Getting a job abroad, what a fantastic feeling. Just complete all the paperwork, pack your bags, relocate, and now you are ready to go! Or are you?

Building social and professional relationships is extremely important for your experience but it can also be a bit challenging, especially if you’re moving on your own. Therefore, we have made a short guide that we hope can help you make lifelong relationships, both socially and professionally!

​
Start already
There are plenty of things you can do, even if you have not arrived at your destination yet. Leverage the social media we all use daily, such as Facebook, Instagram & LinkedIn, and connect with your soon-to-be colleagues. Using LinkedIn to find your future colleagues is a matter of a few clicks, and so is sending them a message!

Yes, you will make new friends and connections as soon as you arrive but having connected with someone and introduced yourself prior to starting your new job, can make a huge difference. If you do not have a LinkedIn account yet, it is the perfect time to create one!

Keep eyes open for events
When starting, make sure to take advantage of the social events that are offered close to all international companies. These events can be casual afterwork, language classes, sports events, weekend hikes, and so many other things. If you do not find any events that suit you, organize one yourself! People love other people who take initiative.

It’s important to remember; you are in the same boat as your colleagues. This is especially the case at international companies with many expats. They have done the same journey as you and taken that big step to leave their home country. Take advantage of that; share your experiences, ask for advice, and connect on a whole new level!

Get involved in Expat communities
When working abroad, find out what groups and communities your new home city offers. This work as a complement to social events organized by your employer or colleagues, when you want to connect with people in other settings

Chances are, there will be at least one expat community, with people like-minded to you. The city you live in may even have a community for people from your country. This is where social media comes into the picture again, with Facebook being the best option. On Facebook, you can simply search for a group to see if it exists. Do it now already. Try searching for “nationality” in “location” (e.g Norwegians in Spain)

Keep in touch with home
When you are building a new social and professional network, meeting interesting people, and attending events, it can be easy to get carried away and “forget” about your home country. To avoid that, make sure to catch up with your friends from time to time. You don’t want to forget to wish someone happy birthday just because you are playing beach volleyball!


Perhaps you are looking for a job abroad as you are reading this? Then let us help you! We are experts in finding people a job abroad and we will support you through the entire application process!

See all jobs abroad

​

​