In today's era of globalization, studying and working abroad have become ways for many people to pursue their dreams and a better life. However, behind this seemingly glorious road, there are actually many unknown stories and challenges hidden. Today, we will walk into Azhe’s experience and explore the ups and downs.
Azhe once embarked on the road to study in the United States with a dream in mind. In four years and living expenses, he spent about 1.5 million yuan. He thought he could start a glorious life in Silicon Valley, but reality poured cold water on him. Although he lives in a technological mecca, he lives like a poor student. A portion of fried rice on the street costs ten yuan, which is not what he can afford every day.
After graduation, Azhe successfully entered a company in Silicon Valley. Around 2017-2018, he earned about $120,000 through school recruitment and received 60% of his salary. But the good times didn't last long. After working for a year and a half, the company laid off employees on a large scale and more than 500 people were instantly unemployed. Azhe was not spared either. Although I didn't cry bitterly about the blow after being laid off, the pressure was huge.
After that, he entered an e-commerce company, but the work process here was extremely backward compared with the previous company, the launch was slow, and problems often occurred. He struggled with front and back ends all day long and was in excruciating pain.
The visa problem is even more serious. The U.S. work visa lottery mechanism prevented him from winning the lottery for three years. I originally had the opportunity to be transferred to the Japanese branch, but due to the country's lockdown due to the epidemic, I had no choice but to return home.
In the early days of returning to China, Azhe felt the convenience of domestic life, but there was a huge gap in career development. The software industry in Silicon Valley spans multiple fields, with tens of billions of companies in various industries, and the benefits are excellent. At that time, domestic industries were mainly concentrated in the fields of e-commerce, social media, and games. Industries are limited, options are greatly reduced, and salary and career caps are lower.
When interviewing major domestic manufacturers, Azhe had a very bad experience. Huawei suggested that he do outsourcing because of his low academic qualifications; during the Tencent interview, the interviewer typed on the keyboard while interviewing, which was extremely disrespectful to him. This is in stark contrast to the respect Silicon Valley companies give in interviews. In the end, he chose a foreign-funded company with branches in China.
From the perspective of economic investment, Azhe worked in Silicon Valley for three years and did not earn back his study abroad expenses. If studying abroad is regarded as a pure investment, it is not as good as A shares. But studying abroad is about more than just financial rewards. It broadened his horizons, allowed Azhe to understand the cultures of different regions, make friends from all over the world, and gain a deeper understanding of his motherland. At the same time, the improvement of his English ability has also brought practical help to him in obtaining information.
After returning to China, Azhe discovered that the modernization level of domestic first-tier cities far exceeded that of Silicon Valley, but their consumption habits were very different. In Shanghai, those with an annual income of 30,000 to 40,000 yuan do not have strong purchasing power, and there are many high-consumption places and frequent consumption, making it difficult to save money. In Silicon Valley, although there are few places to consume, rents are extremely high.
When it comes to the future, Azhe is no longer obsessed with being a programmer in the United States. He pays more attention to the balance between life and work and hopes that work can match life. The high-intensity work in e-commerce companies puts him off, and he will be more cautious when looking for a job in the future.
Azhe’s experience makes us think, is it worth studying and working abroad? I believe everyone has their own answer. Everyone is welcome to share your views in the comment area, and please share this article with more people who are struggling with studying abroad and career choices.
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