Is it possible for a Asia developer find a remote job in Europe

[somthingwrong]

I'm a Java developer who lived in Asia more specifically in China, I have some remote experience with a US company, and recently I'm planning to find a remote job in Europe or Australia， I wonder if they like a developer who comes from China? What do they think about Chinese developers? And I prefer a small company instead of a big one. And do you have any advice for finding a remote job in these places?

[DeathArrow]

It's possible for you to work remotely for an EU company. To find jobs you can look at LinkedIn jobs postings and filter for remote ones.

I don't know how well it will do for you, the salary difference might not be great, you will have to adjust you working hours to a foreign time zone and you will have to always speak English.

So, while certainly doable, I'm not sure sure if it's worth it unless you want to experience different things and having contact with different cultures and people.

I don't think people here think about Chinese developers in one way or another another simply because we hadn't have met much Chinese developers. Indian developers sure, we've met some and some people might have strong opinions over Indian developers.

Also, working remote from another country means you will have to use a B2B contract, not an employment contract so you will not get the same benefits and legal protection as locals.

So go for it, but don't build huge expectations.

[somthingwrong]

Yes, I have thought of you for what you have mentioned, I do want to experience different things and work with different cultures, life is so short there are a lot of things we have not seen. And thanks for telling me the LinkedIn, I already find a lot of remote jobs there, and I will try for it.

[danwee]

> I wonder if they like a developer who comes from China?

I have worked with people from different countries in European companies, so in general people are nice and the behaviour is not "oh we like people from country X, but not from country Y"

> And do you have any advice for finding a remote job in these places?

Linkedin. The only thing that could be difficult is the timezone difference. Usually, 2 or 3 hours top is what is acceptable. Also, are you planning to work as a contractor? That would be easier. If you want to work as an employee, either the European company has to have a branch in China or the intermediary company they may use should work on China.

[isbvhodnvemrwvn]

I can also see data governance being an issue, giving someone from China access to your customer data would light red lights at a lot of European companies.

[somthingwrong]

Thanks for your advice, I will try for it

[nonasktell]

Possible, yes. Easy, no.

Chinese people don't have the best reputation here, most people think you're very smart, but people will worry about your English level/the readability of your code, culture fit, timezone differences, and of course the possibility of stealing trade secrets/hacking.

Aim for companies where you can be autonomous and which don't affect critical infrastructure(forget about financial services, health, science etc...)

Advice:

Be as fluent as possible in English

Network on linkedin or medium, invite recruiters, CTOs, other developers

Post on linkedin, put yourself out there

[somthingwrong]

Thanks for your advice

[rurban]

The biggest problem will be the 6 hrs time difference to the wrong side. We are used to Indian remote workers with 3.5 hrs earlier and horrible English. And lot of meetings with 6-9 hrs later with US colleagues.

China has a pretty good reputation lately, better than Korean or Japanese. They speak better english, use proper tools, have a similar mindset, and are not as crazy as the Indians.

[somthingwrong]

Yes, the timezone issue will be painful at begin, which country are you live in? Do you need a Java developer?

[throwaway63]

Since apparently being racist and generalizing is OK and acceptable - f off and keep your opinions to yourself you German speaking Nazi prick.

[firemelt]

why use throwaway?

[MexicanJoe]

It's possible, but you are limited in the roles you can take. Some companies don't want or are allowed to have their data in China. This is true for both US and European companies, I don't know about Australia.

There are lots of great developers in China, no problem there as long as your English is good. But it can be a pain to jump The Great Firewall all the time.

[somthingwrong]

Thanks for your reply， Has your company ever hired Chinese developers? As you said there are some issues between China and other countries, actually the reason I left the US company has something related to it.

[XajniN]

Have you considered moving? Many bigger companies in the EU will finance your relocation and do most of the paperwork for you and your (close) family.

[somthingwrong]

Moving out is a big decision, for now, I just want a remote job

[zerr]

How is freelancing or self-employment scene/culture in China?

[somthingwrong]

Not very well, China is a big market and the last thing China needs is developers, we got so many developers there, so the competition will be fierce.

[jesterson]

It is possible, my question may be why would you want that? European companies generally pay less then US or Asian companies.

Generally attitude towards chinese is bad, you may have to overcome it.

Not sure what your prerequisites are, but if I were you, given the conditions, I'd look for job in Asia, then US.

Economically EU is in deep hole with a grim outlook, so if you even secure something, it may not hold in long time.

[somthingwrong]

Why I don't find it in China? Maybe you don't know we have the 996(work from 9 am to 9 pm and six-day of a week) culture in all most every IT company in China, and I don't like it, this makes life full of work that's so bad. So the main reason I choose Europe is because at least the companies from there are not like it in China. Why I don't find it in the US, the main problem is the timezone, there is almost 12 hours time difference between China and US, but if there is any suitable job, I'd like to apply too. Talking about money, I lived in a small city in China, so I don't have too much pressure on money, more I wanted is work-life balance.

[jesterson]

You don't need to be so passive aggressive, especially if you are soliciting for advise. That attitude won't get you anywhere, whether it is China or Europe.

I know well enough of 996. There are different companies and positions in Chinese companies. Yea, if you are low level staff you are doomed to 996, but talented people are treated in a different way.

[creminology]

Just to state that as a European who has lived in Asia for 20 years, five of those in Beijing, I didn’t read anything passive aggressive in the reply, nor any attitude worth calling out as ungrateful. But it does remind one how written English is a minefield when it comes to (mis)communication.

[somthingwrong]

I'm so sorry to make you feel passive or aggressive, I don't mean it sincerely. Seems like my English still has a lot to learn, I admit that I'm not a talented developer, if WLB work is only provided for the talented developer in China, then I think I have met no one in my life. Thanks for your reply and advice anyway.

[jesterson]

No worries. Being european and living in Asia for more than a decade I can say cultural differences is something that may be an obstruction to good cooperation.

Whichever you choose hope you'll get a balance you are looking for. All the best in your venture :)

[moooo99]

Speaking from a European perspective, good work life balance seems increasingly compelling for many. My US based peers are still stunned when they learn that I have 32 days of paid vacation.

And while European salaries are lower than US ones, they still are high enough to make a decent living, especially if you’re working remotely from a lower cost of living country.

Regarding the economic outlook, unfortunately you are right. While economic uncertainty seems to be a common theme in a post pandemic world - the US markets took a pretty bad hit as well - the outlook for Europe seems far worse.

[jesterson]

You are absolutely right. The benefits you are talking about are applicable to on-site employees, which is something he would not get without relocation to EU. Relocation to EU will make his cost of living going up with very uncertain future.

[somthingwrong]

The first two-point you mentioned is what I take to consider