camp, I ran a session I called the Resignation Workshop, and I saw how confused people were about living, working or studying abroad. They asked me to write something about it, and I couldn't say no.

Part of my work is supporting people who want to continue their careers in another country. So many well-qualified people want to work abroad, yet they need support and a roadmap to get there. Still, this is not a subject you can generalise. In my view, it is deeply personal.

Many of my clients work abroad. Some were already there, some changed countries, and some moved after receiving offers from very good companies. Over the years I have worked with clients in the UK, Germany, Switzerland, Denmark, Belgium, Spain and the United States, and we created different opportunities together because they wanted to move in this direction. New countries keep joining the list, and we learn together.

So how?

It's not easy. They started by deciding to work with an expert, either because they truly wanted this or because they wanted to speed up the process. And by the way, career coaching is not just "update your CV, write your cover letter like this, behave like that in the interview." To me it is much more than that.

It means building a deeper connection, being able to say clearly what you want and what you don't. It means simulating the future and bringing together your talents, your expertise and your passion. It means reducing confusion to a minimum and drawing a route. A kind of fine-tuning. When two minds work together, things move fast.

Please don't decide to change countries on a sudden rush of excitement. This process demands serious work, both financially and emotionally. Today I simply want to share a few humble tips for anyone who wants to live abroad.

This turned out a bit long, a bit didactic and full of information. Not really my style, I know. You might even get a little bored. But let me write it anyway, so it stays here as a resource. Who knows, one day it may come in handy.

Come on. If you've made up your mind, or even if you haven't, let's begin.

Can you move abroad without changing companies?

The easiest route is to apply to your current employer's international partnerships or offices.

Find out the requirements, ask about open positions and work towards them. Along the way you can contact your company's HR team or colleagues in the country you want to move to. Their email and contact details are usually in the company system already. If not, add them on LinkedIn and send a message.

No such option for you? Fine. Then it takes a bit more research and effort.

Which country should I move to?

In fact, which city do you want to live in?

Please don't tell me, "As if that decision were up to me, Gizem, I'd go anywhere." From what I've observed, the biggest mistake is choosing a place based on what other people say, while ignoring your own lifestyle and wishes.

Wait a minute. Can you handle cold weather? Do you love nature? Is an after-work drink with friends something you can't live without? Do you want plenty of seminars, conferences and job opportunities around you? Where could you feel at home? Is life expensive there? Do you want crowds or quiet? Can you be alone?

Go somewhere that suits your character. Go where you can keep doing the things you love. Think about yourself, your character and what you want from life, then think of a place that fits.

Please, please don't move just out of the urge to leave somewhere. Go for yourself, to be able to do things you love. If you're going, go to build a good life. Running from pain is a strong motivator, but your wishes and what you love matter just as much.

It's very hard to decide this from behind a screen. Deciding without breathing the air of a place often leaves people disappointed, because our expectations are always so high. Even if you can't visit, talk to local people there and ask questions. And get to know yourself and your needs, too.

Now write down five places where you'd like to live, and why. What do they have in common? Could other places offer the same things? Research a little more, please.

Do you need to speak the local language?

Honestly, there is no excuse here. Whatever country you want to move to, being able to speak its language is a huge advantage. If you don't speak it yet, start learning it on your own, on top of your English. There are great apps for this, such as busuu and HelloTalk.

Look around. If you can't teach yourself, check language schools both where you live now and abroad, before you decide to move. This is also one of the most popular routes for people who can't make up their minds yet.

Should you study abroad first? Courses, a master's or a PhD

For those who say "I wish I could stay a student forever."

I don't have much experience here, but going abroad through an institution can give you some breathing room. At the very least, it buys you time to decide what work you want to do.

Ideally you decide here and then go. But if your answer is "what can I do sometimes," then let's draw the lines first and colour outside them later.

