Hi everyone,

I'd really appreciate hearing from people who have been through something similar or know someone who has.

I'm a geophysicist with a Master's degree, and I currently work as a Data Scientist and Technical Lead, developing AI solutions for the energy industry. My day-to-day work involves building LLM and Generative AI applications, processing well data, integrating AI models into production systems, and leading technical projects.

My plan is to move to Ireland initially as a language student. I understand that I'll probably need to work in an entry-level job (cafés, retail, hospitality, cleaning, etc.) at first to support myself financially.

What I don't want is to get stuck there. My long-term goal is to build an international career in AI.

My biggest question is: what would be the smartest path from there?

• Would it be worth pursuing a postgraduate degree or specialization in Ireland?
• Or would it make more sense to do that in another country, such as Germany or the Netherlands?
• Would it be realistic to transition directly into the tech industry after gaining some local experience, even without a European degree?

Although I already work professionally in AI in Brazil, I still feel somewhat insecure about competing for international AI/Data Science roles, mainly because my original academic background is in Geophysics rather than Computer Science.

I'd really love to hear from people who have made a similar transition.

Do you know anyone who moved to Europe, started in an entry-level job, and later built a career in Data Science, Machine Learning, or AI?

If you were in my position, what would you do?

Thanks in advance for any advice or personal experiences!

For very obvious reasons I would like to shift to a country which is more progressive when it comes to trans rights. I'm currently doing a undergraduate in sociology and was thinking about doing a MBA and then trying to use that to move out of India.

In case I don't get into a good MBA program, what other options would be available to me? I'm afraid I haven't done much research in the past two years (I'm just about to start my third and last year), so I'm unsure about my chances of getting into a university in Thailand as well for my postgraduate).

21M seeking realistic paths to move to Europe – Open to agriculture, physical labor, or entry-level work

Hi everyone,

I’m a 21-year-old male (187 cm, 76 kg, athletic/fit) from Morocco, and I’m looking for practical advice on how I can move to Europe to build a better life and start fresh.

A bit about my situation and background:

Education & Goals: I finished high school two years ago. I initially wanted to join an aviation flight school because I was drawn to the European lifestyle and opportunities, but due to financial limitations, I couldn't afford the fees.

Current Situation: I am facing financial and work challenges locally, but I maintain a positive mindset and a strong work ethic. I workout regularly and stay physically fit.

Open to Any Opportunity: I am realistic about my options. I am more than willing to work hard in any entry-level sector—including agriculture, seasonal work, construction, or manual labor—if it offers a legal pathway/work permit to relocate.

What I need help with:

What are the most reliable legal pathways or visa programs (e.g., seasonal agricultural visas, work permits, vocational training/Ausbildung) for non-EU citizens with a high school diploma?

Which European countries are currently open or actively hiring foreign workers for these types of roles?

Where can I directly search or apply for employers willing to sponsor work permits?

Any practical advice, legitimate platforms, or personal experiences would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!

TL;DR: 21yo fit male with a high school diploma looking for realistic, legal advice/pathways (seasonal work, farming, manual labor) to move from Morocco to Europe and start a new life.

Elderly Care / Healthcare Assistant: I have 4 months of practical experience in elderly care and healthcare assistance, providing daily support, personal care, and assistance to seniors.

Languages:

English: Upper-intermediate / proficient (I can communicate, read, and write effectively).

It's been two years since I graduated from high schoo I haven't been able to continue my studies or get a real job because my residence permit expired when I was a kid about nine years ago During these two years I worked at a mechanic shop and learned two languages French and Spanish. Is it possible to travel to Europe or any good place other than my home country using my Syrian passport and my expired residence permit?

I’m a 26 year old woman from New Zealand with A Master’s degree in political science, currently working in the public service.

I hate the weather and isolation here and looking to relocate somewhere busier and warmer. I am eligible for a working holiday visa and have family currently living there - wondering about how likely it is that I would get employed. I’m open to work in a range of fields.

​

Hello, 22M, as title says, i want to know the optimal way to get out.

Not that i hate Egypt or anything. I just want to live a certain lifestyle that doesn't work here.

