Working abroad can be a great way to open your mind and accelerate your career growth. However, it’s important to know that this significant career move will not be an easy journey. Here’s how to prepare yourself:

• Take stock of your situation. Identify the country you would like to work in and consider the different approaches you could take to making the move. Conduct a SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats) analysis of your potential move to help you plan accordingly.
• Build a network in the new country before you move. It’s easier than ever to network with individuals abroad. Try searching Google for networking groups or organizations associated with your native country or professional associations in your field. Reach out to individuals and ask for an informational interview.
• Research specific visa requirements. Every country has different work visa rules. If you’re set on moving to a specific country, you may have to adjust your industry or role expectations to make getting a visa easier. Or, if you’re passionate about a specific job or career path, you may have to look at how easy it is to get a visa in different countries for that career.
• Learn the language and culture. One of the biggest hurdles you’ll face in wanting to move to another country is potentially having to learn a new language. It’s also important to learn about the working culture of the county you’re interested in to make sure you’re ready to adapt.
• Recognize when you need to adjust. No matter how much you desire to work abroad, and no matter how much research you’ve done, nothing is guaranteed. It might take you longer than expected to make the move. But don’t give up! If you don’t succeed initially, regroup, evaluate your options, and return to step one if you need to.