You can also look at short certificate programmes or courses that build your skills. Cooking, software, gamification, innovation, entrepreneurship, magic, whatever you want. Research it, please.

As for a master's or PhD, believe me, I don't know the process well. But the wonderful people already studying at that school might be able to help you. Why not ask them?

And if you're serious about this decision, find out early which language exam and which score your target country, employer or university expects. These requirements change often, so always check the official government sources of the country you're considering.

Is your CV, portfolio and list of references ready and up to date?

And, of course, are they in English?

Preparing them in a global language makes you more visible and easier to reach. Having your LinkedIn profile in English is especially important, but it's not enough.

Honestly, I get bored writing this, and maybe you get bored reading it, but sometimes things need repeating. Updating these documents is the most tedious part of the whole thing. We keep postponing it, don't we? And yet it matters so much. Come on, we're nearly there. Let me push you a little more, if you'll allow me.

Now, where were we?

For some reason we get terribly bored describing ourselves. We want it done and over with. But that's not how this works, my friend. You can do it, and there are tools that make it less dull, like Europass or personal mapping.

Ask someone you trust for their opinion and support. A different perspective helps. They can catch mistakes you can't see. And please, no typos in your CV or your application. Be careful.

To be visible and ready, have all your achievements so far written down if you can. Define your keywords so people can find you.

How do you actually apply for jobs abroad?

This doesn't work with a test-and-memorise mindset. We're used to thinking a job application means pressing "apply". In reality the process has to start long, long before that. Pressing the button is only a short-term tool to get you invited to an interview. The real maths happens before. Only once everything is flawless, current, energetic and engaging does the application stage arrive.

Here are some job sites I'd like to share. You can add more, or suggest others in the comments. Sharing is caring.

www.glassdoor.com // www.monster.com // www.academicwork.com // www.manpower.com // www.jobvite.com // berlinstartupjobs.com // jobspotting.com/en/ // jobbatical.com/explore // www.europelanguagejobs.com // www.indeed.co.uk // ec.europa.eu/eures/public/en/homepage // jobs.gaijinpot.com // www.toplanguagejobs.co.uk // www.make-it-in-germany.com/en // www.ewirecruitment.com // angel.co/jobs // monsterboard.nl

A reminder worth repeating. Nobody, and I mean nobody, is going to visit these sites and apply on your behalf. You have to do all of it yourself.

If you can't do it in a methodical, planned, results-focused way without losing steam, get support from an expert. There's nothing to be shy about. I see it every day.

Don't say "I'll just go and take any job." Do your research. Many of us grew up thinking it was odd to wait tables while at university, while our peers abroad took whatever job they could find at that age and didn't think twice about it.

(Think of people's first seven jobs. People who are CEOs today started as baristas or waiters, while we were dreaming of landing a job at one of Turkey's big family conglomerates like Sabancı or Koç. I said it too, that's how I know.)

I want to be very clear. If you don't love your work here, don't develop yourself, and pin all your hopes and dreams on going abroad, it is very hard to get results.

And if you're thinking "Oh, I'll happily wait tables there," let me ask you something. Have you ever waited tables in your life?

Where I come from, there is also a habit of looking down on certain jobs. What will friends say, will my family be ashamed, is it embarrassing? We end up with a strange idea of work. That's why I call this a delicate subject. If you go and you're not happy, please don't blame anyone.

Often this is exactly what frightens us. "What if I don't find what I'm hoping for?" You might not. But that is the road itself. If you don't find it, you'll need to start looking for something else. No more standing still and drifting with the current. Times are changing, and fast.

In truth, your chances of finding work will be highest in whatever you're good at. So you may want to focus right now on things that deepen your expertise.

There's LinkedIn Jobs, country-specific headhunters and HR consultants. Find them and send emails that describe you very well and very clearly. Without stalking them, of course. And rather than emailing in the middle of the night, contact them with their country's time zone in mind.

I told you it wouldn't be easy. But no giving up. Let's keep going.

