My dilemma, twinned with Emigration Ideas
Discussion
Evening/Morning PH
NB: This isn't my first post - i gave up trying to get my password reset, not sure whats going on but really needed some advice that wasn't from people who know me. Ive chatted to a very close friend about it and i respect his opinions hugely, and wanted to run it past you guys to hear your thoughts.
Me: 22 nearly 23, no real commitments in the UK, no other half, rents in good health (touch wood), recently finished degree (BA Hons, architectural technologist 2.1), living at home, working on contract work as a surveyor, decent money.
Whats happening: Im lucky enough to have actually found a job with any relevance to my degree straight out of uni, its on a self employed basis, contract work, but still i work for a big company, not to be sniffed at. We have been nailing targets for weeks, and have excelled ourselves as a team, to the point where we have been offered to be taken onto the next stage of work, starting in January, all good so far. The next stage contract essentially ties us in for 2 years to the work, with claw backs if we leave, and there are issues the team have raised as to the payment system changing from hourly, to a 'per survey' system, and with current issues within the company, we are all left feeling unsure if they can deliver us the numbers, even if they have the numbers in the bank, organisation and communication does seem to be a weakness, which will harm our earnings in a more serious manner as of the payment structure.
Ambitions:
Im young, no commitments, fresh graduate, wanting to 'make something' of himself, you know the story. I feel really disillusioned with modern life in the UK, other than a few very special friends and family i have, there are only brief moments when i feel truly happy. I love being independent, i love having a front door, doing my washing, my diner and stuff like that, i don't have that at the moment, I'm finding it pretty difficult to adjust back to life after uni. to the point where I am thinking I need to move out before Chirstmas, but i have no idea where to, as most areas that would keep my job open are total dives.
Interests; Petrol head - i like being either sat in a ditch with rally cars flying past my ears, in a drivers seat, driving anything, or working on a car or bike. all of these things costs money, and i currently earn it so can afford these after paying rent at home (I don't live for free). But i just see the rest of life, and these moments just seem so few and far between, when i have more financial or personal commitments, i can see these happening less and less, is this growing up? the rat race? If so i just keep thinking Ive got to try and be one of those people who do what they love. I know my bolting and trying to go and make my own way in a major way will limit funds, but ill have my front door, which does count for a lot.
Which is where my closest most trusted friend, who is a bit older than me says: "I totally agree, if I were your age, i would be getting out of here, you've got nothing to loose"
I have always had a fascination with Canada, America & Finland (less so as its in the EU, and i do not see good things for the EU). Regarding Canada, a fair number of family friends and friends have been and come back saying it is beautiful. I HAVE NOT GOT ROSE TINTED SPECS ON, THE GRASS IS ALWAYS GREENER etc etc, there is a huge difference between trying to live somewhere and a holiday, there are problems everywhere, but the good bits outweigh the bad bits in some cases, i wanted your views and thoughts if you have an experience living in the US or Canada.
My dilemma:
Plan 1: Sign up to the contract for 2 years, hopefully make enough money, move out, get a place, and begin my 'life' where i live now, most probably meet an other half and essentially live here. then i have all the commitments here and am tied here.
Plan 2: Don't sign up, finish work that week, find Christmas temp work, anything, just something to keep me tied over till the new year, then go travelling to Canada & or the US, see the place, get a feel for it, see for myself see if i like it - if i do, pursue it, i know emigrating is very difficult to canada (unsure on the difficulties with the US) due to the requirements to be granted permission to live there - but I'm young, qualified and enthusiastic and no criminal record, must tick some of the boxes.
Plan 3: Don't Sign up, finish work that week, find xmas temp work. travel to Canada, realise i don't like it or it's too bigger move for me, come home, attempt to find work again - but I am aware that work is rare, especially in the construction industry. But its a gamble, but again, ill be young, graduate and keen, so that has to be appealing somewhat (along with the billions of other grads!) Follow Plan 1.
I will also be posting questions about living in canada in the correct topic areas as I'm trying to go through EVERYTHING to make sure I'm not just 'grass is greener'ing'
Your thoughts please PH
John
PS - this is abit ramble'y, and im aware i have probably missed out pretty large chunks of information that might make my thought process abit more logical, any clarification needed just ask! Cheers
NB: This isn't my first post - i gave up trying to get my password reset, not sure whats going on but really needed some advice that wasn't from people who know me. Ive chatted to a very close friend about it and i respect his opinions hugely, and wanted to run it past you guys to hear your thoughts.
Me: 22 nearly 23, no real commitments in the UK, no other half, rents in good health (touch wood), recently finished degree (BA Hons, architectural technologist 2.1), living at home, working on contract work as a surveyor, decent money.
Whats happening: Im lucky enough to have actually found a job with any relevance to my degree straight out of uni, its on a self employed basis, contract work, but still i work for a big company, not to be sniffed at. We have been nailing targets for weeks, and have excelled ourselves as a team, to the point where we have been offered to be taken onto the next stage of work, starting in January, all good so far. The next stage contract essentially ties us in for 2 years to the work, with claw backs if we leave, and there are issues the team have raised as to the payment system changing from hourly, to a 'per survey' system, and with current issues within the company, we are all left feeling unsure if they can deliver us the numbers, even if they have the numbers in the bank, organisation and communication does seem to be a weakness, which will harm our earnings in a more serious manner as of the payment structure.
