Iván Alegre – An experience of a lifetime

Iván, from the Basque country in Northern Spain, is now 25 years old and studied industrial engineering in Bilbao. After graduation, he decided to move to Germany for a year to do his master’s degree. After that, Iván went back to Spain and started looking for jobs. That’s when he heard about Xelvin!

Why did you choose to work abroad?

“I chose to work abroad because it is an experience of a lifetime. I was 24 years old at the time, and I told myself that if I didn’t do it right now, I would probably never get another chance. I have always wanted to have that experience, so it wasn’t a difficult choice.”

If you look back on where you are right now, would you still choose to work abroad?

“Absolutely! In my case, it has made me more independent because I’m away from home. You’re developing yourself in an industry that is not known to you. It gives you new ways to develop yourself through different stages of your life. For example, whenever you choose to live on your own, it gives you the tools to become more independent and achieve new challenges.”

What consequences did working abroad have on your life?

“Well, my private life has obviously been affected.  I don’t see my family very often, but my girlfriend decided to come and live in the Netherlands with me. So that confirmed my feeling that I made a good choice! If a loved one tells you that it’s a good opportunity for them to work abroad as well, it gives you more confidence.”

Did you stumble across anything in the process of working abroad?

“In the beginning, I thought it would be much harder than it was. Of course, you will always encounter some challenges, but that’s how you learn and develop, so it was all good! I didn’t expect it to be that easy. I got a lot of help from Diego, which was amazing.”

How did you obtain information about working abroad?

“Well, Xelvin provided all the basic information, and it was very useful. I remember that I searched a lot on Google as well. It is the best source for information, I think. Xelvin gave me information about my bureaucratic obligations, such as medical insurance. It was actually very straightforward.”

How did you experience the support that Xelvin gave you?

“It was excellent. Like I said, from the beginning, you know which steps you need to take, and they give you all the support to take those steps. I am really pleased with the support that Diego gave me, he was very friendly and straightforward with explaining everything, and I could approach him with every question that I had. He was always there for me.”

Do you have any advice for other people thinking about making the move?

“Do it! Don’t hesitate. If you’re thinking about making the step, your feelings will tell you if you’ve already made the decision. Maybe you want to take the step, but you’re afraid. If you don’t take the step just because you’re afraid, you will regret it in the future. So that is my main advice, don’t be afraid of making decisions for fear of the consequences. You will regret it!”

Are you also interested in moving to the Netherlands? Then, have a look at our vacancies!