5 Cool Benefits of Working Abroad (+ 5 Disadvantages)
Jessica Wilkins If there’s one thing many of us learned from the pandemic, it’s that there is a shrinking need for offices in general. Many workers have realized that most of their job duties can be fulfilled from the comfort of their own homes.
Easy access to cool travel destinations is just one of the many benefits of working abroad.
But if there’s no need to return to an office, why just stay home? Why not explore options outside your own country—and start enjoying the benefits of working abroad?
People who work remotely may seem positioned to receive the most working abroad benefits. A growing number of digital nomads, people holding full-time jobs while working in various countries all around the world, make it clear that there are many benefits to working abroad.
However, even if you don’t have a job that can be done online, there are still significant benefits of working overseas. You can reap working abroad benefits in offices that are based overseas, too.
Let’s explore the advantages and disadvantages of working abroad!
5 benefits of working abroad
1. You’ll broaden your mind
When you live abroad, you get to understand other cultures, languages, and religions a lot better than if you just lived in the same place your whole life. If you work in a foreign office, you will be able to work face-to-face and socially interact with colleagues from different backgrounds.
Working in an office in Japan may expose you to a more disciplined and efficient working style, whereas working in Italy, for example, may teach you the true definition of meaningful work-life balance.
You can also gain cultural insights by working remotely in other countries. Not being tied to an office will give you the freedom to explore the country and meet new people on your own terms as well.
READ: 6 Questions to Ask Before Accepting a Remote Job
2. You’ll get to be away from your friends and family
Now stay with us here—you’re still reading the list of benefits of working overseas, we promise! Friends and family create safe comfort zones. This may be great most of the time, but it makes it very difficult to challenge yourself and grow as a person.
In a new place abroad, you have to make the effort of stepping out of your comfort zone and creating friendships and relationships from scratch, without the history that you would have back home with your friends and family.
Extra perk? All those fun trips you’ll get to take with the friends you make in your new home.
You will also need to rely on yourself for many things, and that will do wonders for building up your character, confidence, and independence. Which brings us to the next benefit…
3. You’ll learn valuable life skills
Working and living abroad comes with a fair share of administrative work, financial management, and logistical planning. How will you secure your visa? How long can you stay abroad? How will you find accommodation?
Oh, and what is the best way to bring all the things you need? What is the cost of living where you’re moving? Do you need to change your spending habits in order to stick to your budget?
At least at the beginning of your time working overseas, you will likely have to deal with issues that are administrative, financial, or logistical—all in a completely different country! This will challenge you to be resourceful and in the process learn valuable skills that you can take with you for the rest of your life.
4. You’ll start to appreciate your country more
Absence makes the heart grow fonder, and that could not be more true when you’re working and living abroad. With all the good that you will experience overseas, you will also experience the not-so-good, and in the process appreciate the little luxuries and stability you easily had at your disposal at home.
At the same time, you will learn humility from people who may not have had the luxuries you grew up having. You may even learn that you never needed certain luxuries in the first place, and move toward a simpler and less materialistic lifestyle.
Another side of the coin is that you will also view your home country through a different lens, which may include a more critical view of it. You will start to question the drawbacks of your own home country, and if you plan to go back, you can bring real-world expertise that can help you create meaningful change back home.
READ: 9 Ways Living Abroad for a Year Makes Your Travels More Meaningful
5. You’ll pump up your CV
Most employers are impressed with a diverse resume! Working and living abroad can set you up for a fruitful career in the future. The new languages you speak, or the multiple international contacts you have, will be instrumental in making you stand out from the crowd when you’re ready to go for that dream job.
5 disadvantages of working abroad
Having some funds saved up can take some of the initial stress out of moving abroad to work.
1. Start-up costs
Although you are moving specifically to work and earn money, in most cases you won’t receive your first salary payment until at least the second month of your time abroad. This means you’ll need some savings to survive your first month in a new place.
Furthermore, unless you’re a high-ranking executive, you’ll be responsible for covering your cost of rent, utilities, and other living expenses. There are some programs that may help with daily life costs, depending on the type of job you want.
Here are a few cool picks that may interest you:
2. Homesickness
Being away from home for a long time can cause serious homesickness for many people. Some things to try to combat loneliness while living abroad include:
- Scheduling weekly or monthly video calls with people back home to stay in touch and update each other about your lives.
- Finding the joys of doing things by yourself, like cooking your own meals or binging an entire series over the weekend.
- Keeping your living space clean and hospitable so you can accommodate last-minute guests who want to visit.
- Staying busy and occupied with various activities! For instance, you could take language courses or join classes at the gym to meet new people and challenge yourself at the same time.
3. Physical illness due to environmental differences
This is a factor that many people overlook when deciding to live and work abroad. If you’re used to living in a colder climate, for example, moving somewhere with a hotter climate may cause fatigue and dehydration a lot quicker for you than for others.
If you’re used to living closer to sea level, living in a place at a higher altitude may make you prone to migraines. You might also trigger stomach issues by accidentally drinking unsafe tap water or eating food that is unfamiliar to you.
Normally, it takes people up to two months to acclimatize to the new surroundings, so keep that in mind for a smoother process of settling in. Do some research on the climate and environment of the place where you’re going, and prepare ahead of time to get any extra vaccinations or stock up on medication to help with symptoms if you do get sick abroad.
Of course, go easy on yourself and get plenty of rest and water during this transition time and you’ll get used to the environment more quickly!
4. Missing out on what’s happening at home
No matter where you are in the world, it can be tough to miss out on things at home.
Choosing to live away from home can be expensive, especially because you will need to take flights. This means you can expect to miss out on milestones of your family and friends. You may have to skip out on attending a good friend’s wedding or miss the birth of your new cousin or niece.
On a sadder note, you may also miss out on spending time with elderly members of your family who might not have much time left in their active years. But as mentioned earlier, you can help mitigate this by scheduling and sticking to weekly or monthly video calls. It may not be the same as being there in person, but it will help you stay connected.
You can also set aside part of your salary in an “Emergency Travel Home Fund” in case you need to buy a last-minute ticket back home.
5. Never fully belonging
You may learn the language, adapt to the culture, and live in another country for many, many years. But at the end of the day, your roots will always be different from the locals. While many people are welcoming of foreigners, that is what you will always be—a foreigner.
You may not have the right to vote in that country or get involved in politically-inclined movements. For example, in Mexico, the government said that non-Mexicans were not allowed to participate in the Feminist Women’s March, and anyone caught doing so was subject to jail terms or deportation. A few countries in Asia and in the Arab region do not welcome LGBTQ+ people.
We cannot state enough the importance of doing research on your country of choice before packing up your bags and setting off. Think about your priorities in life and you’re sure to find a working experience that works best with your needs and wants!
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Living and working abroad comes with perks that are basically endless. Not only will you broaden your mind, but you will also gain valuable life skills that you can apply in the future, be it personally or professionally.
Now that you know the advantages and disadvantages of working abroad, you can prepare yourself accordingly for your next big adventure. As long as you have your goals set in place, narrowing down your options and finding an experience that works best for you will be a breeze!