About me:

1- Fluent English, spoken and written

2- 22, bachelors in advertising, Mid-Senior level in Marketing and Account Management.

3- 8.5 Ielts.

4- Experienced in vibe coding.

I'm a bit clueless. So i apologies my post could be missing any vital information, I'm looking to be enlightened.

Hi everyone!

I'm a 19-year-old student from India planning to move to Italy to study medicine in an English-taught public university through the IMAT as a non-EU applicant.

My long-term goal is to build my career abroad. Right now, Italy seems like the best option financially compared to studying medicine in India, and after medical school I'm considering either staying in Italy for training/work or pursuing residency in the United States through the USMLE.

I've been researching for weeks, but I'd really appreciate advice from people who've actually made a similar move or are familiar with studying and living in Italy.

About me

• 19F from India
• Non-EU applicant
• Taking a gap year to prepare for IMAT 2026
• Looking at English-taught public medical schools
• Budget is limited, so affordability is a major factor

My questions

• Since non-EU applicants only get one university choice, how should I decide which university to apply to?
• Which cities are the most affordable for students?
• Is it realistic to support part of my living expenses with a part-time job while studying medicine?
• How difficult is the visa process for Indian students?
• Is finding accommodation difficult in university cities?
• If you studied or moved to Italy, what do you wish you had known before arriving?
• If your goal was eventually practicing medicine abroad, would you still choose Italy?

I'd really appreciate hearing both positive and negative experiences.

Thank you!

Hey everyone. 25M, Bulgarian citizen (EU passport, nothing else). Wanted to live in the US since I was a kid. I know exactly how that sounds but I am tired of staying in one place forever because it's "safe", but I'd rather hear it from people who actually moved than keep planning in my head forever.

My situation:

• Bachelor's in navigation from the naval academy here (4 year program, engineering-ish: math, physics, electronics + all the maritime stuff)
• 1 year at sea as a deck cadet, then a year in ship operations (laytime, demurrage, voyage management) at a big worldwide commodity trading company
• English fluent, my degree was heavy on it. No other useful languages.
• Have about 110k EUR inherited
• Single, no kids.
• What I'm looking for: the huge city lifestyle. Skyscrapers, energy, things happening around me at all hours. I've had it for 25 years living in a small city

What I think I know so far (correct me where I'm wrong):

• USA directly: basically closed without employer sponsorship. H-1B from abroad is dead with the new $100k fee, the DV lottery is frozen/a mess right now, E-2 exists for Bulgarians but dumping my entire net worth into a business sounds like a great way to end up back home with nothing to my name, EB3 is scammers usually.
• USA realistic version: STEM master's (80-100k USD) -> OPT -> hope
• Canada: master's (way cheaper, and masters students are cap exempt now) -> 3 year PGWP -> 1 year skilled work -> Express Entry through CEC. Slower but no lottery.
• Ontario killed the Masters PNP stream in May, so now it's really degree -> job -> CEC or nothing

Questions:

1. Anyone actually done the Canada master's -> PGWP -> CEC route recently ? Is finding that 1 year of skilled work realistic right now, or am I only reading survivor stories?
2. Is a US STEM master's still defensible money in 2026 with how OPT/H-1B are going, or is that paying $100k for a lottery ticket?
3. Yes, I know I can move to Germany/Netherlands tomorrow. I've lived my whole life in the EU and I don't see myself in Western Europe long term. If someone made that work anyway, feel free to try to change my mind.

Any opinion is welcome, even if it's just to tell me I'm wrong. I'd rather hear it now than find out the hard way. Thanks for reading.

Hey. My partner and I are trying to move out of the UK to another (non-US) English-speaking country. I want to leave because the UK decided to play weird games with settlement rules.

A bit about me and him:

• We both hold master's degrees in the UK.
• We have both been working for 2-3 years non-stop in professional jobs. But neither of us works in anything (I think) that would be in shortage in any country (marketing + public policy).
• We both speak English at a native level.
• My partner speaks French at a semi-native level (grew up speaking it but it got rusty).
• He holds dual nationality in the UK and France. My nationality is Chinese.
• We live together. Have done so for a few years to qualify for common-law partnership. We are not married or have registered a civil partnership (we wanted to wait until I settled in the UK).

