Getting an IT Job in Europe as an American 187
IvanHo asks: "I'm looking for success stories, hints, tips and tricks from any Slashdot readers with U.S. citizenship that have managed to find gainful employment in Europe. For various reasons, my wife and I would like to spend a couple years working in Europe -- preferably Southern Europe. For the last couple months, I have been applying for IT positions there with no luck. Although, my wife grew up in Rome and her family is there now, she is a U.S. citizen, so that well trodden route to a work permit is unavailable. Any advice? I'm trying to avoid incorporating and transferring myself if possible."
"My resume is fairly strong and I've had a couple companies express interest until they realized that I would require sponsorship to work in the EU. Given the number of H1 folks I work with day in and day out, I'm starting to wonder if it isn't harder to get a visa to work in Europe than it is here. I've noticed that even American companies are posting prior right to work in a country as a prerequisite for employment. Language is a possible problem, but I do know a couple European languages beyond English -- Portuguese and French."
Modify your resume.... (Score:3, Funny)
gus
Re:Modify your resume.... (Score:2)
From an administrative viewpoint, I don't know.
But from a relational viewpoint, it may well ease the first step.
At least, people won't think there is one chance out of 2 that you're a Bush supporter. He's not liked much around here. In fact, he managed to destroy a centuries-long European love for Americans.
Canadians have a much better "image" here. They are supposed to be more politicall correct
Re:Europe has NEVER liked USA (Score:2)
Most of those examples are a result of us provoking a response. Of the ones I am familiar with, the only exception was Germany in 1941. They declared war on us because they were allied with Japan.
In 1812, we invaded Canada and got our ass kicked. in the 1890's, I believe that we had a throw-down over california. The 1917 telegram was a forgery, as i recall. In the 90s, Europe unified its currency to compete with us economically. Not much rivalry there. Just recently, Chirac and Schroeder responded to their
Re:Europe has NEVER liked USA (Score:2)
Re:Modify your resume.... (Score:2)
On the whole, Americans have a negative reputation. Canadians are mostly welcomed. A Canadians biggest fear is that people will assume they are americans, and thus they prominantly display a Canadian flag somewhere.... especially back-packers.
I doubt an American will get a job in france if there is a canadian applying as well, with similar skills. My perception is that is
I did this, but not in Europe. (Score:5, Informative)
All my life I'd wanted to move to Australia, but hadn't been too proactive about it. I met a girl online back in 1999 who was from Australia, and in addition to her being extremely freaking cool, she lived in Australia. So I decided that if things kept going well with her that I'd move there. The did, so I did. Before I moved though, I got in touch with some immigration folks there, folks that run businesses for the express purpose of migrating in folks that wanted to live in Australia. His main modus operandi was marriage, but I wasn't ready for that just yet.
I poured myself over newsgroups about immigration into Australia, reading every post, answering questions where I could, etc. I learned a hell of a lot in a very short amount of time. I decided that my best bet was to just go there and try to find work after I got there. I was lucky enough to be hired by Yahoo! a couple weeks later. They sponsored me on what was to be a class-457 Business visa, that allowed me to work for one employer and live in Australia. My visa was for 2 years, but could easily be extended, and only cost me AUD$150 (my employer paid for most of it).
After I lived in Australia for a while (this part you'll be interested in) I found out about places that act as temp-agencies for out-of-countrymen. They would sponsor you, and they would pay you, but you would be hired out to various places for 6 months to a year at a time. You were in constant employment, but your gigs were short. I think this could be an option for you, especially if you can speak Italian.
Hit the newsgroups, read read read read read read all you can about immigration law, find some immigration lawyers and suck every word out of them that you can before they want money, and just live and breathe the Italian immigration process. Soon folks will approach you with options that I've not experienced and that neither of us have imagined. There is a way, I guarantee it.
Your wife, unless Italy disallows it, could become a dual-citizen. She could become a citizen of Italy and the US, with all the privileges of each and zero downside. Since you're married to her you could get two passports as well, and live in each country as long as you wished, with or without a job. This is probably the most robust option, but would probably take the longest time to set up. If you're patient, and dual-citizenship is an option, I would go this way.
