Find someone who’s worked there before and go ask them lots of questions. Even within Europe there are such variations in work practices that it makes sense to double-check before you start. Some Mediterranean countries have the siesta built into their working days because it really is too hot to work there in the summer.

Many European countries operate what’s known as the 13th month – this is a bonus paid at the end of the year that will be mandatory in some places and optional in others. Also find out about things that matter to you like holidays. For example workers in Italy average a whopping 42 days of holidays a year; the French get 37 and Germans, 35. By comparison, U.S. workers average about 13 days of paid holiday time, and many don't even take their full allotment because of job pressures.

It’s also not a bad idea to check out the local rules on what you can and cannot be asked to do – the singing, dancing and wearing of tight t-shirts that Hooters demands is more widely accepted than you might expect. They, Hooters I mean, use a legally enforceable waiver system to get around the lawsuits that you might expect them to be drowned in.

Eoghan McDermott is Director of Careers, The Communication Clinic . www.communicationsclinic.ie