Working Abroad
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- gsd
who here got a job abroad? How did it happen (did you secifically decide you wanted to move or did it just happen by chance?) and what would you recommend when starting to look for a job in a different country?
- rabattski0
research first. if you know where you want to move to, check the job market. if there are actually jobs / or if it's hard to get a job. research agencies where you want to work for. look for job openings. contact them. try to make appointments and/or send your portfolios. even if they don't have job openings. try to make all apps in a small time frame so you can go there for a trip and meet them all.
- gsd0
so it's gonna cost dough basically even just interviewing then!
- spaniard0
first think of where you want to go and why, it's not easy adapting to another culture and you need to have a pretty solid reason to be somewhere otherwise when it gets tough it's easy to jack it in. Once you know where and why, get yourself over there with a budget for a month or two without work, a decent folio and a basic grasp of the language...
- gsd0
well I worked in NY for a few months and I've also been over to Oz for a few months (although not for work) and it's more something I'd like to pursue in the future - me and my GF really enjoyed Oz so it's something we talk about - we know not to go diving blindly in - although stress levels, job DISsatisfaction may stay the same abroad - we'd like to give it a go for at least a few years to see how it pans out
- zaven0
It's not that easy, serious company doesnt interview you unless you allready live in the area. so as spaniard says move in a area you want to work and start knock on each door you think can be good..
Dont go anywhere just for one interview unless is the job of your life!
take your time and dont be to anxious to go abroad unless police is running after you..
- gsd0
hehe no the police aren't after me.
...not any more.
- v3nt0
ah just try it out. i don't think you'd have to be that carefull about it. afterall you can just come back if you don't like it. Plus you'd have to live there for a while before you start to get a feel of the city/place.
It took me about 6 months to get used to london, didn't like it that much at first, but i think im going to be working/living here for most of my life!Although i too wanna try a different country. Maybe barcelona, or paris for a while.
- SirLawrence0
agree with zaven, it is a long term plan. Build up network/contacts by initiative: write the agencies you want to work for. Invite them to see your pofo online or so, try to get reaction by asking for it. You start dialogue that way, and find out how responsive they may be. Demonstrate your intent and ambition to adapt to the culture of the new place. If the agency has people travelling in your area: locate them and talk to them, even if not 'official interview' it is a foot in the door.
If this is truly what you want, make it happen. Things like this need timing and luck, or the combination of both.
- paraselene0
i've done it both ways (the just show up and hit the pavement way as well as the do your research and apply from home so that they have to sort out your visa for you).
it all boils down to the visa question. if you need one, it'll take more time. it's really risky to just turn up and start looking if you don't have a plan for how you're gonna get legal.
- rabattski0
well depends if you want to take the safe way or are willing to take a risk. you might as well move and sort things out when you're there. really depends on your resources / financial buffer. if you really want it then it will always work out someway. but either way it's ofcourse gonna cost money.
- vespa0
agree with v3nt.
i arrived in london with no experience, no money, and promptly left my portfolio on a bus after 2 weeks. ok it sucked for the first 18 months but now i love it, am in a job i enjoy that pushes me creatively.
someone once told me "difficult travel paths are dancing lessons from god" and that's certainly been the story of my career, but now that i can breakdance i'm glad i had the chance to learn even tho i nearly broke my neck in the process.
- rabattski0
vespa, cool story, but why do you have to mention god? god has nothing to do with it.
- rasko40
*bogart voice*
So ya wanna know bout working a broad huh? Well I ain't never met a broad that don't appreciate a good slap.
- gsd0
vespa thats exactly how my 'career' has gone - from one agency to the next, a bit of freelance, even working jobs not in design at all just to get some cash - I've had a lot of experience - but at the same time not half as much as I maybe should have for my age! Thus, my career definitely isn't at the point I want it to be even though I feel I've thoroughly 'paid my dues' 'tis the way of things though - we've all been there at some point
- vespa0
hahaa rasko
- vespa0
vespa, cool story, but why do you have to mention god? god has nothing to do with it.
rabattski
(Jan 28 05, 04:41)
-----------------------------well rabattski sometimes you just gotta have faith *insert jaunty guitar strumming here
i know i know, it's faith in yourself rather than faith in some greater entity but when everything's peachy (or you're still a bit pissed from the night before) they seem like one and the same eh?
- paraselene0
i totally agree with you, vespa, but you're from a commonwealth country, so it's different.
i mean, i had my work permit all sorted out and they *still* deported my (cute) ass.
it's fine if it's cuba or something and you never plan to make a life there, but i don't like playin' with fire when it comes to the home office. ya dig?
if it's an option, though, definitely take the risky route.
- gsd0
so what drove everyone here to work abroad or otherwise - you reckon you'll still be at it in ten years time or is it more of a long sampler thingy? You can tell I'm having a bad day - grasping for some hope in this bizarre industry!
- spaniard0
sound advice, all good I reckon. Depends on each persons situation, how long you want to go for, where etc. etc. Generally though, as with anything, I'd say do your research and have a clear objective otherwise you'll just cane loads of money and go home again. I moved to spain 5 years ago with my spanish girlfriend who used to be my spanish teacher who was teaching me spanish so I could move to spain. So turned out nice!...
- vespa0
so what drove everyone here to work abroad
gsd
Jan 28 05, 05:08
------------------------------i started getting sprawling-suburb-induced agoraphobia if i found myself alone in the house at 3.00 in the afternoon and realised i needed to move to a big city or i'd go mentalist.
i'd been to london on holiday and the memory that stood out was that you could walk down the high street wearing nothing but a bin bag and wellies and no-one would look twice, whereas in perth at the time it was socially illegal to wear anything but jeans and a blue "faux-denim" cotton shirt. i also have a highly developed phobia of shopping centres due to many years spent making coffees for pensioners and dishing out lo-fat soft-serve to bogans.
that's honestly why i came to london.