I know this post is all over the spectrum, I'm not a good writer. But I hope something in here has given you an idea. The only thing between you and Italian employment is time. You'll get there if you really want to.
Re:I did this, but not in Europe. (Score:2, Informative)
My understanding is that the US will not tolerate you becoming a dual-citizen, you have to rescind your US citizenship when you become a citizen of another country. The only way to become a dual-citizen where one nationality is US is to either be born there or to have one parent a citizen of the US. But I'd be happy to be put right on this!
Re:I did this, but not in Europe. (Score:4, Insightful)
Two points:
1 - when that was the case it was easy enough to get around by simply not renouncing it (they couldn't legally force you to)
2 - as of 4 or 5 years ago they realised how stupid it was to have an un-enforceable law and got rid of it completely
Re:I did this, but not in Europe. (Score:4, Insightful)
So now you're in the clear as long as you don't make an implicit act of citizenship. My attorney in the US (I'm a US citizen living in London and plan on getting citizenship here eventually) as well as that of my boyfriend (who's dual US-UK national) says that as long as you pay your US income taxes (or file the "I don't owe you anything" form every year), and always enter the US using a US passport (they're really strict on that, it's hit my boyfriend before) you're in the clear, but it can be tricky there.
Re:I did this, but not in Europe. (Score:2)
You'd want to do this anyway. Otherwise, you have to answer all the daft questions ("Were you a member of the Nazi party between 39-45"--"Are you entering the US to perform terrorist acts"). And spend at least three times as long waiting for the one immigration booth that they have set up for Foreign Nationals.
Oh yeah, and be photo'd and fingerprinted.
Entry into the US is getting more and more painful by the year. How long, till a tub of vaseline is an essenti
Re:I did this, but not in Europe. (Score:2, Insightful)
Be aware that very few countries in the world do not have such a permissive attitude towards civil and miliary service as the US does -- most places have some sort of mandatory service, so make sure that you don't qualify. Otherwise you may find that your move to Europe lands you working with th
Re:I did this, but not in Europe. (Score:2)
Re:I did this, but not in Europe. (Score:2)
Re:I did this, but not in Europe. (Score:2)
I don't believe in bad-talking ex-girlfriends, if a current or future girlfriend knows you trash-talk exes, she's less likely to date you. I've never dated anyone that really deserves to recieve any negative words I have to say anyway.
This particular ex-girlfriend was actually very pretty and very nice, I was just a little messed up with regards to my priorities. She wasn't the right girl for me anyway.
Welcome to... (Score:2)
Re:Welcome to... (Score:2, Funny)
Italians try to live vicariously through the pope, but it just isn't the same...
Re:Welcome to... (Score:2)
Re:Welcome to... (Score:2)
I beg to disagree. And would cite one of the major aspects of quality of life: FOOD. Italy is fantastic: unless you only go to the lousy trattorias around the Rome train station, you can pretty much go anywhere and the food will be at least decent, and most probably very good. Hey, it's the only country I know where you can even eat in highway restaurant! Spain is quite different. And even if you take care to only go to
Re:Welcome to... (Score:2)
Re:Welcome to... (Score:3, Interesting)
You, as an American, Canadian, Australian, Japanese or whatever... are the equivalent of migrant worker here to pick tomatoes, even if you have a degree, even if you have no intention of being a burden on the social system. Of course, the US is really lame too. A friend's brother was supposed to go work for nVidia, who wanted to hire him and pay him a lot of money, but since h
Been There, Done That (Score:5, Insightful)
You WILL need a work permit and sponsorship from an employer, but this is a lot easier than an H1B.
You WILL need to make this a 100% commitment and start living like a European rather than an American abroad. Above all realize that the world does not revolve around the United States and not everyone speaks English.
In return you'll get a more relaxed lifestyle, better living conditions and a better public transport system.
Ed Almos
Budapest, Hungary
Re:Been There, Done That (Score:4, Insightful)
I highly recommend to anyone who reads this that they live out of the US for at least a few years. you will be enlightened beyond belief. you will be called a steenking liberal for the rest of your life, but you'll realize that 'liberal' is actually a very good thing. once i was removed from the biased US media it became extremely obvious what the correct US political choice was.
