Going abroad, but for how long?

Living abroad is a unique and enriching experience that can offer a wide range of personal and professional benefits. However, when it comes to determining how long you should live in another country, there is no one-size-fits-all answer. The length of time spent abroad will depend on your circumstances and goals. Let us split it up into some time frames.

2-4 Months

If you live in another country for 2-4 months, you will have an amazing short adventure. For this time frame holiday jobs or volunteer work would be most suitable. During this time, you will get to know a lot of people from different backgrounds and nationalities but also learn a lot about yourself and become more independent.

Up to 12 Months

Going abroad for up to a year is most common and also what we recommend! When you want to go abroad for a longer period of time, our permanent jobs could be the best fit for you. In most cases, you will receive at least a half-year contract, if not even a year. This gives you stability and security when moving abroad. 

While spending a year abroad you can get more familiar with the language and an in-depth understanding of a different culture and way of life. Next to that, you will learn about their holidays and how they celebrate local events around the year. 

More than 12 months 

Maybe you already know that you don't to return to your home country. Our advice is to start with a year and see how it goes. Our permanent jobs sometimes also offer 2-year contracts or fixed contracts right away. You can always check with our recruiters what would be most suitable if you want a bit of extra security! The same benefits of going abroad for a year apply, yet you can deepen your understanding of the culture, get more in touch with the locals and can make the place your home. Next to that, you will become a master in the new language and can build a live for yourself.

We are in contact with motivated people who want to spend some time in another country daily, but we have also experienced living in a foreign country ourselves or are still doing it. We want to share our experiences with you to help you to figure out what might be best for you. Most likely, things will be different than planned, therefore, do not get to set a plan and be prepared to be flexible!

Nina, for example, decided to move to the Netherlands for her study and is now working for Yobbers in Spain, has therefore, not returned to Germany in 4 years. 

Our colleague Eugénie also took a very bold and spontaneous decision. She was living in Paris after her masters and felt like this life was not fitting anymore. With her boyfriend, they made the decision to move to the Netherlands in less than 2 weeks. If you are going in circles, just take a new step and change your environment! She is now living in the Netherlands for 2 years and doesn’t regret this decision one second.

Many team members from Yobbers are still living in a foreign country. In most cases, it started with a year abroad experience or studying in another country but ended up in them staying for a longer period. You can never go wrong with preparing yourself to live in another country for at least a year. It takes time to get used to a new environment and culture, and therefore, it is important not to give up too soon! It will be challenging at the beginning but will be worth it in the end. Trust us!

One thing is for sure, it needs to feel right for you! You can plan your time abroad in every detail, but things change, your path will change, and you will figure it out along the way. It's important to take the time to research and plan your move and to be prepared to adapt to the challenges that come with living in a new country. By being open-minded and flexible, you can make the most of your time abroad and have a truly enriching and rewarding experience. If you need help deciding or want to talk to us about living and working abroad, consider sending us an open application or chatting with us!