Yeah this kind of validates my experiences lately.
I recently moved to Europe form Australia, I was a successful tribesman but voluntarily left my tribe because I liked the idea of relocation/traveling.
I was awarded an decent paying job in Netherlands but left soon after due to toxic culture which I wanted to protect myself from. I received other offers but non paid well so I tried to find a remote position. I had no options but "cold applications", which means I was heading for dire straights.
Essentially I went from a somebody to a nobody. I worked in a very successful team as a SRE/Production Engineer in Sydney to nothing, from precious metal to polluted soil.
The "cold apply" method has failed me for months, countless coding challenges and technical tasks (which I successfully completed) have left me without a job. Oh, I've done several dances and jumped many hoops without any fruits of my labour.
I fell into bad depression. I've had to work very hard to get out of the depression. Coming out of it I can see I need to change my approach and on the bright side it's been an important period of self discovery and learning.
I've now admitted defeat and will head back to Australia, start everything again and take little for granted. I'm blessed I have the option of retreat.
Yeah, geographical mobility is the dark side of this scheme. For theater people, for example, even crossing over from Chicago to New York is extremely difficult. And it doesn't matter how much goodwill you've built in Omaha, that won't get you hired in Chicago unless one of your Omaha friends goes first. It's really important to go to school and start your career in the place you want to end it, because in a new city, if you can find work, you're probably going back to entry level for a while. Even worse in seniority-based union hiring halls.
This is partly why the Bay Area is what it is for software.
I'm sorry you experienced this. It sucks. I wish you luck getting back on your feet in Australia.
As an Australian, if you want to get "pedigree", you can work in the USA much more easily than other foreign nationals can -- because of the E3.
The E3 visa is one of the best-kept secrets in the world. It's only granted to Australian citizens. It's why my employers (Pivotal) have around 10 Australians in our NYC office at any given time, because we've actively recruited from Australia ever since the E3 was introduced.
I'm an Australian and I am grateful every day that I am. I grew up in a wonderful country and now I can work for a great company in a vibrant industry in a vibrant city.
Email me (see profile) if you'd like me to pass you into our recruiters. If you want to stay in Sydney, we have an office in Sydney.
I recently moved to Europe form Australia, I was a successful tribesman but voluntarily left my tribe because I liked the idea of relocation/traveling.
I was awarded an decent paying job in Netherlands but left soon after due to toxic culture which I wanted to protect myself from. I received other offers but non paid well so I tried to find a remote position. I had no options but "cold applications", which means I was heading for dire straights.
Essentially I went from a somebody to a nobody. I worked in a very successful team as a SRE/Production Engineer in Sydney to nothing, from precious metal to polluted soil.
The "cold apply" method has failed me for months, countless coding challenges and technical tasks (which I successfully completed) have left me without a job. Oh, I've done several dances and jumped many hoops without any fruits of my labour.
I fell into bad depression. I've had to work very hard to get out of the depression. Coming out of it I can see I need to change my approach and on the bright side it's been an important period of self discovery and learning.
I've now admitted defeat and will head back to Australia, start everything again and take little for granted. I'm blessed I have the option of retreat.
Thanks for the response.