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Get me outta here...
  • MichaelTMichaelT
    I know - this is a different kid of post, but... I really want a job developing in the states somewhere, maybe for a year or two. Living in Sydney at he moment.

    Anyone done this before? Am 31 with a boat load of skills. Would love to hear stories etc

    MichaelT
  • bjeanes
    wait for the outcome of the elections before deciding you wanna be in the states haha! Work for slice!
  • MichaelTMichaelT
    Too true - good point!
  • mattmatt
    Where do you want to live?
  • MichaelTMichaelT
    Geez - I really always wanted to pitch a tent in San Fran, but really anywhere would be open for consideration. It's more about the experience. Need to check out the visa situation for my age bracket etc.

    I actually visited San Fran in about 98. I attended Seybold. I remember one seminar all about how PDF would change the world. Great memories. San Fran reminded me of Sydney sans steep hills and trams.

    -MichaelT
  • artagesw
    What sort of development are you interested in doing?
  • MichaelTMichaelT
    Well I have really strong design skills and UI design. I have 12 years of experience in design/print and the past few years, web design, both in the commercial and corporate environments. At the moment (over the past year) I am really getting into developing with Rails (and Merb). So I bring some really great design skills (design theory and CSS) to my projects. At the moment I am developing a CMS and front end for a local Arts organization, and even though I am not the worlds best programmer, I can manage a custom CMS build and deployment.

    I would be really looking to be part of a small team with real drive. I guess you would call me a 'cowboy' type. I have heaps of skills in many areas and would like to be using these on a daily bases. Currently I run a small design business. I am entrepreneurial by nature and need to be challenged. I love to take on the big guys. The ideal situation would be around great programmers and learn while I deliver great design and share that knowledge.

    So that really is the short on the thoughts behind the move.

    MichaelT
  • VonskippyVonskippy
    Not to dampen your quest - but maybe it's just a case of the "grass is always greener" type thing.

    I grew up and went to Uni (undergrad anyways) in Germany. Now I live and work in the States (Colorado).

    Except for the money (make way more, spend less) I'm continually thinking about moving back to Europe. Rude, stupid and boring people almost everywhere you turn (but not everyone), dismal politics (which I have no say in), and a ever growing corrupt business mentality makes staying in the States less and less attractive as time goes by.

    If you end up here (i.e. the States) just be sure to keep a ticket and enough cash to get home as a safety net. The land of milk and honey might have changed more then you can imagine since '98.
  • prionuxprionux
    As an American that has lived most of his life outside of the States (born in the Philippines and grew up in Kuwait of all places), I'll have to respectfully disagree with Vonskippy's analysis of "life in these United States." I am not denying the existence of the things that he mentioned (rude people, politics, etc.) but you'll honestly find these "cons" pretty much anywhere in the world. Of course, your experience will also vary depending on where you live in the States. Want nice, friendly people? Move to the South (full disclosure and bias warning: this is where my family is from). The Charlotte/Raleigh, NC area is particularly nice. Want a faced-paced technologically-charged environment? Try SF or Boston.

    What I see would be a problem is the immigration aspect. Small teams usually mean small budgets so you may have to look for a larger company to sponsor you at first.
  • Gadget
    We could use more people like you in Canada, Michael!

    8-)
  • MichaelTMichaelT
    Yes, Canada would be absolutely great! Was not Degrassi Jnr High filmed in Canada? Man, I watched that every afternoon after school. And you know in winter I watch Northern Exposure. Do you know of any positions vacant? hehe

    je suis une petit chaton!

    I really adore Australia, don't get me wrong, Sydney is amazing. It's more about meeting new people and gaining new skills. It's about change!

    I'll let you all know how I do anyways, visa's and what not.

    -MichaelT

    Note: I forgot for a second while writing this post that Northern Exposure was in fact filmed in Alaska!
  • Gadget
    Vacant positions? Oh yeah, there's plenty of them..

    Check these ~600 vacancies on Brainhunter or the employment listings at IT-careers.ca, just for a starting drop in the bucket.. ten times more than that out there if none of these suit your fancy.. Yup, you can afford to be picky up here.. If you're serious about Canada, I'd be happy to keep an ear open for you at those oh-so-boring monthly interfacility meetings.. Someone's always looking for new talent, and it would give me something to listen for that doesn't make me want to snore, hehe..

    <evilgrin>
    Meanwhile, plenty of Canadians who'd love to work in Australia for a while.. Whaddya know (or can fake knowing) about Fujitsu supercomputers? Spankin' new one sitting in my DC that none of us have even the remotest idea how to make it do what the bosses want. Maybe we should trade jobs... then there'd be a vacant position in Canada, hehehehe...
    </evilgrin>

    8-D
  • mhsemcheskimhsemcheski
    Interesting discussion.

    I've lived in Pennsylvania for basically my whole life. But, my wife is European, and we've considered moving over there. I'm up for it, but logistically its hard to pull off.

    I'm less interested in getting a job over there, and more interested in having a job or business that is location independent.

    Kind of like a VM -- it doesn't care where it is, just as long as it has enough memory and CPU. As long as I have an editor and a project, I'll be fine.
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