Got an offer from a company in a foreign country

WonTonDon

Ok, so I'm a newly qualified CCNA,as of last month and all I've been doing for the past month is applying for junior networking CCNA jobs. I have struggled to get any interviews here in the UK, however, received a call from an agency working for a client in another European country.

The role is exactly the sort I'm looking for, with exposure to multi platform cisco hardware, MPLS, VOIP and additional training for other Cisco certifications after a year.

I interviewed well, passed the technical tests and questions posed with flying colours and received a good vibe from the technical and HR lady. The pay is not so good, and this issue has been bugging me for the past few days. In terms of the pay, lets just say if I was getting paid the same here in the UK it would be on par with someone working in Walmart or any supermarket. I was told by the HR lady that the pay was adequate for that country and would be able to live comfortably as the cost of living in that country is cheap.

I got the offer, but I really am in two minds as to what I should do? Is it worth me comprising pay for what appears to be good opportunity?

I dont plan on staying in that country long term so maybe i could end up losing money instead of making it.

Any ideas on what I should do!?

linuxlover

Do you currently have a job you want to do?

WonTonDon

linuxlover wrote: »

Do you currently have a job you want to do?

No dude, I'm out of work currently. I want to get in to networking, after doing tech support for so many years, but the jobs, even the junior networking jobs in the UK ask for experience!?

linuxlover

Well then that answers your question.

networker050184

Have you actually done any research into the cost of living comparison? You can't always take dollar amount at face value when moving to different locations. I took about a $20k pay cut moving back down South and I still end up with more money in my pocket at the end of the day due to the low cost of living. Especially housing.

Levithan

Which country? Or can we play a guessing game? I take first guess.... Is it Czech?


Not trying to make light or anything, just curious where you will be heading. In Germany myself, have received an offer in the past from Czech, but refused because the pay was SOOOOO low. Anyways, are you gonna take it?

shodown

@networker you left NOVA?

networker050184

Yeah, I had to relocate back down for family reasons. Nothing to do with the area or the job market. I loved it up there.

shodown

Good Choice family comes first.

RouteMyPacket

I'd say it depends...you have to do some research to see what your standard of living would be like there. if it turns out you could get by ok and this is an opportunity for you to move forward then it could be a good one for you to take.

Think 5yrs down the line, will this position have been a good stepping stone or a dead end? This is where you weigh the options between now and later.

I have sacrificed in a position when it comes to pay simply because I knew I could use it later on down the line as it was an excellent experience. Left that position eventually and immediately bumped my salary over $15k

WonTonDon

Levithan wrote: »

Which country? Or can we play a guessing game? I take first guess.... Is it Czech?


Not trying to make light or anything, just curious where you will be heading. In Germany myself, have received an offer in the past from Czech, but refused because the pay was SOOOOO low. Anyways, are you gonna take it?

I really dont know at the moment. I'm at a stage whereby I need to take any opportunity to get into networking I can, espescially as I'm newly qualified CCNA with little or no hands on experience.

Pay is the major stumbling block, I have done the research, and although the cost of living in Czech is still relatively cheap, I dont intend on living there long term. My head says, take the job, take the financial hit for a year, and then apply in UK after a years experience. Heart says, wait and keep on applying here and hopefully the right job will come sooner or later.

NotHackingYou

I would take the Czech job assuming that the pay is enough to live how you normally live in the UK.

Xyro

As long as I could survive, I would jump at the experience.

yzT

Definitively, there are jobs in UK for junior network positions. I'm from Spain, and I've been contacted twice for this kind of position (if I remember correctly, Reading and Leeds, maybe Manchester) and at that time I had no experience at all (a couple of months as IT technician). It seems I didn't pass the interview though, because they didn't call me back.

Levithan

So.... Did you take the job?

After debating it myself, I'd take it as well now actually. I've applied to so many jobs in the last 2 months, I feel like my head is gonna fall off!

Oh an BTW, Czech girls are goregous, and their beer is some of the best you can get. Let us know what you did!