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GMC Forum _ CHILL OUT _ Huge Decision On Rest Of Life
Posted by: OrganisedConfusion Mar 3 2008, 05:22 PM
Ok. I'm 24 and slowly getting older and I have a HUGE choice to make. Do I stay in England or move to America/New Zealand/Japan etc.? I have a very highly qualified and hugely sort after job. I'm a Systems Engineer which in those 3 countries is the highest job on the chain of jobs. So basically anyone that is a qualified Systems Engineer can get in. But do I leave my friends and band behind to go about my own life or is it important to stay where your friends are?
Anyone help me with this especially people that have done this and emigrated.
Posted by: Wallimann Mar 3 2008, 05:27 PM
Anyone help me with this especially people that have done this and emigrated.
It is a hard decision.
But know that you can always go back home...
I left France 3 years ago and was like you. I didn't know what would happen here. But I met y wife here and got married and musically things are pretty good.
And once again, you can always go back home...
Posted by: Andrew Cockburn Mar 3 2008, 05:35 PM
I emigrated to the States from the UK nearly 2 years ago - I am also a Systems Engineer/Presales kind of guy.
I love England and always will, but I have been very happy here and find that there are more opportunities and a higher standard of living, and have no plans to return to the UK except to visit. What clinched it for me though was that my wife is American - that also smoothed the emigration process. You should have no trouble getting over here on an H1B though in our field.
I came to the US with a built in new family and some friends, plus I am married - it might be different for a single guy (I guess you are single?). People here are friendly though, and absolutely won;t judge you from where you come from or what you have done. It took me quite a while to understand Americans - you think you understand them already, but unless you have lived here you don;t really, the fact that we both talk English disguises a lot of cultural differences. I have to say that having go to underrstand this place I am very happy with the high level of politness and friendlyness I have found here - the US sometimes gets a bad reputation in the world press, but equating all Americans with George Bush, or anyone else for that matter is sloppy thinking, you have to get to know the individuals. (I am not picking on Bush BTW, that was just an example of seomeone that people equate with the whole of the USA - sloppy thinking).
Best time to try this is when you are young - come over and work here for a year, you don't have to make any firm decisions yet. If you like it, stay, if not go home.
Simple huh? But well worth a try if you can swing it.
Posted by: Spreedmaster Mar 3 2008, 07:20 PM
Go for it! Even if it sucks you can come back, its not really that huge a decision. Once I finish my masters I'm off to Japan! 
Posted by: Bogdan Mar 3 2008, 07:47 PM
Huge decision..Andrews advice is very valuable..Go to US and work for some time and see how it works for you..
Posted by: mattacuk Mar 3 2008, 07:58 PM
If you do go away, make sure you can access the internet so you wont miss out on the fun here 
Posted by: Duncan Mar 3 2008, 08:22 PM
Go to America. Chicks dig the English accent.
Posted by: OrganisedConfusion Mar 3 2008, 09:37 PM
I love England and always will, but I have been very happy here and find that there are more opportunities and a higher standard of living, and have no plans to return to the UK except to visit. What clinched it for me though was that my wife is American - that also smoothed the emigration process. You should have no trouble getting over here on an H1B though in our field.
I came to the US with a built in new family and some friends, plus I am married - it might be different for a single guy (I guess you are single?). People here are friendly though, and absolutely won;t judge you from where you come from or what you have done. It took me quite a while to understand Americans - you think you understand them already, but unless you have lived here you don;t really, the fact that we both talk English disguises a lot of cultural differences. I have to say that having go to underrstand this place I am very happy with the high level of politness and friendlyness I have found here - the US sometimes gets a bad reputation in the world press, but equating all Americans with George Bush, or anyone else for that matter is sloppy thinking, you have to get to know the individuals. (I am not picking on Bush BTW, that was just an example of seomeone that people equate with the whole of the USA - sloppy thinking).
Best time to try this is when you are young - come over and work here for a year, you don't have to make any firm decisions yet. If you like it, stay, if not go home.
Simple huh? But well worth a try if you can swing it.
Thanks for the awesome advice man. Where is best to look for Systems Engineering jobs in USA. I don't know anything about the States so have no idea which area is best for Engineers and to live in. I always fancied living in Connecticut.
Posted by: shellshock1911 Mar 3 2008, 10:13 PM
My belief is that by the end of one's life, family, friends, whatever you accomplished while sitting in one spot your whole life really won't mean anything, and that the real goal of life is to live everywhere in the world, meet all kinds of people you can imagine, experience every culture, accomplish everything. Seriously why would anyone want to follow the standard human life? Born-school-college-job-marriage-kids-watch TV and get old-die.
Posted by: Jamesito Mar 3 2008, 11:05 PM
Hey dude!!!
I have to say, emigrating and forging a new life is something really positive that you can do!!! Let´s face it England is ok but at the same time, your talents go to waste there... it´s a totally money driven culture, mortages and all that stuff... that stuff dosent matter man... it´s all about personal objectives and goals not what the norm is... I live in Ecuador but I havent emigrated here... yet lol. It will happen some day, I would say exploit the opportunity to work in the UK, save some money and leave... Sure u will miss your friends, family and band but America is a great place and your bound to meet new friends and a new band!!!!
