The paperwork gets you the job. The first month decides whether it works out. Most workers who return early do not leave because the wage was wrong — they leave because something in the first thirty days was not what they expected, and nobody had told them what to do about it.
This checklist is what to do, in order, from the day you land.
Before you leave — the five things to confirm in writing
You cannot fix these on arrival, so settle them here:
- The written contract matches what you were told. Job title, duties, hours, wage, deductions, accommodation, contract length. If a recruiter's description and the contract disagree, the contract is what counts. Ask for the difference in writing before you sign.
- Who pays for what. Your flight, medical, documents, accommodation. Get it in writing.
- Your employer's name and address — the actual legal entity, not just a brand.
- A named contact, with a phone number, at the employer.
- Copies of everything — passport, visa, contract, tickets. Keep a set in your bag and a digital copy somewhere you can reach without your phone.
Never pay in cash, and never hand over your passport informally. A legitimate process does not require either.
Week 1 — get the foundation right
Days 1–2
- Report your arrival to your employer or contact as instructed
- Get your accommodation inspected: photograph the condition on day one. This protects you against damage claims later
- Confirm your shift pattern, start time and who your supervisor is
Days 3–5
- Open a bank account or confirm how you will be paid. Ask which documents you need
- Understand your payslip: gross, net, and every deduction. Ask what each line means. See Opening a Bank Account and Reading Your Payslip.
- Learn the safety rules — the ones specific to your site, not the general ones. Ask what you must do in an emergency and where the assembly point is.
- Get a local SIM and share your number with your family. See Staying Connected on Arrival.
Days 6–7
- Find out where to get medical help and what your insurance covers
- Locate the essentials: shop, pharmacy, transport to work, place of worship if you need one
- Check your first payslip against the contract as soon as you receive it
Weeks 2–4 — the things people get wrong
Understand your hours and rest days. Working hours, rest days and overtime are usually set by law or by the collective agreement in that country — not by goodwill. See Working Hours, Rest Days and Time Off Abroad. If your actual pattern does not match your contract, raise it early and in writing.
Keep your own record. From day one, note your hours, your deductions and any payment you receive. A simple notebook or a photo of each payslip is enough. Memory is not evidence; a record is. If a dispute arises in month three, your week-one notes are what you will rely on.
Learn the language you actually need. Not fluency — the specific words for safety, instructions, numbers and problems. Fifty words will carry you through the first month. See Workplace Language Basics.
Do not let a small problem become a big one. If something is wrong — pay short, accommodation not as promised, unsafe work, a supervisor problem — raise it with your named contact. Most problems that end a placement were small in week two and unspoken until week eight. Use the escalation route in the order it was given to you.
If something goes wrong — who to contact first
Know this before you need it:
- Your named employer contact — for anything about the work, pay, accommodation or hours
- Your recruitment agency's contact — for anything about your contract, documents or conditions as promised
- Your embassy or consulate — for a lost passport, a legal problem, or if you are in danger. Keep the address saved in your phone.
- Emergency services — for anything urgent or unsafe
For the full sequence, see What to Do When Something Goes Wrong Abroad.
Never accept a situation where your passport is held by someone else, and never agree to work you did not contract for on the promise of future pay.
Your 30-day review — five honest questions
At the end of your first month, ask yourself:
- Does my pay match my contract? Line by line, including deductions.
- Do my hours and rest days match what I was told?
- Is my accommodation what was promised?
- Are my documents safe and in my own control?
- Is there anything I have been tolerating because I did not know who to ask?
If the answer to any of these is no, raise it now — with your named contact, in writing, while it is still a small problem.
The bottom line
A placement rarely fails suddenly. It fails in a slow accumulation of small things that were never raised, because the worker did not know the route or did not want to be a problem.
You are not being a problem. You are doing your job — and the first thirty days are the cheapest time to fix anything at all.
Related: Understanding Your Employment Contract Before You Travel · Tax and Social Contributions for Overseas Workers · Job Scams and Your Passport
Green Outdoors Global Pvt Ltd — an MEA-licensed recruiting agency. Contact: [email protected] | WhatsApp +91 77789 78988
Visas and placement are subject to the decision of the relevant authorities — no outcomes are guaranteed. This article is general information and is not legal advice; always confirm your rights and requirements with the official authorities of the country you are working in.