The Netherlands is one of the most sought-after destinations for international software engineers. It ranks among the highest GDPs in Europe and is a regional economic powerhouse. For developers, the Netherlands is also known as a strong tech hub, sometimes even called Europe’s Silicon Valley, as it is home to a growing number of tech companies and startups. In 2025, it ranked third as the most innovative country in Europe. Along with competitive salaries, English-friendly workplaces and supportive visa options (including some exclusive to Americans), all these favourable circumstances make the Netherlands a natural step in the career of many developers.

We spoke with Oscar Harper, a Senior Software Engineer at Picnic, who relocated from Australia to the Netherlands in March 2024. He shared why he chose Amsterdam, what the hiring process was like, and how Picnic supported his relocation. Here’s a look at our conversation.

What do you enjoy most about living in Amsterdam?

For me, the best part of living in Amsterdam is definitely the cycling. It’s such an integral part of daily life here that you don’t even think about it. Back in Australia or the US, the default would be to drive, but in Amsterdam the default is to cycle. I really like that.

Cycling is faster than any other form of transport, and the city is set up so well for it that even if you’re not a confident rider, it never feels scary. On top of that, it’s obviously good for your health. I know I’ll miss this way of getting around if I ever leave.

I also find the city itself really beautiful. The canals, the atmosphere, and the way it feels here make it a very enjoyable place to live. And of course, the fact that everyone is very comfortable speaking English makes daily life much easier. They’re so used to people who can’t speak Dutch, that it’s never awkward to switch into English. So, especially for expats, every interaction is quite easy indeed.

The post Moving to the Netherlands for an IT Job: Oscar’s Relocation Story first appeared on Relocate.me.

The UK, particularly London, is one of the top destinations for software engineers looking for work. Many major tech companies have set up offices in London, and it’s also a magnet for many of Europe’s promising startups. There’s a lot to love about living in London: world-class universities and schools, talented people in all fields, and lots of cultural diversity. For all these reasons, the capital of England is a popular target for relocation for many people in tech.

Our team spoke with Mahdi, who found a job as a Tech Lead through Relocate.me and moved to London from Iran. We hope to guide and inspire you with this recap of our conversation if you’re interested in moving to the UK to work in the tech industry. Get to know how to move and live in London!

Here we go.

Mahdi’s background
Home country: Iran
Tech experience: 15+ years
Current tech stack: .NET, Python, and Go
Passions outside of work: Fintech and cryptocurrencies

Why did you choose London as your destination for working abroad?

I had friends in the UK, and another advantage was that my family and I already spoke English, so we didn’t need to struggle with learning another language along with all the other pressures of moving. Speaking fluent English made the decision about relocation to London very much easier.

You found your job in London through Relocate.me—how did the site help with your search and move?

Relocate.me is specifically designed as a job board for IT jobs that provide assistance for relocation. The site also has a lot of resources about relocation, which are very helpful. It made the whole process easier.

You’re working as a Technical Lead at Candesic. Can you talk about the interview process for this position?

I went through four rounds of interviews in total. First, there was a screening interview, which let me learn more about the position. Then I interviewed with the managing partner at the company, which was a general interview to determine whether I would be a good fit for the company and the position. After that, I met with some of their tech people to assess my skills and experience more directly. Finally, I met with the managing partner again to finish the deal.

25 Questions To Ask Your Future Employer (Before Relocation) →

What did you have to do to get a UK work visa?

To move to London from India or immigrate to the UK for work, you need a Skilled Worker visa [formerly a Tier 2 General work visa]. To get one, you need to have a job offer from a company in the UK that has a licence to sponsor you. After you get a job offer, the company will apply for a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) from the Home Office, which can take up to a month sometimes. Then the company will get you the CoS information and their sponsor licence number, and then you can apply for the work visa. You can do the whole thing online, including payments, through the UK’s government site. Your dependents and your family can get the same visa as part of your application.

There are two fees that you have to pay:

• The IHS fee, which is for healthcare, and when I applied, it was £470 per person per twelve months. Now, the IHS fee is £1,035 per person per year.
• The Visa fee depends on the length of time you’re applying for. That’s part of the CoS that you’ll get from your sponsor company. The fee for the UK can be pretty expensive, especially compared to other countries. I had to spend about £1,200 per person. Since October 2023, the fee is £1,846 for Route to Settlement visas.

You’ll need a credit or debit card to pay those fees online, though the sponsor may pay for it as part of their relocation allowance, so it’s good to discuss that with them.

After you submit your visa application online, you’ll get an appointment to go to the Embassy or a UK Visa Application Centre (VAC) (operated by VFS Global) to bring in your documents and do the biometrics. My appointment in Tehran was about four weeks after I submitted the application. Doing everything there took about an hour. Then I got my passport with the visa two weeks later.

The visa gives you a one-month entry window. Once you get to the UK, you need to finalise your residency by registering at the police station and getting your Biometric Residence Permit (BRP). You get all the info about that when you get your passport and visa. Your BRP card is like your visa that you’ll need to have when you travel outside the UK. However, keep in mind that from January 1st, 2025, the UK government plans to phase out the BRP system. A new digital eVisa system will be implemented, and physical BRP cards will no longer be issued.

The post Moving to London for a Tech Job: Mahdi’s Relocation Story first appeared on Relocate.me.

Despite the fact that an average software engineer would rather consider Italy as a travel destination rather than a relocation spot, the fourth-largest economy in the EU performs above the world’s average in income, wealth, work-life balance, and healthcare, according to the OECD Better Life Index, and has a promising IT industry. The latter contributes a value-added of 3.2% of GDP to the Italian economy, and software engineering companies bring a market value of €50.8 billion, offering many IT jobs for software engineers. Qualified developers are paid 50% higher than other service sector employees in the country, which is good news. The warm and welcoming temper of the Italian nation, tremendous cultural heritage, and delicious cuisine are cherries on the top of the cake, promising smooth integration.

We hope that our recent interview with Michel, a Lebanese software engineer who relocated to Milan from London, will inspire you to expand your horizons and consider Italy as a relocation destination in your international job search. Without further ado, let’s get into it.

Michel’s background

Home country: Lebanon
Time in the industry: A first-year graduate
Current tech stack: Swift, Python, and C++
Passions outside of work: Reading, history, and board games

What made you choose Milan as a work abroad destination? Was it by accident, or were you actively seeking a Software Engineer job in Italy? 

Initially, I wasn’t looking for Italy specifically. I was looking for developer jobs all over Europe but with a particular focus on the UK and France because those are countries where I speak the language. I was actually a bit worried about moving to Italy as I thought the language barrier would be a problem. Bending Spoons assured me that it would be fine, and so I decided to take the plunge. That was mainly because I was excited about the opportunity to work with Bending Spoons and because I had heard good things about how international and welcoming Milan in particular was.

NOTE: 

Bending Spoons is a fast-growing tech company focused on developing and marketing mobile apps. Since its founding in 2013, the team has built over 20 applications, which in total boast over 390 million downloads and more than 12 million monthly active users worldwide! Contact tracing app Immuni, which opposed coronavirus in Italy, video editing suite Splice, and 30 Day Fitness, which delivers home workouts through video workshops, are some of the best known Bending Spoons’ applications. The company is being recognized as the best workplace in Italy, two years in a row.

You are now working at Bending Spoons as a Software Engineer. How many interview stages did you have to go through to get this job? 

The interview process at Bending Spoons was quite thorough and took a very long time; that said, it was also very enjoyable, and I never felt overwhelmed at any step. Here’s a quick overview of the steps I went through, each of which can take between a few days and a couple of weeks:

• Step 1: Resume and cover letter submission. 
• Step 2: Project completion. If recruiters like your resume and cover letter, then you will be sent a project that is relevant to your position. What’s really nice about this step compared to how many different companies do it is that it is not a timed project to take your time and present your best work.
• Step 3: A behavioral interview with the recruitment team members, whose aim is to find out more about your personality and attitude.
• Steps 4 & 5: A series of technical questions and logic puzzles, expecting essay-like answers. 
• Step 6: One final interview, this time with technical questions involved. 

This is what happened in my case, though I think it might vary. I was free to take these steps at my own pace, taking as much or as little time as I wanted, generally, for each of them. As I preferred to take my time with all of them, the whole process took about three months for me. 

Do you have any tips for those interested in landing a Software Engineer job at Bending Spoons? What was your recipe for success? 

Take it one step at a time! Here are some tips for each step:

• Step 1: Research the company in advance, make your cover letter stand out, and be memorable. Remember that you have more competition at this stage than at any future one, so you need to let your uniqueness shine through. 
• Step 2: Take your time with the project, don’t rush it. There are no points for completing it in a couple of days compared to taking a full week. This is specific to the software roles but: think larger than just the project itself. Getting all the features working and bug-free is essential, but you also need to think about readability, scalability, and code safety.
• Step 3: Don’t be nervous! Bending Spoons’ recruiters are awesome people who are super friendly and will make you feel comfortable. Treat a job interview as a friendly chat, show why you would be a great person to work with.
• Steps 4, 5 & 6: These are more technical steps with little shortcuts. Remember, however, that you have been preparing all your life for doing this kind of job, now you are simply being given a chance to show that. If you’ve made it this far, the hardest parts are over!

What was the work visa process like? 

Work visa applications are incredibly stressful, of course, especially in a year like 2020. But the Bending Spoons team was amazing once again and guided me through the whole process. Here’s how it went for me, although it might be different based on your country of origin:

• First, I had to obtain a “declaration of value” from the Italian embassy. To do that, I had to send them my university diploma, translated into Italian and notarized by several ministries in Lebanon. 
• Once the embassy issued the declaration, I sent it to Bending Spoons so they could apply for a work permit for me. 
• Once the company obtained the work permit, they sent it to me, and I used it to apply for a work visa.

