Archive for the ‘Relocating Overseas’ Category

Relocating Internationally for Employment

Friday, February 10th, 2012

Have you recently been asked by your employer to relocate internationally? If you have been, you are not alone. Each year, thousands of individuals are asked about relocating by their employers. In today’s society, many companies are finding it difficult and costly to run a business. This is what leads many companies to consider downsizing or moving their headquarters to areas in which it is cheaper to operate a business. With this common occurrence, you may find yourself being asked by your employer to relocate.

If you have been asked by your employer to relocate, you may be unsure as to how you should proceed. One of the best ways to determine if relocating for your job is the right decision for you is to examine the advantages and disadvantages of relocation. These advantages and disadvantages can make it easier for you to make the decision that is best for your needs and possibly the needs of your family. Just a few of the many advantages and disadvantages of relocating  are outlined below.

Perhaps, the greatest advantage to relocating for a job is the fact that you are able to keep your job. While circumstances may vary, you will often find that you are given three choices when asked to relocate. Those three choices often include accepting the relocation offer, quitting your job, or being fired or laid off. If you have been faced with these choices, you may want to seriously consider relocating globally, as it will enable you to keep your job and often your current position, pay, and seniority as well.

Another one of the many advantages to relocating for a job is a fresh start. Many times, families or individuals just need a chance to start over. If you or your family are currently unhappy with where you live or life in general, a change may do you good. It is also important to mention cost of living. To save money, many companies make the decision to relocate in areas that are known for their low or affordable cost of living. This is what can enable them to save money. This low or affordable cost of living may also make it easier, as well as more affordable for you to go about buying a new home and so forth.

Some Tips for Moving Overseas

Monday, January 16th, 2012

People have been moving overseas as far back as history has been recorded. Early settlers of the pacific islands moved from the mainland thousands of years ago in homemade wood boats.  Nomads crossed the frozen tundra during the ice age to reach North America. Pilgrims set sail across the rough north Atlantic to find a world that was new to them. Thankfully, moving overseas has gotten a lot easier, and quicker, since the days of the past. But moving overseas can still be a big stressful hassle, so any tips about the process and ways to make things easier is invaluable.

Probably the most important aspect of making an overseas move more manageable is to stay organized. This can be accomplished through keeping a detailed notebook, calendar or any other organizational system that works. With this system costs like insurance, travel tickets, food, lodging and other items can be accounted for so that the budget is not broken. Other items such as documentation, permits and important dates can be kept track of as well.

Another important aspect of moving overseas is research. Learning as much as possible about a new location before getting there is a great way to start the immersion process and feel more comfortable in a new home. Research involves learning primarily about language, but should also include other cultural things like food, music, art, socializing, games and any other aspects of the new culture that you may find interesting. The more you research about your new home the more comfortable you will feel when you get there.

A Healthy Attitude toward Relocation: Part One

Tuesday, July 19th, 2011

The practical benefits of health-insurance are undisputed, but it’s equally vital in the battle for hearts and minds of employees relocated overseas. When it comes to protecting individuals who are being  relocated overseas, health care is a major consideration. While certain parts of the world have health standards that are every bit as good as – and possibly better than – they are in the US, there are some decidedly dodgy places, health-wise, where one can wind up, too. Employees need to ensure they’ve got all the facts at their fingertips regarding health set-ups in the country they’re going to, prior to actual global relocation. And of course employers need to assure them that the necessary systems are  in place should they become ill or have a medical emergency overseas.

First and foremost, those being relocated need to sort out health insurance – and the type they choose, or their company chooses for them, will depend upon their individual needs and those of family members. No one should ever assume that domestic coverage alone will prove adequate – it won’t, for the simple reason that domestic coverage means just that – so it’s highly unlikely to cover, say, emergency medical evacuation from a foreign country. For peace of mind, employees need to know that they can get out of their location fast if need be.

Other benefits to think about when choosing international medical insurance include prescription-drug coverage and wellness. While some plans cover ‘bells and whistles’ options – like flying employees home in required – they won’t of necessity cover routine examinations and check-ups. Employees who’re likely to require this service need to check it is covered in their policy.

