Working abroad comes with discovering a new dimension to the way you live.
It was my first day in Dubai. I had no idea what to do after the HR coordinator handed over the appointment letter and told me to join from the next week. Yes, I was overwhelmed with joy, but nervous at the same time.
A thousand things were running across my mind. I couldn’t possibly figure out where to start from, but was absolutely clear regarding one thing- I HAVE TO MAKE IT WORK.
Right from living by yourself to creating your own social network, things have to be started from scratch one you are by yourself and alone, away from your homeland.
But you need not worry, things will work out fine. Here are some tips for you to keep in mind and enjoy your tenure abroad.
How live and Work abroad?
Find the Best Place for Yourself: I would often get calls from one of my friends at work: “My Landlord isn’t very comfortable with me organizing parties, let’s have one at your place this weekend “and before you know, my apartment would become a party place full of drinks and friends.
Housing is one of the prime concerns once you’ve decided to work abroad. Make sure that the accommodations work for you and serve comfort in every possible way you want. Consider having all the basic amenities like hot water, sanitation, proximity to the main city etc.
It is quite imperative to consider the neighborhood and the people around you too. Neighbors- often called the second family away from home will play a major role in providing a comfortable and hospitable environment to you. Hence, it is quite necessary to assure the best people around your residence.
Choosing the mode of transport: My morning chores used to include waking up early, getting ready in haste and leaving in a rush to catch the local bus. Every day I used to forget something or the other back home and still be late at work. Thanks to the bus driver who used to stop at a zillion stops before reaching my office. I probably should have considered some other mode of commuting, considering the long distance I had to cover every day.
In any case, you’ll have to be quite decisive regarding your mode of transport to work-Whether it’s public mode of transport or your personal vehicle.
The method of trial and error might seem useful in this case. Try using different modes of transport for the first few months. This will make you well acquainted with all possible routes to work and proficient enough to choose the shortest one for yourself.
Mix with the people around: I clearly remember the calls I used to get from my school friend working in Spain, informing me about the wine tasting events and the painting exhibitions she used to attend with her colleagues in Sevilla. It always used to get me thinking over the fact, how nicely she’d mix with her colleagues and that too in a country completely new to her.
A social life is necessary everywhere and so will be the case with the country you’ll work in. Build a social network appropriate to make yourself feel at home. Find friends with similar interests and frame of mind. You’ll probably find people at work who are from different countries but share the same problems and inhibitions as you do. This will not only help to keep your life happening but will also ensure happiness and satisfaction of being around people who care about you and who you care about.
Try and learn the culture: On a business trip to London, I met my friend who had a newly appointed Manager in his company. “She may have some substantial work experience, but we don’t like her”, he said. He also told me that she used to manage him and the other employees like she was in her own country by completely disregarding their views and ideas.
As I plan to work abroad for a few more years, I’ve given it some serious thought. Before you start working, it is quite significant to learn the norms, traditions, and culture of that country and adjust your working style and preferences accordingly.
Make efforts to learn the local language and try to understand different values the nationals abide by. Right from the dressing style to the eating habits, things might be different and difficult to adapt to, during the starting phase. But, eventually you’ll get accustomed.
Stay in Touch with Your Family: You might have had that friend in college who used to get ringed by his family a zillion times a day and used to miss out a lot of fun. Obviously, you don’t want to be like that, but you don’t want to be inconsiderate either.
A key factor in setting up your new life is being in constant touch with your friends and family. Considering the fact that you would want to return home, sometime in the future and would want all your relationships to be strong, staying in touch with your near and dear ones is equally necessary. Setting up weekly Skype updates, giving regular calls back home, or chatting online, ways to do the same are numerous. You just need to find one that suits you the best.
Yes, getting apprehensive is normal, but all the inhibitions vanish as soon as you find the right way to progress in your professional life abroad. As mentioned earlier, things will work out fine. All you need is to hang in there and stay confident.