Five ways to build your confidence about setting your sights overseas, charting your course, and working abroad.

Are you considering a job that will require working abroad?

Although working in a foreign country can be an enriching experience and a career builder to boot, moving to a new country where customs, business practices, and even language can feel unfamiliar, tends to feel somewhat daunting for even the most adventurous among us.

However, whether you're moving to a neighboring country, or to one halfway around the world, following are a few suggested actions you can take, that will serve to increase your confidence before you make the change:

Educate yourself about the country-its people, customs, and food

Explore as much as you can about the cultural experience in that particular country.

Travel guides, and online resources can provide you with information about the cultural norms and practices that may differ from those you're used to (e.g. midday siesta), favorite foods, and common recreational activities.

Having a better understanding about everyday life in that particular country will enable you to identify all the things you can look forward to before you even get there!

Learn about common business practices in that country

There are many resources (books and videos) available that are aimed at the expatriate experience.

You may even be able to find one that focuses specifically on the country to which you are considering relocating.

Learning the expectations for how business is conducted can smooth your transition, and enable you to avoid any embarrassing cultural misunderstandings.

Inquire/network-connect with anyone who has experienced working in that country

Ask around.

Call on the "six degrees of separation" rule to find someone who may have worked in the country you are considering moving to. (Six degrees of separation refers to the theory that we are all connected as if in a web. Any person you can think of, so the theory goes, can be linked back to you via a friend-of-a-friend route in a maximum of six steps. Interesting isn't it?)

Therefore, Inquire about their personal experience. And…if you are unable to find a direct contact…

Make a visit!

Visit that country and allow enough time to fully explore the culture and people, and have fun seeing all the sites.

Feel for yourself what it would be like to live there.

Find a fellow countryman (or countrywoman) who might be living/working there and ask about his/her experience.

Chart your path

If all the hard work you've put in so far, has only served to affirm your interest in working abroad you should be feeling pretty excited right about now.

Identify the kind of work you will be doing, as well as prospects for securing that work.

If you are moving at the request of your current employer and your position has already been identified, clarify an initial timeframe for working abroad and consider how often you might want to travel home.

Negotiate an arrangement that works best for you and/or identify the financial implications for that amount of travel.

Let friends and family know where you can be reached, and stay connected!

Exploring, and educating yourself ahead of time is a great way to build confidence to work abroad.

Once you know about the culture, work environment, and opportunities for socializing, you can begin to shift your focus-chart your course, and set sail on your new adventure!