Comments on: How To Become an Expat? http://www.expatyourself.com Helping You Create a New Life Abroad Mon, 30 Jan 2012 01:41:15 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Tim Hirt http://www.expatyourself.com/how-to-become-an-expat/comment-page-1/#comment-1481 Tim Hirt Sun, 18 Dec 2011 17:41:11 +0000 http://www.expatyourself.com/?page_id=105#comment-1481 I need some help... I am a construction professional with 30+ years as an owner of a relatively large electrical contracting company. I want to work overseas (maybe for good). I have a Master Electrician's license from 3 states and I know my stuff. I have sent out bunches of CV's but no response. I have no previous work experience overseas. I also am asking for high level jobs...( director, senior PM, VP) Should I get with a recruiter? should I ask for less $$? should I just keep pounding the pavement until something shows up? I would be grateful for any instruction or advice. Tim Hirt I need some help…

I am a construction professional with 30+ years as an owner of a relatively large electrical contracting company. I want to work overseas (maybe for good). I have a Master Electrician’s license from 3 states and I know my stuff.

I have sent out bunches of CV’s but no response. I have no previous work experience overseas. I also am asking for high level jobs…( director, senior PM, VP)

Should I get with a recruiter? should I ask for less $$? should I just keep pounding the pavement until something shows up?

I would be grateful for any instruction or advice.

Tim Hirt

]]> By: Jeff http://www.expatyourself.com/how-to-become-an-expat/comment-page-1/#comment-1325 Jeff Wed, 12 Oct 2011 01:46:54 +0000 http://www.expatyourself.com/?page_id=105#comment-1325 Wow, this teaches me to shut off the Internet and e-mail while I go on vacation. hahaha Susan, thanks for your comments and your personal note. So, the Netherlands it is, eh? To answer most quickly: Yes, that is a cheap budget, but would be a great subsidy to local employment. Yes, by train you can visit other countries most easily. Far more than in U.S. Yes, you could run into trouble if without proper documentation. Especially if planning on frequent border checks outside EU/Schengen border. The worst is simple deportation. Have you looked into claiming EU citizenship? If your "civil servant" father was also French, then yes, you are entitled to it by birth and your French father. If no French parent, and with limited residency prior 18, then no luck. For more info, see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_nationality_law#Birth_in_France Hope this helps you Susan and so sorry for my 4-day delay in responding to your e-mail. -Jeff p.s. If ever in eastern Canada, make a point to visit Cape Breton. It was a gorgeous way to spend Canadian Thanksgiving! Wow, this teaches me to shut off the Internet and e-mail while I go on vacation. hahaha

Susan, thanks for your comments and your personal note.

So, the Netherlands it is, eh? To answer most quickly:
Yes, that is a cheap budget, but would be a great subsidy to local employment.
Yes, by train you can visit other countries most easily. Far more than in U.S.
Yes, you could run into trouble if without proper documentation. Especially if planning on frequent border checks outside EU/Schengen border. The worst is simple deportation.

Have you looked into claiming EU citizenship? If your “civil servant” father was also French, then yes, you are entitled to it by birth and your French father. If no French parent, and with limited residency prior 18, then no luck. For more info, see:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_nationality_law#Birth_in_France

Hope this helps you Susan and so sorry for my 4-day delay in responding to your e-mail.

-Jeff

p.s. If ever in eastern Canada, make a point to visit Cape Breton. It was a gorgeous way to spend Canadian Thanksgiving!

]]> By: Susan http://www.expatyourself.com/how-to-become-an-expat/comment-page-1/#comment-1324 Susan Wed, 12 Oct 2011 00:50:34 +0000 http://www.expatyourself.com/?page_id=105#comment-1324 Jeff, Jeff, I got your form letter in my personal email. However, it seemed like you did not read my email. I am truly looking for some advice and thought your experience would provide. I've read your packet of information online and still have a load of questions. Which is the reason I signed up and emailed you personally. Do you think you can help me out? Jeff,
Jeff,
I got your form letter in my personal email. However, it seemed like you did not read my email. I am truly looking for some advice and thought your experience would provide. I’ve read your packet of information online and still have a load of questions. Which is the reason I signed up and emailed you personally. Do you think you can help me out?

]]> By: Find Your Calling and Become an Expat | Expat Guide Asia http://www.expatyourself.com/how-to-become-an-expat/comment-page-1/#comment-1323 Find Your Calling and Become an Expat | Expat Guide Asia Tue, 11 Oct 2011 12:08:53 +0000 http://www.expatyourself.com/?page_id=105#comment-1323 [...] schedule there are actually far more opportunities overseas then you might imagine. In fact, our How to Become and Expat page details the types of work you can find throughout Asia, South and Central America, and yes, [...] [...] schedule there are actually far more opportunities overseas then you might imagine. In fact, our How to Become and Expat page details the types of work you can find throughout Asia, South and Central America, and yes, [...]

