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Moving across the pond?
zeppelin
Registered User regular
Registered User regular
So this is a bit of a weird question, and I don't know where to start...
For the past 5 years of my life I've been juggling school and work in some sort of guided attempt to succeed in life. I'm nearing the end of my college career and I realize that as soon as I graduate, I'm going straight into work, and I'll likely never look back. My degree, by the way, is computer graphics tech. I hope to make video games professionally, but that is (somewhat) besides the point.
An idea I've toyed around with since I was about 16 was going to Europe after college. I want to visit UK, Rome, Russia, Germany, Romania (my birthplace), Bosnia, Greece... all of it really. I feel like if I grab a job right after college the best I'll be able to do is a week or two to visit... I want more. I want to just move to Europe. Live there for a couple years (maybe more) and travel all around.
My parents, and my father specifically, are enthusiastic that I want to do this, and they're at least giving me support in this which is great, I'm just not sure if it's possible. The plan in my head is this: Continue to save like hell (I have a considerable amount saved up from the past few years, and no loans from college). After college, move somewhere close to London, get a job and a place to live. After that I don't know. Circuit around Europe, living in different places. Obviously I don't have a clear plan, and that's something I'm hoping to develop over the next year or so.
My question I guess, would be this: Am I dumb in thinking this is even possible? I feel like the costs would be stupidly high, or I'll get caught up working so much that I won't be able to travel. Anybody with a similar experience? Any comments? I'd really love to get opinions on this. My friends think it would be great, but nobody has any advice or suggestions or anything.
Thanks for reading.
For the past 5 years of my life I've been juggling school and work in some sort of guided attempt to succeed in life. I'm nearing the end of my college career and I realize that as soon as I graduate, I'm going straight into work, and I'll likely never look back. My degree, by the way, is computer graphics tech. I hope to make video games professionally, but that is (somewhat) besides the point.
An idea I've toyed around with since I was about 16 was going to Europe after college. I want to visit UK, Rome, Russia, Germany, Romania (my birthplace), Bosnia, Greece... all of it really. I feel like if I grab a job right after college the best I'll be able to do is a week or two to visit... I want more. I want to just move to Europe. Live there for a couple years (maybe more) and travel all around.
My parents, and my father specifically, are enthusiastic that I want to do this, and they're at least giving me support in this which is great, I'm just not sure if it's possible. The plan in my head is this: Continue to save like hell (I have a considerable amount saved up from the past few years, and no loans from college). After college, move somewhere close to London, get a job and a place to live. After that I don't know. Circuit around Europe, living in different places. Obviously I don't have a clear plan, and that's something I'm hoping to develop over the next year or so.
My question I guess, would be this: Am I dumb in thinking this is even possible? I feel like the costs would be stupidly high, or I'll get caught up working so much that I won't be able to travel. Anybody with a similar experience? Any comments? I'd really love to get opinions on this. My friends think it would be great, but nobody has any advice or suggestions or anything.
Thanks for reading.
zeppelin on
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Posts
Step one would be to secure a work permit for the country you wanna start out in. That could be the UK but especially in the Nordic countries and Holland speaking only English should not stop you get a job in the computer industry. The southern and eastern parts of Europe may be more difficult language wise for example the French are very keen on using their own words for all things. Anyway one thing to remember is that once you have working permits for one EU country you are pretty much free to move to a different EU country and work.
A good start may be to get a job even before you move to Europe. There was a thread like a month or two ago about working in the gaming industry that may help in that department. Also take a look at gameindustry.biz and EDGE magazine (A gamer mag that covers both games and the companies behind).
Couple of things:
1. I did this about 4 years ago, so things may have changed. To work in England you have to get a work visa. Work visas are ridiculously hard to get if you're not what they considered to be a "skilled person" (i.e. doctor, lawyer, etc). You may want to look in to getting a student work visa. I obtained my visa through an organization called Bunac. Basically you pay the appropriate fees and they grant you an official 6 month visa to do whatever you want in England. I didn't have any problems working with the folks of Bunac and highly recommend you check them out.
Now, I know you're thinking, "But Reaver, I want to move to Enland, not just stay there for 6 months." That brings me to...
2. It is RIDICULOUSLY hard to get a job in England as an American. I applied to about 50 jobs on my own, none of them skilled (we're talking like clothing stores, pubs, shops). I even hooked up with an employment agency. All told, I had 2 interviews and both of them were through the agency. British people aren't xenophobic, but they are wary of hiring Americans.
Of course, I am ambiguously brown and ambiguously brown people don't do well in England so your mileage may vary.
The point is that you may be enthusiastic about working but English employers may not be that enthusiastic about hiring you. That's why I'd recommend a 6 month work visa to get your feet wet. Money goes fast in England, so if you aren't smart about how you spend it, you're going to burn through your savings in a couple of months.