If you found a job opening in Europe

[Apple]

If you found a job opening in Europe that you thought would be perfect for you, would you apply?



What if...



You still had a child in school?



There was a language requirement, but you weren't as fluent as you'd like to be pre-interview?



It was a huge paycut (but with increased benefits that made the cuts much easier to take)?



You did not lose your current benefits (amount of vacation/sick time, pension, retirement "401k")?

Just curious

[Deleted]

Where in Europe?

[sarcasticgirl]

I'd go for it, if my husband were in board... I am adventurous and would do it in a heartbeat, my husband would be a Harder sell.

Sent from my Nexus 4 using proboards

[souldoubt]

Depends on other factors.  Like do you own a place that you'll have to rent or sell?  Do you have a SO and what would his or her job prospects look like?  How old is your kid?  I know people do it all the time but uprooting kids of a certain age to me is a hard sell.  My uncle moved quite a bit for work but once my first cousin reached HS he didn't move again until the second cousin graduated HS.    

[Apple]

Sept 17, 2014 11:32:33 GMT -5 laterbloomer said:

Where in Europe?

Not sure   Six locations may have job openings, you don't get your pick, but you can turn down a job offer if you didn't want to go there (however, they could move you if needed once you had the job):

United Kingdom
Belgium
France
The Netherlands
Luxumbourg
Italy

Job would be "Assistant Cemetery Superintendent" though, so it would be where the American Battle Monuments (cemeteries) were located.

[swamp]

what does your son say about it?

[Apple]

Sept 17, 2014 11:40:08 GMT -5 souldoubt said:

Depends on other factors.  Like do you own a place that you'll have to rent or sell?  Do you have a SO and what would his or her job prospects look like?  How old is your kid?  I know people do it all the time but uprooting kids of a certain age to me is a hard sell.  My uncle moved quite a bit for work but once my first cousin reached HS he didn't move again until the second cousin graduated HS.    

You can reply for your own situtation, but mine:

Own a house (would rent or sell)
No spouse or boyfriend
1 high schooler (Junior Year, 17 next month  

Kid would probably be on board, but might not be.  Seed has been planted (but not pushing anything because there is probably a .0001% chance I'd get the job).  Relatives live in the school district if he REALLY did not want to leave school. 

I've been brainstorming for it anyway, if he stayed, if he came.  Either way, I see a lot of plane tickets the first year or two.  If he stayed, it would be me and him flying back and forth.  If he came, it would be me flying his friends over to visit once every couple months, and flying him back to see their graduation, watch a play, etc. 

[giramomma]

Yes. Applying doesn't mean you'd get the job. It just means you apply.

My kids are anxious to go to Europe and houses in our neighborhood do seem to rent easily. A house next to us was rented out for 2-3 years by the same family because the owners left for a job. One of our friends left the neighborhood due to school issues. Her house has been rented out for two years now. She's putting it on the market next spring.

You can hire someone to help you with the language so you improve by interview time.

[Ryan]

No, doesn't sound that appealing.  I'd rather just go there on vacation.

[Apple]

Sept 17, 2014 11:44:08 GMT -5 swamp said:

what does your son say about it?

He hates the town we live in.  He hates the high school.  He loves being in theater and he finally has friends.  As long as he had sufficient notice, he'd probably go for it.  He likes Europe.  When I just brought it up, all he asked was "what country".  Some he would go for more readily than others.  Either decision (him stay or go) would be extremely hard for both of us.

I could turn it down, but this is has been a dream for a long time.  May never have the opportunity to do it this way again (where I can keep current benefits, get the extra benefits, keep my pension etc).  Of course, I'm a mom first and will do the best thing for him in the end.

[mmhmm]

If it were me, I'd put wings on my feet and fly to Europe! It's a great opportunity. That said, I've always had a portable root. Until the last decade of illnesses and aging loved ones, I've always gone where the wind took me.

[Wisconsin Beth]

Sept 17, 2014 11:47:45 GMT -5 Apple said:

Sept 17, 2014 11:40:08 GMT -5 souldoubt said:

Depends on other factors.  Like do you own a place that you'll have to rent or sell?  Do you have a SO and what would his or her job prospects look like?  How old is your kid?  I know people do it all the time but uprooting kids of a certain age to me is a hard sell.  My uncle moved quite a bit for work but once my first cousin reached HS he didn't move again until the second cousin graduated HS.    

