Ok you have decided to relocate abroad, try something new. But there seems like so much planning and organizing that needs to be done before you make the big move, Where do you start?

Firstly do you know where you want to go?
Somewhere in Europe or maybe somewhere further afield.
What kind of life do you want?
Busy City Life, Beach Resort Life or maybe the Country Life.
Can you settle into different cultures and become part of the locals?
If yes, the countries are endless.
Would you like great temperatures all year round?
If yes, Mediterranean climates are ideal.
Do you have a budget?
If so researching the cost of living in your chosen country is important.

Once you have decided on ‘the place’ to go you need to look into whether you can work easily in that country.
Some countries may require you to gain a Working Visa which may need applying for in advance before you go or some countries may want you to apply when you arrive.

Look on Forums for local job ads on you chosen country and town to see if there are any jobs up for grabs. Think of some well known global companies and see if they recruit abroad.

Next step is to look to see if you need to apply for Residence Permit in advance, again some countries require you to do so within a month of arrival so you need to check out different countries rules.

Make sure you know your financial situation and what you can afford and have enough money saved to allow you to live for a little while in case you haven’t got a job straightaway.

After this the next important step is to if possible have some accommodation sorted out before you arrive so you know exactly where you are going and where you are staying. Then when you arrive you can take some time to get to know the area and decide on where you would like to rent, if you would like to buy a home and you will get better prices face to face rather than on-line.

Health care is important so make sure you have an insurance policy in place as some countries will not treat you without one and others have badly funded health care.

Look into rates of tax abroad and see how much they will be. Make sure that you wont be taxed twice, by your home country and your new country.

Now start planning if you will relocate all of your belongings or just some of them and how will you do this. Either by using a freight company or an airline. Look into different airlines as it may be a cheaper method for you if you are not bringing too much to just buy some excess baggage in advance.

While you are abroad you will need to be able to stay in phone contact with friends and loved ones as and when you want to with a trusted source. I found Pingo.com to be this source, they charge you economic prices and the connection is always reliable.

Lastly buy a travel book or guide on your chosen country to gain more of an insight into what the country will be like. Try and pick up a few phrases or words along the way, the locals will really appreciate you for trying even if you don’t quite pronounce it right.

If you do these important steps you will find yourself on the right path and almost ready to go!

by Chantal Panozzo

Why move abroad? Why Europe? Why Switzerland? Why ask why?

In today’s world, there is no better way to advance a career than by living abroad. Those who take the risk and go global will understand the world better than anyone else and be rewarded for it in their careers—and in their personal lives.

But if you need specific reasons, here are a few to consider:

-Career Advancement/Career Reinvention

As an expat, you will bring unique skills to your new country by virtue of being different. In Switzerland, well-educated native English speakers are in high demand at international companies and you may find a challenging opportunity that wouldn’t exist in your home country—even if you first arrive as the trailing spouse like I did. And if you don’t, you many find yourself reinventing your career. That’s not a bad thing, either.

-Travel

To live in a new part of the world means it is right there for you to explore. And if you live in a country like Switzerland, which borders five other countries, travel is easy. Instead of seeing things as a tourist, you learn about them as a local and you also learn to travel as a local would. In Europe, this means traveling longer, at a more relaxed pace, and by taking public transportation. Americans that go abroad will likely enjoy more vacation time (up to double or triple the time) than they’ve ever known.

-Language

There is no better way to learn a language than become immersed in it. Granted, learning a language in Switzerland (with four official ones and many more dialects) has its own unique challenges, but for those who are up to them, it’s possible to become fluent with enough time and effort.

-No “what ifs”

This is probably the biggest reason I moved abroad. I never wanted to think, “what if?” Because when given the opportunity, I knew that if I didn’t take it I would always think, “what if?” And that’s not something I wanted to always have to ask myself.

Did you go global? If so, what were your reasons for going abroad?

Chantal Panozzo is a writer in Switzerland who has written for a variety of publications on two continents. She’s the author of One Big Yodel, a blog about life in Switzerland and moving abroad, and also discusses living abroad as a freelancer at Writer Abroad.