The process is simple but was delayed at several steps for me due to many embassies/ministries being closed or not accepting visitors during lockdowns. However, when I couldn’t attend an embassy in person, they usually allowed me to send the documents electronically, and in the end, the embassy made sure to issue my visa before my intended travel date rolled around. The whole process took about five months, so I’m definitely glad to have started early, but it should be much shorter in “normal” years.

NOTE: 

Citizens of the European Union, European Economic Area, and Switzerland don’t need to apply for a right to work in Italy. The work visa fee for non-EU citizens costs €116, and it is only possible to apply for a work visa from outside Italian borders. 

An Italian work visa can have the duration of your work contract or be unlimited. In the first case, the duration can’t be less than one year, and in the second case, the maximum duration is two years.

It is worth using the following tool to clarify what kind of documents you need for an Italian visa.

As far as we know, the Italian work visa simply allows its holder to enter the country for employment purposes. To stay and work in Italy, it’s necessary to apply for an additional (residence) permit upon arrival. Is that true?

This is true. It is necessary to apply for a residence permit within eight days of entering the country. Many documents are needed for the application, but your employer will let you know to prepare them in advance. In the case of Bending Spoons, they also sent someone with me to help at the application appointment as the immigration office employees usually do not speak English.

When you apply for the residence permit, you will get a receipt that is proof of your application. It is essential that you do not lose this receipt, as the residence permit usually takes months (in my case, nine months) to be issued. Until that happens, you will use your receipt in all situations where you would normally need to show your actual residence permit (e.g., when entering and leaving the country or when trying to open a bank account).

What kind of relocation assistance did you get from your employer?

Bending Spoons provided much in the way of material assistance! For example, they found and paid for my accommodation for the first three months of my contract. They reimbursed me for the relocation expenses as well, not just the plane tickets but also the cost of buying luggage, applying for a work visa, and purchasing essentials for my new residence.

But more importantly, they helped through every step of the immigration process, from the residence permit application to opening a bank account. They always sent someone in person to help with communication and translation.

NOTE: 

Click here to browse Software Engineer jobs with relocation assistance.

How long did it take for you to actually move after accepting the job offer during the pandemic? 

I accepted my job offer in April 2020, so, as mentioned earlier, the whole visa application process took about 5-6 months. I received my work visa only a couple of weeks before my intended travel date. This was fine as it coincided with me finishing university as well (in early September 2020).

Is it hard to find an apartment for rent in Milan? Are most rental properties furnished or unfurnished? What websites did you use in your housing search?

One small positive aspect of 2020 was that it was easier to find apartments to rent as many people moved out of big cities! I searched for apartments on many websites, including idealista.it, casa.it, and immobiliare.it. Most rental properties were fully furnished. 

How much does it cost to rent an apartment in Milan? How do you find the cost of living in general?

Rent can be pretty expensive, especially in the city center, but that is to be expected for a big city. If you are willing to live in the suburbs, then a one-bedroom apartment can be between €600-€800 per month. Of course, it’s also cheaper if you can find someone to share an apartment with. For instance, at Bending Spoons, we have an internal Slack channel where we can look for potential roommates.

Outside of rent, then monthly expenses mainly depend on how much you are willing to cook for yourself as compared to eating at restaurants or ordering take-out. If you mainly do your own cooking and don’t go out much, then monthly expenses can be as low as €200, but for an average young adult, it’s probably closer to €700 per month, outside of rent.

The cost of living in Milan, in general, is very similar to London, where I last lived before moving to Italy. I would say London has much more expensive rent but is otherwise a bit cheaper.

NOTE: 

A one-bedroom property in the center of Milan will cost you between €800 and €1,600.

You can use the sites Numbeo and Teleport to get to know more about the cost of living in the city of your choice or see the comparison between the two cities.

What percentage of your salary goes to taxes? 

The tax rate is quite high in Italy, and overall about 33% of my salary goes to taxes.

NOTE: 

Glassdoor says that the average software developer salary in Italy is €30,000 per annum. Depending on the level of experience, salaries vary from €24,000 per year for entry-level software developers to €45,000 for experienced software developers, according to PayScale at least. The good news is that most Italian companies offer various benefits and perks on top of a salary. For example, Bending Spoons, offering stock options, healthcare coverage, a signing bonus, access to the latest hardware, free weekly yoga classes, to name a few. Of course, compared to other EU countries, developer salaries in Italy are lower, but many of them, including Switzerland, Denmark, France, Sweden, and the Netherlands, outperform Italy in terms of the cost of living. 

In Italy, income tax paid by employees is divided into three subcategories:

1. National income tax

This tax is progressive—the more you earn, the higher tax you have to pay. The rates are as follows:

• 23% on earnings between €1 and €15,000
• 27% on earnings between €15,000 and €28,000
• 38% on earnings between €28,000 and €55,000
• 41% on earnings between €55,000 and €75,000
• 43% on earnings over €75,000

2. Regional income tax 

It depends on the region where you live and ranges from 1.23% to 3.33%.

3. Municipal income tax 

It varies from municipality to municipality and can be from 0% to 0.8%.

To learn more about personal income tax in Italy, check out this guide.

What do you enjoy most about living in Milan? Is there anything you don’t like about living there? 

My favorite part about living in Milan is definitely the people! I haven’t met as many as I would have liked to, unfortunately. But the people I did get to meet are cool and awesome! In general, most people are sweet and happy to help others. 

Milan is also a very modern and international city with all of the benefits that entails—there is always something to do, the streets are a joy to just walk around and explore, the transportation system is extensive and efficient. And the food! The Italian food and desserts are to die for.

I have disliked how isolating big cities could be during the times of heaviest restrictions, but that should hopefully not be a problem after this year. Other more minor complaints include the general lack of English-language activities or services and the coldness of the weather for most of the year.

What are the biggest differences between living and working in Italy and your home country?

I come from Lebanon, which is a rather poor country that has recently been going through many crises, so maybe it is not the fairest comparison. But compared to it, Italy is a much better place to be in terms of job security and worker rights. Society is more tolerant and open-minded; there is less instability and corruption.

What makes Milan an attractive place for you as a software developer? 

I actually believe that Milan is a great place for young developers starting their careers! It is young and social, with many universities and (outside of 2020) a thriving nightlife. It’s also the technology hub of Italy and the surrounding region! There are offices for all the biggest tech companies, but several tech startups are also based there, and it frequently hosts tech events such as hackathons.

Can you tell us a few words about healthcare in Italy? For example, as a foreigner, do you have the right to public healthcare? Is private health insurance required?

Italy has a mixed public and private healthcare system. Italians rely mostly on public healthcare, but a portion still opts for private clinics, whether to avoid long waiting times or to have an overall more comfortable medical care. Although the comfort and the quality of service at private hospitals are generally superior, the quality of care is likely to be similar to that of public hospitals. All legal residents, both Italians and foreigners, have the right to public healthcare, which is generally free or sometimes subject to symbolic fees. 

All Italian companies are also required by law to provide some form of private insurance for their employees, and Bending Spoons offers that through Metasalute, opting for their Plan C option. This insurance is available after the end of your trial period. In the case of a fixed-term contract, it is only offered to people who have at least five more months in their contract after the trial period.

If you had to define public transport in Milan in 3 words, what would they be? Does commuting take up much of your time?

Simple. Clear. Extensive. 

The public transport network reaches almost every area of the city and is generally very easy to understand and use even if you don’t speak Italian. The metro runs until 1 am so it is easy and safe to go home after a night out. If you are in the center, you can opt for the slower but much more scenic route using Milan’s beautiful trams.

Finally, Milan is actually a very walkable city, so if you’re not in a rush, then keep in mind that you can probably walk to your destination. It’s free, healthy, and relaxing!

Work at Bending Spoons has been almost completely remote, so I haven’t had to commute since I joined, but it takes around 30 minutes to get from where I live in the outskirts to our office in the center, so that is pretty reasonable.

Are you learning Italian? Or is knowledge of English enough to comfortably live in Milan?  

I am taking Italian lessons every Wednesday, provided free of charge by Bending Spoons as part of their relocation package. Knowing English is enough to get by on day-to-day, for sure. English is quite commonly spoken in the more touristic areas and by the younger residents. But knowledge of Italian is necessary for administrative reasons and immigration-related tasks. For example, it would be quite difficult to open a bank account, or receive your national health service card, or apply for and receive your residence permit without speaking Italian. Luckily your company will probably help with all of these steps, but it is still essential to learn Italian if you want to be comfortable as a citizen in Italy. You will also have to undertake an Italian language test when applying for renewal of your residence permit after a year.

If you could give one piece of advice to anyone looking to move abroad for a tech job, what would it be?

Preparation is your greatest asset! Moving abroad to start a new tech job should not be taken lightly. Should you do it? I think absolutely yes because it is an opportunity to really grow as a person and develop in ways that you never could by picking the safer option of staying close to home. Plus, why would you limit your opportunities and job search to a single country when the whole world could be available for you? That said, the tradeoffs are a very stressful and almost overwhelming initial adjustment period. But that is where you can help yourself by being prepared!

Knowing what to expect and how to handle it will be crucial. Look into how you can open a bank account, look into immigration laws, healthcare laws, the housing market. If possible, take some lessons to start learning the language in advance. Search for people online who may have had similar experiences to you and, if possible, ask them for advice; usually, they are very happy to help. And, of course, there will always be surprises and things that you did not anticipate. That is okay, and your company will hopefully be there to help you through them. But every minute of preparation before your flight can save you hours of headaches after it, so give yourself the best start you can and prepare!

It is time to wrap up. If Michel’s story sparked your interest in Bending Spoons, take a moment to peruse their job openings! Who knows, maybe joining the Bending Spoons team is the opportunity you’ve been looking for.

