Status update on job search and relocation
UPDATE 2023-01-19 14:06 +0200: The trial I mentioned in the previous edit is no more. I have no other contacts. I will think about my next steps and make an announcement before the end of this week.
UPDATE 2023-01-16 13:41 +0200: I am on a trial with a local
entity. It is for an entry-level web development position. The first
round runs until February. Maybe there will be another afterwards. I
will post a new update if/when I get the job. It is not clear yet.
Hoping for the best!
This is a follow-up to my recent status updates on my search for a permanent job and option of moving countries.
State of affairs
I live in the Troodos mountains of Cyprus. When I first arrived here rent was cheap and I could survive on a tiny budget.
Due to a number of factors, including the pandemic, the war in Ukraine, the ramifications of Cyprus “golden visas” scheme, plus other domestic housing market dynamics, the cost of living has risen to prohibitive levels. My previous lifestyle is unsustainable while my landlord wants me to evacuate the house as soon as possible (initially warned me in August 2022 and has sent more memoranda since), thus forcing me to find another place where rent will be three, four, or more times the current rate.
Cyprus simply is too expensive for anyone who doesn’t own property. It’s employment market is also not offering enough opportunities.
Progress on finding a job
As I mentioned in my last status update, I got a small renumerable Emacs-related task. This was not a full-time job but only a one-off project that I fulfilled at the start of December. Nothing has changed: I still need a job and will have to change countries.
Currently, I am in contact with a prospective employer. I do not know
what will come out of it, given my irregular skill set. I will write
more when I have results: maybe some time in early 2023. There is no
point in publishing scenaria.
UPDATE 2023-01-07 05:35 +0200: I keep searching.
Commitment to Clojure
I wanted to specialise in Clojure and studied it, though I will have to revise this decision by putting it on hold for the time being. Most of those who contacted me with potential employment opportunities recommended different languages. Job postings also send the same clear signal.
I like Clojure for reasons I have explained in the previous announcement, but I must prioritise immediate results: I will focus on whatever makes me suitable for a job, given available demand.