Preparing to work overseas
If you are considering working overseas you should ask yourself what you really want to achieve.
- Is your main goal to see the world?
- Is gaining overseas experience the best way to further your career?
- What will be the positive and negative consequences of being away from home and your job for a period of time?
- What are you likely to gain from going?
You need to be well prepared to make the most of the experience.
- Explore the overseas labour market to make sure there will be opportunities for you in the places you want to visit.
- Be practical and choose locations where language and culture will be easy for you to adapt to.
- Find out whether your degree and your major are in demand and whether you will have the necessary skills and knowledge to succeed overseas.
- Build up a file of prospective employers and make contact with them before you go.
- Organise meetings and interviews before you go so you know the opportunities are real.
- Make sure you know all the visa and other legal requirements of working abroad and lodge applications well in advance so you can take up opportunities when they are offered
- Check rates of pay and living conditions so you are prepared for what you will face on arrival.
- Make sure you are properly immunized and you know who to contact in case of ill-health or emergencies, such as the Australian embassy.
- Take out appropriate medical and other insurance.
- Organise accommodation in advance.
- Research weather and living conditions so you can be appropriately equipped.
