Seattle or Portland?
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@Carnival-Boy said:
Portland is just like Portlandia, right?
Having visited a buddy a good bit who lived there the past 6 years.....actually kinda yeah. Portland is a pretty cool city. Plenty big to support your IT desires AJ, Portland is the "cool" city, Seattle is a touch more "uppity" if that makes any sense. I'd look into Vancouver.
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@alexntg said:
There's also Vancouver.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Climate_of_Vancouver
Edit: If you specialize within your 5-year plan, Boston might be worth looking at. There's (at least currently) a healthy demand for IT folks there. Also keep in mind that as you plan your 5-year plan, things may change, and IT jobs may shift around a bit.
I despise the Red Sox almost as much as the Dallas Cowboys. I love New England Clam Chowder but also SERIOUSLY hate the Patriots. Boston would be bad for me...
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@Hubtech Vancouver would require him to get a visa for which he does not qualify.
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@scottalanmiller said:
@Hubtech Vancouver would require him to get a visa for which he does not qualify.
I thought Canada was pretty friendly to "skilled professionals" in getting visas, am I all wonky on that?
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If you like rain then I can recommend Wales.
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@Carnival-Boy said:
Portland is just like Portlandia, right?
Very nearly. I need to go visit there again soon.
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@MattKing said:
@scottalanmiller said:
@Hubtech Vancouver would require him to get a visa for which he does not qualify.
I thought Canada was pretty friendly to "skilled professionals" in getting visas, am I all wonky on that?
I checked less than a year ago, and Canada was fast-tracking IT immigrants/work visas.
Edit: Yes, group 2171 is still on the list: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/immigrate/skilled/apply-who-instructions.asp?expand=jobs#jobs -
@ajstringham said:
@alexntg said:
There's also Vancouver.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Climate_of_Vancouver
Edit: If you specialize within your 5-year plan, Boston might be worth looking at. There's (at least currently) a healthy demand for IT folks there. Also keep in mind that as you plan your 5-year plan, things may change, and IT jobs may shift around a bit.
I despise the Red Sox almost as much as the Dallas Cowboys. I love New England Clam Chowder but also SERIOUSLY hate the Patriots. Boston would be bad for me...
I don't care for sports, but I survive. Just don't go to Fenway Park or Gillette Stadium. Boston also has WAAF.
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@MattKing Not at all. Canada is like the US, very hard to get into and extra hard for US citizens. Even as a senior manager bringing hundreds of six figure job openings with them you have to fight to get a visa.
Canada requires a four year degree and that you fill a specific job position that can't be filled by a Canadian. So generally only industry specific senior role.
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@Carnival-Boy said:
If you like rain then I can recommend Wales.
I'd love Wales. I love the Midlands.
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Vancouver looks nice actually. How is the IT there?
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@ajstringham said:
Vancouver looks nice actually. How is the IT there?
Decent, it is Canada's only large western city. Not huge but pretty large and right by Seattle. There is all kinds of work there. Very different culture from the rest of Canada. But.... it's Canada. No way to work there reasonably.
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@scottalanmiller said:
@ajstringham said:
Vancouver looks nice actually. How is the IT there?
Decent, it is Canada's only large western city. Not huge but pretty large and right by Seattle. There is all kinds of work there. Very different culture from the rest of Canada. But.... it's Canada. No way to work there reasonably.
What do you mean?
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@Carnival-Boy All the hot girls wear glasses... ooooh!
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@ajstringham said:
@scottalanmiller said:
@ajstringham said:
Vancouver looks nice actually. How is the IT there?
Decent, it is Canada's only large western city. Not huge but pretty large and right by Seattle. There is all kinds of work there. Very different culture from the rest of Canada. But.... it's Canada. No way to work there reasonably.
What do you mean?
Same thing I said before. In order to work in Canada you need a visa. A Canadian work visa general requires that you have a four year degree from an accredited school (which you do not have) as well as having a offer from a sponsoring company willing to pay a fortune to sponsor your visa in Canada who can show that they are hiring you for a job that no Canadian can do - which is generally only possible if you are a senior manager at an existing company and what makes you unique is your experience in that company. Being an IT pro, except for the very highest .01% of the field above the $200K range, there is little to no way to take a job in Canada. One can get lucky, but it is extremely rare.
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Did you ever settle on a future destination for yourself?
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@Reid-Cooper said:
Did you ever settle on a future destination for yourself?
I haven't decided yet. I've been to Seattle and I loved it there! However, I was a tourist and that is very different than living there. I would have to travel to each place and feel it out first. Maybe my next couple vacations will be there.
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It's true, being a tourist can be very misleading. Better, if possible, is to rent an apartment by the month and try living in a place. Some cities, famously Barcelona, is considered a top world travel destination but often cited as being pretty hard to live in.
