With more and more Western countries opening up for Indian professionals, there are a lot of issues nagging you. Which would be a better country to work in? How much money will you be able to make? How about the lifestyles abroad? And a whole lot of questions pop up when the golden apple is laid before you. The ready reckoner provides you some answers.

To help you make a decision as to where to go, take a look at the typical requirements and see where you stand a better chance; also check out typical salaries and living conditions.

Where to go?
Country/ Zone	Types of Companies Dominant	Requirements and skills in demand	Salaries and living conditions (for someone with 2-4 yrs exp.
US- West Coast	Software product development cos.	Graduates from top schools IIT, REC Computer Science. Highly technical skills in Unix, C++, C, Java, Object Oriented Technology	USD 70-80,000 is common. Living expenses are quite high specially if you are married. Long working hours, high-stress work.
US - East Coast	Software Development (Projects) and user companies	Engineers in CS/ECE with 2-8 years experience. Skills in ERP (SAP, Oracle Financials), Y2K, HTML, Java.	SAP - USD 80,000 +Oracle Financials - USD 70,000 +Y2K - USD 50-55,000. Others USD 50-60,000. Good saving potential - large Indian community in New Jersey
Europe	Developers for user companies	Graduates in engineering. Custom development in RDBMS, Java, ERP, Y2K	Around 2,000 Pounds per month. ERP salaries not too good.
South East Asia	User companies, marketing jobs for software products	Graduates in engineering/ science. Custom development in RDBMS, Java, ERP, Y2K	Around S$ 3,500-4,000.
Middle East	User companies	Graduates in engineering/science. Corporate IT experience greater than 4 yrs	Equivalent to about Rs 8-9 lakh per annum

How to go?
There is a big rush to find jobs abroad. It is quite understandable that everyone wants to earn in dollars and pounds etc. Don't go abroad just for the sake of it, try to make a long term move. Try your best to get a combination of work satisfaction, money and personal life that suits you best. 18-hour working days and extended bachelorhood in USA do not work out very well for many people - some crack!

Many software companies abroad will be looking more at your technical skills than managerial skills. Body shoppers/ Contractors will make you offers before they are ready to take you on. Typically, they will look out for a placement abroad after they have made you an offer. Allow for about 4-6 weeks for them to actually send you. Don't leave your current job!

It is best to work on long-term relationships even if it means getting to go only once in a while. There are several good jobs in India with a great future.

If you can't get a job in India in software development, it is unlikely you will get it another country also. However, you can improve your prospects abroad.

Never part with money on promises to send you abroad.