Jump to content

Moving abroad to work


EH11_2NL

Recommended Posts

I know there are a few posters on here who live and work abroad. I've been offered a job in the Cayman Islands which is exciting and scary as i have a solid job here as does my wife. There are safety measures in place if it doesnt work out fortunately but I'd like some advice and insight from people who are currently doing it. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Do it. While you can always come home, the opportunity to go and do something like this may never come up again.

 

Working and living abroad is a great thing to experience. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

28 minutes ago, Peebo said:

Do it. While you can always come home, the opportunity to go and do something like this may never come up again.

 

Working and living abroad is a great thing to experience. 

 

This.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

2 hours ago, EH11_2NL said:

I know there are a few posters on here who live and work abroad. I've been offered a job in the Cayman Islands which is exciting and scary as i have a solid job here as does my wife. There are safety measures in place if it doesnt work out fortunately but I'd like some advice and insight from people who are currently doing it. 

If you can, do it! I'm heading home next year after ten years in Holland but I wouldn't change a thing - to my mind you have to take opportunities like this before you get too old.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Go for it.   I worked all over the world for 9 years and although there were difficult times on balance it was a great experience.

 

but if your wife isn’t happy then you won’t be either.   Make sure she decides before you go that she will make a go at it.   If she is in doubt be very careful as it can wreck marriages if you are not aligned.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

27 minutes ago, deesidejambo said:

Go for it.   I worked all over the world for 9 years and although there were difficult times on balance it was a great experience.

 

but if your wife isn’t happy then you won’t be either.   Make sure she decides before you go that she will make a go at it.   If she is in doubt be very careful as it can wreck marriages if you are not aligned.

 

I'd love to work abroad but not sure how to seek out opporunities.

 

Any pointers?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

6 hours ago, Jeff said:

Hows the wife about it all? 

At first she was against the idea and leaving family and friends but now she is mad for it. It's a 3 year contract and the plan is to come home after that. She needs a job there though. Impossible to live on 1 wage. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

15 minutes ago, Riddley Walker said:

Do you have kids?

1 is away from home and the other is going to be our tenant effectively. Wife doesn't want to let out house to strangers. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

If you are both committed do as much research as possible and promise yourselves you will do at least a year no matter how bad it is to begin with. You won't look back. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Did a power of research for my interview so pretty much up to speed with the Caymans and we've both agreed that a year minimum means we've given it a chance. This is unlikely to come round again because of family stuff so it's now or never really. And it's the Caribbean!!!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Doctor FinnBarr

I've got a mate who's a scuba diving instructor at one of the fancy expensive hotels on Little Cayman, I could put you in touch with him via FB if that would help with your questions.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Do it, as Peebo said.

 

I've been in Australia for 4 weeks with the wife and kids and already see no reason to return to Scotland with exception of visiting friends and family.

I only wish we had done it sooner and my daughter had came with us.

 

You dont want to be sitting there 10 years down the line wondering, What if!!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

12 hours ago, EH11_2NL said:

I know there are a few posters on here who live and work abroad. I've been offered a job in the Cayman Islands which is exciting and scary as i have a solid job here as does my wife. There are safety measures in place if it doesnt work out fortunately but I'd like some advice and insight from people who are currently doing it. 

Go for it. You'll regret a missed opportunity. Scotland will still be here when you want to come home

Link to comment
Share on other sites

michael_bolton
15 hours ago, Peebo said:

Do it. While you can always come home, the opportunity to go and do something like this may never come up again.

 

Working and living abroad is a great thing to experience. 

 

Right answer.

 

You'll always wonder 'what if' if you don't. There's a big world out there.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

10 hours ago, Taffin said:

 

I'd love to work abroad but not sure how to seek out opporunities.

 

Any pointers?

I was sent by my company so it was easy.

 

If thats not an option then word of mouth works if you have pals overseas or even googling for jobs in various countries may help.    I suspect there will also be employment agencies which specialise in overseas placements.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

3 hours ago, deesidejambo said:

I was sent by my company so it was easy.

 

If thats not an option then word of mouth works if you have pals overseas or even googling for jobs in various countries may help.    I suspect there will also be employment agencies which specialise in overseas placements.

 

Cheers. I work for a multi national which I thought may lead to that but it's not arisen and doesn't appear to be their way of doing things.

 

I think trying to find a specialist recruitment agency is a great shout. 

 

Thanks

Link to comment
Share on other sites

10 hours ago, bikerjambo said:

I've got a mate who's a scuba diving instructor at one of the fancy expensive hotels on Little Cayman, I could put you in touch with him via FB if that would help with your questions.