]]> By: Susan http://www.expatyourself.com/how-to-become-an-expat/comment-page-1/#comment-1315 Susan Sat, 08 Oct 2011 01:40:03 +0000 http://www.expatyourself.com/?page_id=105#comment-1315 Jeff, We are US citizens and want to begin our expat life in the Netherlands starting December of 2011. We are completely legit about doing this. We will have about $10,000 to start with and a steady income of $1200 a month. Yes, it's a cheap budget, but we have managed with less. We are opting to go down path #4. What is your advice? Will we have trouble visiting on the train from country to country...maybe weekend trips. How much trouble can we get in not having the proper documentations? We are determined to live in Netherlands as we have visited several times before and have feel in love with the both the people and culture. We're not opposed to Austria or France either. I was born in Eure', France but on an Air Force base because my father was working as a civil servant electronic engineer for the base at the time. However, I have not ever returned. Was in Netherlands and Belgium for vacation in 2005. We (my family when I was a young) lived in Germany for 4 years and have traveled extensively through Europe. To date we already have our passports. We have pets that will need to be shipped too. Any advice you can offer will be greatly appreciated. Jeff,
We are US citizens and want to begin our expat life in the Netherlands starting December of 2011. We are completely legit about doing this. We will have about $10,000 to start with and a steady income of $1200 a month. Yes, it’s a cheap budget, but we have managed with less. We are opting to go down path #4. What is your advice? Will we have trouble visiting on the train from country to country…maybe weekend trips. How much trouble can we get in not having the proper documentations? We are determined to live in Netherlands as we have visited several times before and have feel in love with the both the people and culture. We’re not opposed to Austria or France either. I was born in Eure’, France but on an Air Force base because my father was working as a civil servant electronic engineer for the base at the time. However, I have not ever returned. Was in Netherlands and Belgium for vacation in 2005. We (my family when I was a young) lived in Germany for 4 years and have traveled extensively through Europe. To date we already have our passports. We have pets that will need to be shipped too. Any advice you can offer will be greatly appreciated.

]]> By: Scott http://www.expatyourself.com/how-to-become-an-expat/comment-page-1/#comment-1311 Scott Mon, 03 Oct 2011 01:17:00 +0000 http://www.expatyourself.com/?page_id=105#comment-1311 LinkedIn has been book marked on my computer for ages ;) I actually wouldn't mind the "family portrait" studio job..been there done that, got the T-shirt, but in most places to get a job requires a work visa, which in just about every place I've checked (such as Ireland), requires either job sponsorship (which most business don't do), or at least a job offer ahead of time . I suppose I could go on a working holiday type visa and hope to find some one to pay me under the table when that runs out lol LinkedIn has been book marked on my computer for ages ;)

I actually wouldn’t mind the “family portrait” studio job..been there done that, got the T-shirt, but in most places to get a job requires a work visa, which in just about every place I’ve checked (such as Ireland), requires either job sponsorship (which most business don’t do), or at least a job offer ahead of time . I suppose I could go on a working holiday type visa and hope to find some one to pay me under the table when that runs out lol

]]> By: Jeff http://www.expatyourself.com/how-to-become-an-expat/comment-page-1/#comment-1310 Jeff Mon, 03 Oct 2011 00:57:09 +0000 http://www.expatyourself.com/?page_id=105#comment-1310 Seriously Outstanding reply Scott. And thanks for sharing the housesitting site. That's a great one to know about. Now I understand you're actually looking for a professional photographer gig. Have you checked out your peers on LinkedIn? Seriously Outstanding reply Scott.

And thanks for sharing the housesitting site. That’s a great one to know about.

Now I understand you’re actually looking for a professional photographer gig. Have you checked out your peers on LinkedIn?

]]> By: Scott http://www.expatyourself.com/how-to-become-an-expat/comment-page-1/#comment-1309 Scott Mon, 03 Oct 2011 00:52:51 +0000 http://www.expatyourself.com/?page_id=105#comment-1309 There IS good money to be made in photography, which comes from either a) corporate jobs (fashion industry or magazines) b) events such as weddings. The number of people who can simply walk off the street and get such a job, or can make a living free lancing are few. And there is not a low cost of entry. Sure, grandma can buy a digital camera for under $100 but that doesn't make her a wedding photographer, you need a serious investment in equipment. Not a lot of opportunities doesn't mean nothing worth taking pictures of, but try searching for photography jobs in any job search engine...not really anything there. Phone books generally have as many listings for photographers as they do lawyers. Trust me..its a hard market to break in to no matter how good you are. We rely on talent to produce our wares but we rely on "steady gig's" to pay the bills. Saying otherwise is like saying a band doesn't need a record contract. Just burn a few CD's on your PC at home and your self sufficient. You can be the best photographer in the world but if you don't have anybody to sell your images to on a regular basis, your going to starve. I'll check out that website though :) I actually wouldn't mind living in hostels...its the selling plasma that gets me...needle phobia gets me every time. BTW while I was surfing I found this site : http://www.trustedhousesitters.com/ that links people up with others over seas that need house (and some times pet) sitters. I'm processing the registration "as we speak". Not a bad way to at least get short term "free" lodging overseas.... There IS good money to be made in photography, which comes from either a) corporate jobs (fashion industry or magazines) b) events such as weddings. The number of people who can simply walk off the street and get such a job, or can make a living free lancing are few. And there is not a low cost of entry. Sure, grandma can buy a digital camera for under $100 but that doesn’t make her a wedding photographer, you need a serious investment in equipment.