Re:Been There, Done That (Score:2, Flamebait)
Besides, this conversation is about Europe...Australia isn't Europe, but hey that's no reason n
Re:Been There, Done That (Score:2)
Re:Been There, Done That (Score:2, Troll)
The fellow Americans I've met (and it ain't been too many) tend to be businessmen instead of backpackers, and of course they're far more rational and worldly in their viewpoints, than idealistic and leftist.
Re:Been There, Done That (Score:2)
Re:Been There, Done That (Score:2)
Re:Been There, Done That (Score:2)
A little off the track, but- couldn't it also be said that citizens in dictatorships have the ability to revolt? And their lack of revolting is essentially an acceptance of the dictato
Re:Been There, Done That (Score:2)
Re:Been There, Done That (Score:2)
True.
When I find myself, in NZ, being blamed for everything the US is, does, or ever was or ever did do...I simply own up to it:
Of course its absurd, but you actually hear kiwis arguing that there's something intrinsic about "being Ameri
Re:Been There, Done That (Score:2, Funny)
It's bad enough that we get all their products, just don't make us put up with their people as well.
Re:Been There, Done That (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Been There, Done That (Score:2)
by duffbeer703 (177751) * Alter Relationship on Tuesday December 07, @08:58 (#11011547)
(http://www.dufftech.net/)
Informative? You've gotta be kidding!
Nope that is the problem (Score:2)
But for most of the world it truly does. That is why so many people dislike the US. Think about it. All them currency trading and values are based on dollars. Most of the worlds commodities are priced in Dollars. No one in the US gives a plug nickel who gets elected as the president of France but every newspaper in Europe seems to have an opinion about the US president. All there pilots talk to the c
Re:Nope that is the problem (Score:3, Interesting)
According to The Economist this could change soon: and to the US's detriment.
In short, because the dollar is used as the reserve currency by a lot of countries the US is effectively in the position to be able to write cheques that are accepted for payment but are never cashed. However US policy (borrow, borrow, borrow and devlue the dollar so you owe less) means that this is likely to change soon. After all: would you accept a cheque today that know will be worth 30% less tomorrow? In fact its already hap
Re:Nope that is the problem (Score:2)
The hole world is aware of that, and aware of what America has brought to the world. Even in Islamic and Arabic countries (I leave in Morocco), people here still have a lot of admiration, for it's technological power, it's economy, the American immigration lotery is eagrily sought after every year. The only grief is towards the American policy abroad. People have the impression that American politicians have near to zero sensitivity towards other people's feeling and way of viewing the word
Hang on just one second now (Score:4, Funny)
Re:Hang on just one second now (Score:2)
Are you suggesting that transit infrastructure in North America is lacking? I mean, Seattle has a two stop monorail that serves a city of more than three million people. Are you daring to suggest that is somehow inadequate?
"Adequate" or "inadequate" depends heavily on where in North America. Ever use the NYC subway? It has slightly more than two stops.
Re:Been There, Done That (Score:3, Interesting)
I moved to Saint Petersburg, Russia from Santa Barbara, CA two years ago.
I get all kinds of different reactions from the locals here. I've had people throw beer bottles at me on the street. I've had people hear me speaking english and just want to meet me. I would say the reactions are more favorable than non so it's not too bad.
Keep in mind you'll miss some stuff when going overseas, food in particular. God, I miss Ranch dressing, peanut but
Re:Been There, Done That (Score:2)
Re:Been There, Done That (Score:2)
some like us-americans, many of us are at most neutral.
face it, the image of us-americans is quite bad.
and living conditions in eastern europe can be great, if you can afford it.
Re:Been There, Done That (Score:2)
try like hell to get hired by a US company (Score:5, Interesting)
1. The pay will be higher, the taxes lower. (Though your Italian counterparts will get 6 weeks vacation to your measly 2-3
2. Less paperwork and other hoops to jump through. Many EU countries can't hire an international unless they have exhausted all local options. I love Italy, but the paperwork, bureaucracy, and laissez faire attitude of governmental agencies will put you in gulag even if you speak perfect Italian. Even then, your prospective employer will probably need to be DESPERATE to hire you to advocate on your behalf.