The post Moving to Italy for a Tech Job: Michel’s Relocation Story first appeared on Relocate.me.

Japan’s tech sector is experiencing a very interesting shift. While electronics remain a strength, the country is pushing boundaries in areas like AI research, cybersecurity, robotics, and fintech. The Japanese tech sector is hiring international workers to address the talent shortage. When surveyed, about a third of Japanese tech hiring managers mentioned that their biggest challenge was the shortage of skilled candidates. About half plan to increase their headcount.

We spoke to Rupesh Agrawal, who found a Software Engineer job in Japan with the help of Relocate.me, a job platform for techies looking to relocate. He told us first-hand what it is like to live and work in Tokyo and how to move to Japan from India. Here’s a recap of our conversation:

Rupesh’s background

Home country: India
Time in the industry: 10+ years
Current tech stack: Golang, GCP, Kubernetes, and Microservices
Passions outside of work: Cooking

What made you choose Tokyo as a work abroad destination? Was it by accident or were you actively seeking a Software Engineer job in Japan?

I was looking for options outside India, primarily to gain international exposure to the IT industry. I had a friend working in Japan for some time who had great experiences to share — and that’s what pushed me to search for software engineering jobs in Tokyo.

You are now working at Mercari as a Backend Engineer. How many interview stages did you have to go through to get this job? How much time passed between the first interview and the job offer?

I had the first interview in early December 2019 and got the offer for the position in February 2020. There were four rounds of interviews: 

1. A live screen-sharing coding round.
2. An interview with an engineer from Mercari, which was primarily to test how I make tech decisions, handle teams, my exposure to microservices, etc. 
3. An interview with a hiring manager, which was a mix of technical and behavioral discussions. 
4. The final interview was with the VP, which mostly covered behavioral questions, but also included questions on my readiness to accept a new tech stack.

*The interview process may differ depending on the position and other factors.

25 Questions To Ask Your Future Employer (Before Relocation) →

Mercari is actively hiring software engineers in Japan

Mercari is a community marketplace app that allows anyone to buy and sell using their smartphones. The company is always on the hunt for tech professionals who are interested in its mission and values, and they want to work with bold engineers, who use the latest technology, make autonomous decisions, and can take on challenges at a rapid pace. If you become part of the diverse Mercari team in Tokyo, you’ll have a hand in developing the industry-leading app that brings millions of people together.

Here are just some of their open positions:

• Engineering Manager, Platform Engineering in Tokyo
• Software Engineer, Platform Engineering in Tokyo
• Senior UX Designer in Tokyo
• Design System Designer in Tokyo

Do you have any tips for those interested in landing a Software Engineer job at Mercari? What was your recipe for success?

To land a developer job at Mercari, you should be comfortable coding on a shared platform, so brush up on this (as programming language probably doesn’t matter as much). Be open to new technologies and share interesting challenges (successes or failures). Microservices architecture experience is a big plus for Mercari.

How to get a visa to work in Japan?

When applying for a Japanese work visa, you will first need to obtain a Certificate of Eligibility (COE). To get a COE, your employer (in my case, it was Mercari) must submit an application on your behalf to the Immigration Bureau in the area where you will be working. This can take up to three months to process, so it is important to plan ahead of time.

Once the Certificate of Eligibility has been obtained, your employer must send the original to you so that you can apply for the work visa at the Japanese embassy or consulate in your country. It then takes approximately a week to find out whether your work visa application was successful or not.

Japanese work visas come in a variety of lengths, including:

• 3 months
• 5 months
• 1 year
• 3 years
• 5 years

The duration of your employment contract is one of the key factors that determines the duration of the visa you will be issued. You can apply for an extension of your work visa before it expires, as long as the requirements are met.

You can find more detailed information about Japanese work visas on the website of Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Alternatively, check out this easy-to-read guide.

Remember to apply for a Resident Registration in Japan

Upon moving to Japan, it is important to apply for a “Resident Registration” at the government office nearest to the place of residence within 14 days.

What kind of relocation assistance did you get from your employer?

Everything was covered by Mercari, from the visa, flight tickets and initial accommodation to the shipping of my belongings. The company really helped me through all the moving process by taking special care to guide me and my family.

How long did it take for you to actually move after accepting the job offer during the pandemic?

As soon as I got the Certificate of Eligibility, it just so happened that international travels to Japan were banned and we could not fly to Tokyo. Due to the COVID situation, the plan was delayed but after around 6 months, I have been finally working at the company’s office located in the Roppongi district of Tokyo. I appreciated Mercari’s agility in the difficult situation.

Is it hard to find an apartment for rent in Tokyo? Are most rental properties furnished or unfurnished? Where did you search for apartments?

Mercari provides flat search assistance. In fact, I received support in all aspects of my transition, from getting a phone SIM card, resident card registration and opening a bank account to finding a flat to rent.

Generally speaking, there are a good number of choices when it comes to renting flats. UR properties are a good option that can save on a lot of upfront costs, which are common in other types of flats in Japan. Most rental properties are unfurnished.

UR Housing and RE/MAX are good websites to search for flats.

A note regarding the costs of renting in Tokyo

As Rupesh mentioned, one of the main difficulties with renting in Tokyo is the cost. Initial renting costs are often around 5 or 6 times the monthly rent level.

The first cost is the deposit. This will typically be 1–2 months of rent, which is standard in most countries.

Once the deposit is secured, then there are agency fees, as almost all properties for rent in Japan are only available through a realtor. Agency fees typically amount to somewhere between half a month’s rent, to one full month’s rent.

On top of these, there are other costs, such as ‘key fees‘. These fees were first implemented after bombings during the war, when the emperor at the time placed a cap on rent levels to ensure rental costs would not skyrocket due to the limited housing available. To counteract this, landlords began imposing ‘key fees’ as a way for tenants to say ‘thank you’ for being allowed to live there. Despite the rent cap being removed, this fee unfortunately remains.

One of the last big expenses when it comes to renting in Tokyo is liability insurance. Many agencies will try and oversell or overcharge liability insurance, so it is important to be aware of what should be paid beforehand. Typically, liability insurance should cost around ¥4,000, or €25.

Once a rental agreement has been secured, the main ongoing costs will typically be the liability insurance, monthly rent and a maintenance fee (which is usually ¥10,000, or €62).

Is there anything else you should know about finding housing in Japan?

YES! When renting a flat or buying a house, Japan requires a guarantor or ‘hosyo gaisha‘. A guarantor, (hoshonin 保証 in Japanese), is a Japanese citizen who acts as the co-signer. Alternatively, you can also use a guarantor company (hoshonin-gaisha 保証人会社), instead of a personal guarantor. Your realtor may be able to recommend one for you to use.

To avoid the need to find a guarantor and reduce moving fees, you can live in a shared house (シェアハウス). Companies like Oakhouse and SAKURA-HOUSE offer accommodation: everything is in English and the flats are furnished.

Here’s a quick list of websites (in addition to the ones suggested by Rupesh) where you can search for rental flats in Tokyo:

• Tokyo PLAZA HOMES
• Roppongi PLAZA HOMES
• Real Estate Japan
• Ken Corporation Ltd.
• Housing Japan
• GaijinPot Apartments

How much does it cost to rent an apartment in Tokyo? What is the average cost of household utilities?

Flat rental costs can vary a lot based on proximity to Tokyo, public transport stations, and other factors. On average, rent for a two-bedroom flat varies from ¥80,000–¥160,000 (roughly €500–€1,000), depending on the size and location of the flat. All household utilities for a family of four can be covered with ¥80,000–¥100,000 (€500–€620) a month.

How much does a one-bedroom apartment cost in Tokyo?

For a one-bedroom flat (20–40 square metres) in central Tokyo and popular neighbourhoods nearby, you can expect to spend ¥100,000 (roughly €620) or more, with monthly utilities amounting to ¥10,000 (€62) per person. Electricity is typically the most expensive utility.

You can read more about the cost of living in Tokyo here.

What percentage of your salary goes on taxes?

During my first year in Japan, I paid close to 10%. From the second year onwards, this increased as I also had to pay the resident tax.

A note regarding taxes in Japan for expats

All taxes in Japan, including income tax, are divided into ‘national taxes’ paid to the country and ‘local taxes’ paid to prefectures and municipalities.

Resident tax is an income tax that is paid to the municipality where you live. It consists of prefectural (4%) and municipal (6%) tax and is calculated based on your previous year’s income. Hence, this tax won’t apply to you during your first year of working in Japan.

How much income tax is paid to the country is calculated in ‘bands’. If an annual salary falls within a certain ‘band’, then that is how much tax is deducted. The bands are as follows:

• 5% tax paid: under ¥1,950,000
• 10% tax paid: over ¥1,950,000 – under ¥3,300,000
• 20% tax paid: over ¥3,300,000 – under ¥6,950,000
• 23% tax paid: over ¥6,950,000 – under ¥9,000,000
• 33% tax paid: over ¥9,000,000 – under ¥18,000,000
• 40% tax paid: over ¥18,000,000 – under ¥40,000,000
• 45% tax paid: over ¥40,000,000

This is based on income earned by a person between January 1st and December 31st each year. In other words, you pay tax in 2024, for instance, based on your salary in 2023.

What are software engineer salaries like in Japan?

According to TokyoDev’s most recent survey of 713 international software engineers working in Japan, the average annual salary is ¥8,500,000. Almost a third of respondents reported making more than ¥10,000,000, which is roughly €61,980 per year.

To easily estimate your after-tax pay cheque in Japan, use this calculator →

If you had to define public transport in Tokyo in 3 words, what would they be? 

Efficient, convenient, and punctual.

A note regarding transport: Is owning a car in Japan worth it?

