Five Tips For Successfully Working Abroad

Working abroad is something more and more of us have to do and ensuring you’re organised can make all the difference.

1. Maintain reserve funds for emergencies.

When you travel abroad to work a job, you won’t need to have as much money on hand as you would if you were simply vacationing. That’s the best part of becoming a working tourist.

Every week, you’ll get a nice pay check to add to your funds and you’ll be paid in the local currency which will help to keep expenses down. However, plan on having some cash reserves in your bank account when you arrive at your destination.

When it comes to travel, you can always count on something going wrong at some point.

Maybe you won’t get paid for a long period of time, you’ll have to buy furnishings for your new home away from home, or you might need to put down a bond for your new digs. Sites such as Simplemoneyguide or Money Saving Expert can provide the information you require to make ends meet.

Being thrifty when working abroad can make all the difference – so look for local sites that offer great deals. Most countries have sites that are equivalent to GroupOn, Living Social or Plus Voucher Code and these can be used to get great deals on all sorts of items and allow you keep tabs on your cash.

Plus, once you arrive you will definitely want to head out to see the sights.

2. Culture shock will arrive.

There are many people who head out for an adventure working abroad but wind up returning home after only a few weeks because they have been struck by culture shock.

Whenever you are changing, things tend to be chaotic. Add a new and strange environment into the mix and the level of chaos substantially increases.

At first, it’s exciting and new to be an expat. However, once the initial rush of discovery ends, be prepared to have your world come crashing down around you.

Don’t worry about it. This type of reaction is perfectly normal. Take a deep breath and allow yourself to move through the waves of culture shock. Go with the flow and don’t get upset with yourself if you find that you act a bit irrationally as you adjust to the differences.

To move through it, maintain a sense of wonder and continue to explore your new home to discover what it is all about.

Allow yourself time to have some fun and don’t let yourself be overwhelmed by the day-to-day experiences as you learn how to take care of yourself in a new culture.

As you meet new friends, plan on attending festivals, concerts and fun weekend trips with them. Doing so will make your transition much simpler. Here are some good tips to adapt to a new culture.

3. Look into getting international health insurance for expats.

When traveling to other countries, particularly America, the cost of medical care can be extraordinarily high.

When you are away from your family and your home medical system, there’s no feeling worse than being injured or sick and in need of medical attention.

Give yourself peace of mind by providing coverage for yourself in advance of your trip.

4. Get a handle on your paperwork.

When I was in Africa, I learned how important it is to organize your paperwork. I wound up having to chase it down in Dublin, Bangkok, Australia, and London. The entire experience was like a very bad dream.

Prepare a file and include a statement of services from any jobs you’ve worked while traveling abroad as well as in your home country. Also, have a list of references. This will come in handy more often than you might realize.

In addition, you’ll want to have additional paperwork available such as police checks, resources. statement of services, references, and degree certificates.

This paperwork is in addition to the typical paperwork tourists require such as your visa and bank statements.

Pare the paperwork done to the absolute essentials and organize it so you can access it at a moment’s notice. Here are some good lessons.

So, travelling abroad maybe tough but if these people can do it then you can too.

5. Be intentional when you pack.

Before you place anything into your travel bags, ask yourself if you really need that item. The truth is that you will do better when you pack fewer but high-quality items. Keep in mind that you’ll find items for personal comfort once you arrive on location.

• Research the area you are traveling to in advance.
• Is it cold there? Or does it get exceptionally hot?
• Will you need special equipment or clothing to do your job?
• At your destination, what is the local economy like?
• Become a minimalist when you pack your bags.
• Here are some extra tips.

Keep in mind that once you arrive at your destination, you can purchase many of the supplies that you will need. This will save you on the cost of shipping. Of course, if you use specialty equipment, you may have to use freight shipping. However, you’ll have to ship it out well in advance of your departure.