Accent Modification Training: Part Three

Wednesday, July 13th, 2011

Linguistics Plays a Part

Accent and grammar are usually established by ages six and twelve respectively. In order to help someone change their accent, an instructor needs to be a linguistics specialist and have the knowledge of a speech therapist.

A language school may claim to provide this training, but beware, a language instructor will not have the skills and training of a linguistics professional.

Accents are influenced by the tongue, lip position, vocal cords and air movement through the mouth or nose; instructors must be able to show students how to manipulate these in order to limit mispronunciations as a result of their accent.

Many companies offer language training to international global relocation transferees, though few offer accent modification training which is often required more than traditional language training.

Companies often dismiss accent modification as being too expensive, or because they feel there is little that can be done to correct the problems caused by accents. In fact, there is much that can be done to correct accent-related problems, and as companies research the various options available they will find that it is surprisingly cost effective and beneficial.

Accent-Modification Training: Part Two

Monday, July 11th, 2011

Improving Accent Through Training

A foreign national’s accent may impede their communication ability, even though they are fluent in English. Recent associated research shows that accents are caused mostly through differences in rhythm and stress, as well as difficulty in making certain sounds linguistically. A common example is putting an emphasis on the wrong syllable.


Accent is almost impossible to improve without training. Speakers seldom can hear what they are mispronouncing and even if a listener points it out to them, they are unlikely to know how to correct it. For example, certain regions mix up L and R sounds because they cannot hear the difference, they may not notice a mispronunciation, but others may not be able to understand what they trying to communicate.

Accent-modification training is provided by universities, global relocation companies and private training companies where individuals are trained how to identify incorrect pronunciations and how to exercise their mouth and tongue to correct the problem. Other teaching methods include mimicry, which helps students correct pronunciation, rhythm and stress by watching videos of native language speakers, then mimicking what they hear and see, including body language.

Typically, most training programs incorporate individualized programs developed as a result of a comprehensive speech analysis. These programs usually last between ten and 20 sessions. For some, improvement can be seen immediately, but it can also take between three and six months for others.

Most programs can be provided one-on-one or in a classroom setting. Classroom programs generally take longer and are less expensive than one-on-one tutoring but one-on-one tutoring is more effective and quicker.

Accent-Modification Training: Part One

Saturday, July 9th, 2011

There are several types of training courses available for foreign nationals relocating internationally to the United States. From cultural awareness training to language training, Global relocation companies can employ several tactics to help foreign nationals better acclimate to life and business in a new country.

Language training may be the most obvious form of support for foreign nationals in the United States. This may be the case for those transferees who speak little or no English, but many Global Relocation companies overlook those transferees who relocate from countries where English is a first or second language.

Some companies may assume that when a transferee relocates to the United States from an English speaking country such as India or Singapore, they have a command of the English language and need little assistance, but what many companies are beginning to realize is that a foreign national who is completely fluent in the English language may still be commonly misunderstood because of their accent.

Benefits of Accent-Modification Training

Companies internationally relocate foreign nationals to the United States at great expense. They are often experts in their field and are brought to this country because of their technical expertise, qualifications and experience.

Much of this value can be lost if they are unable to communicate effectively with their office colleagues, teams or clients.
Not only does this impact a transferee’s effectiveness, but it can also lead to frustration and feelings of isolation.

By making accent modifications programs available to foreign nationals, International Relocation organizations can maximize their expertise and knowledge. It can help ensure a positive return on the company’s investment in the transferee and further the individual’s career development during and after the international relocation assignment.

Global Compensation: Part Two

Thursday, July 7th, 2011

At the end of our last post, we asked a question that would lead into today’s continued topic: What can companies do to leverage technology in order to reduce cost, increase accuracy, compliance and reporting capabilities in the global mobility space?

Unipack provides new technologies and best practices to help manage global relocation cost, data and compensation accrual for tax reporting and budgeting. These are areas that are important to all companies, but in the past, they have been a challenge to achieve in this complex global compensation arena.

New, sophisticated services and programs can streamline otherwise labor-intensive reporting processes
. Additionally, they can provide customized reporting solutions on a faster, real-time basis while also reducing the rate of error. Corporate International Movers exist for these purposes—to provide administrative, back-office payroll and financial reporting solutions on a global scale.

