Hello,
I'm Spanish manager of the video games industry with a background in the QA area.
Currently I'm trying to decide what to do with my life.
Last year my company opened a new facility in Madrid and I was chosen for that. Everything went fine, great feedback from Managers and we have now a nice QA Games studio in Madrid.
Now we are preparing the peak for this season. And a new opportunity has come up. My company won a 3 year contract with an American company. They need some one inside to be the link between the client and the vendor. And my manger offered me this possibility. It will be 3 months now and then decide if I stay in USA 3 years or I go back to Spain.
I have 2 sons 5 years and 1 year and as you can imagine this is the hard part.
If after the 3 months I like the city and the job I might be willing to move them and study in USA. It would be great for them to learn English while they are kids ... not like me all my life trying to improve my English skills and with a strong accent while talking :)
If I stay in Madrid it's important for my company as I can run the facility and ensure projects, if I go to USA and I do a good job I can ensure a 3 year contract. Being in USA is obviously more challenging, a new culture, I would be alone but at the same time if I suceed it could be good for me and my career.
Last week I asked my manager what does he prefers that I do? And he said that he was not sure as both tasks were very important, last Friday he said and if he had to chose he prefers that I go to USA, but in the end it is my call. Ideas? Being away from my kids will be hard, any feedback is welcome? And any colleague to meet in California for a beer and talk about management will be interesting not to feel completely alone if I decide to go :)
Thank you everyone
This decision is a very
This decision is a very personal one and everyone will have a different answer depending on where they see their life going.
The circumstances aren't the same but let me give you my experience.
Over 12 years ago I was asked to consider moving from Canada to the U.S. to fill a position my company was unable to find a suitable candidate for. At the time my thoughts were that this would be a good career move and my plan was to move down for 3 years (the term of my work visa) and then go back to Canada with my experience working in the U.S. The manager in the U.S. location had also recently been transferred from Canada and one of the "perks" he insisted on was that after 2 years the company would pay for all expenses related to my "green card" application, which covered myself and my family.
I moved to NY in March and was able to fly home regularly. In August my wife and daughters (5 and 9) joined me. While I was gone my wife looked after the kids, sold the house and oversaw all preparations for the move. Make sure your wife is on board with this, since she will be acting as the single parent with all the responsibilities in Spain while you are in the U.S.
At the end of 3 years I had my green card and 3 turned into 4, then into 5 ..... I'm still here and I'm planning on applying for U.S. citizenship in the next year or so.
If I hadn't taken the opportunity I would have a different life now, but I was given an opportunity to try something on a temporary basis with an option to make it long term, and I'm very glad I did.
Steve Simmons
CGEIT, CISA, CISM, CISSP