Considerations For Professionals Considering Moving Abroad

According to Internations’ Future of Working Abroad report, three in four Americans who moved to a new country are happy with their job.

The study of 8,313 working expats living across 175 destinations showed that 36% of U.S. respondents moved abroad for a job-related reason. Of those workers, 14% sought out a new position on their own, 11% were sent by an employer, 9% were recruited internationally, and 2% moved to start a business.

Many respondents also cited increased work-life balance, more job security, and flexibility in their new country as opposed to their home country.

Malte Zeeck, CEO of Internations, says the popularity of remote working has led more professionals to reevaluate where they want to live and work from. But how can someone make such a daunting move?

Finding the right position is a good place to start. Although there is a small portion of international entrepreneurs, being a self-employed freelancer could make for a seamless transition.

Another consideration should be where professionals would like to work from. While some countries are not as welcome to digital nomads, others like Bermuda, Croatia, and Estonia actively offer digital nomad visas.

Despite citing better job satisfaction, respondents also felt that improved work-life balance led them to forfeit career advancement opportunities. When moving overseas, professionals may be faced with language barriers, a limited job market, and educational qualifications that may not translate well in a new country.