What do you actually need to do to work abroad?

Wanting to work abroad and actually making it happen are two very different things.

A lot of people sit somewhere in the middle for months. They know they want a change. They know they want to live somewhere new, speak another language more often, meet new people, and stop feeling stuck in the same routine. But when it comes to the practical part, they freeze a bit. Where do you even start? What do you need to prepare first? And how do you know whether you’re actually ready?

The good news is that working abroad does not start with a perfect plan. It starts with a few smart decisions.

You do not need to have your whole life figured out before you apply. You do not need to know exactly where you will be in three years. And you definitely do not need your “dream job” on day one. What you need is a realistic first step, a bit of preparation, and the confidence to move before everything feels 100% certain.

That is usually how it begins.

Start by being honest about the kind of move you want

Some people say they want to work abroad, but what they really want is a fresh start somewhere sunny. Others want to improve their English, build an international CV, or finally leave home for the first time. Some want something stable. Others just want a job that gets them out there.

Those are not the same thing, and it helps to know the difference.

If what you want is a smooth first move with structure and support, then jobs with relocation help, training, or accommodation options make much more sense than random applications sent into the void. That is why a lot of candidates begin with roles in customer service, support, or operations. They are often the easiest way to get into an international environment and start building from there.

At CityJobOffers, that first step can look very different depending on your language and profile. It might be a role like German-speaking Customer Service Agent in Greece, which includes a remote setup, relocation support and temporary accommodation, or Dutch-speaking Operations Customer Expert in Lisbon, which offers accommodation options, health insurance from day one and a full-time contract in Portugal.

That is why the first real question is not “Can I work abroad?” It is: what kind of abroad experience am I actually looking for right now?

Choose a first job that opens the door

This is where many people overcomplicate things.

Your first job abroad does not need to be the role that defines your whole career. It just needs to be the role that gets you moving.

That first role can give you income, routine, confidence, local experience, and something very valuable: proof that you can work in an international environment. Once that part is real, your next move becomes easier. You are no longer imagining life abroad. You are already in it.

For some people, that first step is clearly customer support. For others, it is something a bit more commercial, like German-speaking Outbound Sales Representative in Athens, a hybrid role with salary, bonus and private health insurance. And if your profile leans more technical, something like Tech Support Advisor (Dutch-speaking) in Athens, Greece – Join Lenovo! shows that “working abroad” does not only mean generic entry-level jobs — it can also be a more specialised move with strong benefits and room to grow.

A lot of international careers begin exactly like that: not with the perfect job, but with the right first one.

Get your CV ready for international applications

Before you apply, make sure your CV is helping you, not slowing you down.

It should be clear, easy to scan, and written for the kind of role you want now. If you are applying in English, send an English CV. If the job is customer-facing, show communication skills. If it is support, show patience, structure and problem-solving. If it is sales, make sure your results or commercial mindset are visible.

And one more thing: make your availability clear.

Recruiters hiring for abroad roles want to understand quickly whether you are serious about relocating, whether you already have the right to work in that country, and whether your language level matches the role. If they have to guess too much, they move on.

Your CV does not need to be flashy. It just needs to make sense fast.

Understand the practical side before you say yes

This part matters more than people think.

A job offer abroad can sound amazing at first, but what really matters is how manageable the move will feel in real life. Salary matters, yes. But so do accommodation, relocation support, health insurance, training, schedule, and what you will need during your first month.

That is why benefits are not a small detail. In the examples above, some CityJobOffers roles include temporary accommodation, relocation support, paid training, meal allowance, bonuses, health insurance or hybrid and remote options depending on the position. Those things can make the difference between a stressful move and a smooth one.

Before accepting anything, ask yourself a few simple questions. Can I afford the first month? Do I need to pay a deposit? Is there housing help? Will I need to move immediately? Does the schedule fit the kind of life I want there?

Working abroad feels much better when the landing is realistic.

Do not wait to feel “fully ready”

This is probably the biggest trap.

Many people wait because they think they need more confidence, more experience, better timing, better savings, better everything. But the truth is that most people who move abroad do it while still feeling a bit nervous.

That is normal.

You can be excited and unsure at the same time. You can want the change and still feel scared of it. You can have doubts and still be ready enough to begin.

What usually helps is not trying to solve the whole future in one day. Just focus on the next real step. Update your CV. Decide which countries feel realistic. Apply to jobs that match your language and profile. Talk to recruiters. Ask practical questions. Let the process become real.

That is how momentum starts.

So, what do you actually need to do to work abroad?

You need less perfection than you think, and more action than you might expect.

You need to understand what kind of move you want, choose jobs that make sense for your current profile, prepare your CV properly, and pay attention to the practical side of relocating. Then you need to start applying to real opportunities, not just imagining them.

Because that is the difference in the end.

“Working abroad one day” stays vague for a very long time. But applying to a real role in Lisbon or Athens, speaking to a recruiter, and seeing that companies are genuinely hiring people like you? That changes everything.

It stops being an idea and starts becoming a plan.

And very often, that is all you need to begin.