4 Reasons Why You Should Move Abroad After Graduation

While many graduates opt to find full-time jobs in the UK, there’s always the option to move abroad to gain new opportunities. In 2014, approximately 70% of graduates opted to make the break and move abroad for a new lifestyle.

Have you recently graduated and are you thinking of moving abroad? Here are 4 reasons why you definitely should.

1.  You’re young once…

You’ve probably heard it all before; ‘you’re only young once’, but when you really think about it, it’s true. At this age, you have no ties, you most likely aren’t married, have no children and don’t have a mortgage. You’re bound to be bursting with enthusiasm to go on new adventures, so make the most of your life now before you settle down.

2.  Travel to new places

Moving abroad after graduation gives you the opportunity to explore new destinations and potentially live there as a permanent resident. In 2014, 58% of graduates moved to New York, followed by Sydney (34%), L.A (26%), Melbourne (23%) and Beijing (19%).

Travelling gives you the opportunity to explore destinations you wouldn’t necessarily choose as a holiday resort, as well as getting a taste for different cultures.

3. Learn a language

Although you might not need to learn another language, it’s always an extremely useful skill to add to your CV. According to expert research, bilingual employees can earn up to 20% more on their salary. Employers look favourably on candidates with a second language, as many firms now work with overseas partners and often require employee translators.

You may later decide to become a teacher of a second language back in the UK. You can even decide to gain the qualification of ‘Teaching English as a Foreign Language’ (TEFL), meaning you can teach English abroad.

Not only is a second language beneficial for career purposes, but allows you to communicate with a wider range of people. Having fluency in another language is an impressive skill to use when travelling to a particular country on holiday, or meeting foreigners in the UK.

4. Career prospects

Working abroad opens up wider career opportunities. You don’t have to pray the dream job will appear somewhere in the UK, you can open up your search worldwide by browsing online. Foreign companies often like the idea of employing native English speakers to build international connections with different firms. The likelihood is that you’ll get a higher position quicker than if you stayed in the UK.

UK employers are highly interested in candidates who have lived and worked abroad, as it shows they can adapt to new challenges. You’ll learn to become more flexible, understanding and sensitive to co-workers, as well as an efficient communicator.

Moving abroad pushes individuals out of their comfort zone, the same way a new job role can. Determination is a highly employable trait within any career. You’ll most likely develop a great deal of personal growth  and return as a more mature and experienced individual. Interviewers may be interested to know what you learnt whilst travelling abroad and how you coped with the huge transition. Make sure you express these skills within interviews and you’ll be sure to go far.

Moving abroad is daunting for any new graduate. Education has kept you sailing for over half of your life and the real world is a terrifying place. But think of the amazing people you’ll meet, the life skills you’ll gain and the experiences you’ll encounter. The world is your oyster… Grab life with both hands and go for it!

Inspiring Interns is a graduate recruitment agency which specialises in sourcing candidates for internships and giving out graduate careers advice. To hire graduates or browse graduate jobs, visit their website