Stage 6 of 7 · 6 lessons · ~2 weeks

The offer and the move

An offer abroad is a package, not a salary. Compare offers on what you keep after tax and living costs, read the contract before you resign at home, negotiate relocation support, and line up notice, visa and travel so nothing collides.

Start: Comparing offers properly

Lessons· one lesson for each topic, in this order

Do this

Put every offer, and staying put, into one comparison table in one currency.
Read the contract line by line and get answers to your questions in writing.
Ask for the relocation package in numbers and check for repayment clauses.
Benchmark salary from local data before you answer any number.
Line up notice period, visa processing and start date on one calendar.
Resign only after the permit is approved or the start date is protected in writing.
Collect your experience letter and final pay documents before you leave.

Start with· follow one of these

CoursePaid
Grokking Tech Salary Negotiations
Design Gurus · Subscription
A structured course on negotiating tech offers, including relocation and benefits
GuideFree
Ten Rules for Negotiating a Job Offer
Haseeb Qureshi
A free, widely used guide to negotiating an offer calmly

Practise

levels.fyi
Local pay data for your role and level to anchor your ask
Numbeo cost of living comparisons
Fill the cost rows of your offer comparison, then check real rent listings

Keep handy

Glassdoor
Salaries and reviews to sanity-check an offer
Wise
See the real exchange rate and transfer fees when you compare offers in one currency

Also worth your time

How to negotiate a relocation package (opens in a new tab)Read
What to ask for when an employer moves you, and how
UAE Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE)Go deeper
UAE contract rules, end-of-service and job changes, from the ministry

Before moving on: A filled offer comparison table in one currency, a contract read line by line with your questions answered in writing, a relocation package in writing, and a dated plan for notice, visa, flights and your first weeks.

Tauseef's advice

Do not resign until the permit is approved. I know the excitement of an offer abroad, but I have seen people sit at home unpaid for months because a visa took longer than HR promised. And ask for relocation support in numbers: "we will help" is not a package.