Had enough - where to go now?
Discussion
I heard some news today which has really finished off the little good-feeling I had towards this horrible pile of festering discent that Great Britain has become. When exactly did the 'Great' get forgotten I wonder?
I have no dependants and no mortgage, am 28 (this week
) and have decided to take my skills elsewhere. My long suffering girlfriend has agreed to make the move as well 
So the big question is where to focus our research. Ideally we want to be moved by the end of the summer.
I'm a (soon to be chartered) surveyor (property valuations and taxation) and Claire is an Account Manager at an advertising agency.
My company have an office in Sydney and Melborne, and also associate offices accross the USA and Canada. Claire doesn't have that luxury, but is pretty certain she could work for another non-uk ad agency fairly easily.
How do we go about looking for jobs abroad? I can obviously make quiet enquiries at work, but would like to look at other avenues as well, if possible.
Any comments or suggestions would be very well recieved - also has anyone on here made a major move like this?
I have no dependants and no mortgage, am 28 (this week
) and have decided to take my skills elsewhere. My long suffering girlfriend has agreed to make the move as well So the big question is where to focus our research. Ideally we want to be moved by the end of the summer.
I'm a (soon to be chartered) surveyor (property valuations and taxation) and Claire is an Account Manager at an advertising agency.
My company have an office in Sydney and Melborne, and also associate offices accross the USA and Canada. Claire doesn't have that luxury, but is pretty certain she could work for another non-uk ad agency fairly easily.
How do we go about looking for jobs abroad? I can obviously make quiet enquiries at work, but would like to look at other avenues as well, if possible.
Any comments or suggestions would be very well recieved - also has anyone on here made a major move like this?
"Great" in "Great Britain" does not mean what most people tend to assume. It just means "Big" (which is the correct meaning of the word "Great"). In that respect, Britain is as "Great" as it ever was.
Is there ANYWHERE in the developed world where you will not find things to annoy you? From what I can see, most countries with a well developed legal system a (relatively) well educated population and an active media will exhibit very similar characteristics. Talk to Americans, Aussies, New Zealanders or anyone from virtually any European country and they will be able to list a pile of things that are wrong with the country they live in.
Don't fall for the "grass is greener" syndrome. It's not always true.
>> Edited by Eric Mc on Monday 14th March 13:56
Is there ANYWHERE in the developed world where you will not find things to annoy you? From what I can see, most countries with a well developed legal system a (relatively) well educated population and an active media will exhibit very similar characteristics. Talk to Americans, Aussies, New Zealanders or anyone from virtually any European country and they will be able to list a pile of things that are wrong with the country they live in.
Don't fall for the "grass is greener" syndrome. It's not always true.
>> Edited by Eric Mc on Monday 14th March 13:56
Eric Mc said:
Don't fall for the "grass is greener" syndrome. It's not always true.
>> Edited by Eric Mc on Monday 14th March 13:56
I quite agree. However, for me it seems that the list of positives are being overshadowed by the negatives at the moment, with little chance of a rebalance. Without anyone (aside from barclaycard
) depending on us, we decided to see what else is on offer. I'm not expecting a mythical eutopia - but maybe a bit more house for my money, some land, a bit of sun and most importantly not looking over my shoulder everytime I leave the house for fear of gangs of yobs with no fear of the legal system - or at least the ability to defend myself properly.
max
[quote=Eric Mc From what I can see, most countries with a well developed legal system a (relatively) well educated population and an active media will exhibit very similar characteristics. Talk to Americans, Aussies, New Zealanders or anyone from virtually any European country and they will be able to list a pile of things that are wrong with the country they live in.
>> Edited by Eric Mc on Monday 14th March 13:56[/quote]
You have a point actually in that people tend to cherry pick what countries they compare the UK too, depending on what they are complaining about.
With France in health
Germany in speed limits
Australia in immigration policy etc
On the other hand the UK has a higher crime rate than most of the developed world-so moving somewhere else you might be able to get away from that at least.
>> Edited by Eric Mc on Monday 14th March 13:56[/quote]
You have a point actually in that people tend to cherry pick what countries they compare the UK too, depending on what they are complaining about.
