Hello, my name is Gonçalo. I am 27 years old and I moved from Portugal to the Netherlands to work at Bilfinger as a mechanical engineer. In this blog post, I will be sharing my experience on moving to a different country for work.

After I obtained my Master’s degree in mechanical engineering in Portugal, I did an internship for a year in a factory as an industrial engineer. I consider that as sort of my first job, as it was a way for me to learn more about putting knowledge into practice and getting work experience. One thing that bothered me is that in my opinion Portugal is not the best place to build a high-flying career. The mentality there is not as improvement driven and people tend to be more content with the way things are done currently. People are not really concerned with progression as much as in the Netherlands.

That mentality was a big reason for me to seek out a job abroad. Because I do want to improve and I do want to learn more. This search was quite difficult as many companies ask that you speak the local native language. I also was not sure what kind of direction to take, as with my degree there is work available in many different industries. During my search, I saw Bilfinger on LinkedIn. They were looking for mechanical engineers and I decided to simply give it a shot. And well, the rest is history as they say.

I have been working at Bilfinger for some time, still in the process of learning the ropes. Currently I do not yet have my own projects; I mainly assist with smaller tasks. These consist of 3D-modeling, rerouting pipes and maintaining inventories. Just to name a few. Hopefully, when I gain more experience, I will soon be able to work on projects by myself.

The working environment in The Netherlands is quite nice. The mentality here is different from what I am used to from Portugal. All the people I have met are especially friendly. Colleagues I have not talked to yet would just walk up to my desk and introduce themselves out of the blue. It made me feel quite welcome. In Portugal this does not happen, people keep to themselves more and are not as open as the Dutch. The director even invited me over for coffee. People simply talk to each other like normal people, you feel valued and respected. Besides work, we also do fun activities with the company. My favorite memory of the job so far is going to the ‘’klimbos’’ (climbing forest) with the team. It was good to see them outside the office  and get to know them a little better.

Here is a piece of advice I have for others who also want to move abroad for a job. It is a big step, but do not be afraid to experience new things. It is easy to find excuses, try to step out of your comfort zone and pursue your goals. People welcomed me here with open arms and I have no regrets whatsoever, even if it was a bit scary at first.