I know it's hard. I know that you think that everything sucks, because I used to think that, too. But there is passionate people around you, there are good companies, there is an interesting work. You have just to go and find them. Network and things will go better, I promise.
Ask HN: Help. I need to go away from here
21–30 of 105 posts
Re: Ask HN: Help. I need to go away from here
#22Junior Italian programmer here. I totally get your point, the thing is here in Italy we're used to a different level of expertise than most of the rest of the world.
I don't know which university you're attending but it's highly likely they're teaching you either useless stuff or useful stuff in a very superficial manner (which will be nowhere near enough for passing a technical interview in the U.S., for example).
As somebody else has already said, one of the best things you can do is to get (very) good at programming. There's a lot of material available on the web for studying on your own and practicing your skills: TopCoder and HackerRank are the first two websites that come to mind. Study hard and practice there, some of the problems you find on those websites are very close to the ones people will ask you during technical interviews. You'll need to be quick and accurate in an interview, so be sure to understand why a certain algorithm/data structure works for a given problem. It's hard and it requires a lot of time, but since you're a student time is on your side (trust me, when you'll be working time will be your most valuable resource).
Another good thing to do IMHO is to practice programming using open source resources such as GitHub: build a nice repo of projects and you'll get noticed. A couple years ago I made a stupidly simple JavaScript program (which I've since deleted) that changed the font size of a text, giving it the shape of a wave, a slope, etc. Very simple, very stupid, but still: I posted it here on HN and I got a couple people watching my GitHub repo. Also, working on personal projects is good for learning programming practices (how to structure code, how to design classes, etc.).
As a final note, it may be hard to believe but there are some nice programming jobs here: you just have to look very hard to find them. Don't settle for the first job offer you get: I know the market is pretty bad here at this moment but still, unless you really (and I do mean really) need the money, keep looking and most important of all, keep practicing. Experience pays off.
You can find some of my contact info on my profile, let me know if you have some questions.
Good luck.
Re: Ask HN: Help. I need to go away from here
#23Alternatives : - send your resumé to uk/ireland/switzerland to get a good paying job where you can sharpen your skills (it's easy to relocate inside Europe) - start your own business if you're living at your parents AND if you feel like you can be an entrepreneur... focus on international users (so you can host your company somewhere else easily later). It's only risky to start a business if you have something to los…
Probably not Switzerland as it's not in EU.
Italian working in Switzerland here, I've also worked in France and Germany before, they're all very doable.
I do not understand what OP is asking for, an obvious first step for a student would be to take a semester or more abroad, or finding an internship (I've done both, several times, and I suggest it wholeheartedly).
OP, having a European passport gives you access to so many possibilities compared to millions of others that all you have to do is find someplace to go and leave.
Re: Ask HN: Help. I need to go away from here
#24For me the easiest way to escape from Italy was through AIESEC, a worldwide student-run organization which sends you abroad for an internship.
I ended up working in Denmark, but as far as I remember there where plenty of big corporates (like Google, IBM, Microsoft) in the network, looking for interns.
Other than that, you should definitely focus on networking, blogging, side projects/open source.
Try not to apply via the regular channels, go and find connection (i.e. actual employees) that can recommend you to recruiters
Re: Ask HN: Help. I need to go away from here
#25Like many other have said Europe is on your doorstep. I run and engineering team in London and most of my recent hires have been people emigrating from countries like Spain, Italy and Poland. For most they are coming from backgrounds similar to yours. Our Office is hugely diverse with staff from all over the world. This is the case with most London startups and the are looking looking for talented engineers to join them.
If you are interested check our or jobs page http://busuu.com/jobs or email me on jobs@busuu.com mentioning HN so I know its you
Good luck with the future you are only getting started!
Re: Ask HN: Help. I need to go away from here
#26As Italian myself, I lived almost 5 years ago and I have never looked back. If you want an advise, live. If you can go to US good, otherwise almost any other country would do too.
But you are not trapped... You are what? 23? With a EU Visa. At this age you can take 1 year off and go to a place, any place, that you like and start from there.
Finally, do you actually have a github? If you are studying 10 hrs a day to be "third in your final year", then that's why you are trapped. You are trapped in that terrible Italian way of thinking that grades are all that matters. Get lower grades and go build stuff, get a job, even a "normal" job like a waiter will teach you a lot.
Re: Ask HN: Help. I need to go away from here
#27I'm Italian and moved to London 3 years ago. I had a nice 10-min commute permanent job and a mortgage but I was feeling pretty much like you. I decided to escape and spent all my savings (not much really) to move a abroad and experience something different.
I did it for me, for my job, for my family and my future. And I'm doing good (I'm a software dev in a financial company) and I really feel all these efforts were worth it.
I've learnt a lot of things and still learning, but most of all... I'm happy to have left my country to its decline and contribute with my best to UK, which is giving me the opportunity of a better living. I only live once, I can't afford to fix Italy.
I think Italy is still a little treasure chest.... but it's living in the past. My suggestion is to move away as soon as you graduate (or even now if you wish) and go to some other country like Germany, Switzerland, Netherlands or UK. I'm sure you'll be fine.
Re: Ask HN: Help. I need to go away from here
#28Earlier quoted context omitted.
+1 London +1 Day job that you reduce to 7hrs a day or less. You'll have to be brave, and you'll probably feel alone until 2 years after you settle in any city. Don't overwork. Once you're there, say yes to all social events. Keep overviewing all the new frameworks, Backbone, RequireJS, Play Framework, etc. Your OP was awesome.
+1 on London, we have a vibrant startup scene with a lot of support. I know quite a few Italian developers that I could introduce you too that have moved here. Shoot me an email through the link in my profile.
If you're coming to the UK, don't limit yourself to just London, there are equally vibrant tech scenes in other cities like Sheffield (where I live), Manchester, Leeds, Newcastle, Liverpool and many more.
Re: Ask HN: Help. I need to go away from here
#29I live in India, and I face the same situation time and again, which you are facing now.
I've come to a conclusion that it's because of Hacker News, the more you see HN, the more you get worried by watching a lot of start-ups growing in front of you, and you can't do nothing but press an upvote button, applauding their success.
What you need to do is close HN and minimize the time you spend on it, instead work on something, start small and don't get depressed easily.
The stories you see on HN are months hard work, they also feel same time and again, but they don't lose hope.
I know my comment is bit harsh and not sympathetic, but IMHO right now you don't need sympathy instead you need motivation.
Work Hard! Good Luck.
Re: Ask HN: Help. I need to go away from here
#30I hear you on the lack of focus on modern technologies in universities - but the same is true here in the UK for the most part. It's understandable with the European economy being the way it is, and some countries really suffering, you would want to find a better life elsewhere.
One of the problems is that you will find many of the 'enterprise' jobs that you feel will trap you are commonplace in a lots of countries - certainly here in the UK and I'm sure in America also. There are more jobs in startups in the USA but not so many as you might be hoping (even if you could get a VISA). My point is the grass is not always greener on the other side.
You may actually have more success and find what you are looking for in upcoming 'developing countries' such as Mexico if you are considering all locations.
Whatever happens best of luck and I hope you find a profession you are happy with.