Where to work in web design outside the US?
January 31, 2016 11:10 PM Subscribe
I'm an experienced web designer/developer looking to work outside the US, potentially in a developing country that needs my skills. How to do this and where to go?
I'm 40yo, currently live in New York and do product/web design for an agency. I'm well recognized in my field and can easily find this sort of job here in NYC. Skills are Visual/UI/UX design and some front-end stuff (HTML, SASS, Git).
But I'd like to do something different. I've always wanted to live and work outside the US for a year or two. I'd also like to apply my skills to something more meaningful and was reminded of this while reading about the startup scene in Nairobi, specifically jobs that solve real human-centered problems. Lastly, I would also like to live somewhere where the dating scene is not as cut-throat as NYC.
I've thought about Chile, Estonia and Nairobi. The truth is that I have no connections in other countries and don't really know where to start. Has anyone done this and can speak to it? What factors should I keep in mind?
I'm 40yo, currently live in New York and do product/web design for an agency. I'm well recognized in my field and can easily find this sort of job here in NYC. Skills are Visual/UI/UX design and some front-end stuff (HTML, SASS, Git).
But I'd like to do something different. I've always wanted to live and work outside the US for a year or two. I'd also like to apply my skills to something more meaningful and was reminded of this while reading about the startup scene in Nairobi, specifically jobs that solve real human-centered problems. Lastly, I would also like to live somewhere where the dating scene is not as cut-throat as NYC.
I've thought about Chile, Estonia and Nairobi. The truth is that I have no connections in other countries and don't really know where to start. Has anyone done this and can speak to it? What factors should I keep in mind?
I'm a long term expat, and I agree with DarlingBri that web design (unless you have built a considerable name for yourself) is not a field in which you are likely to get a work permit due to a shortage of skills. Everywhere I have worked, there have been many local people with the kinds of skills you mention.
Work permits are available for more serious programming, project or programme management with specific industry knowledge, consulting skills. If you're confident enough, many countries do have ways to start your own business and get a permit in that way, but they often want innovation (here is an example from the Netherlands).
There are countries where work permits are easier: Cambodia, for instance, but many of those are cracking down and starting to make it more difficult. Many of the developing countries are nightmares of paperwork for anything like a work permit, even if it seems intellectually they should be easy.
"I would also like to live somewhere where the dating scene is not as cut-throat as NYC." Be aware, dating as an expat is not easy, and often frought with complicated issues. Are you sure you don't just want to move to Minneapolis?
posted by frumiousb at 1:31 AM on February 1, 2016 [4 favorites]
Work permits are available for more serious programming, project or programme management with specific industry knowledge, consulting skills. If you're confident enough, many countries do have ways to start your own business and get a permit in that way, but they often want innovation (here is an example from the Netherlands).
There are countries where work permits are easier: Cambodia, for instance, but many of those are cracking down and starting to make it more difficult. Many of the developing countries are nightmares of paperwork for anything like a work permit, even if it seems intellectually they should be easy.
"I would also like to live somewhere where the dating scene is not as cut-throat as NYC." Be aware, dating as an expat is not easy, and often frought with complicated issues. Are you sure you don't just want to move to Minneapolis?
posted by frumiousb at 1:31 AM on February 1, 2016 [4 favorites]
Another option of course is to spend two years travelling the world on easily obtained tourist visas, working freelance for employers in the US. This is really common for people who basically just need a laptop to work.
You could do this and tithe 10% to some local group or cause, with a bit of volunteered time as well if you like. It's not as much fun as working directly on some bit of ethically important coal face but it's a good way to get meaningful change done.
Example article on expat devs.
posted by sebastienbailard at 1:46 AM on February 1, 2016 [6 favorites]
You could do this and tithe 10% to some local group or cause, with a bit of volunteered time as well if you like. It's not as much fun as working directly on some bit of ethically important coal face but it's a good way to get meaningful change done.
Example article on expat devs.
posted by sebastienbailard at 1:46 AM on February 1, 2016 [6 favorites]
DarlingBri is correct. Many people I know freelance remotely, and I did for several years myself. You get paid in US wages (a BIG plus) and the lower cost of living in developing countries means you can work part time (like, 10 hours a week tops if you're in Central America) to still live well. Use the extra time to volunteer with a cool project.
Chile is cool, though the capital is pretty smoggy. There's a budding start-up culture there as well. I've also spent a lot of time doing remote work from Guatemala, Costa Rica, and Nicaragua which have lots of interesting and impactful NGOs that need volunteers.
Dating as an ex-pat can be hard, but if you're in a place with lots of other ex-pats it's not so bad.
posted by ananci at 1:46 AM on February 1, 2016 [1 favorite]
Chile is cool, though the capital is pretty smoggy. There's a budding start-up culture there as well. I've also spent a lot of time doing remote work from Guatemala, Costa Rica, and Nicaragua which have lots of interesting and impactful NGOs that need volunteers.
Dating as an ex-pat can be hard, but if you're in a place with lots of other ex-pats it's not so bad.
posted by ananci at 1:46 AM on February 1, 2016 [1 favorite]
you might get a job in chile, because being a foreigner (from the right place) is a plus, but wages are low, working hours long (it's not what you do, but how long you are there), local competition is strong, and foreigners are not as admired as they used to be. you might be better aiming a little higher and applying to startup chile.
whether dating as an ex-pat is hard or not may depend on how much you mix with the local community (i'm surprised other people are saying it's hard, tbh, but maybe i'm just sex on legs).
posted by andrewcooke at 2:05 AM on February 1, 2016 [2 favorites]
whether dating as an ex-pat is hard or not may depend on how much you mix with the local community (i'm surprised other people are saying it's hard, tbh, but maybe i'm just sex on legs).
posted by andrewcooke at 2:05 AM on February 1, 2016 [2 favorites]
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Regardless, the major hurdle is going to be finding a country for which you can get a work permit. What you want to do is actually difficult. For an EU nation, you need an offer of employment from a specific employer, and the vacancy has to be one the employer has been unable to fill domestically. This is also true in Kenya. Chile seems to be more flexible.
One option is to work this backwards and look at the Peace Corp, the UN, NGOs and development agencies with postings abroad to see if there is a role for you. Many of them are looking for people with an MA, but I don't know if that only applies to humanitarian postings. Another option of course is to spend two years travelling the world on easily obtained tourist visas, working freelance for employers in the US. This is really common for people who basically just need a laptop to work.
posted by DarlingBri at 12:28 AM on February 1, 2016 [11 favorites]