Moving overseas is often a great way to advance your career when opportunities at home are few and far between. However, there are lots of practicalities that come with taking an international job that most people don’t consider before making the decision to move far away and this can lead to them being too hasty and regretting what they’ve done.
If you’re interested in advancing your career by moving overseas, you really do need to do your due diligence to ensure that it’s the right thing for you. To help you on that front, here are some things you need to know about working overseas:
Not All Employers are Helpful
Although there are some wonderful overseas employers who will not only pay for all of your relocation expenses but also ensure that you have a nice place to stay and give you all of the help you need in dealing with visas, completing paperwork, paying your taxes and getting to grips with a totally new culture, there are many who will not. Unless you are extremely independent and willing to organize everything yourself, you should think very carefully before taking a job with an employer who is unhelpful or you could so easily find yourself in over your head.
Relocation Services Exist
That being said, in many countries, there are relocation services that will take up the slack and employing them to help you is a really good idea even when the company is assisting you. The key is to choose a relocation service specific to your move, so if you’re relocating to Monaco, choosing a company that specializes in relocations to Monaco is a good idea, ditto if you’re moving to France, China or anywhere else. They’ll take care of moving, paperwork, taxes, schooling for your kids and much more besides!
You’ll Still Have to File Taxes in the US

If one of your motivations for working overseas is to get away from the US tax system and the IRS, you need to know that you will almost certainly need to file taxes in the US if you are a citizen of that country working overseas. Take a look at this link to find out what your tax burden may be and how you will need to file. If you fail to do this, you could get into big trouble so it’s really important.
Understanding the Company’s Culture is Vital
If you want to settle in and be happy with your career overseas, understanding the working culture there is really important. If you know what working hours are expected, how often vacations are taken, what socializing in your new workplace looks like and how work is conducted, then you’ll have a much easier time of it. You’ll fit right in and avoid making any faux-pas that rub your colleagues the wrong way, and more importantly, you’ll be able to decide whether working there is right for you knowing the facts.
Obviously, this is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to what you need to know before you head off for a new life overseas, but these are important considerations that will help you to make the right decision and get things right when you’re there.