Hi everyone,
I just wanted to post this here for traffic if that's okay, and also to have some advice please. Sorry for the long post!
Just to give some context, I'm an Oxbridge Languages graduate in my mid-twenties and I'm currently job-hunting. At the moment, I'm working as a tutor in London whilst I'm applying for jobs. I studied French at uni, and try to use French as much as possible every day (reading and listening, although I find occasions for speaking and writing a bit harder to come by on a daily basis).
I've heard from different places (on here, from my university careers service and from friends and family) that a good way of deciding which job roles to apply for is to identify your values and talents, and then make a list of them to see if they fit with a particular career or role. I think this is going to be a really helpful strategy with job-hunting.
However, ever since graduating, one thing that's stopped me from wanting to focus on building a career in the UK is because I've become more and more interested in the possibility of moving (temporarily, at this stage) to France or Belgium, and building a career there (which ideally I could then use in Britain too).
I've lived in France on three occasions now, for a year each time, and really loved my experience both times. I lived in Paris for several months on the third occasion that I lived in France, and I would consider moving to Paris in particular - partly because I loved it when I lived there, I feel that there would be more employment opportunities in Paris (or another big city like Bordeaux, Nantes or Marseille, for example) and because I already know a few people currently living in Paris.
Another possibility of moving to a French-speaking area of Belgium, or a mainly French-speaking city like Brussels, for instance. I visited Brussels for a few days a couple of years ago, and really enjoyed staying there, although I'm not as familiar at all with Belgium as I am with France.
I completely understand though that, if I did move to France or Belgium now, it may be very well be the case that my move doesn't go well - for example, I might not find a job at all, I might find it difficult to get to know people, I might struggle to 'settle' wherever I move to, or other factors might crop up that might make the move difficult. I do feel though that it would be best to attempt a move sooner rather than later, especially considering Brexit, although I understand that it will take years to fully sort out the UK leaving the EU and the rights of UK nationals living in EU countries.
Anyway, my AIBU is: would it be crazy for me to seriously consider moving to France (or Belgium) when I don't currently have a job there waiting for me to move to? Am I being naive??
Thanks, everyone! :)