You can reply for your own situtation, but mine:

Own a house (would rent or sell)
No spouse or boyfriend
1 high schooler (Junior Year, 17 next month  

Kid would probably be on board, but might not be.  Seed has been planted (but not pushing anything because there is probably a .0001% chance I'd get the job).  Relatives live in the school district if he REALLY did not want to leave school. 

I've been brainstorming for it anyway, if he stayed, if he came.  Either way, I see a lot of plane tickets the first year or two.  If he stayed, it would be me and him flying back and forth.  If he came, it would be me flying his friends over to visit once every couple months, and flying him back to see their graduation, watch a play, etc. 

I thought your son didn't like to fly? 

[raeoflyte]

Yes, I'd do it as long as the kids came too.  Being pulled out of school would be difficult, but that is an incredible opportunity and I think would be good for them too.  

[giramomma]

Sept 17, 2014 11:51:51 GMT -5 Apple said:

I could turn it down, but this is has been a dream for a long time.  May never have the opportunity to do it this way again (where I can keep current benefits, get the extra benefits, keep my pension etc).  Of course, I'm a mom first and will do the best thing for him in the end.

I think it's a tricky thing, as a mom, to balance the wants/needs/hopes/dreams of your kids as well as your own.

Sometimes, parents and children do not always see eye to eye on what the best thing is for the kids. I know for certain, my children don't. But, 2/3rds of them understand that I still need room to be something other than their mother and/or the mother they want me to be. (My kids would prefer for DH and I to both be SAHPs at the same time.)

[souldoubt]

Sept 17, 2014 11:47:45 GMT -5 Apple said:

Sept 17, 2014 11:40:08 GMT -5 souldoubt said:

Depends on other factors.  Like do you own a place that you'll have to rent or sell?  Do you have a SO and what would his or her job prospects look like?  How old is your kid?  I know people do it all the time but uprooting kids of a certain age to me is a hard sell.  My uncle moved quite a bit for work but once my first cousin reached HS he didn't move again until the second cousin graduated HS.    

You can reply for your own situtation, but mine:

Own a house (would rent or sell)
No spouse or boyfriend
1 high schooler (Junior Year, 17 next month  

Kid would probably be on board, but might not be.  Seed has been planted (but not pushing anything because there is probably a .0001% chance I'd get the job).  Relatives live in the school district if he REALLY did not want to leave school. 

I've been brainstorming for it anyway, if he stayed, if he came.  Either way, I see a lot of plane tickets the first year or two.  If he stayed, it would be me and him flying back and forth.  If he came, it would be me flying his friends over to visit once every couple months, and flying him back to see their graduation, watch a play, etc. 

I own my own place, have a very good job and a GF.  Both of us have roots here and as much as we'd love to move to Hawaii or a villa in Italy it just wouldn't make sense right now  All kids are different but there's no way I would have wanted to move during Junior/Senior year of high school to a completely new country.  If he doesn't go would you seriously leave?  That's something I wouldn't be on board with but to each their own.  I don't mean that to sound negative at all I just wouldn't leave my child before they're done with HS.  

[xia]

I probably would but only if there was a guarantee of how long the job would last at minimum. But other then that sounds like fun experience.

[bobosensei]

Well, DH and I choose to move to Europe and we love it.  We are in Germany, but would have chosen to live in any of the countries you listed.  What language do you currently speak?

In your situation I wouldn't move with high school aged kids unless you were able to put them in a good, strong international school.  I am not sure if that is something you can negotiate into the compensation because even though kids pick up languages quickly there is a learning curve and if there are any academic issues to start with those would be compounded by the language barrier.  Also European schools can be a bit different than US schools so you have to make sure that when your son goes back to college that he has everything that he needs to be able to apply.  Transcripts will have to be translated etc. so it is a bit more work.

You will also have to plan on the fact that your spouse probably won't be able to work depending on their career field.  It can be isolating for some people to give up work and be overseas especially if they weren't fully on board to begin with.

[Lizard Queen]

It sounds like fun, but I am stuck here while my mom is still alive.  After that, I have the needs and feelings of 3 other people to consider.