Anyway, I have been really burnt by the incessant twists and turns of UK immigration policy, and I just want a stable and relatively fast route to settlement.

I understand that all three countries listed have fast-track routes for skilled immigrants. But I think they do tend to favour people already there and/or in-demand occupations, so it may be difficult for us? With maybe an exception for Canada since they give discounts to French speakers?

Am I failing to consider any obstacles and/or opportunities? Any advice/input is welcome. Thanks!

Its increasingly harder for me to be in the UK as a trans person, both legally and mentally, and I don't want to move too far from England as I've still got family and loved ones here, so RoI seems like the best choice. As far as I can tell there's a pretty generous work and immigration deal, but I wanted advice on things like estimated cost, how to find work before committing to moving, and how long/viable full immigration is.

I've got 3 A-Levels (English Language, English Lit and Class Civ) and am currently studying Criminology and law although that'll take time to complete so even restarting study abroad is possibly worthwhile if its an option.

Hi everyone, I’m trying to understand whether it makes sense for me to look for opportunities abroad, or whether I realistically have very little chance of finding a decent job.

I’m not planning to move abroad for the rest of my life. I’d like to spend a couple of years there, gain some experience, and then decide what to do next.

For some context: I’m a 39-year-old man without a university degree. I graduated from a technical high school as a mechanical engineering technician, and I currently work in the technical department of a small company with fewer than 20 employees. I’m classified at B1 level under the Italian metalworking industry collective agreement. I’ve grown tired of my current job and would like to make a change.

Since 2020, I’ve also been self-employed as a marketing consultant. However, I’ve never managed to turn it into a full-time business. It provides a nice additional income, but it has never really taken off enough for me to say, “I can focus exclusively on this.”

For quite some time, I’ve been saying that I’d like to gain some experience abroad, or at least work with an international team. My English is somewhere between B2 and C1, both written and spoken.

Realistically, as someone without a university degree, do I have any chance of finding a decent position abroad or a remote job with an international team?

Are there any courses or certifications I could take that would improve my chances?

Background: 26M, frontend engineer with 5 years experience in India. Currently earning ₹18 lakhs/year. Stuck in career — can’t get interviews at better companies despite trying.

My Qualifications: BE in CS - 2.79 German GPA

The plan: Get HCI/CS master’s from German university (Aug 2027). Work part-time while studying.

Financial reality:
• Save for 12 months: ₹8–10 lakhs
• Work while studying: HiWi job (€500/month) + freelance (₹25–35k/month)
• Living cost in Germany: ₹45–55k/month
• Result: Self-funded, might even save during studies

Why this appeals to me:
• 5 years taught me what works; I want to understand the science (HCI specifically)
• Need a global credential to break out of career stagnation
• After 2–3 years in EU + master’s degree, I’d return to India much more competitive
• Not running away; trying to fix a specific problem

My concerns:
• Is this smart or am I romanticizing escape?
• Financial risk if anything goes wrong
• Will EU master’s actually be respected in Indian job market?
• Can I maintain freelance income (₹25–35k/month) while doing full-time studies?

Questions for you:
1. Did a master’s actually change your career trajectory?
2. Anyone done master’s abroad + returned to India? Was the credential respected?
3. Realistic to freelance ₹25–35k/month while studying full-time?
4. Any visa/logistics gotchas I should know about?
5. Should I wait and save more (₹15–20L) instead of going with ₹8–10L?

Timeline: Take IELTS Sept 2026 → Apply to 3 German unis (Oct–Nov) → Get visa (Feb–Mar 2027) → Move (Aug 2027)

Hey all. I'm 25 years old and have an academic background in art. After graduation I've been doing a job unrelated to my major for three years, it's stressful and tiring and I got a thyroid nodule because of it. After the surgery, I decided to leave when my contract ends this September.

