Is working abroad worth it? Luis's honest experience in Lisbon

Is working abroad worth it? My honest answer

Yes, for me it was, even with the doubts I had going in. Before I moved, I wasn't sure it was a good idea. I wanted it to be great, but part of me was scared it would let me down, that the real thing wouldn't live up to what I'd imagined. That didn't happen. It turned out just as well as I'd hoped.

It helped that Lisbon wasn't totally new to me. I'm half-Portuguese, so part of choosing this city was about getting closer to where I'm from. Portugal had always pulled at me, and living in Lisbon turned out to be every bit as beautiful as I'd imagined.

"I had doubts it might not be so great. In the end it turned out exactly as good as I'd pictured."

Why I decided to work abroad in the first place

It came down to two things: I wanted to grow, and I wanted to enjoy life more.  I'd just finished my studies with no real idea of what came next, and staying home felt a little too comfortable, too soon. So I decided to give working abroad after university a try, a new country, a new job, new people, all at once. Rather than drifting without a plan after my studies, I gave myself something to grow into, and I've come out of it more independent and more sure of myself. I'm still learning something new all the time, with plenty more to come. 

What if working abroad isn't what you imagined?

Even then, you gain something, that's the honest answer. This is the fear that held me back too: what if I gave up my life in Germany and it disappointed me? Even if the city isn't your dream, or the job harder than expected, you still come out of it more independent, more confident, better at handling the unknown. Those things don't disappear if the rest doesn't go to plan. That's why I'd tell anyone hesitating that the downside isn't as scary as it looks. You won't regret it. Even if it doesn't go the way you pictured, you still learn from it. And you can always come back. 

How do you find a job and a place to live abroad?

It's far more simple than most people fear, especially when the job and the housing are arranged. The practical side was my biggest worry, the job hunt, the paperwork, finding somewhere to live, but in the end it was easier than I'd expected. The application process with Yobbers was quick and friendly, and someone actually walked me through each step instead of leaving me to figure it out alone. 

Finding accommodation in Lisbon was the part I'd dreaded most, and it turned out to be the easiest of all. My accommodation was arranged by the employer, so I skipped the whole stressful search for a place in a city I didn't know yet, it costs less than finding somewhere myself. I landed, and there was somewhere to live. That took a huge weight off, especially in those first weeks when everything else was new.

If Lisbon sounds like somewhere you could see yourself, it's worth a look at the current jobs in Portugal, they all come with accommodation included, so the hardest part is sorted before you even arrive. ☀️

The doubts that held me back

My worries were pretty specific: being on my own, landing somewhere unfamiliar, having to sort everything out myself. The new surroundings and the independence were the hard part. The language is still a work in progress, but I'm not doing it alone: my employer offers a free Portuguese course, so I'm getting there bit by bit. I'm not fluent yet, but every week I understand a little more.

But the loneliness I expected never came. Making friends abroad was easy, because everyone around me was in the same situation, new in the city, new at work, and just as keen to meet people. At work there were others who'd only just arrived, didn't know anyone yet and were figuring out the same things I was, so conversations started on their own. You always find someone here. I haven't really felt homesick at all, which surprised me more than anything.

"You always find someone here. Everyone's new, so it's easy to meet people."

What does a typical workday look like in a customer service job in Lisbon?

A typical day is a mix of helping customers and a lot of time with colleagues. As a Customer Service Agent I spend my shift answering questions and sorting out problems for customers, alongside a team of other German speakers who came here from abroad just like me. So the work is in German, but the day around it is fully international. Mornings start easy, coffee, catching up with colleagues, then into the questions waiting to be handled. The tasks keep me busy, but it's the team around me that makes the hours go quickly. 

And it's more than "just" a support job. Every conversation is a small problem to solve, and after a few months I'm noticeably better at it, calmer under pressure, clearer when I explain things, quicker at finding the right answer. I've picked up real communication skills and a lot more confidence, and working inside an international company means I'm always learning how things are done somewhere other than home. It teaches you more than you'd expect, which is partly why customer support abroad makes such a strong first step in a career.

Some days are just routine, and that's fine, that's any job. What keeps it good is the people: we'll often end up somewhere together after work without really planning it. Everyone here moves at an easier pace, and somehow that makes even a normal workday feel better.

What is life in Lisbon like outside of work?

Outside work, life in Lisbon is mostly bars, beaches and friends. This is where the city really won me over. Three things fill most of my free time. Cafe-hopping is the first, it's ridiculously fun here, and the city makes it easy to drift from one spot to the next without ever really planning it. The second is simply spending time with friends; some of my best days have been spontaneous ones, ending up somewhere we didn't expect to be. And the third is the beach. After a workday, swapping the headset for sun and sea is hard to beat, and in Lisbon it's never far away. 

What I actually gained from working abroad

More independence, better communication, a new language, and a calmer outlook on life. If you ask me what I got out of the move, it isn't a job title. It's becoming more independent, communicating better, and learning a new language, still a work in progress. And one thing I didn't see coming: I've become more relaxed. Life in Lisbon runs at an easier pace, and it rubs off on you. The biggest lesson is a simple one, but it stuck with me: you should enjoy living in the moment. 

So, should you work abroad?

If you're already asking the question, the answer is probably yes. You do leave things behind, home, your routine, the people who are an easy phone call away. And the first weeks aren't always easy while you settle in. But what you gain tends to stay with you: more confidence, a bigger world, a different way of looking at things. For me it was clearly the right call. Whether it is for you, only you can answer, but if you're already asking, that usually means something. 

If you're still unsure, that's okay, I was too. When you're ready, the vacancies abroad in Portugal are a good place to start looking. 🧡