Not a lot of opportunities doesn’t mean nothing worth taking pictures of, but try searching for photography jobs in any job search engine…not really anything there. Phone books generally have as many listings for photographers as they do lawyers. Trust me..its a hard market to break in to no matter how good you are.

We rely on talent to produce our wares but we rely on “steady gig’s” to pay the bills. Saying otherwise is like saying a band doesn’t need a record contract. Just burn a few CD’s on your PC at home and your self sufficient. You can be the best photographer in the world but if you don’t have anybody to sell your images to on a regular basis, your going to starve. I’ll check out that website though :)

I actually wouldn’t mind living in hostels…its the selling plasma that gets me…needle phobia gets me every time.

BTW while I was surfing I found this site : http://www.trustedhousesitters.com/
that links people up with others over seas that need house (and some times pet) sitters. I’m processing the registration “as we speak”. Not a bad way to at least get short term “free” lodging overseas….

]]> By: Jeff http://www.expatyourself.com/how-to-become-an-expat/comment-page-1/#comment-1308 Jeff Mon, 03 Oct 2011 00:19:42 +0000 http://www.expatyourself.com/?page_id=105#comment-1308 The first thing I think when I hear a profession is so popular (as in "you can’t swing a dead cat without hitting a photographer these days") is this: there must be plenty of money in it and low cost of entry. In other words, is photography is so popular because "anyone" can be a photographer? And to think, you're a notch above because you're actually trained. When you say there aren't a lot of opportunities, do you mean there's little worthy to take a picture of? Fewer people willing to pay for pictures from o'er there? "unless I can land a steady gig"? What the .... Photographers don't rely on "steady gigs." They rely on talent, not on a salary obligation. Come on, Scott. Stop dreaming. Take the cameras and go. Go on a vacation with the intent to test some minor income sources, like your local city paper or a travel magazine. Need a (massive) list of sources to sell to? Try this book (2011 edition): http://amzn.to/expatphoto And last thing, lose the ego. Plenty of good friends have lived in hostels and sold plasma to get by. ;-) Go. If for just a short, small test. You may see a dream turn into a "hey, this just might work..." Cheers, -Jeff The first thing I think when I hear a profession is so popular (as in “you can’t swing a dead cat without hitting a photographer these days”) is this: there must be plenty of money in it and low cost of entry.

In other words, is photography is so popular because “anyone” can be a photographer? And to think, you’re a notch above because you’re actually trained.

When you say there aren’t a lot of opportunities, do you mean there’s little worthy to take a picture of? Fewer people willing to pay for pictures from o’er there?

“unless I can land a steady gig”? What the ….
Photographers don’t rely on “steady gigs.”
They rely on talent, not on a salary obligation.

Come on, Scott. Stop dreaming. Take the cameras and go. Go on a vacation with the intent to test some minor income sources, like your local city paper or a travel magazine.
Need a (massive) list of sources to sell to? Try this book (2011 edition):
http://amzn.to/expatphoto

And last thing, lose the ego. Plenty of good friends have lived in hostels and sold plasma to get by. ;-)

Go. If for just a short, small test. You may see a dream turn into a “hey, this just might work…”

Cheers,
-Jeff

]]> By: Scott http://www.expatyourself.com/how-to-become-an-expat/comment-page-1/#comment-1307 Scott Sun, 02 Oct 2011 22:26:06 +0000 http://www.expatyourself.com/?page_id=105#comment-1307 Hi Jeff, I've been dreaming of becoming and expat for years, either in the UK or Australia...I even toyed with the idea of going to South/Central America. I've tried the "full time employee" method, but my field of training is photography and there are not a lot of opportunities is my field. (you can't swing a dead cat with out hitting a photographer these days). I have been thinking of "going rogue", just throwing some clothes and a couple cameras in a back pack and bolting for the door, but with the current state of my finances, I'm looking at living in hostels and selling plasma to get buy unless I can land a steady gig, and that hasn't panned out so far. Any suggestions? Hi Jeff,

I’ve been dreaming of becoming and expat for years, either in the UK or Australia…I even toyed with the idea of going to South/Central America. I’ve tried the “full time employee” method, but my field of training is photography and there are not a lot of opportunities is my field. (you can’t swing a dead cat with out hitting a photographer these days).

I have been thinking of “going rogue”, just throwing some clothes and a couple cameras in a back pack and bolting for the door, but with the current state of my finances, I’m looking at living in hostels and selling plasma to get buy unless I can land a steady gig, and that hasn’t panned out so far. Any suggestions?

]]>