Owning a car in Japan is complicated. Road laws mean that cars cannot be parked on the road. So when buying a car in Japan, it is mandatory to show the dealership proof of parking, and this parking spot must be within a certain radius of your residency.

Approximate monthly costs of owning a car in Tokyo:

• Renting a parking spot: ¥16,000 (€100)
• Tax: ¥8,000 (€50)
• Insurance: ¥3,000 (€18.60)
• Gas: ¥127 per litre (€0.8)

The expenses and limitations of owning a car mean that many people in Japan use public transport for their commute to work. The Metro (subway) and buses are two of the most popular options.

There are many different bus lines in the 23 wards of Tokyo, and many have the same flat rate of ¥210 per adult ticket (€1.30). The Metro ranges from ¥170–¥320 (€1–2).

Many people find that buying prepaid passes makes travel much easier. Tokyo offers such a card called PASMO, which allows users to enter the subway by simply tapping the card on the terminal.

What do you enjoy most about living in Tokyo? Is there anything you find strange or unusual?

I enjoy that daily life is stress-free. The great climate and a large number of beautiful parks are also worth mentioning.

Experiencing earthquakes for the first time was a bit unusual for me. My first experience was fun and a bit scary, but for people who have been living here for some time, it’s a usual phenomenon and nothing to be worried about.

A note regarding seasons and climate in Japan

Japan is home to four very distinct seasons, which is something many Japanese people take pride in. Despite being a small nation, this island has the luxury of a climate that allows residents and tourists to experience tropical summers and arctic winters. While this will vary depending on where you live, each season has its own distinct traits throughout the year.

In Tokyo, spring and fall are milder in temperature, typically falling in the mid to high 70 °F/20 °C. Summer in Tokyo is known for being humid, with hot temperatures and sudden rainfall. Tokyo is lucky during winter, with the weather remaining far milder than cities further north. That being said, the capital still experiences plenty of snowfall and low temperatures.

By the way, are you learning Japanese? Or is knowledge of English enough to comfortably live in Tokyo? 

I am learning the local language. Mercari offers in-house language learning programs to help staff learn Japanese (or English for Japanese speakers). It’s not absolutely necessary to learn Japanese, but it is beneficial, especially if you want to fully integrate into your new country.

Explore different Japanese cities here →

Can you tell us a little bit about healthcare in Japan?

Japan has a universal healthcare system that combines national health insurance with private plans. The NHI typically covers 70% of medical costs, with patients responsible for the rest (capped out-of-pocket expenses apply). Having a work visa makes you eligible for NHI. While some hospitals offer English services, availability can vary. Private insurance can help cover the remaining 30% and additional services not covered by NHI.

Mercari offered me complete health and social insurance. In addition to paid leave, I receive 10 days of sick leave from Mercari, 3 additional relaxation days, and up to 10 days of caregiving leave (5 paid) per year.

One last question: what makes Tokyo an attractive place for you as a software developer? 

Tokyo is a world-class city, and you can get the best of everything here. Technology here is evolving quite quickly, and a lot of technology companies are doing great work. Therefore, there are a lot of different opportunities to explore and find the right path for yourself. This is especially the case for game development professionals! Being a software engineer in Japan is a great experience. I will never regret moving to Japan from India.

Thinking about moving to Japan? Find a job first!

If you’ve made it this far, thanks for reading! Hopefully, Rupesh’s story will help you decide whether moving to Tokyo for an IT job at Mercari (or another Japanese company) is the right choice for you. 

Finding a job is a key step in moving to another country. And finding a software engineering job in Japan is easier if you find a company that’s hiring internationally — and helping workers relocate to Japan. Your best option is Relocate.me, a niche job board for techies who want to relocate. The platform connects workers who intend to go abroad for work with companies that hire internationally and are willing to help you relocate. Check our board for IT jobs in Japan.

The post Moving to Japan for an IT Job: Rupesh’s Relocation Story first appeared on Relocate.me.

For many in the IT industry, Estonia, the small Baltic country with a population of just 1.3 million, is not an obvious dream relocation destination for a developer job. 

This country, however, and in particular the capital Tallinn, can easily compete with Berlin, Amsterdam, London, Paris, and the other top cities in Europe when it comes to IT jobs. The combination of easy work permits, many promising startups and leading technology companies based there, plus the country’s high level of English proficiency, make Estonia attractive to foreign talent. It’s also a digital-first country and made headlines when it proclaimed the internet was a human right. They did that in… the year 2000. So, yes—they’re ahead of the curve with it comes to digitisation.

In this article, we will share the story of Artem, who relocated to Tallinn for a software engineering role at Bolt. We hope Artem’s experience will help you decide whether moving to Estonia for work is the right choice. You can also use this in-depth guide as a template on how to move to Estonia. 

Artem’s background

Home country: Ukraine.
Time in the industry: Approximately 5 years, with 2-2.5 years experience at the time of relocation.
Current tech stack: NodeJS + TypeScript. Before relocation, Artem was working with Java and related technologies.
Passions outside of work: Video games, traveling, nature, playing the guitar, reading books, and hanging out with friends.

What made you choose Tallinn as a work abroad destination? Was it by accident or were you actively seeking a tech job in Estonia?

I would say that was an accident. I lived in Kyiv working for a startup and still had more than a year until my master’s degree was complete. Everything was going well, and I didn’t have a strong desire to move abroad. The plan was to graduate from the university and then try to look for work elsewhere in Europe. But at some point, I received a message on LinkedIn from a recruiter. 

Frankly speaking, I was not sure about it. I knew nothing about Estonia, but I agreed to take the call. The recruiter shared links with me links during our first call, but I was still unsure whether Estonia was the place I wanted to live and work. After passing through all the interview stages, I took time to research the country thoroughly. I have friends in different countries, so I also talked to them to understand if it was a good move, and decided to relocate. 

I was amazed and confused simultaneously. How come I hadn’t heard about Estonia before?

You are currently working at Bolt as a Senior Software Engineer. Can you briefly describe their interview process?

When I was hired, there were five stages. The process described is for back-end engineers; mobile and front-end developers have only the two first stages in common. It’s also worth noting that Bolt requires very little technological knowledge, for example, how the JVM works. Just some basic understanding of virtual machines or similar concepts could be helpful. You can code using any language you want in all the interview stages.

• Online task: It’s a simple coding task with a time limit, to be completed whenever you want, without an interviewer.
• The first coding interview: It’s similar to what FAANG companies do. Beginning with a conversation regarding prior experience, before the interviewer then presents you with a problem to solve. A candidate must code their solution. After that, the candidate has time to ask the interviewer about anything. The interview lasts 60–75 minutes.
• The second coding interview or a role-specific interview: Most back-end software engineer interviews are the same as the previous stage, but with another task and another interviewer. Some back-end teams might have a specific interview, like Data Engineering, which focuses more on their specific needs. The length of this interview is also 60–75 minutes.
• System Design interview: The interviewer might ask you what you have previously done and follow up with some questions from a technical viewpoint. After that, the interviewer presents a problem to solve, but you need to approach it on a higher level, without writing the code itself. The initial problem might evolve as you solve it, and you will need to adapt your solution. The interview ends similarly to the others and the candidate can ask more about the company, technologies, approaches, etc.
• Talk with managers: Here, multiple calls may take place. Basically, at this stage, engineering managers try to understand if you are a good fit for their team. It is much more of a casual talk about your expectations and what drives you. I had two such calls.

The process was quick but clashed a lot with my schedule. So in my case, it took around 1.5 months from starting to receiving an offer. I signed the offer digitally, and we agreed on a start date. I should mention here that I asked to set a start date 4 months later, as I wasn’t quite ready just to pack a bag and fly away, but this was not a problem. 

Later, I referred a friend, and he finished the entire process in about two weeks, including the offer stage and some preparations for moving. Three weeks after his first call, we were already tasting Estonian beer together in the local pub. It might not be that quick these days, but it is still fast.

Developer’s Checklist: 25 Questions To Ask Your Future Employer (Before Relocation) →

Do you have any tips for those interested in landing a Software Engineer job abroad?

I do not have the ultimate recipe for everyone. It is always better to refresh your knowledge before you have an interview. I had some ACM experience before, so I focused more on system design topics. If you are expected to have coding interviews, practice using LeetCode. You can’t learn everything once recruitment is in progress, so I just quickly refreshed my memory and briefly read about some parts I was not an expert in. Overall, here are some suggestions I can give regarding interviews:

• Do not be shy, speak loudly. Interviewers want to understand how you think and might guide you if you are going in the wrong direction.
• Ask questions. Candidates are expected to ask questions.
• Make sure you have understood the questions correctly.
• Listen to your interviewer. They are there to help you, not to trip you up.
• If you are given a hint—think about it. A hint does not mean you’ve already failed. If you do fail though, try to get feedback on what went wrong. Even without feedback, you can still analyse what happened and find your weak spots. Focus on them.

What was the relocation process like? 

The relocation process was easy for me and my wife. Throughout the process, a person from the company helped me. I signed the contract digitally, made an appointment with the Embassy of Estonia, gathered all the required documents, and applied for a residence permit. It is indeed quite easy. All the papers were in English. All the payments, like state fees and insurance for my wife, were made by Bolt. They just sent me digitally signed confirmations, and I put them together before going to the embassy. 

The people in the embassy were friendly and helpful. I had an appointment with a consul. She asked a few questions, like why I wanted to move, and checked if all the information was correct in the documents. It took just one visit and I got a temporary residence permit for five years. The permit is linked to my employer, but it doesn’t mean that I cannot change company, but I would need to do so within three months of leaving the previous company. 

The period could be shorter though; for example, it could be one month if I left on my own decision. Usually, it is easy to find a job in IT, even within a month. There are quotas for residence permits, but IT specialists are not among them because of the skills shortage and the economic benefits the industry brings to the country.