How do you find a visa sponsor?

Most international companies have application pages on their websites. But what's this? If you "don't have the right to work and reside" there, do they automatically screen you out? Yes, that happens too.

Sponsorship is unfortunately not easy to find. But if you trust your expertise and your skills, you can take this route.

So what does a sponsoring company mean? It means a company declares to its country that it wants to work with you. In many systems, the company first has to show that it could not fill the role locally before it can hire you as a foreign national. The exact rules, timelines and exemptions differ from country to country and change often, so always check the official government sources of the country you're considering.

Then you use that certificate as a document for your work visa application. And it's worth repeating that getting a work permit is rarely easy. That's why I wish a company could sponsor you. Believe me, I'd love that too.

Why would a company abroad hire you?

You need to know the language and be good at your work, in your field. Video interviews in particular require preparation and practice. We need qualities that can overcome bias against foreigners. Sincerity, adaptability, hard work and expertise.

You can find detailed information on the official website of the country you want to move to. Some countries publish lists of in-demand occupations or their own criteria for skilled workers and recent graduates. Requirements change often, so always check the official government sources of the country you're considering.

And if you're looking for relatively cheaper and more suitable places to work as a freelancer, you might look at Thailand, Uruguay, New Zealand, Cambodia and Bali.

How much money do you need to move abroad?

Money, money, money...

Now for the most crucial topic. It would be quite naive not to talk about money, because starting a new life requires savings.

Then again, this is subjective. It depends on your living conditions here and the conditions of the country you're going to. It depends on what you want. For most of us, it's one of the biggest reasons we give up before stepping out of our comfort zone.

But if you go without researching living costs and without money in your pocket, you may find yourself out of the frying pan and into the fire. So our plans need to be far more rational and strategic. Look up average salaries by country before you go.

What about finding a foreign partner?

Look, I can't help you with this one. It's entirely your choice.

How do you cope with leaving loved ones behind?

There's a word in Turkish, gurbet, for the ache of living far from home. And here is another of those values that can't be measured.

By the way, when you ask people who live abroad, home is paradise, wonderful, magnificent. And when you ask, "Then why don't you come back?" they usually freeze like a crashed computer, don't they?

Once, I visited four countries for research. It had been a long time since I'd been abroad, and sadly I noticed that racism had increased. Of course it saddened me. But I also met open-minded, sincere, friendly people. It depends entirely on you and on them. It's very hard to generalise. That's why it matters to express ourselves clearly and well, and to try to build friendships.

Because it's called abroad for a reason. Moving away from your home, your loved ones, your habits and your comfort zone may not be as easy as we imagine. But human beings adapt. What matters is where you can adapt. Remember, getting used to something can be harder than loving it.

As the line often attributed to Darwin goes:

"It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent, but the one most adaptable to change."

Is moving abroad the right decision for you?

Yes, this got long. If you've read this far, thank you so much. I hope I've been of at least a little help. Let's not forget that people change just as much as these headings do. We are situational. Like everything, this decision has good sides and bad sides. And sometimes we can't settle our decisions by writing pros and cons in two columns.

Please don't make this decision without careful planning, with unrealistic expectations, or without asking yourself the right questions. Being born in one country no longer means you'll live only there and never see anywhere else. If you truly want it, if you're sure this is what you want, if you plan step by step and genuinely put in the effort, you can do it. And this may turn out to be the best decision of your life.

"Home is now behind you, the world is ahead." The Hobbit

PS: I tried to write realistically without losing my optimism. I hope it was useful. If you think it could help someone who is confused, I'd be so glad if you shared it. Together we might create some meaning, who knows.

Somewhere in the world there is a place where you can live exactly as you wish, where you can fit in and be yourself. I hope you find whatever you're looking for before too long. And if you need support along the way, I'm here, and I'd love to help as much as I can.

With love,

Gizem

This essay was first published in Turkish on gizemsahan.com.

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