3. They may be more willing to overlook your language difficulties (not that you said you had any, but if so, they may view your technical skills as more important criteria than your italian skills.)
I've noticed a number of firms in the Netherlands, for example, have many internationals working in the office, so for simplicity, they just speak english at work. But then again, the dutch on average speak 3+ languages better than the average American speaks english, but that's another story. It's not so in Italy. MANY people speak Italian only and maybe they can communicate in a similar Romance language (Spanish, French). I've noticed younger people speak more english, as do women (something about them doing a bit better in school than men
I would also check out UK employment sites, they sometime serve as a gateway for English speakers looking for IT work in the EU. Most of the employment agencies will have more staffing in their UK offices, and probably have divisions within them for various EU countries.
Re:try like hell to get hired by a US company (Score:3, Informative)
I looked in to working in Europe, and gave it up. Asia is a far better business environment. Basically, to work in Europe, you have to be a rich expat type, with executive housing lined up, saunas and squash courts, the whole expat package. It's not something that you can just d
Re:try like hell to get hired by a US company (Score:2)
Nonsense. (Score:2)
Those are in Asia as well, but are relatively small compared to China, so it is pretty much like being in Europe since each country has its own language ( Malaysia and Singapore have 4 oficial ones). You can hardly get more "polinlingual" than that. I will not mention India since that would be more of the same.
I don't know how extensively you have traveled through China, but to pretend that it has one homogenous language is absolutel
Re:Nonsense. (Score:2)
Mandarin is indeed the lingua franca of China. It was a big shock to me, when I took my translator 60 miles from where she lived, and she said she couldn't understand the local language there. An hour's drive! Besides, I handwaved dialect issues away.
And no, I don't live anywhere near Hong Kong. Only went there once for 3 days a month ago, for a visa run. I live in a medium-sized city in the mainland.
Re:try like hell to get hired by a US company (Score:3, Informative)
Military (Score:2)
SCO in the Military (Score:2)
PLEASE tell me that the SCO experience is needed only to figure out how to best migrate AWAY from it.
-paul
Re:Military (Score:4, Informative)
b
Employment Agency is your best bet (Score:4, Interesting)
I wanted to move to the UK and did my research on the internet, found some openings. But no one wanted to speak to me from half of the world away.
I figured what the heck and decided to go there for a visit. I got a visitor's visa and flew there. Spend a month just travelling and getting used to the country. Then I went in search of a job. It took me about 3 months. Eventually I found 2 agencies that specializes in my field of work. Got 2 interviews which resulted in a pretty good offer. I accepted.
The company sponsored me for a work visa. They had to prove that they couldn't find a UK citizen, nor an EU person to fill the position. That didn't take any time at all since they did have a job posting in the trade paper for a couple weeks.
The company filed the paperwork and I got a visa and started to work in a week.
So, as I was saying. The important thing is to get the job and agencies are very useful for that. There are a lot more agencies in UK than here and they seemed to be very specialized. The tough part was finding the right agency actually. I spent a lot of time in internet cafes and going through a lot of newspaper and phonebooks trying to find one in my field.
I would say work visa isn't nearly as hard to get in UK as it is in US.
I hope my experience is of use to you in Southern Europe. I should point out that the British sometimes don't consider themselves as Europeans. Still I would think the rules are similar.
Good luck! and enjoy the slow pace and long vacations you get there!
Did It in NL (Score:3, Insightful)
It was the best thing I ever did. However, I found that switching jobs was damn near impossible due to language and permit issues. I worked for an international firm that worked in English and, as a result, had decent conversational Dutch, but poor technical Dutch.
I recommend you look into your wife regaining citizenship in Italy. If for no other reason that the US allows dual citizenships and your kids will probably thank you for it.
That also means you have a lot easier time of finding work over there.