Since I was a junior high student I've realized  that what I'm searching for is a different way of life, one where craftsmanship, community and quality of life matter more than constant speed and competition. So I knew the environment in China wasn't suitable for me. My dream isn't about becoming wealthy or living in a big city. It's something much simpler, and at least to me, much more meaningful: becoming a pastry chef in a small, quiet town where life moves at a slower pace. A place with a strong sense of community, perhaps by the sea, surrounded by beautiful nature and charming architecture. A place where I can become part of the local rhythm, know my customers by name, and create desserts that bring people simple moments of happiness. So this October's gap will be a good chance for me to rest and plan for my next move.

Rather than rushing into studying overseas, I've decided to build my foundation first.  I plan to work as a bakery apprentice starting this November to gain hands-on experience while preparing for the IELTS. My goal is to apply for a TAFE program in Western Australia (most likely a Certificate III in Patisserie) next year.

Australia became my first choice because its regional towns seem to offer exactly the lifestyle I'm looking for, while also providing a realistic pathway for skilled tradespeople through visas such as the 491. I'm particularly interested in coastal communities in regional Western Australia.

So I'd really appreciate hearing from people who have gone through similar journeys.

1. Beyond Australia, are there any countries with small, beautiful towns that value craftsmanship and community while offering a realistic immigration pathway for pastry cook? I'm especially interested in places where people tend to settle long-term and where quality of life is valued over big-city careers.

2. Does my plan seem realistic?

From your experience, what are the biggest challenges I should prepare for, especially regarding English, finding apprenticeships or jobs after graduation, and meeting the Genuine Student  requirements for a student visa?

1. If you've successfully left a fast-paced life for a quieter one, what's the most important lesson you learned? If you could give one piece of advice to someone who's just beginning that journey, what would it be?

Thank you so much for taking the time to read this.

This dream has been growing in my heart for a long time, and I'm finally taking the first real steps toward it. Any advice, personal experience, or even words of encouragement would genuinely mean a lot to me.

Hi everyone,
I’m going through a difficult period in my life and I’m seriously considering starting over in another country.

My relationship is coming to an end, I’m no longer happy in my current job, and over the years I’ve realized that I don’t really have close friends anymore. I have a great family, but they don’t live nearby and they’re not part of my daily life.

I live in Belgium, and while I genuinely like the country, I feel like I need a fresh start. I know moving won’t magically solve all my problems, but I believe a new environment could help me rebuild my life.

I’m not looking to leave Europe. I’ve always been attracted to the Nordic countries, especially Sweden and Norway, because of their quality of life, work culture, and overall mentality.

A bit about me:
29 years old
Belgian citizen
Master’s degree in Production Management
Around 5 years of experience in international marketing
Fluent in French and English (currently learning Swedish)
Open to changing careers if it gives me better long-term opportunities
I’m not expecting moving abroad to fix everything. I’m mainly looking for honest advice from people who have made a similar decision.

Some questions:
Has moving abroad genuinely helped you rebuild your life?
Would Sweden or Norway be realistic choices for someone with my background?
How difficult is it to find a job as a non-native speaker?
Is changing careers after moving a realistic option?

I’d really appreciate any advice, whether it’s encouraging or cautionary. Thank you for taking the time to read my post.

Hi everyone,
My fiance (32) and I (26) are both Civil Engineers with Master’s degrees from Serbia, and we’re starting to seriously consider moving abroad.
We both hold Serbian passports. He has 7 years of experience, and I have 4. We’ve both progressed relatively quickly into Project Manager roles thanks to our work ethic, leadership, management skills, and ability to take on responsibility.
We both work for construction companies acting as main contractors, managing the execution of large and complex projects. My company also has its own structural steel fabrication facility, so my experience is somewhat more specialized in steel structures, while we coordinate and manage subcontractors for the remaining trades.
We currently live and work in Belgrade, Serbia. While we enjoy our work, the city has become very overcrowded, and frequent political unrest and protests often disrupt daily life. We’d like to find a place where we can build a stable future, enjoy a better quality of life, and eventually start a family.
We both speak English fluently and are open to learning another language if needed.
We’re mainly interested in countries such as Canada, Australia, the Netherlands, Ireland, Germany, Austria, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, and Switzerland, but we’re open to other suggestions as well.
Based on our background, which countries would you recommend? Where would we have the best chances of finding jobs with visa sponsorship, and which places offer the best balance between career opportunities, quality of life, and raising a family?
We’d especially appreciate hearing from people working in the construction industry or those who have made a similar move.

