Should you make that move to Italy?

The Italian section of the forum has a very interesting post which covers the subject of whether a student should take up the opportunity to move to Italy and what this would entail.

This particular post, and numerous others, seems to replicate the process and procedure which many people go through when looking to move overseas. In this particular instance the student in question is on the verge of obtaining an MBA in business management and looking at the potential for employment and relocation to Italy. However, the post flags a number of oversights and initial concerns which include:-

Why are you looking to move overseas?

In this particular post there is no reference as to why the person in question is looking to move to Italy and indeed there is little indication that they are fluent in the language or the culture. A number of replies have suggested the person involved should first of all consider why they are looking to move overseas and implications this will have on their future life.

Employment prospects

It is well flagged in many sections of the forum that the current economic climate is not the best time to look overseas for a new life. Many countries such as Italy are experiencing a substantial increase in unemployment numbers, the economy is slowing substantially and the country itself has substantial debts. Against this background the chances of a foreign national obtaining the relevant visa under their own steam and finding a position in the short term are very much reduced.

As with many countries around the world we are seeing a “closed shop” approach with preferential treatment given to the local workforce ahead of foreign nationals. However, it is much easier and more likely that new recruits to countries such as Italy will stand more chance of employment if they are sponsored for their visa by an international employer.

Where to live

While there is nothing wrong with asking advice about where you should live in a foreign land, when considering such a move, the vast majority of successful relocations would normally see the people involved have a rough idea themselves of areas they want to check out. Asking specific advice on such areas can reap substantial rewards on the forum but walking into a potential move “blind” can often ask more questions than it answers.

Is the grass always greener?

One poster on this thread has suggested that many young people who look to move overseas are often “blinded” by the idea of a dream life in a foreign land when reality can often be so very different. Living a fantasy can be good in the short term but in the medium to longer term when your life overseas returns to a less frenetic pace the novelty factor can often, and has often, worn off.

Conclusion

Before even contemplating a potential move overseas you really need to think long and hard as to whether this is the right move you, what a change would offer you, what you want and how to go about it. A move to a foreign land can often seem like a dream before you get there but unless you are prepared both financially and for what you may experience, it can and has turned into a nightmare for so many people.

Tagged as: Italy, relocation