From Dream to Reality: The Truth About Living and Working Abroad
You may be at the point where you decide if you want to stay those months abroad or you have already decided but the reality is kicking in and you start to doubt. This blog is here for you, sharing my personal experiences and the pros and cons of living and working abroad. Read along with the ups and downs I've faced and learn how you can prepare yourself for this exciting journey!
The dream vs. the reality
For many, the idea of living and working abroad is a dream come true. Exploring new cities, countries, cultures, and cuisines while earning an income sounds perfect. Imagine making others jealous with incredible views, amazing places, and the freedom you experience during your time abroad. However, before the adventure begins, you'll need to find a job, choose a country, and secure accommodation. Let's break it down.
When is the right time to go abroad?
Well, that’s easy, the best time to go abroad is when you genuinely feel ready. Because if I learned one thing from living abroad it’s that there is never a good moment, there will always be reasons that hold you back. But what if you just say yes and go for it? Remember, there's always a way back if things don't turn out as expected. Jumping into a new adventure abroad is one of the most rewarding experiences you can have.
Living abroad
Finding apartments, flats or rooms is always difficult. Especially when you are not in the country itself. However, there are lots of websites that can help you with finding your place. For me it really helped to speak to my network and regularly look for new apartments available online. You can find them on Facebook and WhatsApp groups or also Housing Anywhere is a good starting point. But I can really recommend living together with roommates. It is the easiest way to meet new people and especially when you arrive alone in a country this could be the perfect opportunity. Be open minded when you go abroad and step out of your comfort zone. Say yes to the unknown and explore the country at its best.
Living abroad, whether you have roommates or not, requires you to manage tasks like cleaning, cooking, grocery shopping, and laundry, things you might not be used to if others did them for you. It's not always about fun, living abroad teaches you a lot about yourself and helps you become independent. And if you ask my honest opinion, I didn’t always like it, but then I remembered the place where I was, which made it all worth it.
Working abroad
Living abroad can be really nice but in some way you need to be able to pay for the monthly rent and living expenses. Therefore, finding a job in a foreign country is a good idea. Often it can be quite easy to find a job abroad if you speak an European language next to a fluent English level. Companies these days are more and more open to learning from different cultures and really need expats to continue their business. So, don't be afraid of not finding a job abroad, there is a lot to choose from.
I can also recommend here to talk to people and to get in touch with recruitment agencies! It makes your job search so much easier to use the knowledge of experts and most of the time completely for free! You will find a couple internship specific platforms but also agencies who offer gap year jobs in customer service or administration, like Blu Selection.
The pros and cons of living abroad
So, let me wrap everything up for you. After moving abroad and starting my job in another country I have a list of pros and cons for you!
Pros:
Becoming open minded: When you live abroad, you get to understand other cultures, languages, and religions a lot better than if you just lived in the same place your whole life. If you work in an international office, you will be able to work face-to-face and socially interact with colleagues from different backgrounds.
Learning a lot about yourself: Maybe this will be the first time you’ll live on your own or maybe the first time going alone abroad. It teaches you some valuable life lessons, you learn to be independent, to live on a budget and to put yourself in many situations that you might not have experienced otherwise.
Appreciate the small things: You have maybe never thought about it, but when you live abroad you will start to see things at home differently. You’re going to appreciate that for example the food is always made for you or how nice it is that you could easily visit your friends or family or how nice it is that you can walk to your all time favourite supermarket and buy your go-to-snack or cook your favourite meal.
Outstanding CV: Never forget to put your experience abroad on your CV. It shows recruiters and companies that you can be independent, manage uncertainty, and be persistent. Something that every company wants to have in their team.
Cons
Salary expectations: Working abroad will support you with your monthly costs, however the wages could be lower than you are used to. Therefore, keep in mind that you sometimes may have to make decisions or make sure you have some savings to fall back on.
Homesickness: Something you cannot prepare yourself for, becoming homesick while living abroad. It’s not something that everyone will experience, but can appear even though you didn't expect it. Now there is always a plane going back and you can return whenever you want. But it was not on your schedule. Remember that it's okay to miss others, but also keep in mind that time flies when you’re having fun ;)
Cultural shock: When you go abroad the combination of language barriers, a lack of family support and unfamiliar environments is one of the reasons why you may experience a cultural shock. This could be with the way they greet, their different facial expressions, the weather, landscapes, but also their way of dressing. To have a less cultural shock, we suggest you do some research beforehand that not everything is a surprise and that you maybe would feel less awkward in some situations.
Safety Concerns: Your worries about safety might be real depending on where you are moving and the community you'll be living in. This is an important thing to think about when deciding if living abroad is right for you.That's why it's really important to research your new location and the specific neighbourhoods you might live in. Look online for stories from expats who have lived in your chosen city and learn about their experiences. Find out where it's safest to live, which areas can be rough at night, how the police handle crime, and how effective they are.
Living and working abroad is an incredible adventure filled with both challenges and rewards. If you're considering it, take the step! You'll grow in ways you never imagined. I know that I am not the only one who says that I never regret it!
And if you need help finding a job abroad, Blu Selection is always there to help you!
