Mind How you Go

I would advise people understand their interests and investigate what the country has to offer outside work, often the social and activities side of emigration can be a challenge as you need to find something that will interest you as you don't have your friends or family near you anymore to fill that gap!

Find out about the area you are moving to and systems.

Try to get in contact with people who have been where you’re going, or are living there now. Get in touch with social groups or organisations you might link with when you’re there, and people who work in the same job sector.

Ensure you know what you are going to do when you get there, eg. work and housing etc.

Make sure you do plenty of research!!!! speak to others who have done it!

Try to make contact with friends, colleagues who are already living in the country.

Find out as much about your intended country/city. Check out the expat forums on where to live and challenges to expect. Try and get in contact with someone from home who has already emigrated to the intended country and meet them initially to help settle in.

Make sure to have a large network of people you know or know of where you are going.

Learn as much as you can about your new destination and try to make as many contacts in advance through blogs, friends of friends, etc - contact before you depart to get advice on things to bring, cost of living, comforts of home etc.

Research everything, have a house set up even if it is only temporary. someones brothers mothers cousins sister is always in the place your going to- NEVER be afraid to reach out to them- they might love a connection to home- and someday you might be in a position to help some one out.

Have an idea of social events such as clubs or groups that you can attend. Have an idea of how the place is laid out and how yo can get around.

Have more money in your pocket before leaving! Running out of money and stressing about finances while trying to juggle finding work, accommodation and developing social networks within the first 1-3 months was incredibly frightening.

Make sure you bring enough money to get you set up after you arrive – and budget carefully.

Have some back up money, and double what you thought you'd need.

Make sure they have enough money saved prior to leaving. Plan for at least 8 weeks worth of expenses. Make sure accommodation is booked prior to leaving for at least 2 weeks. Join clubs or meetup.com

Make sure you have a job before coming or bring enough money to survive for 6 months without work.

Have enough money saved to make moving easier. Worrying about money while being homesick, hunting for job etc makes everything worse.

Save a lot of money. It costs a huge amount to get yourself established.

Do not have unrealistic expectations of gaining work immediately or finding a dream job/house. Be prepared to hit the lows before the highs.

Don’t expect to live the dream, it doesn’t happen to everyone.

Be prepared you might find it difficult after arriving – sometimes expectations aren’t always met.

Expect it to be tougher than you think.

Be prepared to be homesick, and you just have to wait it out.

Be prepared for rejection from jobs and rentals.

Hope for the best, but expect the worst.

Be prepared to miss home.

Be aware that when the initial excitement wears off it will be hard but you need to remind yourself.

Really appreciate your family and friends at home, tell the ones you love that you love them. Take time to say goodbye to everyone you care about. Try your best to leave on a good note with everyone.

Spend as much time with family and friends as possible. Enjoy being at home and go to your favourite places.

Make some time to be with close friends and relatives before you go.

Have your last days planned out so that you see everyone and arrange Skype dates with them before you leave.

See your family and friends as much as possible before leaving. Even you get annoyed with them a bit, you'll be long enough without seeing them to forget any arguments.

Don't feel that you have to say goodbye to everyone. It's the extra time with your nearest and dearest you'll value most afterwards.

Meet up with as many people as possible before you leave, esp those who may not be there when you return eg elderly members of your family.

Have a date set with a plan to return home for a holiday when you can see your family again, the move does not seem so final then and you have something to look forward to.

Plan short trips home so that you will have a point to look forward to.

Have paper copies of all important documents from birth cert to immunisation records.

Have as many qualifications as possible signed and stamped from an official.

Have a strong resume written up and all contact details of previous employers.

Make sure parents know how to use Skype, Whatsapp, viber etc.

Make sure family/friends know how to use the technology to contact you – set it up for them.