If you have been following these blog postings and using them to help you think through a decision about relocating abroad you will have:

• Given some thought to your life vision and goals – for blog post click here.
• Considered what is good and possibly not so good about your current situation – for blog post click here.

You will have answered the questions about what you want to be, do and achieve in life and this will probably have prompted you to consider your career, unless of course you are retiring abroad.

Even if you are retiring abroad it is still important to consider what you want to do with your retirement;

• What are your interests?
• How do you wish to spend your time?
• How will the locations that you have in mind help or hinder you in this respect?

If you are going to need to work then obviously finding an appropriate job or position is an important consideration. Of course you can choose to relocate abroad and then find work but my advice would be to do that only after careful research;

• What are the work permit rules and regulations in your chosen destinations?
• How long can you live there on a visitors permit, how often can you renew it?
• How easy is to get a work permit once you have arrived?
• How will you fund yourself in those initial stages of living abroad?
• Are your qualifications/work experience recognised and valued in that country?

There is always the possibility of moving abroad with your organisation on a temporary assignment. Here the questions to ask would be;

• What opportunities currently exist?
• What do I need to do to put myself in a position where I would be considered? Are jobs regularly advertised internally?
• What qualifications, strengths, qualities and experience are they looking for?
• What language skills might I need, how can I start to achieve these now?

If you are looking to relocate abroad with another employer then of course you will need to start an international job search now.

• Spend some time now thinking about where in the world you would like to work?
• Consider the kind of lifestyle you would like, the kind of culture and experience you would enjoy and feel comfortable working in.
• Decide whether there are some countries you would definitely not like to relocate to?

Once you have done that, start thinking about the types of jobs that would be suitable for you. If you have a partner, how do they feel about relocating abroad? Would it be important for them to continue with their career or are they happy to take a career break? How would you survive on one income if that were the case? What income would you need to secure in your role to ensure that you could live comfortably? What would the non-working partner plan to do with their time?

It is important to start to consider these questions now as the answers will inform your choice of possible location(s) and give more focus to your expatriate job search if that is what is required.
If you want to better understand the challenges involved in moving abroad.If you are struggling with the question: Is a life abroad the life for me?
Then come and join my FREE Tele-seminar, Overcoming Your Move Abroad Dilemma, on June 24th at 8pm GMT – a content packed 60 minute session on how to make the best relocation decision.
Hope to see you there! click here to sign up!