Discover how to make the transition to working overseas smoother, with the handy hints below. 

Get familiar with the culture before you leave 

Culture shock is a real thing, and being in a place where the language, customs, and social norms are all different can be so much more difficult than many people expect. With that in mind, getting familiar with the culture before you leave your home country is a good idea. 

This may involve learning some of the basic language phrases, sampling and cooking some of the local recipes, and even doing some research of the city, or town you will find yourself in on Youtube. Be sure to know the social norms around dress, eating, visiting someone’s home, and meeting new people as well, as these can give you a leg up when settling in. 

Get your job confirmed before you uproot your life 

Too many people head overseas with no firm offer of a job when they arrive at their destination. Unfortunately, arriving in your new location without a secure position will at best just add to an already stressful situation and at worst could land you in a serious situation where your safety may be at risk. 

To that end, it is very important to get formal confirmation of your position before you leave your home country. For most people, this means receiving an employment offer letter. Although, some language teaching courses like the one offered at ILA Vietnam provide guaranteed employment once the course has been completed. They even offer an internationally recognized qualification which means you can get an English teaching job pretty much anywhere in the world, on completion of the course. 

Make sure all your paperwork is in order 

Most countries aren’t going to allow you to cross their borders if you don’t have the correct paperwork. In many places, this means a valid passport, as well as a visa or visa waiver. All of which will need to be organized well before your outward trip.

Consider how you will stay in touch with old friends and make new ones 

Last, of all, don’t forget that you will need plenty of meaningful connections and interactions to stay happy and productive when working overseas. The good news is that it’s easier than ever to stay in contact with friends and family at home, via video phone. Although, depending on the time difference you might want to consider instant messaging or email too. 

Making new friends in your overseas location may not be quite as easy though. That is why it’s important to come up with a plan to meet people and ensure you become enmeshed in the local community. In particular, joining social clubs like sports teams can be great for this, and you will find that in big cities there tend to be a whole host of other options too from singles’ nights, to board games to paintball. Many locations overseas even have a well-established ex-pat community which you can join to get that home away from home experience.