Go west (east, north, south), young man
November 3, 2012 7:24 AM Subscribe
What is the best resource for Americans to find jobs overseas?
Because sometimes it takes being 44-years-old, and on the verge of a divorce, to finally realize a life's dream.
Relevant information:
I have no children
US passport holder
English speaker only (though I did take 3 years of German, way back when)
Spent a year living in London as an undergrad
13 years experience working in the online space: first as the producer for a major magazine, then as senior strategist for an energy industry association. Currently unemployed.
In the US, I've lived in Boston, LA, Charlottesville and DC.
My feeling is that if I'm going to start over, I'd like to start over in a new place where I know no one.
Because sometimes it takes being 44-years-old, and on the verge of a divorce, to finally realize a life's dream.
Relevant information:
I have no children
US passport holder
English speaker only (though I did take 3 years of German, way back when)
Spent a year living in London as an undergrad
13 years experience working in the online space: first as the producer for a major magazine, then as senior strategist for an energy industry association. Currently unemployed.
In the US, I've lived in Boston, LA, Charlottesville and DC.
My feeling is that if I'm going to start over, I'd like to start over in a new place where I know no one.
I have an online friend who has moved to Europe, and now he maintains a great blog that covers all manner of issues relating to moving over seas. Check it out: http://www.overseas-exile.com/
posted by mmmmbobo at 9:17 AM on November 3, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by mmmmbobo at 9:17 AM on November 3, 2012 [1 favorite]
USA Jobs is the site for all Federal Government jobs overseas. When you go abroad on the government dime, you get ALL kinds of neat bennies.
My parents went abroad with the government. My Dad is an MSW so he did family counseling. They met great friends, lived "on the economy" in awesome homes in Germany and Japan. They got tickets home one a year, and they made their "permanant" address in a state with no state income tax.
They had PX and Commissary privilages, and could buy gas on base at US prices. The bases even have used cars that you can buy and insure while overseas.
After 10 years, they now have social security, CalPers, and a federal pension. They're doing better now than when they were working. Also, they put away about $100,000 because the feds paid for housing and utilities when they were overseas. I'm not even going to cover the retirement fund.
There are jobs of every description, although health care is probably one of the best bets.
Can't say enough about it.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 10:39 AM on November 3, 2012 [6 favorites]
My parents went abroad with the government. My Dad is an MSW so he did family counseling. They met great friends, lived "on the economy" in awesome homes in Germany and Japan. They got tickets home one a year, and they made their "permanant" address in a state with no state income tax.
They had PX and Commissary privilages, and could buy gas on base at US prices. The bases even have used cars that you can buy and insure while overseas.
After 10 years, they now have social security, CalPers, and a federal pension. They're doing better now than when they were working. Also, they put away about $100,000 because the feds paid for housing and utilities when they were overseas. I'm not even going to cover the retirement fund.
There are jobs of every description, although health care is probably one of the best bets.
Can't say enough about it.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 10:39 AM on November 3, 2012 [6 favorites]
I will be monitoring this AskMe because I'd like my husband and I to do the same thing!
posted by Kitteh at 11:07 AM on November 3, 2012
posted by Kitteh at 11:07 AM on November 3, 2012
Response by poster: Thanks for the help, bobo and bunny.
@nebula Having been in DC for the past 12 years, any place that isn't all about the transactional would be welcomed. Ideally I'm looking for somewhere that has the scale of Boston, the sensibilities of Minneapolis/Portland (Maine) and the look and feel of (old) Montreal. Access to water is important. As is four seasons. (I'm not so keen on the heat.)
posted by wensink at 2:41 PM on November 3, 2012
@nebula Having been in DC for the past 12 years, any place that isn't all about the transactional would be welcomed. Ideally I'm looking for somewhere that has the scale of Boston, the sensibilities of Minneapolis/Portland (Maine) and the look and feel of (old) Montreal. Access to water is important. As is four seasons. (I'm not so keen on the heat.)
posted by wensink at 2:41 PM on November 3, 2012
In Germany the Status of Forces Agreement allows for soldiers and personnel who 'provide logistical support' to stay without the hassel of a visa. Your American passport already gets you 90 days hassel free as a tourist and you can use that to get yourself a German address to apply to jobs from. USAJobs linked above is the resource you want.
How much of your German do you remember? Enough to get you A1 certification? That would be a serious leg up.
posted by Blasdelb at 6:12 PM on November 3, 2012
How much of your German do you remember? Enough to get you A1 certification? That would be a serious leg up.
posted by Blasdelb at 6:12 PM on November 3, 2012
If your line of work pays over €52k/year, you might be able to work in the Netherlands for a company that's registered with the highly skilled migrants scheme (kennismigrant in Dutch).
posted by neushoorn at 4:22 AM on November 4, 2012
posted by neushoorn at 4:22 AM on November 4, 2012
This thread is closed to new comments.
What sort of standard of living would you like to maintain while you're there?
Do you care about the exchange rate? — do you have any obligations or debts back home that need to be paid in US dollars?
posted by nebulawindphone at 8:45 AM on November 3, 2012