Your Overseas Adventure Begins Now!

Work Abroad or Study Abroad

I’m assuming that you’re reading this blog because there’s something that really excites you about the possibility of living abroad. Right now this might be just a fantasy for you, but if working or studying abroad is where your heart is, there are definite ways to make this real for you.

The journey towards living overseas is an adventure both personally and professionally. As with any adventure, the better prepared you are, the better you’re able to take advantage of the little magical coincidences that will pop up from time to time, and isn’t it these magical moments that truly make life an adventure?!

In the weeks to follow I will be sharing practical and intuitive tips for planning your overseas work/study adventure and managing your change process as you move through these three phases: I) Leaving Home; II) Living Overseas; and III) Returning Home.

This week I will briefly outline the planning needs within the first phase "Leaving Home", and end with a homework assignment.

The "Leaving Home" phase has several planning needs which include:

1) determining what overseas job or study program you really want to do and where; 2) thinking ahead about how you can leverage your overseas work/study experience to further your professional career when you return home; 3) performing a job/school search; and 4) personal and professional preparation for your trip abroad.

This weeks homework:

Ask yourself this question "What am I most eager to experience in an overseas job or school placement?" List as many items as come to mind; I suggest at least 10 items. Once you have your list, take item 1 and compare it to item 2 - choose the one that is the most exciting. Take that item and compare it to item 3 (don’t discard the rejected items - you’ll use them again in the next round). Choose the one that is the most exciting and keep on comparing them item by item till you finish your list.

You now have your most exciting reason for working or studying overseas. Go through your list at least one more time to arrive at your second most exciting item (or you might want to come up with your top 5 and go through your list for a total of five times). You will be using your top reasons for further planning.

Jan Anderson © 2007 The Travel Coach