When evaluating what type of program is right for a company—whether it is payroll management, tax preparation or managing global compensation—executives should select ones that are compatible with multiple countries and multiple sets of payroll codes.
Companies always struggle with tying together numbers at the end of year, but there should be ongoing, real-time reporting and analysis so that annual financial records become merely just another step. Let the Global Relocation Companies do the work for you and provide effective, accurate data to your organization.

The Ultimate Plan to Work Abroad: Location

Tuesday, May 31st, 2011

If you’re considering relocating overseas to take up a temporary assignment or you’d like to move abroad permanently and find work there are basically three main aspects of expatriation that you need to think about before you make your move and this article examines them for you.

1) Location

Unless you’re being relocated by your employer to a fixed location you will quickly discover that it a big wide world and you therefore have a great deal of choice when considering which country best suits your lifestyle and employment requirements. In an effort to narrow down your search a little consider any country you’re interested in in view of the following considerations: –

i) The location’s distance from your home country and your family and friends – remember that there will be times you want or need to return home and/or to catch up with old faces. How easy and affordable will it be for you to go ‘back home’ should the need arise and how simple will it be for your friends and family to come and visit you?

ii) The weather – some countries are more or less hospitable in weather terms and someone who originally heralds from Tropical North Queensland may find it a struggle to cope with the wet, grey winters in England for instance and someone from Canada may find is a shock coping with the searing summer temperatures in Spain. Thinking about your ideal overseas location from a weather perspective may well cut down your choices!

iii) Your family – particularly if you’re expatriating with children you’ll need to think carefully about the healthcare and education facilities available overseas and also about getting your essential insurances in place before you go. Some countries are more expensive and restrictive than others…bear this in mind.

iv) Language barriers – if you’re considering moving to a country where the mother tongue is other than your own will this restrict your employment prospects? Can you overcome this by learning the language before you go or do you need to reconsider your destination?

The Plan to Work Abroad: Accomodation

Wednesday, May 25th, 2011

Last but not least is the thought of finding somewhere to live abroad. By now you’ll have a clear favorite in the location stakes but now you need to examine the property market and whether it’s easy and affordable to rent accommodation when you first arrive and whether, long term, it’s possible for foreign residents to purchase freehold property abroad.

If you’re planning on moving abroad permanently you’ll also need to think about moving your household belongings and personal effects with you, and what about transporting your pets overseas too?

There are many relocation companies who specialize in relocating individuals and families abroad, these companies have a fantastic skills base to assist you with every single aspect of the process. If on the other hand you’re on a budget or looking to work abroad for a shorter period of time use the internet to find forums and information sites dedicated to expats, working abroad and the particular countries you’re interested in and you’ll quickly be amazed at the wealth of invaluable information out there.

Financial Needs of Moving Overseas

Wednesday, April 20th, 2011

Getting your finances in order before you take an overseas job is something you need to do now rather than after you get there. When you are already moving overseas the cost of making a call back to your home country can cost a lot of money. Wiring money can be a hassle if you do not already know the time it will take and the process you will have to go through when you cannot go to one of their branch offices. There will be times when you may need to wire money from the country you are in to one of your financial institutions and you will need to know the process you need to go through to do that. You will want to ensure your financial institutions let you manage your accounts online. Having a personal computer is pretty much a must because you do not want to do any online banking from an internet Cafe. Along with a personal computer you will need to not only have a good antivirus program you will need internet security software that can check for fishing sites and scan your emails that you import onto your computer through Microsoft Outlook or a similar kind of Email software.

Knowing how you are going to move your money when you are located overseas is very important. The easiest way to find out what is required is by going into one of your banks branch offices and asking them. Tell them what country you are moving to before you ask your questions because there may be different answers for different locations. Ask them how to wire money from your bank to another institution while you are overseas. Most bank require a form to fill out letting them know where you will be sending money too and a fax and a phone call each time you send money. You will need to find out your banks routing number and if they have one their SWIFT code so you can wire money to your account if you need to while you are moving overseas. Having a bank that has an online banking option is very important so if your bank does not you need to get a bank that does. You may want to use an “Online Bill Pay” service with your bank. This is so you can pay your bills from your bank online. Find out what contact numbers if any that they have you can call when you are overseas if you have any questions.