How Do You Know if an Overseas Move is Right for You?

Jojo from Minnesota writes in to ask:

“I would love to move overseas but I’m nervous that it won’t work for me. How do you know if an overseas move is right for you?”

You probably don’t know for certain until you’ve tried it but there are a few good ways to check how well an overseas move might work for you before you step on foreign soil.

Look at your strengths:

Do you speak another language?

If yes, great! But you don’t need to limit yourself only to the countries that speak the languages you’re comfortable with-you will probably pick up the language in most countries if you live there.

Do you have job flexibility, can you move to an overseas branch or work from home anywhere?

If you do, then fantastic, this is one of the biggest hurdles for most people.

Are you single or is your partner supportive of the idea?

Being single or living with a supportive partner means you will have a greater chance of making this happen.

Do you have support from home?

It is important but not essential to have support from home. Family and friends will be able to help you in many ways, from emotional support (before you move as well as once you arrive and begin adjusting) to the practical things like collecting your mail and monitoring your property if you rent out your home while you’re away.

Do you have a network of people who have lived overseas or people who are overseas at the moment?

A network of these people will provide a golden opportunity to ask questions of the experts, the people already doing what you want to do. They may also be able to help you once you arrive, depending on the type of relationship you have with them.

Look at your weaknesses and consider how you can deal with them:

Do you lack support from home?

Explain your desire to move overseas. Reassure them that you will not be gone forever or that you will be in easy to contact. See a previous Expatify article on what to do when others oppose your move for more suggestions.

Do you lack language skills?

Can you join a class or a language club? If not, then buy or rent some CDs and DVDs to help you. A bit of language always helps, but the best way to learn a language is to immerse your self in the culture, so this it is actually ok if you aren’t fluent before you move. If all this still seems too daunting, choose a country that speaks the same language as you.

Do you lack the finances to make it happen?

Work out a savings plan to save enough to get there and survive a short while, long enough to get a job that pays well enough to pay for rent and food, then keep looking for an even better job.

Does your partner lack an adventurous spirit?

They may be helped by reading blogs from other expats. Perhaps you can do a deal-live overseas for one year and if they don’t like it you’ll move home. Research different countries that they might feel comfortable living with, looking for climate, social services, educational opportunities, and further travel opportunities. Help them to see what you see.

You can also travel together to the country you’re interested in to experience it further and do some of your research on location.

Does your partner lack flexibility to move their job, do you?

Consider a new job. Develop your network within your career and study trade journals as well as the many online sites for new opportunities. See an earlier Expatify article on finding a job overseas for more information.

Do you worry it might be too good to be true?

Research what you will need to do to prepare, including any job searching, new schools for children, pet care, and selling or renting your home. An earlier Expatify article has a good list of books with further information on this preparation.

Also, try a short -term assignment of about six months before you commit to longer. This will give you a taster without the worries that might arise during a longer stay.

After reading through these questions you will hopefully have a better idea if an overseas move is the right thing for you or if you should stick with international travel for now.