Overall, it took two months for me to apply for the permit to receive a physical document. I received confirmation the residence permit was issued via email in a month or so. In another month, I received an email stating that I could pick up my ID card from the police department. There was an option to get it from the police or ask for delivery to Ukraine, but I chose the first option, as Ukrainians can enter Estonia without a visa for a limited time. My ID card was ready for me one month before I moved to Estonia!

The company paid for a flat for the first month in Tallinn (I found it via Airbnb), bought us plane tickets and paid to deliver our belongings to Tallinn. Also, Bolt later paid the broker fee and the rent for the first month of our permanent flat. I didn’t need to have a lot of money to move to Estonia! After moving, everything we needed help with to speed up the process was done by a person that the company assigned us to help. From the moment I landed in Tallinn, he helped me fill in all the documents I needed, like the contract with a family doctor, finding a new home for us, and everything else we needed for a new place.

What did the visa process look like for your wife?

The process for my wife was almost the same. She was applying as a partner without a work contract. In my documents, she was stated as ‘Partner’, and I was also mentioned in her documents. The only thing she additionally needed was insurance. Bolt paid for private insurance for her for one year and sent me confirmation, which was put with other documents before going to the embassy. She booked an appointment with a consul in the same way, but needed to answer a few extra questions about our relationship. My wife was waiting for her new internal Ukrainian documents and applied later. I suggest applying together if you have that possibility. 

My wife was waiting for the decision longer than I was. When we were already in Estonia, she received an email to provide our marriage certificate, translated into Estonian. An associate the company appointed helped us get the document translated and certified within a few days. We sent it via email and my wife got her permit. The permit issued was almost the same as mine, but for two years. 

After two years, she sent a few documents over email and got a new permit for three years, as it is linked to my permit. My wife’s permit allows her to work where she wants, and apparently, she can change employment when she wants. Different projects could help a partner find a job or start a new career, find like-minded people, help you with language learning, or help you, as a partner, get acquainted with the way of doing things, like owning a small business. The unemployment fund also offers to pay for professional courses if you need them, with some limits, that are hard to reach.

Get personal relocation tips for Estonia →

How long did it take for you (as a non-EU citizen) to actually move after accepting the job offer?

In my case, it took around 4–5 months, but that is because I asked for that period to stay in Ukraine, so I didn’t have to leave my current company and so I could spend some time with family before moving. Generally though, one can move much faster. I’m not pretending to be a legal expert, but this is what I’ve generally heard from my colleagues. A person can apply for a residency permit either from their home country or whilst already in Estonia. The employer should register so-called short-term employment until a residence permit is given. 

Another point is getting here. I got here with no issues or additional documents, as Ukrainians can, in normal conditions, enter the Schengen Area with a biometric international passport. If you are moving from a country that doesn’t have that, you can apply for a work visa. Usually, this is issued quickly, but it depends on the country.

In general, is it hard to find an apartment for rent in Estonia? Are most rental properties furnished or unfurnished? Where to search?

It is much easier to find somewhere to live in Estonia than in Berlin or London. It is harder for people with animals and children compared to singles or just couples, though. We found our flat in a few weeks. I just gathered a list of places we liked from local websites (kv.ee and city24.ee) and arranged to view them.

There are both furnished and unfurnished options, but the majority of rental properties are furnished. There are rare cases when properties are semi-furnished, with all necessary things for the kitchen and bathroom furniture, but without extra items, like a TV, microwave oven, sofa, or bed. I won’t say that all owners are happy to buy those things for you, but it is not uncommon. You can make a deal with the owner, purchase additional items, and substitute that amount of money from rent payments. Those things will remain in the flat when you leave of course. Saunas are not uncommon inside your flat in Estonia!

Usually, landlords do not wait for multiple offers or bids, but just rent out to the first person who is ready to move in. In our case, we had almost everything included, but without extras. Kitchen furniture, bathroom furniture and essentials were all included, such as a dishwasher, washing machine, bed, sofa, and integrated cabinets. The owner bought us a TV in the first days and everything else we bought on our own from IKEA or local stores. 

Mostly, we just needed to buy trivial things, like kitchenware, tableware, a kettle, a coffee machine, a few cabinets, pillows, decorations, and so on. In most cases, when you rent a flat you can live there right away and buy these small items later.

Another important thing to know is that everything is official and you should register your place of living. To do so, simply go to the website, log in with your ID card and fill out a form with an attached contract. The owner will receive a request to approve the information. Registering gives you perks, like free public transport inside Tallinn. 

Some owners do not want you to do that so that they can avoid taxes, but you can draft an email to the police and they will force registration for you without the owner’s approval if you have signed a contract. In our case, the owner said that he would register us and it is not an option for him not to do that. The contract signing also takes place digitally. You just sign with your ID card online or locally on your device.

How much does it cost to rent an apartment in Tallinn?

For around €600 per month, you can find decent one-bedroom (50–60 m²) options near the centre, in a new building. Historic areas are more expensive. There are many options to rent nice apartments for even €300, but further from the centre and in an older house. There are a lot of renovated old houses, so they are not all that bad. When talking about a single person or a couple who wants to rent a decent fresh and furnished one-bedroom flat, prices are approximate:

• €800–1,200 near the historic area, city centre or harbour. These areas are close to each other, but are quite different.
• €700–900 in areas near the centre.
• €600–800 a bit further afield.

Most of those properties will include some extra perks such as parking, a storeroom, a terrace or a sauna. If you are not limiting your search to fresh buildings, you may find cheaper options in each area.

When you sign the contract, the first payment may include the following:

• The first month’s payment, in advance.
• The broker fee—which might not exist if you contacted the owner directly.
• The security deposit—which is returned if everything is okay when the property. The deposit might be over one month’s pay if there are additional agreements, like if you have a cat or dog.

I pay €600 per month. The building in new (built in 2014). It takes about 12–15 minutes to get right from our building to the historic centre using public transport, or around 8–10 minutes by car. We also have a 10 m² terrace, a small backyard, a private parking spot near the house, and a 5 m² storeroom on the ground floor. It is not overcrowded, quiet and a pretty place. Household utilities vary on the building heavily. 

The cost will not be huge in not-so-old houses (built after 2000), but in older buildings or historic areas, they might cost more in winter. I pay €80–140 monthly for everything, plus €25 for the Internet. Winter is more expensive because of the heating. Occasionally, the whole building undergoes additional work. For example, in our building a few months after we moved, the whole ventilation system was maintained, and in each flat, all the filters were changed. Usually, all owners discuss it and make an appointment for one day, with a flat schedule beforehand. The owner paid for the work. 

There are new buildings near the centre. Some areas are given a second chance and are becoming “hipsterish,” so you have the option to live in a lovely new house even closer to the historic centre with a lot of interesting places nearby.

How much can a Senior Software Engineer expect to make in Tallinn? Does the salary match the cost of living?

The average monthly salary in Estonia is around 1,300–1,400 euro net. Given the cost of living in Estonia, it is a fair salary. In IT, you will make much more than that. I’m not aware of all the wages here, but roughly speaking, senior-level software engineers could make 3,000 euro net per month and twice this if you are skilled enough. 

The average senior software engineer’s salary is €54,000 per year. With bonuses (like stock options and annual bonuses), this may climb even higher. There is a broad range for one role across all companies. Some pay less, some pay much more. It might be a small local company, an outsourcing company, a startup, or a well-established company. Given that, I would not say that salaries are always lower than in other popular European cities. 

You can make a lot here, but even if you make 20-25% less in Tallinn, you can have more money left in your pocket compared to living in other Western European cities. The quality remains the same, but much more possibilities in the future.

Get an idea of what your net salary in Estonia would be like using this net pay calculator →

What makes Estonia an attractive place for you as a software developer?

From a professional viewpoint, there are a lot of exciting companies here. Estonia is the leader in the number of tech unicorns per capita. The cost of living is not going nuts, but salaries can be higher than in the most expensive cities. Digitisation is everywhere, and I’m happy about that as a software engineer. 

You can do everything you need online: sign documents, get a mortgage, register an appointment with your doctor, get a drug prescription prolongation in a few minutes, sell and buy a car (even a used one), register your residence, fill and send your tax report in three clicks, and much more. You can do the above by simply using a laptop and your ID card. No queues and no effort; it is fantastic.

What do you enjoy most about living in Estonia? Is there anything you don’t like about living there?

When I was moving here, I thought it was not a destination for me and I wanted to try other countries. After two years here and travelling across Europe, I’m more confident that it might be the best place to stay and live.

I already mentioned digitalisation, but it is so cool.

You need not spend a lot of time getting to nature; it is close to you—only 20 minutes by car and you are sitting on the beach between the Baltic Sea and the forest, or hiking through the bog.

People are friendly even if you don’t know the language. They try to help you even if you can’t speak the same language as each other.

It is easy to get a mortgage with nice conditions, and real estate prices are still not too high (but they are rising). You can get a decent flat near the centre for €200–350k—which is astonishing compared to Amsterdam or Berlin, for example.

Healthcare is not top-notch, but it is decent. You need not wait 6–12 months like in other countries, but sometimes the waiting period might reach 1–2 months. If you don’t want to wait, private healthcare is available. The prices are not too high. Regular hospitals are good and well-maintained. All your history is tracked in the system, including your tests, prescriptions etc.

It is easy to establish your own small (or large) business here. It is extra easy, really.

Summer is fantastic! In June, there are no nights at all. We go to the beach and chill there till 1 or 2 am without noticing it is late.

The city is not very big, so commuting doesn’t take too much time. I don’t even check the traffic before going somewhere by car. You can find everything you need. Given the number of inhabitants, there are a lot of places to experience fine dining, cocktails or a nice beer.

