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Landing IT Work Overseas
snydeq writes "US IT workers could find considerable payoff and invaluable experience by taking their IT skills overseas, InfoWorld reports, as foreign, US, and global firms have increased the demand for a wide range of tech talent across the globe, offering positions that clearly move beyond the scut work of heads-down programming. Business fluency, industry-specific skills, and knowledge of American markets is fast becoming an invaluable asset foreign firms will pay a premium for, according to the report, which offers insights into finding IT work in a range of cities and regions abroad."
If I wanted to be in a third world economy, shouldn't I stay at home??
Take the cheese to sickbay, the doctor should see it as soon as possible - B'Elanna Torres, "Learning Curve"
I think that moving outside one's native culture/setting is a good idea for anyone. It really helps to gain a wider perspective of the world.
All the travel I've done to this point in my life has been primarily in Asia and I enjoyed it quite a bit. I tried to get a tech job in Korea a number of years back, just after I'd gotten into the industry, but it didn't work out.
This year I had the chance to spend a couple weeks in Hungary. That was my first visit to Europe but I thought it was a great place and would be happy to live there. I kind of expected that though.
Latin America would be interesting, though I'd think that unless one is in a major metropolis that they had best be prepared for a difference in standard of living and available services. I see Costa Rica mentioned a lot - and I think an advantage there would also be that there are many people who are very fluent in English. A lot of Americans I know that want to learn Spanish quickly go there to do so.
I've been thinking a lot about spending a couple years or so in El Salvador. But I know of an opening there that I'd have a high chance of filling.
Developing countries offer a lot of neat opportunities. I think that if one goes into it with a good idea of the situation and proper preparation that it can be life changing for the better. I certainly don't think that globalization is slowing down. And for anyone planning to return to the U.S. eventually, I think learning Spanish would be wise.
It's hard to believe that's how Micronians are made. Why don't we see it right now by having you both kiss one another?
A few years ago Bob Cringely wondered the same thing, but found India won't take you.
"So I went on the web to see how easy it would be to emigrate to India. I found NOTHING. I called the Indian Embassy in Washington, DC and asked how I could emigrate to India. They didn't know what I was talking about... The idea that I'd just arrive at the Mumbai equivalent of Ellis Island looking for a job, well they found that rather amusing." http://www.pbs.org/cringely/pulpit/2004/pulpit_20040226_000453.html
Rest of the developed world is in an IT slump. Time for that Career B-Plan?
Well, that 'on top' would be open to discussion these days.
Anyway I've worked in a few countries (Israel, Thailand, the US, Spain) and almost everywhere any idiot not willing at least to pretend to have an interest in their language is not going to be very appreciated.
Or to be exact, any idiot who expects other people to speak their language is not going to be appreciated. If you are Spanish and use English to speak to Dutch guys in Amsterdam you are fine. But if you are American and expect them to speak in English, not so fine.
Anyway... I'm sure skilled American IT workers are valued everywhere, but if they happen to speak a second language (or are willing to learn one) they are going to be valued not only by the companies but by their future peers.
I think it is purely a numbers game. I live in a part of the US (Florida) where speaking Spanish is becoming essential. Not using it gets me dirty looks and sub-par service in a number of places I go.
The only thing that bothers me is that sometimes where I live if English speaking Americans get vocal about wanting others to speak English they get pilloried. Yet this outlook, wanting visitors or immigrants to assimilate in language is much more widespread. And in some places the steps taken to enforce the local language are so strong as to be codified into law. Maybe I'm just more sensitive to it because I live here, but I am unaware of people who say push for Dutch in parts of Belgium, or those who enforce the use of French in parts of Canada, being vilified like the people who push hard for English in America.
Me - I figure that stuff is fluid and fighting it is foolish.
It's hard to believe that's how Micronians are made. Why don't we see it right now by having you both kiss one another?