Ask an Expat: How Can I Make Money Abroad?

Living for a few years in a foreign country seems like a dream come true to many.

Those who love the idea of it are often hyped about the travel opportunities, the new adventures, and exciting cultures; no wonder they’re at a loss with regards to how people actually afford this for a few years.

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The truth is that the expats over the world are not living the dream of a tourist, heading from one sight-seeing trip to the next – it would have been very expensive, after all.

Most of them work to afford this excitement, building their business from abroad or furthering their career by making use of their degrees abroad. Here is a handful of money-making alternatives to those considering the same path, making it possible to experience the world as a local without spending all your savings.

 

Work From Your Computer

To many, making a living from your computer is the only way to go. It makes sense, as you can bring your laptop with you wherever you go and may be able to do a decent amount of work as long as the Internet connection is stable. What’s more, the laptop employees doesn’t have to be creative freelancers even though you have an amount of options in this department as well.

Teach or counsel, for example, and keep in touch with your pupils or clients over Skype from the comfort of one of these apartments for rent in padua, Italy, a cafe in Tokyo, or a beach in Rio. Keep in mind that most people who manage to pull off a successful income by only working through their computers would, usually, have something set up before leaving. It’s a good idea to have a word with your boss before quitting your day job and ask if they have any relocation programs available.

That way, you’ll be able to continue doing what you’re used to – just in a completely different environment.

You can, of course, start to build a day-job as soon as you leave, but it will take some time to generate an income and you might have to find another way to make money in the meantime. Don’t worry, though; there are loads of options below.

 

Apply with Your Degree

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Luckily, they need bright heads like yours in the country you’re planning on setting root in for a while as well. When you’ve studied for a degree for years, it makes sense to offer your services and make a living off it when you’re abroad as well.

Remember to check the work permit regulations well in advance of leaving and try to land a job before you head off to the airport. It makes the whole experience a lot better, and you’ll be able to find affordable houses for rent before leaving and even pinpoint where you should live so that it’s convenient with regards to work.

You can get in touch with a recruitment service, for example, who has contacts in the country you’re going to – or you can contact a recruitment company in the foreign country directly. Many of them will be more than happy to coordinate a job interview for you and arrange everything before you land; especially if you’re passionate about the work you do and have a decent degree to show off.

Either way, they should be able to help you a bit on your way. Applying with your degree is a great way to kickstart your career, and you’ll be able to bring back a lot of useful skills and knowledge when you decide to continue in your home country.

 

Apply with Your Skills

When you have a particular set of skills that may come in handy, you’re probably well aware of this yourself. We’ve been on enough holidays to know that the people who are teaching scuba-diving, surfing or skiing are paid to do their job and that they’re quite good at what they do.

The times are changing, though, and you might be able to make money from something outside of the conventional holiday stuff that you never really thought of; teaching yoga, for example, or meditation is a good idea when you have a lot of experience with it.

Remember that those staying over at a backpackers will be less likely to pay up for a yoga session than the older people over at the resort if you know what I’m saying. Be strategic about where you offer classes, and it could be enough to make a bit of income.

Some skills are desirable all over the world and especially if you’re handy and not afraid to work long hours. Carpentry, painting and regular manual labor are often in high-demand; with a bit of experience in this field, you’ll actually be able to make a decent amount of money.

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Apply as a Teacher

Anyone can live and work in a foreign country these days as long as they know where to look. In all honesty, you don’t even have to search for that long; so many are asking the same questions and looking for the same answers, so you can just have a look at Oyster Worldwide, for example, or simply hit the search engine and find a similar site.

All of these jobs are paid and feature opportunities such as training to be a skiing instructor in Romania or becoming an English teacher in Thailand. When you love to teach and have a decent grasp of the language, you’ll actually be able to work all over the world.

It’s a great way to start your adventure and ensure that you have a decent, reputable job before you land. Work for a few weeks in one country, save up a bit, and travel on to the next one. You should be able to find something that triggers your interest, no matter if you’re passionate about animal welfare or sports coaching – if not, just check out another site.

Have a look at this site, for example, for a great opportunity to work as a summer program staff in charming European cities such as Barcelona, Milan, and Florence. It’s a bit of teaching, a bit of adventure – and a lot of kids, of course.

 

How Do I Choose?

As you can see, there are a lot of options when it comes to finding a job abroad – almost as many as when you’re looking for a job at home. While some people dread the mundane predictability of a regular 9-5 kind of office job, others find a sense of calmness in the structure.

What kind of work schedule you prefer should determine which one of these options you go for; the role of a freelancer may not be for you if you need the set hours of clocking-in and clocking-out of the office. And again, if the thought office hours makes you lose the will to live, it’s probably better to be your own boss when you’re abroad.

You will find both types no matter where you go, and the ones who choose to work in an office are usually passionate about what they do – as well as the city they live in. They’re often quite educated and genuinely excited about their job. This kind of office job is probably not for you if you’re working to travel – so find yourself something temporary instead to fit your flexible style.

 

The world is your oyster when you’re prepared to work and enjoy the experience that comes with the job. You’ll be able to make new acquaintances you’d never be able to make as a regular holiday-goer – and, when money is no longer a problem, the adventure can go on for as long as you want.