6 Nerve-Settling Tips for Working Abroad for the First Time

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Working abroad for the first time can be nerve-wracking, especially if you’re going solo.

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It’s important to remember why you’re doing it. The thrills of exploring new areas, experiencing moments that you’ll remember, and creating friendships that’ll last a lifetime. The benefits of travelling will far outweigh the initial few nerves.

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Still, they exist, and it’s essential to recognise them.

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You may worry about fitting in with colleagues, coping with a different culture, adjusting to a new climate, or simply finding your feet when you’re far away from home.

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Although working abroad for the first time is not easy, you can do a few things to ease the nerves and shift your energy onto the positive instead.

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In a few years, when you’re on your 40th trip abroad, you’ll look back on these nerves and be proud you’ve overcome challenges, as the doors you’ll open will change your life.

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Here are our 6 tips for working abroad for the first time to help ease your nerves, both before departing and when you’re there.

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1. Plan working abroad in advance

If you’re working abroad for the first time, you’ll probably be in another country for at least a few months.

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It’s a sizable amount of time if you haven’t done it before, so plan to ensure you’ve got everything in place.

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You’ll need to find a job in the country you want to go to, where you’ll need to apply and be accepted before you go. You’ll also need to find somewhere to live, as having somewhere to feel comfy after a hard day’s work is important.

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There are work placements that include food and accommodation as part of your placement (such as summer camp in America). So working abroad for the first time takes a lot of stress out of the situation.

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You’ll also need to set up some form of banking, adhere to local tax regulations, and other legal stuff (which, if you decide to work at a summer camp in America, Camp Leaders can help with).

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2. Find the right job and company

What would you genuinely like to do? Become a wakeboarding instructor? Arts and crafts?

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It’s pointless doing something just because ‘it’s a job. When working abroad for the first time, a job you’ll hate will only increase the likelihood of you deciding it’s not for you.

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There are lots of companies and agencies that work with ascending people abroad for work. Get your research hat on and find what works for you. Check inclusions, support structures, pre-departure help, prep days etc. Everything you need to make working abroad for the first time as seamless as possible.

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Depending on the company, they may help with visa applications (such as the J1 in America) and insurance, too. These are often crucial legal areas you can’t go without, so getting them included is a huge benefit.

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3. Prioritise your health

We’re not saying you have to hit the gym a million times before you go; far from it. But a healthy body contributes towards a healthy mind, and resilience is needed for the rollercoaster of working abroad for the first time.

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There will be challenges, and there will be ups and downs. But if you understand you’ll have to ride them out, you’ll get to the fun times on the other side.

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Some application processes may require you to visit your doctor and have a complete health check-up before you go, whereas others don’t. During this time, you can discuss any vaccinations you may need before you go and how you can go about getting them.

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It’s also important that, if you have any underlying conditions, you have the correct medication or support when away. Getting the required healthcare support abroad is sometimes tough, so you must be prepared and stocked up in advance.

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If you’re taking medication abroad, make sure you have the relevant documentation, as you could be asked by airport security to show it alongside what you’re taking.

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4. Chat with family and friends

If you’re lucky enough to have a trusted support structure around you, use it.

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Before you go abroad for the first time, chat with friends and family about what you’re going through. Share any worries or concerns about working abroad for the first time with the people close to you, and open up about how excited you are about this new opportunity.

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If you run these by people older than you, you’ll find they’ve likely been through the same thing, and they can vouch for how amazing it is once you’ve been. There are very few people who regret travelling, yet there are very few people who haven’t had the pre-departure jitters. It’s normal, and they’ll help you.

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You can also chat with others working abroad, which could be classmates, friends, or even alumni of the work placement you’re going on. You can share experiences, get advice from others in a similar position, and make good friends. If you’re looking for where to go for it, your best bet is to check out the business’s social media channels for more.

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You can also stay in touch with friends and family back home by regularly chatting, texting, and video calling.

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It might seem small, but chatting with the right person when working abroad can change your day and outlook.

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5. Accept their will be challenging moments

Working abroad for the first time mixes unique experiences with challenging moments.

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You may struggle with different aspects of the experience, including making friends initially, dealing with culture shock, and adjusting to a new climate (those damn mosquitoes).

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These are all standard parts of the experience, so don’t be worried if you don’t feel entirely comfortable straight away. You’ll make mistakes, have bad days, and find times when you want to be home with a cup of tea.

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You’ll need to remember to breathe and remind yourself that this is all part of the journey. Travelling is as much about the journey as the destination, which speaks the same for the personal self-development adventure you’ll go on when away.

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6. Connect with others working abroad

When you’re working abroad for the first time, you can benefit from connecting with people in a similar position.

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You can do this through the companies you work for, with good businesses putting this at the forefront of your initial experience.

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Here at Camp Leaders, our summer camps have icebreakers, games, and trips organised in the first couple of weeks to help people settle and get to know their fellow staff.

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It’s the perfect time to chat with others, as everyone else working at summer camp is in the same situation as you. They’ve flown over solo, away from friends and family, all wanting to make new mates.

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Be the person you wish would come up to you, and be that friendly person everyone needs.

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The friendships you’ll make will thank you for it.

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Working abroad for the first time can be challenging, but the most rewarding experiences in life come from overcoming such challenges.

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By implementing our tips above to make the move slightly easier, you’ll get past the initial pre-flight nerves and come out the other side ready to enjoy a trip of a lifetime.