[Deleted]

Apple how exciting! One thing though ... the American schools in France are VERY expensive. You can google American School of Paris (ASP) to have an idea of the prices. 

The international Lycees are much cheaper, but everything but English Lang / Lit and English History/Geography is taught in French. 

ETA: I just looked up ASP's fees. 30K euros (just tuition, not including lunch, transport, activities, etc. The other countries's options may be more affordable. Just something to keep in mind. 

[NancysSummerSip]

Sept 17, 2014 11:51:51 GMT -5 Apple said:

Sept 17, 2014 11:44:08 GMT -5 swamp said:

what does your son say about it?

He hates the town we live in.  He hates the high school.  He loves being in theater and he finally has friends.  As long as he had sufficient notice, he'd probably go for it.  He likes Europe.  When I just brought it up, all he asked was "what country".  Some he would go for more readily than others.  Either decision (him stay or go) would be extremely hard for both of us.

I could turn it down, but this is has been a dream for a long time.  May never have the opportunity to do it this way again (where I can keep current benefits, get the extra benefits, keep my pension etc).  Of course, I'm a mom first and will do the best thing for him in the end.

I guess the thing to ask both of yourselves is this: will I hate myself five years from now for not applying for the opportunity? And yes, I think your son does sound mature enough to ask himself that question.

The time to travel and see the world is when you are young and have fewer encumbrances. When you get older and settled and have personal attachments, aches and pains and so on, it gets harder and harder to say yes to an opportunity like this.

My niece and her husband are coming under pressure, three years after their wedding, to "settle down and make babies." They are only in their mid-twenties, for heaven's sake. They are not working their last jobs or living in their last home (they rent). If they get wonderful job offers in another city, state or country, they should go and do what they want, not be tied down. Same thing for you, Angel, just in a different order. You've done your settled-down thing already, and you deserve to see what the rest of the world looks like. And take the Boy with you. It's an experience he will talk about forever.

[973beachbum]

maybe this is a stupid idea but could your son graduate this may?  I remember people when I was in HS, I know back in the stone age , who used to graduate early and my DD had almost everything she needed by the end of junior year. 

I would hope there is a way for her to have graduated early if she had wanted/needed.

[Phoenix84]

I thought you had already applied for this job?

[Phoenix84]

As for me personally, I wouldn't care to live overseas for a long time. I might consider doing a long term TDY overseas, maybe 6 months or a year at most.

The job I'm probably getting will have a fair amount of travel, and some of it will be international to Europe. So I'm sure I'll get my fill of it before long.

[Peace Of Mind]

Nope.  Not even Europe can get me to go back to work. 

Good luck on getting a great job in a great country!

[Bonny]

Will you be offered an "Ex-Pat" package?

Ours "grossed up" DH's pay; that is paid the differential between what he would have paid in the US vs Germany.

Will they pay for your son's school?

Annual trip home?

Subsidize or partially subsidize housing?

Prepared tax returns? (Do you remember me posting about 100 page tax returns? ) Yours won't be that bad but it does get expensive.

Moving your household goods? Our neighbors behind us in Bonn were able to negotiate a cash settlement and spent less than that to furnish their home (mostly from IKEA).

Will you sell your car?

What will you do about your house? Sell or rent out? If you rent how do the numbers look? Will you manage yourself or have a PM?

What will be the term of employment? Usually these are two to three year assignments.

I think this could be a wonderful opportunity for both you and your son. However your son should only come if he thinks it's a good idea. Same neighbors mentioned before had two teenage children who decided to be miserable and made both mom and dad miserable too.

[shanendoah]

I seriously considered applying for some Amazon jobs in Ireland and England. If it weren't for being in the adoption process again, I probably would have (but the pesky adoption process means I can't even leave the state, let alone the country ).


Once we have a second child adopted, if I had the opportunity to apply for jobs in England/Ireland/Scotland/Australia I would totally go for it.
Heck, I'd happily go work up in Canada (BC). I don't think I would choose to go somewhere where the primary language wasn't English, though. I speak some Spanish and a few words of Basque. C speaks some German, but just for my own comfort level in understanding laws, rules, and regulations, I would want it to be an English speaking country. And if we ended up in the Isles, we could easily take vacations to mainland Europe. (Australia would probably mean some trips to China, Japan, and southeast Asia.)