With France in health
Germany in speed limits
Australia in immigration policy etc
On the other hand the UK has a higher crime rate than most of the developed world-so moving somewhere else you might be able to get away from that at least.
I would sort out your qualifications and work out where you can work without having to requalify and where your skills are in short supply. Then go there for a break and start knocking on doors, there is no substitute for being there and it will give you an idea of the realities of the place.
As for your Girl she will find that advertising is one of the most easily portable occupations, my GF is working for an agency here and we have also worked in 3 other countries. If you start from a centre of excellence like London in advertising, you will always be employable.
As for your Girl she will find that advertising is one of the most easily portable occupations, my GF is working for an agency here and we have also worked in 3 other countries. If you start from a centre of excellence like London in advertising, you will always be employable.
Why not try a different part of the UK. I've never had to look over my shoulder for gangs of yobs in my life. Just because you happen to live in a nasty part of the country doesn't mean that you should give up on everything and leave.
Also, you need to be content with metaphorically sticking two fingers up at your friends, family and anyone who enjoys your company when you do decide to emigrate.
Also, you need to be content with metaphorically sticking two fingers up at your friends, family and anyone who enjoys your company when you do decide to emigrate.
greenlandy said:
Take a year off work, travel the world, find a country you like and then find out about working/living there.
by far the best way to approach this.
i loved living in manhattan but my work visa expired, sob.
travel a bit first (maybe you have already?) see some contrasting countries and cultures and see where - to you - offers the best work/life balance.
i don't blame you re: considering leaving the uk (i refuse to call it "gb" - what a nonsense - hubris!) - the uk is great if you are loaded and can insulate yourself from the grottier side of blighty's underclasses and st tony bliar's nannying. otherwise, it's just another place to live/work.
Well, unfortunately I slept through languages at school so only speak English.
I would dearly love to travel 'backpacker style' but don't think I could warrant anywhere near a year as I would be left behind in terms of career development. Perhaps 3 months though?
Ok. The 'gangs of yobs' statement was very general. I actually work in Mayfair and live in a nicer area of Peterborough (there are some ). However, I've had a few experiences of the lower ebb of UK society - and heard today that a very, very good friend was involved in an unprovoked violent mugging incident which left his housemate dead!
Moving away has been something which Claire and I always had on the cards, to the point where we purposely picked transferable careers. This latest evil, evil crime has caused us to take a step back and do something which we've talked about but haven't done for ages. You never know and all that...
I would dearly love to travel 'backpacker style' but don't think I could warrant anywhere near a year as I would be left behind in terms of career development. Perhaps 3 months though?
Ok. The 'gangs of yobs' statement was very general. I actually work in Mayfair and live in a nicer area of Peterborough (there are some
). However, I've had a few experiences of the lower ebb of UK society - and heard today that a very, very good friend was involved in an unprovoked violent mugging incident which left his housemate dead! Moving away has been something which Claire and I always had on the cards, to the point where we purposely picked transferable careers. This latest evil, evil crime has caused us to take a step back and do something which we've talked about but haven't done for ages. You never know and all that...
The point I was making was that every place has its problems. Sooner or later, if you emigrated elsewhere and had lived there for a number of years you could sink into whinging and moaning about the "problems" of that country.
I speak from experience. I "emigrated" from the Irish Republic nearly 20 years ago and I have to stop myself getting sucked into "Britain is Crap" debates. Britain does have its problems - as does everywhere else.
I speak from experience. I "emigrated" from the Irish Republic nearly 20 years ago and I have to stop myself getting sucked into "Britain is Crap" debates. Britain does have its problems - as does everywhere else.
egoboss said:
have heard good things about Canada...
toronto is very nice indeed.
My mum re-married and moved to Greater Toronto area in the late 70's.
I've spent quite a bit of time across there, but only on holiday. In the late 80's Mrs Sparky and I seriously toyed with the idea of moving across there.
We had the contacts and sponsors and could have got jobs and homes there no problem. After considerable reflection we decided that the grass wasn't any greener really, even if there was a whole lot more of it.
We've never regretted our decision to stay put.
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