Look at local customs (Score:2)
Europe is not a country (Score:3, Insightful)
The reality is that you will be hard-pressed to find employment anywhere in Europe unless you can demonstrate a real reason for them to have you over many other people from their own company (non multi-nationals are unlikely to have appropriate tax expertise for example). Your best bet would be to find some country which has limited local talent but is developping rapidly, some of the East-Europe countries for example, but in all cases look into the particular country in question.
The rampant anti-Americanism in Europe at the moment might be a problem too.
Re:Europe is not a country (Score:3, Interesting)
The rampant anti-Americanism in Europe at the moment might be a problem too.
I don't know about other European countries, but in my experience at least in Germany, even if there currently are lots of reservations towards the US as a nation, these usually don't extent to USians as people.
If you do not try to force certain US mindsets down people's throats you will usually be treated friendly. Several of my friends work sometimes very closely with Americans and they are usually well liked (the Americans).
Re:Europe is not a country (Score:2)
With the exception of wealthy European nations, Europeans LOVE Americans. Poor Italians, anyone from the Balkans, anyone from a non-EU European country? They fucking love Americans.
Re:Europe is not a country (Score:4, Interesting)
I'm not being sarcastic -- it's a serious question. Many countries love Americans as much for what they're willing to spend as they do for their attitudes. I've known Americans who have gone abroad and bought things for a tenth to half the price they might pay inside the US, and know they paid too much as far as the locals were concerned, but they don't mind because they still got a deal compared to normal prices and the merchant was happy to make some extra money.
Buying stuff in Europe? (Score:3, Insightful)
I'm a Brit who visits USA quite often (holidays, every couple of years) and we always buy lots of stuff there..
And that's so *before* you take into account the US exchange rate issue. Mind you, if you get paid in Euros or Pounds sterling you might do well if
Re:Europe is not a country (Score:2)
...now, of course the taxi cab drivers love Americans, too, for the latter reason.
Re:Europe is not a country (Score:2)
I've lived in Europe for over a decade now, and have never met a single European who said he admired America for its freedoms.
Europe extends beyond Western Europe, you know.
Moot point. (Score:2)
Example: if one person has EU citizenship (which may be the case with the poster's wife) then that pesron can live anywhere in the EEA (European Economic Area) and bring his/her partner to the country. The partner has full rights to live and work in the country.
Italy, Spain, Portugal and France may be different, but there are threads of culture, religion an
Re:Europe is not a country (Score:2, Insightful)
yeah, like every day NBC is reporting burning Mac Donalds & mass destruction of Britney Spears CDs.
Re:Europe is not a country (Score:2)
Your post is one big troll. You clearly don't have any idea about the tax laws, even the smallest shops know about intra-community tax numbers and what local withholdings are. There are 375 million europeans, and the system works pretty much the same for all of us, whether in Finland or Portugal. It is much simpler than the US tax code.
There isn't any rampant anti-Americanism going o
Re:Europe is not a country (Score:2)
For another example of the perils of viewing Europe as a country, what language would your CV to 'Southern Europe' be in?
Re:Europe is not a country (Score:2)
the AC
How about her parents? (Score:2)
If that's the case, then you're automatically entitled to a work permit in any EU country. Just watch out for all of the other crap that you'll need to move to most European cities, like a printout of your police record and all sorts of other paperwork (and you thought the
Re:How about her parents? (Score:2)
When I was working in Germany last year, it didn't matter that I was eight generations removed from Germany. To them, I was still a German and would always be a German.
Enjoy,
That may no longer be the case. (Score:2)
This does not apply in other countries, specially southern ones that follow the Napoleonic legal system, in which nationality is decide mainly by the place where you are born with some precise exceptions.
Re:That may no longer be the case. (Score:3, Insightful)
after 8 years of living in germany you can apply for a sitizenship.
got mine that way.
also people born here can obtain german sitizenship.
Re:That may no longer be the case. (Score:2)
South of France... (Score:2)
I did this over a year and a half ago, and now I'm firmly installed in Antibes, which is on the south coast of France, with Nice 20 minutes to the East, and Cannes 10-15 to the West.
