Starting A New Job in a New Country? 5 Ways to Prepare for the Move

Moving abroad for a new job is an exciting career prospect for senior professionals, but it can also be a daunting and stressful one. With economic turmoil left, right and centre it’s no surprise moving countries for a job is becoming more and more common. Below CEO Today hears from Alex Eid, the CEO and founder of homie, who provides his tips on making the move as simple as possible.

With such a big change to organise (usually in a short space of time) renting first has become the preferred option for many. However, finding the right place to rent is no easy task with a multitude of factors to consider.

So, what can you do to save valuable hours of your time, and streamline process?

Here’s my top five tips:

1. Pick a specific area before looking into homes

Before accepting the position, do your research on the location, taking into account factors such as rental costs, travel time, and the price of local amenities. Only when you’ve chosen your area should you start to look at properties.

Google Street View is great for a first glimpse at an area but actually visiting it is without doubt the best way to see if it meets your expectations. It’s also worth asking people living in the area what they like about it and why.

2. Know your ‘must haves’

Know what you are willing to compromise on and what you won’t. Do you want to be in a first or second floor flat? Do you need a garden? If you have children, how near to their school do you need to be?

Knowing your ‘must haves’ will narrow your search and ultimately, ease your transition into your new country and job.

If you’re pushed for time you may want to look into services to quickly and easily help you in your rental search such as homie. These kinds of platforms can advise you on the best places and pair you up with a local expert who can handle interactions with estate agents and offer you impartial advice on areas and properties.

3. Getting your application accepted

Once you’ve found your dream home, you don’t want to let it slip through your hands. If it’s good value, there will likely be other tenants looking to rent it too

Elevate yourself from the competition by personalising your offer with a short cover note. Landlords want to know that their property will be in safe hands so say how much you love the building and furnishings and how you plan to take care of them during your stay.

The rental business is one with people at its core, so also having a quick chat with a potential landlord over the phone can make all the difference when it comes to having your offer accepted over other potential renters.

4. Settling into the local culture

Beyond choosing a new area to live in and the kind of property you want to move into, it’s important to think about the kind of life you want to lead in a new country.

For example, if you are keen on a particular hobby, is there a local club nearby? Or is there a new activity specific to the region you’d like to try? If you want to immerse yourself into a new culture or cuisine is there plenty of locally run restaurants, theatres and galleries nearby?

If you’re moving to a country that doesn’t speak your native language you can use apps and language platforms like Duolingo to give you a good foundation of the language before making the move. Once you’re settled you can improve this further by taking up government-led classes or visiting language cafes.

5. Getting your documents and bills in order

Keep all of your important documentation and identification to hand when making your move abroad. Make sure you have photocopies of all important government documents including any employment credentials, visa documents and personal identification cards.

It’s crucial that you research how to set up a bank account in the region you’re moving too and what documentation you’ll need, otherwise you’ll face costly fees to transfer money aboard. Challenger banks like Monzo are already offering simple solutions to this challenge in London with their online only system allowing you to bank for free abroad.

Once you’ve had your offer on a property accepted, setting up bills can become a big challenge, particularly if you’re not aware of the providers that cover your area. Apps such as Billingbetter or Acasa, give you a place to set up all your bills in one place – providing instant quotes and advice on the best options for you.