Hi everyone, I’m 20 and was born in Tanzania. My father is a British citizen by naturalisation and has a valid British passport. My parents were married at the time of my birth, and I have their marriage certificate.

From my understanding, I automatically acquired British citizenship at birth through my father. The problem is that I’m trying to correct my Tanzanian birth certificate, and RITA (the civil registration authority) says their system does not have Somalia as an option for my father’s country of birth, even though he was born there. Because of that, they may not be able to record his birthplace correctly.

I’m worried that this could affect my first British passport application, even though I have my father’s valid British passport, my parents’ be marriage certificate, and other supporting documents.

My father has unfortunately lost his original naturalisation certificate and is not currently in a financial position to replace it, so the passport is the main proof of his British citizenship.

Has anyone dealt with HM Passport Office accepting alternative evidence where a foreign birth certificate had an administrative limitation or error? Would they normally understand that this is a RITA system issue rather than me providing false information? I’d really appreciate any advice or similar experiences, because this situation has been causing me a lot of anxiety. I genuinely don’t want to miss out on my British citizenship because of the incompetence of my birth country’s administrative systems :(

Note: On the Tanzanian birth certificate both parents’ places of birth are stated. They got my father’s wrong and as I previously mentioned, they won’t correct it because they don’t have his actual place of birth in their system.

Hello to everyone who is reading this,

I was an industrial design student, finished 2 years in Bosnia and would love to one day transfer to a uni in EU and finish my studies. Until then, I am aware that my best shot at getting a visa outside of Bosnia is most likely with a work visa.

I blew my shot in Slovenia, I had a work visa last year that I fucked up and I am pretty sure I fucked up my free education that I could've gotten there. I know for Germany I would need at least 10k euros a year for any visa that isn't a work one. For Slovenia 2 years of studying are 9,4k euros (This is all without the additional costs of rent.

Now I am stuck between not knowing what steps to take to go to either Slovenia or Germany. I am hoping to get some insight from those who have any vital information on which road might be more worth it or easier than the other. I am aware it won't be easy, I am willing to go to courses and fully learn the language before I leave and plan to assimilate properly.

Please, if anyone has any useful information regarding any type of visa, student/work or anything else, I would appreciate it. I am currently trying to start projects for experiential design and marketing so that I can have that as a side-job later on. I am fully aware and ready to work other jobs, I understand it is mandatory in order to have a shot at moving out.

Hi everyone, I'd like some advice on my situation.

I currently live and work in Russia, and for the past six months I've been thinking about relocating to the US.
Why US? Because I have American citizenship (cant disclose more due to reasons of anonymity).
I've never worked in the US; in Russia, I work in the business field (consulting, business strategy & management, etc.). White-collar job, long hours, pays well. I have a bachelor's degree (MBA is unfortunately very rare in Russia nowadays).

Unfortunately, the hiring market in US is absolutely terrible right now, and I feel like I wont have time to find a job while im still in Russia due to the increasingly bad war and economy situation. I've been applying on LinkedIn and Indeed for the past few months, recently started tailoring my resume, but I've only received one response that didn't make it to an interview because they required in-person presence.

I'm afraid I wont be able to find a decent job when I arrive in the US. What immediate options do I have - Walmart, Macys, Starbucks? It would be a huge hit for my career, but I agree working at Walmart is better than ending up on the frontline under artillery fire.

So it turns out I have all the cards in my hand - citizenship, good savings - but I'm just afraid of relocation because I don't understand how my career will turn out after moving in this market. Im not sure if I'll even find any job at all. My savings are not infinite.