Ambitions:
Im young, no commitments, fresh graduate, wanting to 'make something' of himself, you know the story. I feel really disillusioned with modern life in the UK, other than a few very special friends and family i have, there are only brief moments when i feel truly happy. I love being independent, i love having a front door, doing my washing, my diner and stuff like that, i don't have that at the moment, I'm finding it pretty difficult to adjust back to life after uni. to the point where I am thinking I need to move out before Chirstmas, but i have no idea where to, as most areas that would keep my job open are total dives.
Interests; Petrol head - i like being either sat in a ditch with rally cars flying past my ears, in a drivers seat, driving anything, or working on a car or bike. all of these things costs money, and i currently earn it so can afford these after paying rent at home (I don't live for free). But i just see the rest of life, and these moments just seem so few and far between, when i have more financial or personal commitments, i can see these happening less and less, is this growing up? the rat race? If so i just keep thinking Ive got to try and be one of those people who do what they love. I know my bolting and trying to go and make my own way in a major way will limit funds, but ill have my front door, which does count for a lot.
Which is where my closest most trusted friend, who is a bit older than me says: "I totally agree, if I were your age, i would be getting out of here, you've got nothing to loose"
I have always had a fascination with Canada, America & Finland (less so as its in the EU, and i do not see good things for the EU). Regarding Canada, a fair number of family friends and friends have been and come back saying it is beautiful. I HAVE NOT GOT ROSE TINTED SPECS ON, THE GRASS IS ALWAYS GREENER etc etc, there is a huge difference between trying to live somewhere and a holiday, there are problems everywhere, but the good bits outweigh the bad bits in some cases, i wanted your views and thoughts if you have an experience living in the US or Canada.
My dilemma:
Plan 1: Sign up to the contract for 2 years, hopefully make enough money, move out, get a place, and begin my 'life' where i live now, most probably meet an other half and essentially live here. then i have all the commitments here and am tied here.
Plan 2: Don't sign up, finish work that week, find Christmas temp work, anything, just something to keep me tied over till the new year, then go travelling to Canada & or the US, see the place, get a feel for it, see for myself see if i like it - if i do, pursue it, i know emigrating is very difficult to canada (unsure on the difficulties with the US) due to the requirements to be granted permission to live there - but I'm young, qualified and enthusiastic and no criminal record, must tick some of the boxes.
Plan 3: Don't Sign up, finish work that week, find xmas temp work. travel to Canada, realise i don't like it or it's too bigger move for me, come home, attempt to find work again - but I am aware that work is rare, especially in the construction industry. But its a gamble, but again, ill be young, graduate and keen, so that has to be appealing somewhat (along with the billions of other grads!) Follow Plan 1.
I will also be posting questions about living in canada in the correct topic areas as I'm trying to go through EVERYTHING to make sure I'm not just 'grass is greener'ing'
Your thoughts please PH
John
PS - this is abit ramble'y, and im aware i have probably missed out pretty large chunks of information that might make my thought process abit more logical, any clarification needed just ask! Cheers
good suggestion about the camp idea! couple of friends have done them, seem to have enjoyed them, will look into it.
having abit of am idea; see what the claw back clause is in my 2 year contract, get trained up, work for a few months, take a holiday, travel for however long i can get off work, maybe a few weeks, see the place, like a crash course as it were, then decide when i get back, that way i keep earning, which is the biggest concern about getting home, and i keep my options open both ways! Big IF, that work will let me cash several weeks holiday, but im self employed, so in theory it might have some bounce? if it all goes pete tong, ive still got a few more months of earnings under my belt, aim to head out maybe february time.
having abit of am idea; see what the claw back clause is in my 2 year contract, get trained up, work for a few months, take a holiday, travel for however long i can get off work, maybe a few weeks, see the place, like a crash course as it were, then decide when i get back, that way i keep earning, which is the biggest concern about getting home, and i keep my options open both ways! Big IF, that work will let me cash several weeks holiday, but im self employed, so in theory it might have some bounce? if it all goes pete tong, ive still got a few more months of earnings under my belt, aim to head out maybe february time.
Do the 2 years of work as its pretty important getting experience at this stage. You'll find it much easier emigrating or find jobs after travelling.
Save the money. Don't get tied down
Then when you finish you'll be 25 which is hardly old and go travelling, test the water for opportunities.
You'd be foolish passing it up. Especially in these times
Save the money. Don't get tied down
Then when you finish you'll be 25 which is hardly old and go travelling, test the water for opportunities.
You'd be foolish passing it up. Especially in these times
If you're aware that emigrating to Canada is difficult, you should be aware that doing the same to the US is much more so, to the extent that many people emigrate to Canada to make an eventual emigration to the US more easy (there's a separate Canada<->US visa program that's relatively simplistic compared to other countries)
To emigrate to the US direct, you have essentialy 3 routes - marriage to an American, Money (investment visa), or employment (job offer from a US company, or employment at a company with a US presence for more than a year, then transfer out there).
