Comment by annzabelle
2 days ago
Thinking about it. I'm pretty attracted to the idea of a career with some kind of protectionist licensing system, like doctor or actuary, but that may just be staving off the inevitable. Might teach high school.
After I got laid off in the US, I moved to a mountain town in New Zealand planning on being a ski lift operator while I think about the future, but got a software developer job by accident instead.
Taxis had a protectionist system. Took a single competitor with deep pockets and disregard for the system to upend the whole thing.
I still get emails from NZ begging for people to come fill IT jobs
It's great for a couple years, but compensation is so much lower here I wouldn't do it long term, except if you marry a local or are independently wealthy.
I make a third of what I did in the US, and my job in the US was in a medium cost of living area and wasn't a startup or big tech. Housing costs about the same amount.
I had the opportunity to take up a working holiday visa 10-12 years ago and never used it.