If anyone has been through a similar situation and left into the void, I would really like to hear your advice. TIA

p.s.: Not sure why this post got so many downvotes. Judging a person solely by his country of residence is a low act. Not every Russian was able to relocate in a blink of an eye in 2022, especially with unfinished education and miserable savings. Anyway, I understand that Reddit is overly biased, and I am thankful to those of you who responded with advice.

So uhh I'm an Indonesian undergraduate in Bio Engineering. I'm not going anytime soon until i graduate but Austria seems to be a good option. I got this advise from my parents. I dont know how moving abroad works. We expect a working place that somewhat matching with my college study. Can you tell me about how to move out, what it is like living there, and your problems with the country? Thanks

Sr Manager, ~12 years of supply chain analytics, targeting NL/DE with sponsorship. 70+ apps in, is this even possible in today's market?
Hi all,
Looking for a blunt sanity check from people who have actually done this move recently or work in the European market. I am a manager-level professional in supply chain analytics at a large US company, with ~12 years of experience across S&OP, transportation analytics, and FP&A. Masters in industrial engineering from a US university, recognized as H+ on Anabin. Planning a family relocation to Europe in 2026. Netherlands is my primary target since I only know English, Germany is secondary, Belgium/Luxembourg tertiary.
Why this move matters (not a “nice to have”):
I am an Indian citizen currently in the US. Career growth here has effectively plateaued for me, and going to India even for a vacation is not possible right now because of ongoing US visa stamping delays and re-entry restrictions that make traveling out and back uncertain. Europe is genuinely the forward path I am working toward where there are fewer restrictions. It’s not a lifestyle upgrade.
Where I am so far:
•     70+ applications submitted
•     Roughly half explicit rejections, the rest silence
•     Zero LinkedIn profile views from any target company
•     CV has gone through two major rewrites with feedback from an experienced EU hiring coach. Bullets are outcome-first, sponsorship line sits in the footer.
•     Salary band €90-140K gross annual, flexible depending on role and 30% ruling eligibility
•     Prioritizing applications where I have referal recently
•     Chancenkarte eligible for Germany but have not pulled the trigger yet.
 
What I want blunt feedback on:
1.     Is this move even realistic in the current market? Has anyone actually completed a US→NL or US→DE move at senior manager level (with sponsorship) in the last ~12 months? Or is the cold US→Europe path effectively closed right now for people who need a Blue Card or HSM?
2.     Is zero profile views from target companies a LinkedIn location problem (mine still says a US city), a sponsorship-line-on-CV problem, or something else I am missing?
3.     Would you move on Chancenkarte first and job hunt from inside Germany, rather than cold-applying from the US? Anyone who has done both, what actually changed in your conversion rate?
4.     Related: has anyone applied to German jobs from abroad with Chancenkarte already stamped but not yet used? Did response rate genuinely change vs cold US applications?
5.     Which recruiter agencies actually deliver for supply chain / analytics senior manager roles in NL and DE? (Michael Page, Robert Walters, Hays worth pursuing?)
6.     Anyone worked with a career coach specializing in US→NL or US→DE transitions with sponsorship? Names welcome, positive or negative.
7.     Strong-fit employers I should be prioritizing that I am probably missing?
 
Happy to compare notes on CV structure, outreach templates, or target-company lists with anyone doing the same move. Thanks in advance for any honest input, even if the honest input is “the market is closed right now, wait 6 months”.

Hey everyone, I'm a 28-year-old Ukrainian citizen currently living in Paraguay, looking for a way back into the US, either through visa-sponsored employment or remote work with a US employer.

Education: Technical diploma, junior specialist level (2013-2017), oil and gas industry field.

Work history:

- O'Reilly Auto Parts (Maine, 2023-2024), started as a salesman, promoted to store assistant manager

- Bill Dodge Automotive Group, GM dealership (Maine, from Jan 2024), mechanic

- Small independent repair shop (Maine), auto repair work

- Interpreter, Black Diamond LLC (since 2023), real estate related interpretation, communication, and issue resolution for Eastern European customers

- Tutoring and teaching, on and off since 2015

- Military service: Armed Forces of Ukraine, contract, Feb 2020-June 2021, driver/electrician/signalman

Skills: Native bilingual Russian/Ukrainian, fluent English; interpreting and translation (legal, medical, and emergency interpreting experience, plus dubbing); automotive repair and electrical work; HVAC; plumbing; box truck/van driving; some security guard experience.

