What to think of before moving to Argentina or abroad in general

I’ve been asked for advice recently on moving abroad (especially to Argentina) and thought I would share some of my expertise – I’ve worked, studied and volunteered there on three different occasions, so I guess I should have some clue. I will post one advice per day. Altogether there will be five.

Feel free to apply the advice on other destinations – most of them are universal.

1. Think of what it is you would like to do and then work towards that goal

Do you want to work in marketing and communication in Buenos Aires or do you want to live on an estancia in Patagonia (I’m going for number two please)?

If you’re thinking about option one, look at what you can offer and what’s your unique selling point. Are you a native English speaker and fluent in Spanish? Have a degree in Marketing from abroad? British citizen? Start by asking yourself what makes you stand out from the crowd and the Argentines. Why should someone employ you (and have to pay for you work visa) and not a local? Come up with these answers and you will be able to sell yourself successfully. If you need help, ask a friend, colleague, classmate who knows you well and brainstorm.

Keep in mind it might not be possible to get that dream job straight away, but think of what it is you can do in the mean time. I have a tendency to wanting things to happen immediately, but I’m teaching myself to be patient. After committing to three months of Spanish in Buenos Aires seven years ago I sold my funds to pay for the tuition fees (to my parents’ despair), but last year before volunteering at an estancia I worked full time for a year and put £400 into my savings account every month. While I was waiting for that trip of my dreams (my trips to Argentina always are) I also brushed up on my riding by taking lessons and somehow managed to squeeze in some event experience on my résumé.

Before heading off, I also Googled the shit out of the Internet and spent months researching places and websites offering work. Most of it was volunteer work you had to pay for and that wasn’t for me. I’d already bought my ticket though and still hadn’t found anything until two weeks before departure and I stumbled upon an ad on Yard and Groom where they were looking for guides to an estancia in Córdoba. It was unpaid and very last minute but I was very happy and applied. On my last trip I heard about a girl who’d just been travelling around Argentina asking people offering horseback rides if they needed workers. If you actively look for it, you’ll find it.