Today, I tendered my resignation to Environment Agency. They have been my employers since 2002. It was a job that Id worked my way up to throughout my post-graduate career. It was job thats seen me move out of (near) poverty into a comfortable middle-class existence and has enabled me to buy a house. It was also a job that eventually became devoid of new challenges or the chance for advancement.
So, as some of you may know, Ive been looking for work in the US for some time now. This has not been as straight forward as Id hoped it would be for someone with my background. During a recent stay in Portland Oregon, I met with a wide variety of people connected to environmental employers and organizations in the Pacific North West. These contacts and connections proved vitally useful in directing me towards the steps Id need to take to get employed in the US. The Environmental sector is not the Computer or Banking sector. The harsh reality is that for 99.99% of the time, overseas candidates do not stand a chance when applying. The only viable way to get employed is to physically be there in person. To be able to represent oneself as a realistic candidate requires this. In addition, the lack of an accredited US-based degree is perceived as a weakness.
So I made the decision to address both these obstacles in one go and apply for a masters degree course, thereby killing two birds with one stone. If all goes well, I will begin in late September.
Ive sold my house, given up my job, negotiated (hopefully) the nightmare that is the legal US immigration process, and am about to jump with both feet into a completely different life. (crikey !)
Hopefully my academic timetable will allow me to meet some more of you all? I hope to make it to a bash too. Im not sure which one, but Sasha was saying something about us going to the one after labor day? (New Years perhaps?)
Also, to all of you dims peoples who have offered an invite to visit (Tina, Stan and others), I should be able to take you up on it at last! Thats if the offer still stands? Hey, Ill even bring some genuine British tea with me how could you refuse?
So, as some of you may know, Ive been looking for work in the US for some time now. This has not been as straight forward as Id hoped it would be for someone with my background. During a recent stay in Portland Oregon, I met with a wide variety of people connected to environmental employers and organizations in the Pacific North West. These contacts and connections proved vitally useful in directing me towards the steps Id need to take to get employed in the US. The Environmental sector is not the Computer or Banking sector. The harsh reality is that for 99.99% of the time, overseas candidates do not stand a chance when applying. The only viable way to get employed is to physically be there in person. To be able to represent oneself as a realistic candidate requires this. In addition, the lack of an accredited US-based degree is perceived as a weakness.
So I made the decision to address both these obstacles in one go and apply for a masters degree course, thereby killing two birds with one stone. If all goes well, I will begin in late September.
Ive sold my house, given up my job, negotiated (hopefully) the nightmare that is the legal US immigration process, and am about to jump with both feet into a completely different life. (crikey !)
Hopefully my academic timetable will allow me to meet some more of you all? I hope to make it to a bash too. Im not sure which one, but Sasha was saying something about us going to the one after labor day? (New Years perhaps?)
Also, to all of you dims peoples who have offered an invite to visit (Tina, Stan and others), I should be able to take you up on it at last! Thats if the offer still stands? Hey, Ill even bring some genuine British tea with me how could you refuse?
