Depending on whether your move is being supported by your company or if you are moving of your own volition, whether alone, with a spouse, with children, make sure you have some inkling of what the move entails. 

Singles
Don't become a hermit or a bar-fly. Get out and about and try to network. Join expat networks such as the Expatica Forums, socialise with people from the office, carry on with your favourite sport, hobby or interest and this way you likely will meet some like-minded people, even if they don’t speak the same language.

Single parents
Evaluate rigorously the amount of help you'll get with the relocation – if any – and then plan from there. Keep your children involved in plans for the move as much as possible.

Research the school systems, social life, and culture of the place you are going to and ensure that not only you but your children have some idea of what to expect. If your company can't help you, use the internet. Make sure you have some idea of child support in the new location.

For instance, if schools close early, is there after school care?
Don't forget about the other parent. Make sure some regular form of communication is set up, such as email or internet telephony and work out how often the children will be able to visit other relatives such as grandparents.

Pay particular attention to where you live and make sure the accommodation suits your needs. Have a good plan and contacts available to help in any emergency situations and try to stick to familiar routines as much as possible, which will reassure your children.

Couples
Whether you are married or living together, if your partner is relocating with you, then his or her career needs to be taken into consideration, especially if they are giving up a job to travel with you.

For an accompanying spouse, especially when legally they cannot easily obtain a work-permit, feeling lonely, miserable and isolated in the new location is commonplace.

If working is out of the question, then the spouse could consider further education during the assignment, which will improve self-esteem as well as sharpen skills. Consider online courses or studying locally.

Older expats
Companies are increasingly sending expats in the 50 plus bracket abroad as they, as well as having the technical expertise, generally have less family ties and the maturity to take the difficulties of expatriation in their stride. However, be sure to ask for what you need and don't play totally by the book; which if you are a typical 'baby-boomer' you are unlikely to do.

For instance, make sure the company is aware you might need regular trips back home to visit aging parents and grandchildren. If you are self-employed include these travel expenses in your financial plan. .

Regarding health issues: make sure you have access to medical care you might need at the new location.

Younger expats
Companies know that the younger generation are often so eager to go abroad they can neglect negotiating a relocation package which will make their transfer easier on themselves.

For example, if your company doesn't have any special policies for young expats, make sure you can cover you main relocation expenses such as a deposit for an apartment in the new location. This will entail requesting at least a month's salary extra, along with any other necessary outlays you anticipate.

Experienced' expats
If you are a seasoned traveller you may believe you won't have any problems moving to another country because you have done it before.

Beware; just because you have managed a move successfully to one country doesn't necessarily make the next move a walkover. You still need to find out about the new culture, country, city, which means everything from the way people operate socially and in the business world, their values, language, dress codes, where to live, the kind of weather to expect. Be prepared to go back to square one every time.

Administrative issues
Especially if you are self-intiated and therefore relocating without the support of a company, make sure you seek expert advice on social security, pension, tax and insurance, including medical, before leaving the country so you have begun to work on these issues before even leaving the home country.

Make sure that all outstanding tax and social security liabilities are settled before you leave your home country.

A last tip for the road
Lastly, beware of what I describe as 'the four-year wobble', which is generally to do with how good your grasp of the local language has become.

The first year can fly by as you get into the new job, discover the city you are living in, start language classes and generally play the role of the new arrival. But around the fourth year or earlier, the glamour starts wearing off as you face the reality; that you haven't quite achieved what you had hoped to have achieved by this time.

For instance, you may not have really got to grips with the language, or made as many friends as you would have hoped.

Don't be discouraged. This is the time to give things a little push, focus on your language learning again and search out new ways of improving your social network.

Remember why you wanted to move in the first place and draw from that reason or ambition to get you through.

Useful websites

Eures - the European Job Mobility Portal

The Global Networker: a website to help international partners to find and gain employment overseas.

Partnerjob.com: a self-financing association that aims to facilitate the geographic mobility of members' employees by helping find jobs for those employees' spouses and partners at their new location. 

Global Connection: a large global community of expat partners with over 6.000 members in more than 125 countries. 

Studyabroad.com: a source of information on educational opportunities for students to study in other countries. 

European directory of study: Online European directory of study.  

Braintrack.com: a listing of universities across the world 

Expatica / Natasha Gunn

Further reading:  Evolving HR policies for young international professionals

Child and elder care mobility considerations

The family left behind

Coping with teenage repatriation trauma

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