The city is very safe; you can walk at night without the risk of being stopped by someone who ‘needs to make a call from your phone’.

These are just some things I enjoy here. I was sceptical about Tallinn before moving here, but now I can say it was the right decision.

The winter is dark here, though. I’m okay with it, but it is still a point worth mentioning. The days are short and the nights are long. The weather might be too harsh, but a glass of glögi helps. Also, due to the city’s size, you might face a situation when it is hard to find something you want to buy immediately. You can always order and wait for delivery, but not on the same day. You won’t find the cuisine from the entire world inside one city either, as you can in Berlin, for example.

Another point for me is the connectivity with other countries. You can travel easily to Scandinavia, even by car, or nearby to Latvia and Lithuania (which are nice as well), or inside Estonia (there are many places to go for sure) but that is it. Flight connections are not great, so you often need to stop over in Riga or Helsinki.

Some people will always find negative things in positive parts, but life is full of tradeoffs, and so far, Tallinn is among the best cities with a great ratio of tradeoffs. Meanwhile, Estonia is doing good, and many more things are appearing here.

Are you learning the local language? Or is knowledge of English enough to comfortably live in Tallinn?

Yes, I am learning Estonian, and I recently finished my A1 course. I picked up some basic words easily in the first few months I lived here and it is easy to speak in shops, for example. My wife has already finished level B1.

Inside Tallinn, you don’t need Estonian to live for years. A lot of services are available in English. You can speak English in shops, restaurants or hospitals. Everything important is translated. So, being an expat in Estonia without speaking the language is quite easy. Sometimes though, you might struggle when searching for something specific. There are a lot of options for Russian speakers here too. What is more important to know though is that it is unlikely that you will be treated badly if you don’t speak Estonian.

Anyway, I would strongly suggest at least getting the language basics. No one can integrate into society without language; it is the central part of it. It is about culture. Estonian is difficult. It is among the most challenging languages, and you won’t need it anywhere outside of Estonia. But it is not that hard to slowly learn it. People will appreciate you trying, and a few words in Estonian with your “weird” accent will make people respect you for that.

If you could give one piece of advice to anyone planning to relocate to Estonia, what would it be?

Do not expect that relocation to another country will solve your problems and give you everything right away. Also, do not just be a consumer in your new country—you also might have something to contribute. For example, if you feel that there is a lack of nice fancy cakes or drinks—just try to make it happen yourself. Estonia has a lot of room for you as a contributor! My advice isn’t to not relocate, but the opposite—do not be afraid to take that step, it might be as wonderful a place for you, as it is for me. Regardless, no one is going to lock you here if you don’t like it, but people will most likely try to help you settle in!

Start your relocation process now by finding a job in Estonia!

The best way to move to Estonia is with a job that helps you relocate. Relocate.me helps you get there. It’s a niche job board with tech jobs for software developers, software engineers, or techies who want to relocate. Every job posted on the platform is from an employer who’ll help you relocate — to Estonia or somewhere else. 

Curious to see what Software Engineer jobs in Estonia are currently on offer? You can browse through the list of all available IT jobs with relocation assistance offered to find the perfect fit for you. You can also visit our Estonia page.

The post Moving to Estonia for an IT Job: Artem’s Relocation Story first appeared on Relocate.me.

Are you planning on living in Estonia? You should definitely consider Tallinn, one of Europe’s hottest startup hubs, as a relocation destination. In this interview, Vita A. shared her experience of living and working in Tallinn as a software developer. You’ll learn from her there are plenty of developer jobs in Tallinn. Read on.

Short bio

Current position: Full Stack Developer @ Perforce Software
Time in the industry: 3 years
Favorite tech stack: Java, ReactJS
Passions outside of work: Yoga and swimming

What made you decide to relocate to Estonia? How long have you been here?

I’ve been living in Estonia for seven years. At first, I came to Tallinn as an Erasmus student, then I came back to study for a Master’s degree. I fell in love with Tallinn very quickly and decided to stay here.

This small city has so much to offer in terms of career opportunities, especially if you’re an IT specialist.

Are Estonians proficient in English?

Estonia ranks high for English proficiency, which is, without a doubt, a distinct asset for international talent. It’s also the leader in the number of tech unicorns per capita.

How did you search for a tech job in Estonia? Any tips for those seeking similar work?

CV Keskus and CV-Online (CV.ee) are the two largest job portals in Estonia. Companies also hire through universities and employee referral programs. Personally, I was referred by my friend for my current job. It is a common practice here.

How to Improve Your (Tech) LinkedIn Profile Before Relocation →

What was the visa process like?

 had a study permit at first, and it had its benefits. For example, after the permit expired, I could still work full-time and stay and work for half a year more in Estonia. I decided not to extend my study permit and apply for a temporary residence permit for work, just because it was valid for five years instead of one. 

My employer prepared an invitation letter for the Police and Border Guard Board, and that was all I needed. Once you meet the salary criteria (your salary has to be not less than the average salary in Estonia, with some exceptions), it is easy to get a work permit. What’s more, for most skilled professions in high-demand sectors, such as the IT sector, the quota system is no longer a problem.

Read Expat Advice: Moving To And Living In Estonia →

What are three things that impressed you the most about Tallinn/Estonia?

To me, it feels that IT is the number one priority in this country. Everything possible is made digital. There is minimum bureaucracy here because you can do pretty much everything online. I also like the Baltic Sea and Tallinn’s beautiful old town :).

What has been the most helpful thing in adapting to your new home abroad?

Estonian classes helped me to read labels in supermarkets and understand basic conversations. Also, going out and meeting with friends helps me not to feel homesick.

What have been some of the most challenging moments so far?

I am still getting used to the Nordic weather. Sometimes, it feels that winter will never end. Because of the lack of sunshine during the winter months, everyone has to take vitamin D supplements. But, Estonian summer days are long and very pleasant.

According to Numbeo, the average cost of rent for a one-bedroom apartment in the center of Tallinn is €660 + €280 for utilities (electricity, water, etc.). Is that true?

Not precisely, €900 is the average price for a good one-bedroom flat in Tallinn, according to Airbnb. However, you can find cheaper and still nice options. The cost of utilities usually depends on the building you live in, but it is approximately €50 in summer and €100 in winter.

In general, is it hard to find an apartment for rent in Tallinn? Could you name a few websites to search on?

Flats for rent are published on KV.ee and City24.ee. There are also several Facebook rental groups. In my opinion, it is neither easy nor hard to find an apartment in Tallinn. If you have any budget limitations or a cat, or maybe in case of searching for a place with no broker fee, then it might take some time to find a suitable apartment. Otherwise, there are various offers on the market.

Share a few words about public transport in Estonia. Is it essential to have a car?

Public transport in Tallinn is accessible and free for citizens, so I don’t feel the necessity to have a car. Generally, everything is so close here, that you might just walk :). At the same time, Estonia is rich in natural attractions, and the best way to get to some National Park or a lake is by car. I’d like to be able to drive outside of Tallinn, but it is definitely not essential to use a car every day.

In your opinion, what makes Estonia an attractive place for software developers?

Estonia for software engineers, is like Milan for fashion designers. It offers lots of career opportunities for tech professionals, there are many IT conferences, hackathons, and meetups happening, in other words, a lot of fun. I would say living in Tallinn is a very smart choice for techies.

What is the average software developer salary in Estonia?

Depending on experience and location, a software developer in Estonia earns approximately €2–4k monthly. The average salary in Estonia is around €1,300-1,400 net per month.

Get an idea of what your net salary in Estonia with our net pay calculator →

How has relocation affected you (your life, your career)? Is it worth moving to Estonia?

The quality of my life and my career have improved significantly here. I have zero regrets about my decision to move to Estonia. It is a well-developed, modern, and safe European country. I really enjoy Tallinn life.

If you could pick one piece of advice to anyone relocating here, what would it be?

Be prepared for long dark winters. The weather here is a painful topic :D.

Convinced about starting a new life in Tallinn? Start by looking for a job!

The best way to relocate to Estonia and live the Tallinn life is to get to the Baltic–Nordic country with a job. Relocate.me is the best place to finding developer jobs in Tallin that will make living in Estonia possible. It’s a niche job board for techies who want to relocate. Every company that lists a job on Relocate.me is open to hiring international talent—and will help candidates relocate. Moving to Tallinn is considerably easier if you have a job helping you settle over there.

Curious to see who is currently hiring in Tallinn and what software engineering positions are available? Have a look at Relocate.me’s job board for developer jobs in Tallinn. You can also visit our Estonia page.

The post What Is It like To Live And Work In Tallinn As A Software Engineer? first appeared on Relocate.me.

Consider relocating to Estonia? In this interview, Anna, a passionate tech recruiter and our good friend, shares her experience about living and working in Tallinn, “Estonia’s forward-thinking capital city and innovation hotspot”. Hopefully, her story will be a great source of inspiration to you.

What made you decide to relocate to Estonia? How long have you been here? 

Estonia is known for being extremely inviting to incoming expats and, importantly, it has a strong IT community. Living costs in Estonia are considered to be lower than in most other European countries, the visa process is not that complicated…

There are also many other exciting things (e.g., ease of travel within Europe, lots of talented people around that raise the bar high) that inspired me to choose Estonia and Tallinn in particular for my first experience of living abroad. I moved here in summer 2017.

What company do you work for? What is your position? 

I’m a recruiter I help Taxify’s Engineering team grow in Tallinn and our Operations function in tens of countries in Europe, Africa, and South America.

Outside of work, what are your passions? 

My work is my passion Traveling is also something I love to do in my spare time. Since I moved to Estonia, it has become my hobby. Tallinn and nearby cities such as Helsinki and Riga have excellent flight connections with Europe and many other countries around the world. It’s super easy and cheap to hop on a plane and spend a long weekend in Oslo or Paris, for instance. 