My story isn't the most helpful, as I kind of forced my way in. I got a contract position working from the U.S., and made myself so useful that they wanted to bring me over because they felt that THEY were the ones losing by having me far away. They were very reluctant to go through with the official employment because of fea
If you can get sponsorship - easy (Score:2)
In the UK, being an immigrant (business)
How to find work in the EU? (Score:2)
Re:How to find work in the EU? (Score:2)
Re:How to find work in the EU? (Score:2)
Or, instead of going trough a (US-based) multinational, make the opposite, go to a local (US) branch of a (EU-based) multinational.
dual citizenship (Score:2)
Re:dual citizenship (Score:2)
18. If I become a US citizen will I lose my British citizenship?
No. But see link about dual nationality.
Re:dual citizenship (Score:2)
Meanwhile, the important legality is that this has no legal meaning whatsoever to Britain: you're as much a British citizen after saying that as you were before. The only valid way to renounce British citizenship is to walk into a cons
Re:dual citizenship (Score:2)
It's not an easy task. (Score:4, Informative)
Clean up your CV, add fluent languages as skills, etc.
Step 1 is finding a company willing to handle the paperwork and costs involved. Other markets might be better, but it took me over 5 months in Hungary - mainly because I don't speak Hungarian, but also because I'm American.
Once this is done, there is usually a waiting period where the company must present the position to the government to see if there is someone suitable within the country to fulfill the position. This, at least in Hungary, can take up to 60 days before the final decision to award a work permit can take place, possibly adding to the length of time. My work permit required my Passport, diploma (HS or College), paperwork showing residence, offer letter and some other work provided by PricewaterhouseCoopers (they were handling the entire affair with IBM).
Step 2 is aquiring a Work Visa or some other kind of visa that will allow you to work in the country. This usually requires that a work permit already be issued.
Step 3 then involves the rest of the paper work - Social Security Cards, Temporary and Permanent Housing Card, Tax ID Card. I've been legally employed since September 1 and have been given the Tax ID Card and the Temp Housing Card. I need the Permanent Housing Card before I can be issued the SS Card even though I'm already paying Social Security.
In all, from Interview 2, when they took all my documents, to actual hire date, it took 7 months and I'm still not completely done.
I will have to go through this again in July/August (it is supposed to be easier the 2nd time around), as the first work permit is issued for 360 days and my Work Visa expires the day prior to my hire date anniversary. My second permit & visa will be issued for 365 days. I've been told that after 2006, I will be able to obtain a work permit that will be valid for 5-7 years, afterwhich I need to obtain something similar to temporary citizenship.
Experiences in other countries, particularly those that have been EU states for some time will probably have an easier time (maybe, I'm not sure), however I will say that it has been one of the most difficult hirings I've ever imagined having.
On second thought, my fiancee (the reason I'm here in the first place) is going to have an even more difficult time getting permanent residence in the US after we're married, so maybe it's not too bad afterall.
Ttry the Netherlands (Score:2)
Good luck
Re:Ttry the Netherlands (Score:2)
Working in France in a high tech job is easy, if you speak fluent French. Not just high school french, you need to be able to understand, and be understood, by the visa officers. I know quite a few americans working in France, some of whom are using a Deleware corporation and losing 8-10% of thei
I'm in Spain Now (Score:4, Interesting)
Also, forget about trying to get a job here without being here. It's one of those things that is technically possible, but you're talking close to lottery odds. Either you find a way to get here and get here legally, or forget it. Sorry man, I'm here now, and it's not easy. However, I wanted it enough that I am here. If you want it, make it happen. That said, in Spain, go to Barcelona if you want to work. Madrid is an awesome city, but Barcelona seems more serious about everything and the economy seems better. Just an observation since I've only lived in Madrid.
I won't speak for the rest of Europe, but Spain is tough going. Remember, unemployment here is extensive and there are lots of Europeans competing with you for those jobs. Leverage the English angle, as much as Americans are being told that the entire world loathes them (it doesn't) everyone here wants to speak English and every employer wants fluent English employees. Also, if you don't speak Spanish well, right there, 80% of your employability vanishes.
Just laying it out for you. Hope this helps.
Be prepared for Bush bashing (Score:3, Insightful)
I wish were kidding here. Mod me as Flamebait if you want, but I'm here on the ground and I'm calling it like I see it.
