I'm fed up with this

Hello guys,

I must say I'm totally fed up with the state of things. To give you some background, I'm portuguese and live alone with my girlfriend. A few months ago, she was fired from the company we both work in because she refused to sign a paper without reading it's contents. Legal protection, of course, is zero, so the greedy guys get it all once more. We're living with less than 1000€ now, and life is growing increasingly difficult, as she can't get a job even when she's got a masters degree. Since we're both fed up with Portugal's state of affairs, we've been thinking about moving to the UK, as our qualifications will provide us with better opportunities in a country that genuinely appreciates hard working people. The problem here is that the person that has been helping us, and after telling us to buy the plane tickets to visit the country and get everything setup, (and I'm talking about a family friend) hasn't said anything else, even after offering a place to stay while we're there. So I end up with no trip, short of 270€ that I actually need and with 1 less friend.

This #s me up. Nowadays nobody has got a sense of responsibility and, due to economic status, nobody actually wants to give you a job unless you have 30000 qualifications, 1 gazillion years of expertise, speak all of world's languages and are actually willing to make minimum wage. I'm sick and tired of this bull#, of people that don't appreciate the true value of an hardworking person that actually has got a sense of humanity.

What has become of us?

Edit: I'm sorry for the language and the aggressive post, but I'm genuinely pissed of and demotivated by all this.

sorry to hear about this, it's hard times pretty much everywhere.
I have many friends that have moved where i live (czech republic) from portugal, from what i understand the place is about as messed up as my home, sicily.
the biggest problem there are these temp contracts that give no sense of stability whatsoever.
If you guys can manage, maybe the czech republic would be a good option, and a cheaper initial move.
Salaries are much better in the uk, no doubt, but if you plan on starting from zero, this place might prove less demanding. Prague salaries are pretty great, especially for foreigners, so maybe that's an option to consider.

From what i understand portugal is pretty much in the same boat as sicily, a hand full of people got rich and fat by feeding off of everything, and now the money is running out, and who gets the short end of the stick?
The politicians making 7 or 10 thousand euro a month? nope, people like you and me.

originally posted by: IShotMyLastMuse
sorry to hear about this, it's hard times pretty much everywhere.
I have many friends that have moved where i live (czech republic) from portugal, from what i understand the place is about as messed up as my home, sicily.
the biggest problem there are these temp contracts that give no sense of stability whatsoever.
If you guys can manage, maybe the czech republic would be a good option, and a cheaper initial move.
Salaries are much better in the uk, no doubt, but if you plan on starting from zero, this place might prove less demanding. Prague salaries are pretty great, especially for foreigners, so maybe that's an option to consider.

From what i understand portugal is pretty much in the same boat as sicily, a hand full of people got rich and fat by feeding off of everything, and now the money is running out, and who gets the short end of the stick?
The politicians making 7 or 10 thousand euro a month? nope, people like you and me.

Yep, we're pretty much on the same boat. So you can have a perspective on how bad this is, this is a job announcement i've seen recently:

"We're looking for an Architect. Requirements are the following:

3 years of expertise
30 years old or younger
Must be fluent in English, Spanish, French, Italian and be able to understand German and Russian
Salary: 550€ monthly + Travel and Food expenses

I believe you will find similar, if not identical situations no matter where one lives. Perhaps somewhat better in the U.K., but the mechanism is the same.

Life is a bitch, for most. If you two are well educated/experienced, there ARE companies and individuals that respect that. They may be hard to find, but they are there.

There is a fine line between 'venting', which is understandable, and complaining.

Your vent is done. You've been heard. Now start again. Location changes cannot change one's attitude or 'stick to it ness'.

That rests with you and a bit of luck. Good luck to you...

I don't know what is your profession but if you are willing to sacrifice a little, china, asia and the middle east may be a good option to start working.

Most people want to work in Europe and there is simply too much supply for little demand, companies can afford to pick only veterans because there are many coming from all over the world. Still few are willing to go live to a crap hole, or making regular trips to those places, but just because its a crap hole does not mean western companies don't want business there, so if you are willing to go to Afghanistan, or something in the like, you will always find good positions that will pay more than in Europe.

I personally know 3 people that have done this, one in Afghanistan, one in China and one in Philippines and they are better economically than similar colleges that looked for work in Europe.

You got to be hard to do this, its not for everyone.

originally posted by: nwtrucker
I believe you will find similar, if not identical situations no matter where one lives. Perhaps somewhat better in the U.K., but the mechanism is the same.

Life is a bitch, for most. If you two are well educated/experienced, there ARE companies and individuals that respect that. They may be hard to find, but they are there.

There is a fine line between 'venting', which is understandable, and complaining.

Your vent is done. You've been heard. Now start again. Location changes cannot change one's attitude or 'stick to it ness'.

That rests with you and a bit of luck. Good luck to you...

Sorry but I didn't understand this.

originally posted by: Indigent
I don't know what is your profession but if you are willing to sacrifice a little, china, asia and the middle east may be a good option to start working.

Most people want to work in Europe and there is simply too much supply for little demand, companies can afford to pick only veterans because there are many coming from all over the world. Still few are willing to go live to a crap hole, or making regular trips to those places, but just because its a crap hole does not mean western companies don't want business there, so if you are willing to go to Afghanistan, or something in the like, you will always find good positions that will pay more than in Europe.