What was the visa process like? What type of visa did you apply for?  

Estonia is one of the easiest countries to move to. It was one of the reasons I decided to relocate here. 

Firstly, Taxify registered my short-term employment with the Estonian Police and Border Guard Board. After that, I applied for a D-visa. The overall process took around 2-3 weeks and involved minimal paperwork.

When I arrived, my company arranged my visit to the Police and Border Guard Board where I applied for my residence permit, an ID card which would give me all the same rights and access to e-government services as any other Estonian citizen. 6 weeks later, my ID card was finally issued. There is also an opportunity to apply for residence permits for you and your family in the embassy. This will speed up the process.

How long did it take for you to actually move after accepting the job offer?

Despite the pretty fast visa process, it took me about 2 months to move, mostly because of my notice period.

Share a few words about the company and your new team

Taxify is a team of smart and fearless people. We’re building the future of transport – a platform that connects you with cars, motorcycles, scooter sharing, and anything else you need to move around in your city.

When I joined Taxify, in June 2017, the size of the company was around 180 employees globally; now, this number is more than 650! It’s exciting and challenging at the same time to be part of such a company, and I love it! 

Taxify has offices in more than 25 countries and employs people from 59 different nationalities – pretty diverse As for our Tallinn office, there are 200 people from over 27 counties, and we’re still actively hiring talent from abroad, mainly for our Engineering team. Relocating from Mexico to Tallinn? No problem, we got it covered. Our company offers generous relocation packages for software engineers and their families.

What are the best things about living and working in Estonia?

Estonia is a perfect place for those who’d like to gain experience working at a startup. There are plenty of amazing startups at different stages here. If you’re thinking of building your own product in the future, local companies will give you such a great learning opportunity.

Tallinn is a city for everyone. Whether you’re a family person looking for a safe and welcoming place to raise your children (free schooling and medicine) or you’re a free spirit in search of new impressions (creative hubs, outdoor activities), you will definitely find something to do here!

What has been the most helpful thing in adapting to your new home abroad? 

A lot of help for expats comes from the government (workinestonia.com) and companies themselves. In my case, the company and the team were the most helpful. Whatever situation or questions I encounter, I know that I’ll always get assistance from my fellow teammates who have already become my good friends.

Is English enough to comfortably live in Estonia and Tallinn in particular?

Absolutely! During my stay, there were only a couple of cases when English wasn’t enough. All young Estonians speak English well.

According to Numbeo, the average cost of rent for a one-bedroom apartment in the centre of Tallinn is €500. Is that true?

Yes, the numbers available on Numbeo are pretty precise. However, Tallinn is not a big city, so the areas that can be called “city centre” are quite numerous. You can find a one-bedroom apartment in 20-30 minutes walk from the Old Town for €350-450. The cost of utilities depends heavily on the type of your house, kind of heating (central, electric, or a fireplace), and tenant community. For a one-bedroom flat, I’d say the overall costs could vary from €60 in summer to €150 in winter.

In general, is it hard to find an apartment for rent in Tallinn? Could you name a few websites to search on? 

In my experience, it’s not difficult to find a nice flat in Tallinn. It might take you around 2 weeks. The best websites to search on are City24.ee and KV.ee. Both are easy to navigate and have an English version.

If you had to define public transport in Tallinn in 2 or 3 words, what would they be? 

There’s only one word to describe it: FREE! As soon as you get residency and register your place of residence, you can connect your public transport card to your ID card and use free public transport that includes buses, trams, and regional trains.

In your opinion, what makes Estonia an attractive place for software developers? 

The IT industry is one of the leading industries driving the Estonian economy. The government supports the development of tech companies and startups. Those, in return, create a really cool community of like-minded people (conferences, meetups, university collaborations, etc.) and attract massive investments. 

Estonia produces more startups per capita than any other country in Europe. This means that software developers over here will always have an interesting and challenging product (project) to work on – Skype, TransferWise, Taxify, Pipedrive, and a number of other exciting new startups and emerging companies.

What is the average software developer salary in Estonia? 

I would say it varies from 40k to 70k euro gross per year (2500-4500 euro per month after taxes) depending on the level of seniority, the type of the position, your tech stack, etc.

Such a salary perfectly aligns with the average numbers in most of the Western European countries, but mild taxation (a 20% flat rate) and a lower cost of living make Estonia quite an attractive place to live nonetheless.

How has relocation affected you (your life, your career)? Is it worth moving to Estonia? 

Moving to Estonia and especially joining Taxify has had a huge impact on my career. I’ve learned a lot and continue to do so. It has allowed me to dive deeper into international recruitment and even became a speaker at the largest international conference – Sourcing Summit Europe (a big thing in the recruitment world).

If you could pick one piece of advice to anyone relocating here, what would it be?

It’s not that cold over here, but be prepared for long nights in winter and long days in summer.

Read also: Landing A Tech Job Abroad: 7 Simple Tips

The post Expat Advice: Moving To And Living In Estonia first appeared on Relocate.me.

What is it like to live as an expat in Croatia? In this interview, Mackenzie, a passionate communications manager and a very positive, interesting person, shares her experience about living in Zagreb, the capital and the largest city of Croatia. Hopefully her story will be a great source of inspiration to you all. Enjoy the read!

What is your name? 

Mackenzie Schnell.

Where are you from? 

I’m from the USA.

What inspired you to relocate to Croatia? How long have you been here? 

The biggest factor in my decision to move to Croatia was definitely the career opportunity with Oradian. The company is growing quickly in so many ways: expanding in its current markets and entering new markets around the world, building new functionalities in its core banking system, recruiting top talent from the microfinance and fintech industries and creating a unique brand. With this much happening, I knew I would be hard-pressed to find another company that would offer the same amount of learning, number of interesting projects and level of autonomy. 

I was open to relocating in the first place because I had the mentality of, “Why not?” Croatia and Zagreb were enticing as a home base. The city and Oradian offer a lifestyle that, I think, is becoming more and more difficult to find. 

I’ve been in Croatia for just over one year. 10/10 would recommend.

What is your current role at Oradian? 

Senior Communications Manager.

Outside of work, what are your passions? 

My passions outside of work are oddly similar to what I do at work. In my free time, I am writing screenplays and documentaries about stories that are worth sharing – kind of like what I’m doing from 9am-5pm by documenting Oradian’s customer stories, writing case studies and creating testimonial videos about our customers’ businesses. 

Besides pressing keys on a keyboard, I also spend a lot of time bicycling, playing sports, wondering what I will make for dinner, traveling and going to random events in Zagreb.

How did you search for a job in Croatia? Any tips for those seeking similar work?  

A) Go through a really laborious process of calling the embassy, hand writing letters to career advisors and researching expat procedures. 

B) Search jobs portals for your industry. I was in the financial inclusion space before joining Oradian and I knew I wanted to stay. I found my job on Microfinance Gateway’s job site. 

Honestly, I only know of a few companies in Croatia that are actively hiring expats – and that expats enjoy working at. I have heard many Croatians say that ‘typical’ Croatian companies aren’t great places if you want a dynamic career in a positive atmosphere. 

What was the visa process like? What type of visa did you apply for? 

The visa process was much easier than I expected. Oradian’s Operations Team sent the forms that I had to fill out so I only need to know my name, birthday, address, etc. With the Operations Team, I applied for a work permit using the employment contract from Oradian and the temporary ‘stay permit’ using my housing contract. In total, I only had to go to one of the dreaded Croatian administrative offices three times. 

How long did it take for you to actually move after accepting the job offer? 

One month. I signed the contract and found someone to sublease my apartment at home. I sold most of my stuff on Craigslist and packed everything I wanted to bring in two gigantic suitcases.

Share a few words about the company and your new team

I like that you can be yourself in the office and there’s not a lot of stiffness (i.e. people pretending not to be humans). The number of people in my team is four, but it’s a growing department. I work with people from Tunisia, South Africa, Slovenia, Cameroon, other Americans, the Philippines, you name it.

What are three things that impressed you the most about Croatia/Zagreb? 

1. When the sun is shining, the streets are filled with people hanging out and socialising on terraces with coffee, beer, wine and good energy. 
2. Croatian is useful but not necessary because 9/10 people that I meet speak better English than I do as a native English speaker.
3. It seems like everyone’s grandma is busy making amazing Croatian food and sweets and inviting strangers to their homes to attest that they make the best ‘insert traditional food name’ here.

What has been the most helpful thing in adapting to your new home abroad? 

Supportive colleagues that invite you places and send you links for helpful resources.

What’s one of the biggest differences between working in Croatia and working in your home country? 

People in Croatia stop working after a certain hour in the day.

According to Number, the average cost of rent for a one-bedroom apartment in the center of Zagreb is €400 + €175 for utilities (electricity, water, etc.). Is that true? 

Seems like a high price for rent to me, or I have low standards for housing. I live 15 minutes from the city center and share my apartment with one roommate. It’s EUR 250 for rent + EUR 80 for utilities.

In general, is it hard to find an apartment for rent in Zagreb? Could you name a couple of websites to search on? 

No, it’s not hard, especially because it’s common for families to own multiple apartments/houses in Croatia and rent their spaces out. It’s easy to find someone who knows someone who is looking for a tenant. Or check out this website. 

If you had to define public transport in Zagreb in 2 or 3 words, what would they be? 

Easy, above ground, only four kunas ($0.50 for 30 minutes).

What is the average software developer salary in Croatia? 

Hard to say because it depends a lot on which company they work for. Oradian’s developers earn competitive salaries, especially for this part of Europe.

If you could pick one piece of advice to anyone relocating here, what would it be? 

Bring sunglasses

Are you looking for the right relocation opportunity? Click here to view software developer jobs currently available.

