Old users of lebgeeks where are you currently ?

I work for opensource consultancy, one of largest and most known, founded by... Lebanese. Company where top corporations call when they face problems they cannot solve and it is related to opensource.
He don't seek fame, but on my opinion he fully deserve it, if you look to his and then his company achievements.

I left Lebanon a few months ago seeking a better life in Europe, and as a consultant, I worked with more than one huge company which boosted my experience and career identity.
Now I am confident in comparing what is life/career like in Europe vs Lebanon, and as surprising as it is, I have to say that Lebanon holds few benefits.

Left Lebanon in August 2019 - yes, I saw it coming, no, I didn't know it would happen that shortly after I left and that it would be as bad as it was/is. Lived in Kuwait until August 2021 and have been in Dubai ever since.

I moved from Lebanon in 2007, started working for Red Hat in 2013, moved to Italy in 2019, had 2 kids since.

Life is ... ups and down... After all this time, it's still hard being away from my family, but I have a good thing going on here.

Oh and I love my job.

Left Lebanon in 2021, worked for BMW as an intern for 9 months in Munich then joined Amazon as an SDE2 in Berlin.

The job is nice, the living is okay. Life isn't as "exciting" as it was in Lebanon (in terms of lifestyle I would say, very monotone) but at least it's stable and safe so I cannot complain. Regularly visit Lebanon every few months, a bit hard to meet the people you used to see on a daily basis only twice a year or so. But I guess that's life!

But maybe that's bound to change once we have that piece of paper that makes me German. Maybe open up my own thing, be more "free" per se, who knows!

Johnaudi wrote
But maybe that's bound to change once we have that piece of paper that makes me German. Maybe open up my own thing, be more "free" per se, who knows!

Yes, I do feel the same, getting a PR or a Nationality will definitely give us the freedom to acquire happier choices.
Germany was on my radar, but I did not like their 8 years minimum legal stay. Someone told me they will decrease it to 5 years, did they do that already?

Hello @DNA, I work in software and it was easy (or easier) for me to find work abroad that sponsored my visa/work permit, I don't know anyone where I am right now to help me setup my life. I moved here like a hermit and learned everything on my own.

Do you have software development experience or other IT related (cybersecurity, data science, information security...)?

Guitaret wrote Yes, I do feel the same, getting a PR or a Nationality will definitely give us the freedom to acquire happier choices.
Germany was on my radar, but I did not like their 8 years minimum legal stay. Someone told me they will decrease it to 5 years, did they do that already?

The new law will allow blue card holders to get it even earlier. And I believe it's 3 years if you have a C1 in German (someone told me that, though I couldn't find sources)
A PR would only take about 1.75 years with the blue card though.

Came back to Canada. Gave the middle east a try for 20 years...I work for a bank doing IT stuff.

DNA wroteHow do you all just move to europe and find jobs just like that?

Left on a student visa. Finished my studies in France. It's considerably easier to get a visa as a student.

Glad to see Joe and nuc are still alive :)
Im here and there, in and out of many countries. Consulting, freelancing and even have 2 small side businesses, however i am settling for the next couple of years at a GCC country due to their high pay and no tax.

Chose a long carreer still in lebanon, hard to leave in my domain. i studied 7 years and still have 5.

Working as a software engineer at a Lebanese company called CME. Although I had multiple opportunities to leave and work in europe, I'm one of the few who chose to stay. I'm satisfied with my my job, have my own apartment, travel every now and then.

potato wroteI dont see Samer post ;)

Thanks for the nudge potato! I'll be posting an update when the time is right.

NuclearVision wroteChose a long carreer still in lebanon, hard to leave in my domain. i studied 7 years and still have 5.

Wow, what are you studying? That's insane ;)

NuclearVision wroteChose a long carreer still in lebanon, hard to leave in my domain. i studied 7 years and still have 5.

May i ask what specialty have you chosen? ;)