Stage 1 of 7 · 6 lessons · ~2 weeks

Decide if, and where

Before you polish a CV for another country, decide whether moving is right for you now and which destination fits your skills, experience, family and money. This stage turns "everyone is going abroad" into a decision with numbers behind it.

Start: Your reason to move

Lessons· one lesson for each topic, in this order

Do this

Write your reason to move in two sentences, and why a remote job from home would not give you the same.
Build a net monthly saving estimate for one city in your destination.
Check the dependant rules of your likely visa on the official page.
Talk to two people who moved to your destination for a tech job in the last three years.
Have the family conversation, with numbers and a plan if the job ends early.
Pick a main destination, a backup and a target move date, or write down what would change "not yet".

Start with· follow one of these

RoadmapFree
Sefism Remote Jobs Roadmap
Sefism
The other way to earn abroad-level pay: compare it honestly before you decide to move
GuideFree
UK Skilled Worker visa (GOV.UK)
UK Home Office (GOV.UK)
The official rules for the main UK work route, so you know early whether your level qualifies

Practise

Numbeo cost of living comparisons
Compare living costs between your city and your destination as a first estimate
levels.fyi
Check pay ranges for your role and level in your target city

Keep handy

Glassdoor
Salaries and employee reviews for employers in your destination
Ireland employment permits (Critical Skills and General)
Ireland's permits and occupation lists, to compare with the UK before you choose

Also worth your time

Work abroad or work remotely from home? (opens in a new tab)Read
The trade-offs between moving and earning from home, answered for engineers like you
Sefism 1:1 MentorshipGo deeper
Talk the decision through with someone who has made it, before anyone commits money

Before moving on: A one-page decision note: your reason to move, your main and backup destination, the visa route for each, your net monthly saving in one city, what your family agreed, and either a target move date or what would change "not yet" into "now".

Tauseef's advice

For the UK, start every search from the list of licensed sponsors and the salary threshold, not from job boards. For Ireland, look at the Critical Skills Occupations List first; many software and ICT roles are on it. If you are considering a UK masters degree as your way in, read sefism.com/questions/is-a-uk-masters-worth-it-in-2026/ first.