The post Expat Advice: Moving to Croatia from the USA first appeared on Relocate.me.

What is it like to live as an expat in Finland? In this interview, Ekaterina, a skilful marketer and a passionate travel blogger, shares her experience about living in Helsinki. Hopefully her story will be a great source of inspiration to you all. Enjoy the read!

What is your name?

Ekaterina Popova.

Where are you from?

I’m originally from Vyborg, Russia. This town is located near the Russian-Finnish border, just 70 kilometers away from Lappeenranta. I moved to Finland in August 2011 and have been living here since then.

What company do you work for? What is your position?

I’ve worked at five Finnish companies so far. In 2016, I moved from Lappeenranta to Helsinki and started working as a marketing specialist at an IT company. Last November, I started my own marketing company that offers content and influencer marketing to companies in Finland and the UK.

Outside of work, what are your passions?

Travelling, writing, and helping others are my three biggest passions and I manage to fulfill all of them through my personal blog where I share practical aspects about life in Finland and diverse how-tos for young professionals (especially expats like me), travelers, and sports enthusiasts.

What inspired you to relocate to Finland? How long have you been here?

When I was 14-years-old, my parents decided that I would get my degree in Finland because higher education was free here and this country could give me good career opportunities. That’s why they invested money into private English lessons and group Finnish classes. In 2011, I got a study place at Saimaa UAS and moved to Lappeenranta. As of August this year, it will be seven years since I relocated to Finland.

How did you search for a job in Finland? Any tips for those seeking similar work?

I found my first job through TE-toimisto. When I decided to relocate to Helsinki, I used LinkedIn and mol.fi a lot. 

What was the visa process like? What type of visa did you apply for?

As a student, I had the study permit (visa B) for three years. After getting a full-time job, I got the work permit first for one year and then for four years. Last year, I got my Finnish citizenship. For me, the visa process was never an issue, and I never had to stay in the country waiting for my new permit. Maybe I got lucky or maybe my documents were always in order — who knows!

What are the best things about living and working in Finland? 

There are many things to be grateful for in Finland: security, beautiful nature, free education, high salaries, a healthy and active lifestyle, positive and friendly people… I’ve covered all of them in more detail in one of my recent blog posts.

What has been the most helpful thing in adapting to your new home abroad?

I had a basic level in Finnish when I moved here back in 2011, and I can say that Finnish has been the most helpful thing for sure! Besides, I was only 18-years-old when I moved here, so it was easier to adapt because I was wild, young, and free.

Is English enough to comfortably live in Finland?

English is enough to comfortably live in Helsinki, but if you live in a town like Lappeenranta, I recommend you to learn at least some basics.

How do you find life (housing, cost of living) in Helsinki?

Life in Helsinki is more expensive than anywhere else in Finland. I rent a studio of 27 square meters in the city centre for 850 euros (all costs included). In this blog post you can find more detailed information about cost of living in Helsinki with price examples!

In general, is it hard to find an apartment for rent in Helsinki? Could you name a couple of websites to search on?

I’m getting a feeling that I have a blog post for every question you ask! Finding an apartment is not the easiest thing to do, but still possible. Before you start looking for apartments, first decide how long you’re planning to rent it. In most cases, you have to stay in the apartment for 6-12 months. Besides, keep in mind that you will also have to pay a deposit that’s equal to 1-2 months rent and get some home insurance. Here you can find more tips.

What’s the average software developer salary in Finland?

I assume that the average software developer salary is about 3,500 euros.

Share a few words about public transport in Finland. Is it essential to have a car?

In Helsinki, you can easily manage without a car. Public transport goes regularly and takes you from any place A to any place B. Outside Helsinki, you can’t live without a car. I got my first car two weeks after moving to Lappeenranta and, believe me, I couldn’t manage there without it!

What advice would you give to people who are considering relocating to Finland? Why is it worth moving to Finland?

I can discuss this topic for hours. Tastes differ and different people seek different things in life. Finland is a good country for me. I see more pros than cons in living here and thus I would say that, yes, it’s worth moving to Finland. However, other people might have a different opinion on that.

Would you like to move your career abroad too? Click here to view software developer jobs currently available.

The post Expat Advice: Moving To And Living In Finland first appeared on Relocate.me.

This post was originally published on relocateme.eu.

Short Bio

Andrei Ianovskii moved to London in February 2017. Initially joined Lebara as a Mobile Application Designer, Andrei is now its Senior Product Designer. He is also a talented photographer. Hope his story will be a great source of inspiration to you all.

What has encouraged you to consider relocation?

It all started with a remarkable honeymoon in the USA where my wife and I spent about a month. In particular, we were thrilled with the time spent in New York and sunny Miami Beach. The sharp contrast that caught our hearts inspired me to actively search: I’ve updated my CV, completed a portfolio and began actively seeking my dream job.

What kind of advice would you give to those of software developers and designers, who are looking for job opportunities abroad at the moment?

It’s worth noting that the job search for software developers is a lot easier than for other professions because of the rapidly increasing demand in the market. Day by day I was tirelessly looking through LinkedIn, Dribbble, craiglist, AngelList, Stack Overflow, Behance and other websites of interesting agencies to find that special company, hiring international talent. In the end, I have sent approximately 450 CVs to various European and American tech companies in less than a year, writing down their names not to be messed up. It was a truly long journey… I should say that over half of my applications didn’t get any feedback. About 20 companies invited me for a Skype interview, I did 5 test tasks, got rejected twice, 2 of them went missing, and one of the companies offered to contact them one year later.

Going through all that, what advice can you give?

First of all, believe in yourself and don’t give up trying! If you see a job description in German, send your CV anyway. Vacancy in Poland available in English? Apply for it too. Netherlands? Why not? If there is no response from a company, send your CV again and again!

What was your recipe for success?

There is no specific recipe, I would rather describe it as a happy coincidence. I remember when I felt like giving up. At that moment I was waiting for a reply from one interesting company in Berlin. I will never forget that casual Thursday morning when I was scrolling down news on Facebook and suddenly noticed a job opening in London for a Mobile App Designer with just 2 years of experience. I found that interesting and have applied.

What was the selection process like?

The selection process consisted of three stages. The final one with the CEO I found very interesting as we were talking about life rather than work. But at the end of the talk, he made me an offer so casually that I couldn’t believe it until I was sent a draft of my contract. Something that I had been aspiring towards for more than a year was achieved in a week.

If you could travel back a year in time, would you change anything?

We have the culture of mistrust towards the recruiting agencies, and there is no clarity that there are no costs connected with their collaboration with the software developers. I also didn’t know that the majority of companies in London do work through the middleman (except for Facebook, Google, etc. who have their own recruiting departments). If I would have known that, I would appeal/go to the recruiting agency in the first place.

Westminster Bridge. London, UK (Photo: ESB Profession/Shutterstock)

How long did it take for you to actually move after accepting the job offer?

The relocation process took me about four months. I went to Moscow to pass IELTS and to do the X-ray photography, application fee at the same time, expecting an invitation, sponsorship form and it has taken three months. In addition, we asked for an additional month for relocation. But it’s realistic to complete all of that in three months.

How would you compare your expectation vs. the reality of life in London?

I have been to London two times before the relocation, so I knew exactly what to expect. London is a stunning city with lots of opportunities available, an amazing cultural scene, a great variety of exhibitions, theaters, beautiful architecture. There are so many museums here that you may go to one every weekend of the year but still won’t visit every single one. I adore Georgian and Victorian style in architecture, neo gothics in London. On the other hand, the city has a diverse community and a stable economy, it is very green and clean. I really loved the moderate climate, which gets up to 25°C in the summer.

How do you find life (housing, cost of living) in London?

Accommodation prices here are changing rapidly due to the London housing bubble. In terms of standards of living, can’t say that we are showing off here. I am really glad that I have some budgeting experience and relocation — it’s a responsible step, you have to get ready and think everything through, start saving beforehand.

How did your adaptation go? What were your first impressions of the team and the company?

My first one was just one big amazing day and week. I was welcomed happily by the great team — we have people from Ukraine and Russia, Argentina and India, Poland and the Netherlands. I still can remember that delightful and inspirational atmosphere, when we were invited to the house party at our colleagues’ house, the way we were grilling Franburgers and enjoying ourselves. Unexpectedly, we were all lucky to witness our colleagues fantastic flamenco dance skills. It was tremendous.

Work at Lebara has opened so many opportunities for everything. It’s like entering a good, prestigious university and then trying to get a job or entering a usual vocational school and then trying to get a job. Both here and there is education, but the usual education in a good place gives you a promise for something better in the future. Same principles apply here.

What kind of effect does London have on you career-wise? Does it inspire you?

London’s vivid IT and design scene has allowed me to expand my horizons endlessly. Conference on Virtual reality, meeting with the designer of gov.uk and BBC has been great highlights for me. Networking opportunities are truly great. I had a chance to meet some amazing industry influencers. For instance, I have been to one Instagram meet up and have casually chatted with one designer, when later, he turned out to be the designer from Skype. Also, when I’ve been to the Facebook event, one of the lecturers, who had been talking about Origami, turned out to be the one I was watching two years ago.

Street view of Trafalgar Square. London, UK (Photo: Songquan Den/Shutterstock)

It sounds like London had a significant influence on you as a designer. What would be your advice for Mobile App Designers all around the world? What skills are worth developing to stay on top of the trends?

I would advise designers to become familiar with programming and learn to present the projects to stakeholders well. I have some knowledge of HTML, CSS and I am learning FramerJS at the moment.

I fully agree with Koen Bok, who said that every week hundreds of new and even better instruments are coming out and a good designer is defined by his curious mind, endless wish for development and growth.

The post The Recipe For Success Or How To Get A Job Offer In London In A Week first appeared on Relocate.me.