Oh, also… have a long term plan. Just being in your adopted country is not enough long term. Research details of getting a permanent residence or a citizenship BEFORE you decide on a country, and when you find out the requirements, take them seriously. The last thing you want is to spend longer than you have to on a work visa, because that’s a precarious position to be in. If you think having your health insurance tied to your job is a hassle, try having your very presence in the country tied to it. Some countries will have language requirements for both citizenship and permanent residency, and you should get on that right away if that’s the case. Getting the permanent residence or the citizenship is, to use a metaphor, sitting at a bonfire. It gives you a beachhead and takes the pressure off. Target one and push towards it.
Oh, also… have a long term plan. Just being in your adopted country is not enough long term. Research details of getting a permanent residence or a citizenship BEFORE you decide on a country, and when you find out the requirements, take them seriously. The last thing you want is to spend longer than you have to on a work visa, because that’s a precarious position to be in. If you think having your health insurance tied to your job is a hassle, try having your very presence in the country tied to it. Some countries will have language requirements for both citizenship and permanent residency, and you should get on that right away if that’s the case. Getting the permanent residence or the citizenship is, to use a metaphor, sitting at a bonfire. It gives you a beachhead and takes the pressure off. Target one and push towards it.