Re:Be prepared for Bush bashing (Score:2)
Nonsense. Living in another country means I have to respect the views of the people I interact with and have an understanding of the culture in general (and try not to be obnoxious), but it doesn't mean I have to acquiesce.
In person, and a couple of round trips (Score:2)
Nobody is going to hire you away from the colonies. What a big risk for a HR drone to make, and the trail of paperwork left behind could be damaging to the company if they need to get rid of you later.
You need to show up in person. You need to show the prospective employers you speak the local lingo fluently, at least well enough to get by in meetings and talking on the phone to customers. By meet
I'm in the same situation (Score:2)
My wife's company would like to transfer her to an office in their Swiss office in Lucerne / Luzern, but she's got baggage -- me.
So, they're willing to sponsor her, take care of her visa & other paperwork, help set her/us up with an apartment, and bring her over for a couple of year, while she learns how the European side of her company works and she gradually makes her way up the management ladder.
Meanwhile, I'll have to leave my job and basically start over; there's basically no chance that her co
Re:I'm in the same situation (Score:2)
You'll find plenty of IT job in Zürich, no problems, you can also probably find "local" things in Luzern. (BTW, that's Lucerne only if you speak french). Commuting is OK, there's a wonderful transport system, but working near home leaves you more time with your family. You can also probably find both consulting and full-time salaried jobs without too much problems. Remotely, you can o
Re:I'm in the same situation (Score:2)
Re:I'm in the same situation (Score:2)
If I end up bringing the car, then Zurich is a 45 minute drive and Bern is maybe an hour or so; by train, I'm told that Zurich is an hour, but Bern I'm not sure about -- maybe 70 minutes. By American standards, these would be longish but not unheard of commute times; I don't know how the Swiss would look at them. I have no problem with commuting that far as long as it doesn't prove to be prohibitively expensive over time...
According to this page [isyours.com], as the car will be just beyond 6 months old by the time we
as an Italian working in IT (Score:2)
Resume aren't so important compared to the power of actually meeting people. Having a good resume helps but won't make a difference.
And stay out of big companies for a while - they tend to be too similar to their counterparts in the US, and sometimes
Some Real Info (Score:3, Informative)
Anyway, being only English speaking (but working on my Dutch
You don't say what your occupation is, I'm guessing you're IT as well, but if you or your wife were a teacher or a nurse or a doctor, then you could write your own ticket to just about any country on the planet. Check out the other Shortage Occupations for the UK to see who can be fast-tracked.
If you insist on Southern Europe, language is a HUGE problem, if you don't speak the local, don't expect to be welcomed with open arms. Pick a country, learn the lingo, visit their embassy to quiz the staff, and keep your eyes open for any opportunity that comes your way, not just normal work (charity volunteer, study programs, etc).
As I used to joke with a mate of mine who scored a Greek passport through his parents, an unemployable goat-herder from the Greek islands can move anywhere in EU he likes to beg on the streets, but a highly skilled, motivated, committed, tax-paying, law-abiding want-to-be-a-citizen like me can't even get a foot in the door...
John.
International Schools (Score:2)
They have recruiting fairs in the springtime, in places like Boston and San Francisco.
You might end up teaching a bunch of 10th graders how to use Microsoft Excell. So its not the most technical of IT positions, but International School communities are a lot of fun and its not a bad life.
Re:take advantage of EU (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:take advantage of EU (Score:3, Informative)
I know of an American who got a Canadian passport somehow, just so that she could benefit from Australia's 1 year Work-Vacation program, which does not include the US.
Re:take advantage of EU (Score:3, Informative)
Re:Anti-Americanism is bullshit (Score:2, Informative)
"I'm sick and tired of all these god damned Americans trying to do whatever they can to get themselves into my country!"
6+ hours later, talking to the Vice Ambassador and Ambassador via phone, we go
Re:Anti-Americanism is bullshit (Score:2)
And the countries you mention... (Score:2)
They are justifiable skeptical of the bull in the glass shop.
In any case they treat everybody with a certain desdain, which is not in purpose: they treat each other liket that aw well!