Earlier quoted context omitted.
I have only three years of experience as a software engineer. I made over $200,000 in 2016. This is more than the Prime Minister and President make in France. I also have health insurance provided by my employer. Granted, I only get four weeks of paid leave, which is less than would be typical for a French person, but not by a dramatic amount. I would understand your point if the raw salaries were closer with France'…
>I have only three years of experience as a software engineer. I made over $200,000 in 2016. What do you do?
A Visa for founders, engineers and investors willing to join France
371–380 of 751 posts
Re: A Visa for founders, engineers and investors willing to join France
#372Earlier quoted context omitted.
Don't get it wrong, we're not lacking interesting tech jobs at all, we're lacking interesting salaries.
Why are the salaries so much lower? Is it lack of funding or do employers just don't want to pay more?
Of course on the other hand you don't care too much about health insurance (you still have to get a supplement private insurance), education for your children (true that it's nearly free), vacations (5 weeks is the least, you usually get 9/10 weeks). But I think it just doesn't add up for highly skilled workers. That's why they flee to London, Germany, North America… :-)
Re: A Visa for founders, engineers and investors willing to join France
#373Raw salary comparisons miss the point : you can't really compare pre-tax salaries between countries with such a completely different taxation and benefits structure. The take home pay certainly is much, much lower in France than in the US, but it comes with access to top-notch free healthcare, free university, pension contributions, 5-7 weeks paid leave and generous unemployment insurance amongst other things. It all…
I have only three years of experience as a software engineer. I made over $200,000 in 2016. This is more than the Prime Minister and President make in France. I also have health insurance provided by my employer. Granted, I only get four weeks of paid leave, which is less than would be typical for a French person, but not by a dramatic amount. I would understand your point if the raw salaries were closer with France'…
This kind of braggadocio statement is why the hate for tech workers is growing. It shows a serious lack of perspective and an incredible amount of arrogance and condescension.
It's also very untypical, even for a skilled tech worker in America.
Re: A Visa for founders, engineers and investors willing to join France
#374Earlier quoted context omitted.
> When people have asked specific questions like "am I going to be able to continue to live here?" ... they haven't recieved answers. the UK Government is has stated it will guarantee the right for EU citizens to remain, if the same right is given to Britons in rEU, however the European Union refuses to engage on the issue ("no negotiation without notification")
It most certainly has not: https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/jan/09/uk-eu-citize...
"Home Office says in letter that it cannot give unilateral assurances until status of Britons in other EU countries is protected"
(emphasis mine)
Re: A Visa for founders, engineers and investors willing to join France
#375Earlier quoted context omitted.
I have only three years of experience as a software engineer. I made over $200,000 in 2016. This is more than the Prime Minister and President make in France. I also have health insurance provided by my employer. Granted, I only get four weeks of paid leave, which is less than would be typical for a French person, but not by a dramatic amount. I would understand your point if the raw salaries were closer with France'…
>I have only three years of experience as a software engineer. I made over $200,000 in 2016. What do you do?
Re: A Visa for founders, engineers and investors willing to join France
#376Raw salary comparisons miss the point : you can't really compare pre-tax salaries between countries with such a completely different taxation and benefits structure. The take home pay certainly is much, much lower in France than in the US, but it comes with access to top-notch free healthcare, free university, pension contributions, 5-7 weeks paid leave and generous unemployment insurance amongst other things. It all…
>but it comes with access to top-notch free healthcare Does it cover stuff like cosmetic dermatology, full dental plan (implants) ? I don't live in France, I lived in different EU countries and every time I needed something the "free health care" meant I had to pay participation fee and wait 6 months walking around appointments and ended up going private clinic. I basically got 0 value out it, considering I'm young a…
Re: A Visa for founders, engineers and investors willing to join France
#377Earlier quoted context omitted.
I have only three years of experience as a software engineer. I made over $200,000 in 2016. This is more than the Prime Minister and President make in France. I also have health insurance provided by my employer. Granted, I only get four weeks of paid leave, which is less than would be typical for a French person, but not by a dramatic amount. I would understand your point if the raw salaries were closer with France'…
>I have only three years of experience as a software engineer. I made over $200,000 in 2016. What do you do?
Re: A Visa for founders, engineers and investors willing to join France
#378Earlier quoted context omitted.
Don't get it wrong, we're not lacking interesting tech jobs at all, we're lacking interesting salaries.
Actually things have been changing in the recent years. We're seeing bigger investment, so startups can afford bigger salaries. Also multinational companies (like Google, Facebook) are opening engineering and R&D offices in France, driving up the salaries. Anyway, most of the tech jobs in France are in the IT service industry, but if you want an attractive salary you need to go to join a software company with a produ…
Re: A Visa for founders, engineers and investors willing to join France
#379Earlier quoted context omitted.
I've never found the healthcare argument to be relevant. Software Engineers in the USA usually have generous health care plans provided by their employers. Same with vacation time.
To continue with the healthcare argument, "top-notch healthcare" is debatable. Autism support in France is not good at all. People always like to think of healthcare as a single entity, a single package. Either it's good or it's bad as a whole. The truth is, it's not.
What would you expect from a society dealings with disabled (nothing bad) ?
Re: A Visa for founders, engineers and investors willing to join France
#380Earlier quoted context omitted.
I agree that lowend salaries are comparable but presumably people working on a startup are earning anything but lowend. The social benefits are only worthwhile when you are older (you should have done it the other way around :) ) and you are reminded of the administrative difficulties half the time you use them. Mid-range food may be less expensive here but service is just terrible (well, not 100% of the time but it…
Things got better in recent years, but in France startups have a hard time raising much money so they often offer a salary that's below average. They get away with arguments like "the job is interesting" (probably true compared to IT service industry) and "you'll get rich on stock options if the company get big" (usually a lie). It's good that the government is trying to encourage foreigners to start their startup in…