The women are ok i guess, i m not into american girls but Latinas hell yes!!!! so come to jamesito spanish corner for some south of the border advice lol!!!!! Olé!!!! but if you are not 100% happy in the UK, take a chance man, I have lived in Spain and Ecuador and both beat england, even though im from Gods own county (That´s Yorkshire you southern faires lol 
im looking at you as well here Andrew lol).
My advice is go for it buddy, your still young and you can still integrate easily into a new culture... I have and im only 21 so go for it my friend. Your line of work is very desirable too so make the most of the opportunity and I will see you state side! 
Jamesito
Posted by: Smikey2006 Mar 3 2008, 11:25 PM
A change like this often equils a new beginning.. I love changes like this.. even small 1's.. When i left home to live in residence i felt like a whole new person.. even though university was in the same city.. my life was like it was completely new.. now im trying to get another change like this.. ive applied to university in Ottawa so i can finish my last 2 years of my 4 year program there ( its only 8 hours of driving away) but i believe that a fresh start is just what the doctor ordered right now moves can be scary but no matter where you go you'll meet new friends and have a new steady life eventually regardless of where it is ( unless maybe like.. the arctic where your basically all alone ) good luck with your descision
Posted by: Juan M. Valero Mar 3 2008, 11:32 PM
IMHO good friends will always be with you, nowadays Internet is a great tool in the comunicationship, so that's not an excuse, just look into youself and forgot the rest of the people and your fears.
Posted by: Hisham Mar 3 2008, 11:33 PM
any where man you can go thats the life you still young to do and to work good as a young. but finally you have to think about when you get older so more works now more comfortable life when you get older. wish you the best
Posted by: stratman33 Mar 3 2008, 11:38 PM
come on over to the USA man
Posted by: rokchik Mar 4 2008, 12:23 AM
Hey Organised...I say do whatever is going to make you the happiest. Put some resumes out there and see what you get back. If you find one you like then go for it man. Home will always be there and with the internet your friends are never that far away.
Posted by: Smells Mar 4 2008, 12:56 AM
Oddly enough I came home from work tonight and my wifes family are seriously thinking of taking off to New Zealand 
this would be her brother, sister in law and parents, her parents have said that they`d only go if my wife, my daughter and myself went as well.
My answer was basically a straight no, however, if it was America they where talking about then I`d probably have to seriously think about it, I have nothing against New Zealand, just not a place that I`ve felt the need to go to, America on the other hand I`ve always wanted to go to, to live?? well thats a whole different ball game.
But if I was younger and single with some great prospects of jobs then I think you gotta give it a go, as others have said, give it a go for a year, your only young and a year out isnt going to hurt you if you decide you want to come back to the UK and pick up again here.
Posted by: Nemanja Mar 4 2008, 01:09 AM
I vote Japan ...in a cople of yeras in Japan people will fly..ther tehnology is the best in the world..
Posted by: OrganisedConfusion Mar 4 2008, 01:40 AM
You're all offering me great information guys. I have to make a decision on this in the next year or two basically. Im gonna go for it guys. Im gonna start job searching now and saving for a house. Where would you go in america.
Posted by: Smikey2006 Mar 4 2008, 01:59 AM
if i went to america.. id go further south.. like california.. somewhere where it is mostly warm.. im a canadian.. and i hate winter
Posted by: Stevie·Ray·Vaughn Mar 4 2008, 02:00 AM
I always think about that, but then I wonder, would you get sick of the heat?
Posted by: Andrew Cockburn Mar 4 2008, 02:24 AM
Well Connecticut is really cool, and has the whole New England thing going for it - New Englnd is an enclave of a few states (Connecticut, Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, Rhode Island and Massachusets), that are the most like "The old country" - really old school USA, and I love the life here, but if you are moving purely for work reaosns, there is no contest, you have to be in the Bay Area - just south of San Fransisco, Silion Valley, so called. Its an absolute gold mine of IT companies - the whos who of the internet, more IT companies per square foot than anywhere else in the world. My company is based there, I work remotely in Connecticut. I get over to San Fransisco several times a year and it is a cool area - Caifornia man
Posted by: OrganisedConfusion Mar 4 2008, 09:56 AM
I know I'm asking a lot but you have achieved this already. Have you got maybe a 5 or 10 step plan of steps I need to take to get from now with no idea how to go about it to actually doing it. What are the important milestones I need to reach?
I really want to live in Connecticut but I feel living on the East Coast would be more appropiate or Texas and get a job for Lockheed Martin or something. I've worked at BAE Systems for the last 6 years.
Posted by: OrganisedConfusion Mar 4 2008, 02:01 PM
I think I'd like to live in Greenwich, Connecticut or Bridgeport, Connecticut. I'm guessing there are no big engineering companies round these parts though? Are they decent areas or not also?
Posted by: Goliath Mar 4 2008, 02:35 PM
There are starting to be more and more in the south. The 85 and 75 corridors are starting to really boom. Plus, the south's weather pwns the New England area . Florida might not be a bad area, as there is no state income tax, but there isn't one in Tennessee either. Cisco, Siemens, GE, and a number of other major companies (not necessarily IT related but certainly have their share of the IT jobs) are headquartered out of the South East.
Andrew is right though, Silicon Valley has the most tech jobs than anywhere, however the cost of living in the bay area is outrageously high.
Being a native southerner, I don't know how anyone could willingly subject themselves to a climate with winters as harsh as the NE. I recognize I'm being naive, but I'm spoiled from having lived in ultra temperate Atlanta my whole life. I don't think i could move much further North without being miserable.
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