Transferring the later two options into permanent residency and potentially citizenship is also them a chore.
I'd also point out that US is a place where it's a good idea to have some cash reserves.
To that end, I'd recommend doing the two years, both for the money (as above, save it) and the experience (counts come visa time).
To emigrate to the US direct, you have essentialy 3 routes - marriage to an American, Money (investment visa), or employment (job offer from a US company, or employment at a company with a US presence for more than a year, then transfer out there).
Transferring the later two options into permanent residency and potentially citizenship is also them a chore.
I'd also point out that US is a place where it's a good idea to have some cash reserves.
To that end, I'd recommend doing the two years, both for the money (as above, save it) and the experience (counts come visa time).
90johnhenry said:
I have always had a fascination with Canada, America & Finland
Culture and life in Finland is a bit away from what you’d find in Canada or the US. I’ve been over to Finland several times with work which in no way gives me an accurate picture of what it is like to live there permanently but here are some of my impressions.It’s a beautiful place but if you’re serious I’d try to experience it in summer and winter, the winters in many areas can be cold, long and dark-the ground can still be frozen in many places well into May. The experience you’ll find in Helsinki will be hugely different to what you’d find in other areas of Finland. In Helsinki you’ll more than get by with English elsewhere you’d be screwed.
Like the rest of Scandinavia alcohol is highly taxed so if you like a drink and are used to paying UK prices it will hurt to the point you’ll probably just become t-total. Taxes are generally high but you get good services in return.
Finns are a nice bunch (the ones I’ve met) I found the ones I’ve came across to be a friendly if reserved bunch and in a professional context are very straight talking. Work could be an issue for you, the workforce is generally highly educated and you’ll already be at a disadvantage assuming you’re not fluent in Finnish. Professionally I found most of my counterparts (engineer) were educated to at least masters level. This gulf would be breached if you spent those extra two years getting more experience.
Like many places I’ve visited Finland is somewhere I like to visit but couldn’t live there long term. I’ve worked in the US and Canada (for a month or so at a time only) and travelled in the US pretty extensively. Both are vast countries so really depends on where you end up particularly in the US as the climate differs allot and like allot of places in the world you need to have a good salary to have a good standard of living. If you like the great outdoors Canada is a fantastic place, and would be my choice, winters can be harsh but being able to ski 6 months of the year appeals to me. On face value California could be one of the best places in the world to live in for me. In a relatively small area you a hugely diverse playground of mountains, deserts, beaches etc. However I find allot of Americans get on my tits, by and large the non-passport holding we are the masters of the universe types. I don’t want to tar all of our colonial cousins with the same brush but my personality seems to clash with most of them.
You’re current mindset is one that I had at you age (I’m now 30) but I live in a rural part of the UK which I love and have a secure job, home etc so while I’ve been tempted to make the leap a combination of lack of desire/balls has always stopped me.
Edited by a311 on Wednesday 7th November 11:05
joema said:
Do the 2 years of work as its pretty important getting experience at this stage. You'll find it much easier emigrating or find jobs after travelling.
Save the money. Don't get tied down
Then when you finish you'll be 25 which is hardly old and go travelling, test the water for opportunities.
You'd be foolish passing it up. Especially in these times
+1Save the money. Don't get tied down
Then when you finish you'll be 25 which is hardly old and go travelling, test the water for opportunities.
You'd be foolish passing it up. Especially in these times
Evening PH
have been chatting to work guys, trying to get any more info - the 2 year contract is sounding a little more appealing - few questions have been answered to do with work volume and numbers we can do.
making sense to just get 2 years of 'life experience' here, building up a credit rating, save money, take holidays to try and understand what i would be doing by travelling now, so i keep my job open, keep money coming in and get to know more about other options.
i feel so much better about my options
cheers PH!
have been chatting to work guys, trying to get any more info - the 2 year contract is sounding a little more appealing - few questions have been answered to do with work volume and numbers we can do.
making sense to just get 2 years of 'life experience' here, building up a credit rating, save money, take holidays to try and understand what i would be doing by travelling now, so i keep my job open, keep money coming in and get to know more about other options.
i feel so much better about my options
cheers PH! Well, Thunder Bay, Ontario has the highest number of Finnish people outside of Finland - apparently. The climates are very similar and so is the tax on booze, so if you think Finland is too much, I don't see Canada as being vastly different actually. Winter can be more than 6 months in some places... Compared to Australia I have found Canada very bureaucratic and frustrating in terms of setting up a 'life'. It's still an adventure though and therefore fun!
Canada will be easier than the US, but you will need a job lined up first; they are generally more willing to do it than US companies.
US will be hard because you probably won't have enough skills/experience to warrant a US company going through the hassle. Find a big US company in the UK and transfer.
Also look at Middle East (Saudi/Qatar/UAE, etc), Norway, Switzerland - all buoyant economies and each have their merits.
US will be hard because you probably won't have enough skills/experience to warrant a US company going through the hassle. Find a big US company in the UK and transfer.
Also look at Middle East (Saudi/Qatar/UAE, etc), Norway, Switzerland - all buoyant economies and each have their merits.
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