I personally know 3 people that have done this, one in Afghanistan, one in China and one in Philippines and they are better economically than similar colleges that looked for work in Europe.

You got to be hard to do this, its not for everyone.

This does sound like a nice suggestion, but I couldn't go to somewhere like Afghanistan, I would be dead in a week. I do agree that middle east countries are nice to go into, I could potentially try something in Dubai or UAE.

I'm a dental nurse and my girlfriend has a masters in English Literature.

But you do live in socialist Europe where even jobless people are rich and steal money from those who work hard! Move to the US to know what it's like to not live in a nanny state! [end sarcasm]

Why do people think the UK would be better? To many people who are born here are without a job, and they will come first before an immigrant.

That's the harsh reality of it, it's no better here in the UK my friend, this country is on it's arse too, believe me!

The world economy is screwed.

originally posted by: skyblueworld
Why do people think the UK would be better? To many people who are born here are without a job, and they will come first before an immigrant.

That's the harsh reality of it, it's no better here in the UK my friend, this country is on it's arse too, believe me!

The world economy is screwed.

With my EQF course I can get a job easily, and "well paid". It's much worse in Portugal, believe me.

originally posted by: JUhrman
But you do live in socialist Europe where even jobless people are rich and steal money from those who work hard! Move to the US to know what it's like to not live in a nanny state!

I was going to suggest moving to the US, but you beat me to it...hard work is still appreciated here.

Time to leave the 'socialist utopia'.

Why don't you just start a business? You claim to be a hard worker, well starting a business is ALL hard work.

originally posted by: JameSimon

originally posted by: skyblueworld
Why do people think the UK would be better? To many people who are born here are without a job, and they will come first before an immigrant.

That's the harsh reality of it, it's no better here in the UK my friend, this country is on it's arse too, believe me!

The world economy is screwed.

With my EQF course I can get a job easily, and "well paid". It's much worse in Portugal, believe me.

Plenty of people in the UK with the same qualifications who still can't get a job, it won't be any better for you will it?

a reply to: JameSimon

This #s me up. Nowadays nobody has got a sense of responsibility and, due to economic status, nobody actually wants to give you a job unless you have 30000 qualifications, 1 gazillion years of expertise

I can relate.

An elder once told me that employers will start looking for 25 year olds with 30 years experience. Boy was he right. I was qualified in IT but since my certificate didn't come from university It's just a piece of paper. Since my studies I have never landed a Job in IT and now my only jobs come from laboring.

The standards and qualifications are set so high that it's ridiculous. There is something wrong when qualifications are no longer good enough to get you a job.

a reply to: skyblueworld

Plenty of work in the Dental industry if you are willing to move which the OP is.
There's been a shortage of dentists and dental nurses in the UK for a while and there's been a big drive in Scotland to get NHS coverage of these services.
To give you a perspective on how bad it was in my area 5 years ago. As soon as an NHS dentist opened in my city there were over 10000 applicants to that 1 dentist. We've now seen an increase that has seen new dentists pop up everywhere and it's now not a problem getting an NHS dentist.
Most of them are immigrants of course but that's a positive thing, we need immigration to fill key skills gaps.

To the OP, you should come to Scotland you will be welcomed here as the dental industry here has had good investment.
Figures released from the Scottish Government on Tuesday show an 82% increase in patients registered with NHS dentists since 2007.
SNP.org

a reply to: Indigent

The work in the Middle East these days will give you a lethal headache.

a reply to: Thecakeisalie

I prefer my employees to be over 40, have a decent moral compass, hard work ethics, do their work during work hours, and give me their best while working for me.

In remuneration, I pay well over minimum wage, give quarterly bonuses, profit share, benefits, vacations, holidays, sick pay, freedom to come and go ( we don't keep track of time left for child issues, doc appointments, illness, etc.) and will never put a salary cap in place. I appreciate my employees. They make my business stay in business!

I bet I am not the only employer who does this. Good help is still very hard to find. Young people, no offense, seem to want to get paid to shop online and Twitter during working hours. I don't discriminate by any means, but a person who is 22 who has the work ethics of a 50 years old is a rare gem, IMHO.

a reply to: JameSimon

Very sorry I have a Portuguese friend here in Finland who tells me that things in Portugal are just terrible these days. That if you're over 25 it's almost impossible to get a job.

a reply to: JameSimon

I feel so bad for you, so sorry to hear this.

I agree with you on the job thing. They pretty much own you, and if you don't bend over and kiss their arses, you are gone. And yes, places want you to be all things to all people, and want to pay you slave wages. It's all pretty sick.

Hopefully, as others are saying, there are better job opportunities and wages in the UK.

I hope things improve for you. Hugs.

In the US, IMHO if you lose your job over 50 your best bet is to try some sort of self employment. Companies here no longer seem to want anyone over 30, and it's difficult to work with younger people anyway. I am one of those people who is to old to work and too young to retire, if I am out in the street I intend to work for myself, it's not hoingn to be easy. But much easier than being at the mercy of some heartless corporation and if I manage to make my boss me, I will never get fired and the raises will be better to be sure lol. Good luck to you and keep your head up, absolutely EVERYONE I know is in a situation like you deserved. Why is this happening? I think it's a combination of two things; the global population is EXPLODING, and the global 1 percent are using globalization and outsourcing to make sure they keep in power over that huge population, at the expense of all of us "little people",of course,