Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site umcp-cs.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!gatech!seismo!umcp-cs!tlr From: tlr@umcp-cs.UUCP (Terry L. Ridder) Newsgroups: net.jobs Subject: Re: International Headhunters Part 2 of 2 Message-ID: <2561@umcp-cs.UUCP> Date: Sat, 14-Dec-85 02:26:14 EST Article-I.D.: umcp-cs.2561 Posted: Sat Dec 14 02:26:14 1985 Date-Received: Mon, 16-Dec-85 04:00:24 EST Distribution: net Organization: The Terry L. Ridder Family Lines: 102 I made two separate posting due to the vast difference in subject matter. Lord willing, I will be spending a month in Europe doing some consulting work in January. I will be located in Vienna, Austria for a month or two or three. If I receive enough feedback from this posting I am willing to take time to inquire of the major European Companys as to what their hiring practice is. I am also open to suggestions as to which companys I should contact. I would also like some feedback as to what information, people on the net are looking for. I am schedule to leave for Vienna on the 6th of January 1986, therefore please respond as soon as possible. If you send a reply after the 4th of January 1986, send it to seismo!mcvax!iiasavax!tlr. Some food for thought follows: You should be aware of the following items when considering an overseas position. 1. If you are married and have children, where will the children attend school. If you are working for a European company, the cost of sending the children to an international school would be borne by you. If you are working for a U.S. Government Contractor, the children would attend a Department of Defense Dependants School. The cost of placing a child in an international school varies greatly, so I will not attempt to quote figures. 2. The housing in Europe in general is not like what we Americans are use to. The houses are smaller, you probably not find a house to rent at a price you can afford. Therefore, you will have to adapt to apartment life. 3. Apartments and houses are smaller than here in America, the main reason is the cost of land. Europe has less land than the USA and therefore it is higher in cost. 4. Salaries are lower in Europe than in the USA. 5. Kitchens are different. Again due to the fact that apartments tend to be smaller the refrigerator probably will not have a freezing compartment. Therefore, you will be doing food shopping alot more often than in the USA. 6. Most apartments in Europe do not have built in closets. The people use wardrobes. If you find an apartment where closets have been built in, you will have to 'buy' them from at previous tenant. If you do not the tenant or the landlord will tear them out. 7. Bedrooms are smaller, king and queen size beds will not fit in them. (A friend took his king size bed to Germany and the only place it would fit was the attic. Guess where he slept. That is correct, in the attic.) 8. Gasoline is roughly twice the price it is here. 9. You will not find unleaded gas in Europe, therefore you cannot take an American car that reguires unleaded gas into Europe. 10. Drunk Driving in Germany is a felony. (prison sentence) 11. Spouses have the hardest time adjusting to Europe. The spouse will need a work permit. If they do not know the native language, they most likely will not receive one. 12. Television tranmission is different, the set here will not work there. You would have to modify the television set. It still may not work due to the difference in line voltage and frequency. 13. Most stores in Germany and Austria are only open til noon on Saturday and closed on Sunday. During the week most stores close at 6:00PM. 14. What currency will the salary be paid in? Most companys will pay in the currency of the country they are in. Therefore, depending how strong the dollar is and what the exchange rate is, your salary will fluctuate in terms of worth in US Dollars. This can be a help or can be a hardship. 15. Personal computer equipment may not work or be allowed in the country. 16. Modems are different. Also, telephone service in metered in Europe therefore it is not the distance that you talk but for how long you talk. The same holds for computers. What is a local call now in the USA may cost a good deal more in Europe. 17. In some European countrys it is illegal to criticize the Government. 18. Will in a European country you are subject to their laws, and you may not have a freedom of speech. I have one final story. In 1983 my family and I spent some time in Japan. The shock of my one daughter's life came when she went to use the restroom at Narita Airport. She came running back out yelling at the top of her lungs. "Daddy, it is nothing but a hole in the floor." After, some anxious minutes we located a 'western' restroom. Believe me an instruction book with pictures would have been useful to figure out how to use a japanese restroom. I hope that this information is of use to some people on the net. Remember, changing jobs is an important decision. When a job change involves a move the decision is even more stressful and painful for family members. When you now throw in a move to a foreign culture and enviroment, you really will be tested. Consider your family's needs not just career goals. If you have children talk with them and explain to them about having to move. Get your spouse's input. Remember, that you are married to your spouse and have a God given duty to your children, you are not married to your career or the career goals that you have set for yourself. You can divorce your employer anytime by saying 'I quit'. You cannot do that with your family. Signed Terry L. Ridder Family (Terry, Deborah, Sarah, Jenny, and Pieter Nicolaas) -- Terry L. Ridder 401 Cherry Lane E301 Laurel, Maryland 20707 UUCP: seismo!mimsy.umd.edu!tlr OR seismo!neurad!terry UUCP: seismo!(mimsy.umd.edu|neurad)!bilbo!(root|tlr) ARPA: tlr@maryland PHONE: 301-490-2248 (home)