Where should I emigrate to?

TheDruidWizard

Although I have a full-time job, the pay isn't great as it's a small start-up company.

But I'm also afraid to leave, as I'd likely just be out of work for a long time in Ireland.

I was considering that maybe I could stick to my job for another year and in the new year, apply for work and visa to another country.

Should would be the best place to go and what would be the best way about going about finding work?

My skills and and qualifications are a Bachelor in computer science and a certificate in web development and have created my own websites.

Santa Cruz

I would go for the U.K. Give it a year and then you can always consider going further afield when you have more experience

hungry hippo 4

Go to Amsterdam man, you won't regret it!

seachto7

Why Amsterdam?

hungry hippo 4

seachto7 wrote: »

Why Amsterdam?

I just fell in love with the place while I was there. The Dutch are so friendly too.

Jim2007

seachto7 wrote: »

Why Amsterdam?

In general I would favor mainland Europe over any English speaking country, for the work life balance!

Princess Consuela Bananahammock

TheDruidWizard wrote: »

Although I have a full-time job, the pay isn't great as it's a small start-up company.

But I'm also afraid to leave, as I'd likely just be out of work for a long time in Ireland.

I was considering that maybe I could stick to my job for another year and in the new year, apply for work and visa to another country.

Should would be the best place to go and what would be the best way about going about finding work?

My skills and and qualifications are a Bachelor in computer science and a certificate in web development and have created my own websites.

Depends: why are you thinking of leaving Ireland? Is it purely because of the work situation, or are there other reasons too?

If it's purely work, I's stick to an english-speakign country unless you know a foreign language or are good at learning them.

HansHolzel

The Duchy of Grand Fenwick

prince of peasants

the middle east. its kinda of close to home and plenty of well paying jobs.

zweton

where should i move to get really well paying i.t job

Jim2007

zweton wrote: »

where should i move to get really well paying i.t job

It entirely depends on what you mean by well paying IT job…

Generally the work-life balance is very good in Switzerland, if your employment contract is for 42.5 hours a week, then that is what is expected and no more. When it comes to job performance reviews etc… regularly working over time is seen as a very negative point (by law the company is required to pay for all OT, including managers, regardless of whether it was approved by them or not)

I'd say over the past 25 years I've worked may be 10 or 20 hours OT in any one year and that was always fully paid.

On the other hand I'd say that when people are at work, they really work - no socialising round the coffee corner etc….

Depending on your skill set of course, but for a software engineer with say 5 years of experience you could expect CHF 110K - 120K in Zurich or Geneva.

Of course Switzerland is an expensive country, but an experience IT person should be able to enjoy a very good quality of life here. And being in the centre of Europe you can always hope on a train and spend the week end in the South of France, Italy, German……

seachto7

What about someone who has a good spoken working knowledge of French/Italian? (but not necessarily written)

Jim2007

seachto7 wrote: »

What about someone who has a good spoken working knowledge of French/Italian? (but not necessarily written)

The Italian or French speaking part of Switzerland perhaps, but it depends on your skills as well....

Tom Dunne

prince of peasants wrote: »

the middle east. its kinda of close to home and plenty of well paying jobs.

No, I would strongly disagree with that advice. Unless you have extendive experience in a fairly senior post in IT, most low- to mid-level jobs are filled by Asian immigrants who will work for €1000 a month.

seachto7

Jim2007 wrote: »

The Italian or French speaking part of Switzerland perhaps, but it depends on your skills as well....

online marketing/ppc/some seo/some technical writing/finishing a grad dip in journalism?

Jim2007

seachto7 wrote: »

online marketing/ppc/some seo/some technical writing/finishing a grad dip in journalism?

Well Switzerland is a big exporter and some times there is demand for English speaking technical writers. Keep an eye on Monster and Linkedin for possible opportunities.

zweton

what would be the most popular city in switzerland for people to move to.

The Hill Billy

Zürich & Geneva would probably be the most popular as they would have the majority of job vacancies. However, Basel, Bern, Lausanne & Luzern would also be other big enough cities worth considering.

zweton

ok, and one final one :-) which city has the most to do and the best nightlife.

seachto7

Really weird question. What is the live music scene like in Switzerland? I'm aware of Montreux.

The Hill Billy

I would imagine that Zürich is the most happening city for nightlife.

As for live music - there are many festivals during the summer months. The Montreaux Jazz festival probably being the best known internationally.

The Gurten Festival in Bern is a cracking 3 or 4 day event with big acts each year.

There's also a decent festival up in Zermatt underneath the Matterhorn which I hear is very good.

There's been a few big names that have played in Stade de Suisse in Bern over the past few years - ACDC, Bon Jovi, etc. There's also quite a few gigs up in Zürich too.

SamAK

No-one has mentioned WEATHER yet!

I spent a year in Australia in 2011, unfortunately came back and haven't managed to leave again, yet. But once I think i'm done with third level education, no fcuking way am I staying here.

Tropical climates are the job, it's so, so much easier to get out of bed in the morning when you know it's going to be wall to wall blue skies and gorgeously warm.

Of course it can rain like a mother-fcuker as well, but at least it's warm rain and not the miserable, damp, cold, grey **** we get here. I used to wait for the daily thunderstorm in the early evening and go for a walk and just get completely soaked, it's wonderful

You might not care a damn about climate though...i'm just throwing it out there! Nothing like wondering which tropical fruit to go and pick fresh off the tree for breakfast (passion fruit was my favourite).

Ah, forgot to mention the joy of the pacific ocean, and the beaches.....THE BEACHES! Aaaaaahhhhhhhh yes.

Christ I miss Oz terribly....

zweton

Been there done that, auz not for me. Lacks character, history and generally bland. Hot weather gets old fast too. OH and also too far away from everywhere :-)

SamAK

zweton wrote: »

Lacks character, history and generally bland

True, true and true. I thought all the same things in the city. Which is why I ended up living in the rainforest down in NSW, small town vibes, seriously alternative scene with loads of ex-pats, bush raves and gorgeous, gorgeous geography.

Each to their own! I haven't experienced main-land europe yet, so I guess I'd better get my arse to a real cultural melting pot at some point!

I've still got my heart set on having a little wooden house nestled in the trees in Byron Shire, NSW. Ten minute drive from the sea, and a million miles from the concrete jungle of Brisbane or Sydney.

Pic of the landscape, oh my heart is aching! (And why can't I embed an image? The option isn't there anymore....)

http://plant.daleysfruit.com.au/ml/5141.jpeg

zweton

haha very nice.

zweton

actually, is it true wages in switzerland are generally high.

The Hill Billy

Yes.

The Hill Billy

As for weather - in Switz you get real winters (-15C as a daytime high occasionally) & real summers (+30C at times).

Mind you this winter has been fairly mild so far.

Jim2007

zweton wrote: »

ok, and one final one :-) which city has the most to do and the best nightlife.

If you want Irish style nightlife then Zurich or Geneva, but be warned it is very expensive and also not what the locals do....

Social life for the young Swiss, is more based around the clubs they are members of and the hobbies they have.

This time of the year, young people rent huts in the mountains at the weekend, spent the day skiing followed by a fondue in the evening and wine around the fireside there after...

In the summer there is lake side parties, BBQs, rambling trips, cycling and so on...

It is important to remember that although the Swiss earn good money, they tend to be careful about spending it and the idea of blowing it every weekend is not a widely held religion... Which is why most have no credit card debt!

corcaigh07

not to invade the Op's topic too much (somewhat on topic!)

OZ or NZ? Melbourne or Wellington? Thinking of moving in that general direction pretty soon. I'd be pretty much looking at hospitality work