SA Developer .NET

Just a quick question.

Are there any members of the forum who are originally from the UK and have recently acquired development positions in South Africa?

I only ask because I've been considering this option for a number of months now and would generally like to get a feel from someone who may have recently done this.

Come to South Africa.  We have something better than cookies - we have biltong!

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Someone once told me love makes the world go around and, well, I just had to laugh in their face because EVERYBODY knows what REALLY makes the world go around is a mutant gerbil on a treadmill.

Kitten:

Come to South Africa.  We have something better than cookies - we have biltong!

 LOL!! I only got back from a vacation last week, and yeah you have biltong!!

Seriously though, it's been on my mind a while now, came over to see what was available and friends over there in various provinces are screaming for me to come over but of course it's one HELL of a decision to make.

Here in the UK we obviously get a little miffed with 'outsiders' taking our jobs, and I'm just wondering what the general opinion is in South Africa, if companies are open-minded to employ foreigners or if it's more a country-commitment thing.

 

LOL, the grass is always greener. A lot of guys here (myself included) are considering a move over to the UK.

No matter where you go, there will always be a group of people that'll be weary of 'outsiders' taking their jobs -its unavoidable, however, I don't think that the South African IT industry is particularly plagued by it at the moment. There is a shortage of good developers in this country (and a surplus of job- hoppers) which often force employers to look at 'anyone' in order to fill some of these positions. If you have half-decent skills I'm sure you'll fit in just fine.

Hey I know exactly what you mean about the grass is greener.  Ironically a few friends over there are thinking of coming here because of that same argument.  We should form a job-swap website (in .Net of course!!)

That's really good to hear about a shortage though (for my own selfish purposes).  I've been a developer for 21 years (VB.Net for 7 years) so I'm hoping to 'fit in fine'.

Thanks for that, really appreciate the feedback.

You may want to watch out for visas and permits.  Get them organized before you come. Those are not that easy to come by (I know because I lived on work permits for 8 years).

Otherwise I have lived and worked in both, South Africa for 8 years, then the UK for 5 and now I am back here and self employed for almost 5 years again and all that even though I am originally from Germany (now 18 years ago). The grass is NOT greener on the other side ... its purple on the one and blue on the other. 

JasonMHirst:

Ironically a few friends over there are thinking of coming here because of that same argument.  We should form a job-swap website (in .Net of course!!)

That would be great!  I'm looking at working in the UK, not because the grass is greener, but just to see the place.

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