Crossing Continents for Work - Tips and Key Content
Considering making a move abroad for work? We’ve chosen the best of our content to help you, including a practical checklist of the top ten things to remember. We also gained candid insights on a personal journey from researcher Dr. Rachel Gallagher, on the things that you may lose sight of when caught up in the move to another country. Originally an Irish citizen, she recounts important lessons learned from her relocation to Germany and then the US, for academic posts.
Introduction
Improving promotion prospects, lifestyle, pay increases and the opportunity to gain international work experience are some of the many reasons you may choose to relocate abroad for your next role. These need to be weighed up carefully against potential downsides like distance from family, relocation costs and the time it may take to settle in socially in your new location.
Many employers choose to recruit internationally for senior roles to widen the pool of suitable candidates, or alternatively, encourage existing employees to relocate to fill internal vacancies. Private global companies typically offer support for finding accommodation, choosing schools for those with young families, as well as covering travel and relocation costs.
In academia, moving between countries is commonplace to ensure access to the best academic positions available. Many early career researchers also see it as a prerequisite for professional career development, maximizing collaborative opportunities and gaining tenure.
It’s important to note that financial support to cover relocation costs is not usually part of the package in academia, the exception being for permanent and senior-level posts.
In our articles below, we provide key practical tips and pointers to bear in mind when relocating for work.
Key Articles on Moving for Work
10 things to consider when moving country for work
Relocating abroad for work can broaden your life experience and career prospects. It’s common for early career researchers to consider relocation, as it may offer increased possibilities for academic posts, beyond their home country. Many global companies, including those in the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, healthcare, oil, gas, engineering, and software fields, also recruit worldwide to find the right candidate. As part of our "Crossing Continents" series of articles, we’ve come up with a checklist of the top ten things you need to take into account if you’re currently considering taking up a post abroad.
Crossing continents for your research career - A personal journey
There may be many reasons why you may consider moving countries for work as an early career researcher: the availability of academic positions in your field; lifestyle factors; promotion prospects and better pay, to mention a few. So aside from the practical points of shipping belongings, opening a local bank account, paying foreign tax, redirecting post, canceling bill payments, renting out or selling an existing property, and visa considerations what else should you know?
Summary
A job change combined with a move abroad can be a stressful process, but one that has the potential to enhance your life experience, knowledge and career prospects. Key factors in sound decision-making include thorough research into your employer, new colleagues, career prospects and importantly — location. Once you’ve made the choice, taking time to visit and connect with locals or talk to those that have made a similar move can provide invaluable insights.
They’ll definitely be several practicalities and red tape that you’ll need to deal with, and taking a pragmatic approach to those will help make the transition smooth. An acknowledgment that you’ll need to have a degree of flexibility to adapt to your new environment, and allowing for time to build a new social network can underpin the success of your move.