As with most major decisions, it is a good idea to sit down and write out your goals and expectations for a stint overseas. Talking to people who have been on overseas assignments in the countries you are considering is also a good idea. Finding the right job might seem an obvious requirement even when you are looking at opportunities in the United States. However, when you take an assignment overseas, most issues outside the job, such as language, customs, cultural lifestyle, and family and school considerations, become extremely important and add a whole new dimension to getting settled in. In such a situation, the last thing you need is to find that you hate the job you have just taken.
Good planning is the key to making an overseas assignment or job a success.
Planning for it before you even send out your resume and chalking out the things that need to be done once you have the offer in hand are the bigger challenges. Family Issues Planning for the family is an important consideration, unless you are single and have no ties or obligations whatsoever. Spouses and significant others will have to plan their careers and aspirations around your assignment. The schooling and caretaking of children will have to be planned for. In a small yet significant number of overseas assignments, the inability of one or more family members to adapt to the new environment results in an aborted tour of duty.