I don't have an FB account. PM me and I'll give you my email address. It's the cost of living that's scary so help there would be appreciated. Cheers

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Doctor FinnBarr
10 hours ago, EH11_2NL said:

I don't have an FB account. PM me and I'll give you my email address. It's the cost of living that's scary so help there would be appreciated. Cheers

 

You can't receive messages mate, might need to empty your in box

Link to comment
Share on other sites

22 hours ago, Taffin said:

 

Cheers. I work for a multi national which I thought may lead to that but it's not arisen and doesn't appear to be their way of doing things.

 

I think trying to find a specialist recruitment agency is a great shout. 

 

Thanks

Couple of other things to keep in mind.........

 

If you have elderly relatives that may at some stage depend on you for care, then that may influence where you go.    For example if you go to SE Asia or Australia and get a phone call you are needed at home then that is not an easy solution.  However Middle-East does have faster connections, as does Europe of course.

 

Then its kids - to me, the best time to expatriate is either no kids, or young kids.     You have to think about schooling - many countries have international schools and in some the local schools are fully English-taught.    But once they get to high school age either come home or you may have to board them.  Boarding works for some but not for others so the risk factor increases.

 

for employment - if your wife wants to work also then in my experience thats not a problem - where I worked they were screaming out for the wives to also work either as part of the expat deal or they can get a local job once there.    That is a lot easier in SE Asia and Oz but not so in Middle-East countries where dependents have to stay as such.

 

Also cultural - in some countries expat life is not one big holiday camp - you need to get on board with local customs and behaviours, if you do you will integrate more easily.      In particular some countries driving habits are simply dangerous and road traffic accidents are high.   Hence expats tend to buy massive Range Rovers more for a feeling of safety than anything else.    

 

So if you end up needing a big car, or two cars, and have to pay for schooling etc, then the financial calculation also comes into play.  

 

The above sounds a bit negative I admit but on balance I would not have swapped my Expat years for anything - the positives for me way exceeded the negatives, although it wasn't plain sailing every day.

 

Just some thoughts.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Craig Gordons Gloves

I'm with everyone else on here.  Do it because even if you don't enjoy it you'll still have experienced it.  I had a 7 month secondment to New York so the wife stayed at home rather than give up her job, safety net was in place for my job too.  After 7 months was asked to move to MN for 5 years, that was the big decision, meant selling the house and her giving up her job.  Now, 11 years later and 2 kids that were born here we don't think about moving back anymore.  Although for my wife that took alot longer to reconcile than for me. 

 

The family piece is important, her parents and my mum are all retired so we give them a lump sum each year to use for flights to come and see us which they do at least once and sometimes twice in a year, then we come back to Scotland at least once a year.  The worry is now that they're getting on - mid 70s and reasonable but not great health the traveling is taking it's toll.  I suspect when one of my wife's parents needs looking after then that conversation will come up.  My old dear's actual words to us were 'don't even think about moving back here if you're doing it for me, put me in a home, i'll be fine'

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I’d absolutely love to work abroad, the US or Canada but given my background as a web developer I’m not convinced opportunities would be there. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The White Cockade

if you get a decent opportunity go for it

I loved working in Cape Town

but don't move to the Isle of Man

Very high cost of living and worse weather than Scotland!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Something I would love to do go away and make some good money for a couple of years and come home again but it seems to be who you know rather what you know to get any jobs like these

Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 minute ago, Sergio said:

Something I would love to do go away and make some good money for a couple of years and come home again but it seems to be who you know rather what you know to get any jobs like these

Not at all mate, the most important thing is finding decent recruitment agencies in whatever industry you are in.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

41 minutes ago, alyp said:

100% do it.  We never looked back.

 

 

I have fond memories of Bahrain, I lived there for 2-3 years in late 70's before it started to really grow, My dad worked for a company that made concrete casts for building.

Have you been there long?

Quote

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

11 hours ago, CostaJambo said:

Not at all mate, the most important thing is finding decent recruitment agencies in whatever industry you are in.

Never look into agencies to a great detail but the ones I have seen want you to pay subscriptions to join them and it doesn't even guarantee to a job,but will have too look into it more,

Link to comment
Share on other sites

10 hours ago, Sergio said:

Never look into agencies to a great detail but the ones I have seen want you to pay subscriptions to join them and it doesn't even guarantee to a job,but will have too look into it more,

Never ever pay an agent for finding you a job mate. Definitely a scam. I have had a permanent job through an agency 4 or maybe 5 times in my career and never been asked for money off them and don't know of anyone who has (Oil & Gas industry).

Link to comment
Share on other sites

13 hours ago, CostaJambo said:

Never ever pay an agent for finding you a job mate. Definitely a scam. I have had a permanent job through an agency 4 or maybe 5 times in my career and never been asked for money off them and don't know of anyone who has (Oil & Gas industry).