[NastyWoman]

Sept 17, 2014 11:54:07 GMT -5 mmhmm said:

If it were me, I'd put wings on my feet and fly to Europe! It's a great opportunity. That said, I've always had a portable root. Until the last decade of illnesses and aging loved ones, I've always gone where the wind took me.

 and my kids have grown up as "modern day gypsies" aka expats.  But be aware that even is DS is coming with you for his last year of HS, he will probably be on another then you are the year after when he is off to college. Then again, you can think about that like I do "far away coast US" is not that different from "across the puddle"

[Apple]

Ok, lunch break is short, so I'll address some now, more later.

Yes, I've already applied.  It closed Monday (found out about it last Wednesday), so I didn't have much time to think about it.  It will never happen if I don't apply.

I really am just curious what other people would do, in my situation or not.  Looking at it from all kinds of views gives me more to consider, and not everyone is in my situation, so they really couldn't say for sure that way.  Of course, we are all experts on what someone ELSE should do   So, feel free to comment any way you want. 

But, since a lot of things are posted specific to ME... in a nutshell:
Paycut-- my pay would become anywhere from 39% to 75% of my base pay now.  I'd no longer get the OT I get now either (at least not at the same rate/in the same way)

Housing-- paid for.  Utilities also paid for.

Current house -- I owe less than it's worth.  My dad used to be in real estate, I could have him sell it or rent it out and manage it for me (he did this in the past).  I'd give him a cut, but it would be less expensive than going through a company and he already has my trust.

They would pay for the move.

School-- There is an educational allowance if DS goes, not sure if it covers everything.  He is insanely smart, taking three AP classes this year plus pre-calculus.  I don't think meeting graduation requirements would be an issue for him at all.

I would get an EXTRA 15 days off a year (home leave), and tickets would be covered every-other-year.

I could sell my cars or sell two and leave one with my parents so I'd have something to drive when I was home.  I paid cash for them, so not an issue.  They could have it if they wanted. Not sure if I'd try to have a car there or not, guess it depends on public transportation and expenses.

Household goods--honestly, I'd see it as a great opportunity to purge, and only take my most treasured items.  I could store the rest or sell, or provide a furnished rental

There is a one year trial period, and I'm sure I'd be fine.  Now, would I still have my current job to come back to?  That may get more sticky.

This is a life-time job if I want, there are no limits on the amount of time you can stay overseas.

DS is not as adventurous as I am, however, he loves to try new foods, he loves museums, plays, watching movies in different languages (he speaks a little Spanish).  He is much more "cultured" than our town and I think he would thouroughly enjoy something new, except for the parts he wouldn't

He does hate to fly.  So, I'd rather just have him come and fly friends over to visit us.  But, he doesn't cause any scenes, and he WANTS to go on our trip next summer, so he doesn't let the flight stop him with me paying.  As an adult, with him paying, he may decide it's not worth flying.

Would I leave him his last year of school?   That is a horribly tough thing I don't even want to think about.  I don't know.  I really, really don't know.  I'm ready/prepared for him to graduate and move away when the time comes, but leaving him and being the one to move before he's graduated   Don't like that thought at all.  But, it's something we would discuss if there is an offer, not going to stress about it when there is not.  Maybe he'd stay here for his senior year, and then he'd come to Europe and spend a "gap year" with me.  I'd get more time with him that way than I do now.

Lunch is over, to be continued...

[Deleted]

With all those perks and an education allowance, I'd definitely be up for it! But I'd really want my DS to come with me, I wouldn't leave him behind for his last year of HS. 

Another thing though... might it be more than just his last year of HS? I don't suppose the job opening is for the end of this school year. 

Good luck Apple, in any case! 

[Bonny]

Hey apple,

Good job on responding to the various questions; the only serious ones I have remaining are those concerning taxes and tax prep. When we lived in Germany we were considered German residents and therefore paid German taxes. Although the tax treaty exempts Germany from taxing income derived from real estate (therefore our oil royalty income was exempt ) our German tax rate was based on our global earnings (including our US real estate holdings) and therefore we were in their highest tax bracket of 40+%.

Make sure you understand your tax obligations and who is going to prepare your taxes.

And don't forget that if you have a foreign bank account with more than $10k that you MUST file forms with the IRS. Penalties are very severe if you "forget".