Netherlands

[Equus]

To get some quick money to fund more websites, I'm going to the Netherlands for 3 months to work in January. I'm pretty nervous about it and all the things I have to sort out in advance.

If anyone has any experience of working abroad then absolutely any comments will be greatly appreciated.

[belimited]

Just make sure to get everything in writing, and read the small print.

Things to look out in the terms of an employment contract should be:
• Length of contract
• Agreed rate of pay (make sure the euro to pound conversion is suitable and who takes care of the income tax)
• How and when will you be paid (cash/cheque/straight to bank and how often - weekly/monthly or end of contract)
• End of contract (what happens if it ends early for whatever reason, will you still be paid the full amount and also what happens if you decide to leave)
• Accomodation (how much will it cost, who pays it and when, and like all rental agreements, READ THE SMALL PRINT!)
• Travel (do the company pay this, and do they give an allowance for returning to the uk for weekends etc.)
• Check to make sure you have any certification required to do the job - health and safety, disclosure certificate etc. Also any work permits that may also be needed (as it's an EU country this shouldn't be a problem)

I have a couple of friends who often work abroad for periods ranging from a few months to a couple of years and these are the kind of things they have had problems with in the past.

Hope it all works out and you get the additional funds to get back to what you really want to do.

[Will]

I'm sure it'll all go smoothly in the Netherlands - I hope you intend carrying on promoting your site and business while you are away.

Will

[Equus]

Thanks for the advice and kind words. I'm still going to try and promote the website, I wouldn't like to think I've got so close only to throw it all away. I'm just sorting out getting a laptop and hoping to arrange some sort of internet connection once I'm over there.

The biggest bind will be trying to update the Blog daily. I put an hour or so effort into it a day at the moment (but it probably might not look like I do!)

[Will]

Well worth the effort updating the blog, it help make the search engines like you