That's why I have never pursued anything that was my thoughts it was a scam, just need look into it more cheers

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Do your homework - start finding out what boxes you need to tick. E.G. documents, here in Holland you need to have your birth certificate legalised in the uk before you can register with the local council to get a social security number and therefore work. Expat forums are a good source of info, also the uk governments pages. 

 

 

The mental battle - all your decisions should start pointing towards leaving the country. Short term leases, small birthday presents, daft things like that helped us mentally prepare and save. Get used to the idea of everything being a bit different and embracing it.

 

Start learning the language - obvious but there's an Irish boy in my work just now who's pissed off they're trying to teach him dutch. If he makes it to next summer I'll be amazed.

 

Save save save save save. If you're going to a country with a good standard of living, that means everyone's richer than you and it's tough until you get earning at local rates. So save save save!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

27 minutes ago, Sergio said:

That's why I have never pursued anything that was my thoughts it was a scam, just need look into it more cheers

Yup the recruitment agencies are usually paid by the employer on hire or even interview, and not you.

 

i guess there are some paid ones also but ou should be able to get your name on the register of the non-paying ones.

 

it may depend on the type of industry you are in.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

2 hours ago, deesidejambo said:

Yup the recruitment agencies are usually paid by the employer on hire or even interview, and not you.

 

i guess there are some paid ones also but ou should be able to get your name on the register of the non-paying ones.

 

it may depend on the type of industry you are in.

Cheers I'm a electrician to trade definitely be looking into it and the added bonus my wife not wanting to go but letting me go to make money

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Jambo dans les Pyrenees

As everyone pretty much has said - do it.

 

Broadens the horizons.  You'll meet people from all over the world.

 

Family aside, when I come back to the UK I just think it's a shabby and increasing poor place with miserable people and even more miserable weather.  Actually, my family can be quite miserable too but you get what I mean!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

9 hours ago, Sergio said:

Cheers I'm a electrician to trade definitely be looking into it and the added bonus my wife not wanting to go but letting me go to make money

Are you domestic or industrial? Best way to get abroad on decent money would be on electrical construction supervision on large-scale process plant projects. Holland is also very big on wind turbine projects right now if that would be of interest.   

Link to comment
Share on other sites

29 minutes ago, CostaJambo said:

Are you domestic or industrial? Best way to get abroad on decent money would be on electrical construction supervision on large-scale process plant projects. Holland is also very big on wind turbine projects right now if that would be of interest.   

Done a bit of both but mostly domestic now 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

One thing to keep in mind for the Caribbean is the cost and availability of food, most of the islands grow very little in the way of their own produce so the supermarkets are stocked with imported food which pushes the prices up, in fact almost everything you buy on island will be imported. The added costs of imports may also still be even higher as the effects of Hurricane Irma are still being felt across the caribbean.

 

I was over in the British Virgin Islands last year and a loaf of bread can be more expensive than 40 cigarettes for 4 bottles of beer.  

Link to comment
Share on other sites

My only experience of working abroad was in Dubai. We did 3 years there about 10 years ago. I was in hotel management and the missus got a job in the same hotel but a lower level. Basically it was rent free and her wage paid the food and other expenses. Everything I earned was saved (after paying the mortgage back home) We were clearing £1500 a month in savings and living very comfortably in a penthouse apartment.

 

On the plus side was the money obviously. Plus we made a lot of good friends amongst the ex pat community. The social life was mental. The downside was the weather. Just unbearable some days. If you werent in a mall or at home you just couldnt walk in it Some days of course it was nicer and a tad cooler, in the off season. I don't believe it rained one single day we were there but the sandstorms were incredible.. Employment conditions aren't great (in Dubai) either. My wife ended up working all sorts of crazy hours and that's what drove us home eventually. It was a case of 'work the hours or walk' Just be sure you don't get the piss taken out of you as some employers will try and work you to the bone because your not local and its not exactly easy to walk and go home.

 

As most have said, you take the chance when you get it, assuming your family are ALL up for it and you have a route back that keeps you financially sound  if it doesn't work out. Absolutely no regrets on that front. Also, having a safety net is another thing to try and make sure of. I waited 4 months to get another job in my field when I came back. Luckily we had savings that covered that. I'd only do it again if it was money at a level I just couldn't turn down.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

We've decided to give it a go because you're a long time deid! We're giving up a lot, particularly stable jobs and a nice, comfy life but I'd rather have a life! Not many folk can say they've lived on a Caribbean island. Unlikely we'll get another chance with parents all close to 80 years old. I've been in touch with expats who work there just now and not one of them regrets it. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.



×
×
  • Create New...