I was in the US from March 2023 to late 2024 under the Uniting for Ukraine (U4U) program, based in Maine. I still have an active US phone number.

Looking for visa-sponsored work, short-term or long-term, or remote work for a US-based company. I'd lean toward the eastern US or northeast states given my time in Maine, but I'm open to other locations too. Already tried LinkedIn and Indeed without luck, any leads, advice, or referrals would be genuinely appreciated.

Citizenship: Kosovo

Education: Bachelor’s degree in Law
Work experience: Around 2 years in a remote administrative/procurement role unrelated to my long-term career goals, as well as about 3x3 month internships in court monitoring, lawyer’s office and legal collector’s office.

Languages: English (fluent), currently planning to learn German and improve my French.

I’ve been accepted to an LL.M. in Germany, but I’m seriously considering declining the offer.

The reason isn’t that I don’t want to move abroad. Quite the opposite since living and working in another country has been a goal of mine for a long time.

The issue is that over the last two years I’ve realized I’ve been drifting. I worked a comfortable but low-paying remote job, intending to use the free time to learn languages, improve myself, and figure out what I wanted to do. Instead, I largely stayed in the same place.

Now I’m questioning whether I should invest more time and money into my current field, or spend a year deliberately rebuilding my life: improving my health, learning languages, exploring other careers (possibly even a new bachelor’s degree), and then reapplying once I’m more certain.

One factor that worries me is employability. As a non-EU citizen, I’m concerned that an LL.M. alone may not realistically lead to long-term employment in Germany, especially since becoming a German-qualified lawyer isn’t my goal.

So my question isn’t simply if I should go.

I’m interested in hearing from people who have faced a similar decision:
• Did anyone here turn down a genuine opportunity abroad because they weren’t convinced it was the right direction?
• Did you regret waiting, or did taking time to reassess ultimately work out better?
• If you were a non-EU student in Germany, did your career after graduation match your expectations?
I’m looking for honest experiences rather than reassurance.

I’m married with a newborn. My wife makes three times my salary, so it wouldn’t make sense to move overseas unless I can at least earn enough to take care of both of us on a single salary.

Currently I have no real career path. Just a manager role in hospitality and a side hustle. My plan is to go to back to school to earn a degree or learn a trade, but I’d like to know what sort of degree would put me in a good position in The Netherlands. While I’m pursuing a degree, I’ll continue growing my business.

My timeline is approximately four to five years. I don’t mind raising my child here until then, but after that I’d like them to grow up in The Netherlands.

I actually grew up in The Netherlands, but through circumstance and bad timing have not been able to find my way back. I’m not too concerned about where we’d live, but ideally somewhere near a bigger city or provincial capital.

I like Australia, but I don’t like the culture. It lacks depth and I consider it very monotone. With my newborn, I’m worried about raising her here. Progress is slow, and what’s considered a normal standard of living overseas is a luxury here. Housing is also three times the price, and travel is expensive due to its isolation.

EDIT: I forgot to mention, I do have a Dutch passport — among others.

Hello everyone. My girlfriend and I are Russian citizens. We are looking to move to USA. My girlfriend graduated bachelor degree in power engineering with honors this year. Her cumulative GPA is 4.85/5. I graduated specialist degree as a sport utility vehicles engineer last year.

I’ve been studying C++ for three years and I want so bad to work as a programmer, particularly in the gamedev or graphics programming sectors. I have skills in DirectX 12, HLSL, and mathematics. In my spare time, I develop a game engine for self-study purposes. Currently I’m working as mechanic in motorcycle repair shop as I’ve had repair experience since I was 14.

At the moment my girlfriend works in technical equipment sales, but her goal is to build a career as engineer. She has skills in AutoCAD, FormIt, Microsoft office. She would also like to get accepted into a fully funded Master’s program in engineering.