Mistake 1: Include relocation leave in your overseas contract

I've relocated to Sydney about 18 months ago for work. It's the first time that I signed a relocation package with any company; it is also the first time that I've move overseas to live alone in a foreign country. As a virgin "expat", I've asked many friends what I should include and negotiate in my package. Some of their replies include:

• relocation one time sum to help settling down
• ensure new renumeration covers all living costs
• shipment to and fro
• additional air tickets (I'm not that high up to ask for this)
• state secondment period clearly in offer letter
• etc

No one told me about asking additional time excluding of normal annual leave required to settle down - be it when I move over to the new country or when I return home. It seems that Singaporean is all out to ask for monetary returns; we often forgot about other things that may costs us more than monetary returns.

It's time for my return now and annual leave is very precious coz I'm used to Aussie way of taking LONG holidays; also because I'm in a LDR. My annual leave is probably all the time I have to spend with my man. I can't waste a day or two to unpack and settle down!

Argh! And so I negotiate with the HR. At first, she said: I've tried looking through your contract and it didn't state any additional leave for you to settle down. So I tried to ask if there is any company policy that allow staff a day or two to rest before returning back to work at the end of a extended overseas assignment (I work in a pretty big company where there are countless overseas posting scenarios), she said no. Oh well, I have to use my charm then...finally I asked if HR can request on my behalf for a day off so that I can settle down properly before I start work all over again. I throw in issues like I've no bed coz I shipped it over and it's now spoilt and I need to unpack etc. Luckily I maintained good relationships with my HQ managers all these while when I am overseas - I was granted a day. Geez...it's not enough time for me to cut hair, hunt down new bed and unpack my luggage! But I guess it's better than nothing.

So, always remember to ask for additional leave to settle in (be it your new destination or when you are returning home) - I think 3 days is reasonable!