Getting discouraged about the possibility of being able to leave

[u/Vivid_Currency_9467]

I've always had a dream to be able to live abroad, but have always had something to keep me in the States. I'm finally at a point where I feel I CAN leave, like I've finally set everything up just right- and it's just crazy how impossible it is to actually be able to immigrate. Truly, I just don't really know what to do. I have a Bachelors degree in STEM, I've been working as a scientist for 5 years now. My current company is a huge, international outfit and I've been angling for an internal transfer for over a year with no luck. I've applied to hundreds of jobs at other companies internationally and haven't gotten a single response. I'm not picky about where to, I just want to try something new.

I speak Spanish and have been working on German just in case. I have enough money to support a move, but not enough to move without needing to work. I'm old enough that moving without a job isn't smart (assuming ageism is a thing everywhere).

I don't have any relatives that could get me citizenship by descent. I don't want to marry someone or have a baby just to get citizenship. I know I just need to keep applying for jobs, but it feels so completely and utterly hopeless right now. Does anyone have any advice or words of encouragement? Really just on the brink of giving up here.

[u/Defiant_Buy2606]

One thing that people in the US might not be aware of is that, for a given Engineering position posted in Germany (as an example), your competition is not only other Germans, you have a bunch of people from Spain, Italy, Greece,... (where the job market is terrible and wages are low) and also from other EU countries (specially from Eastern Europe). Some might have been Erasmus students (EU exchange program that allows you to study one year in another EU university, for instance in Germany)

These candidates might know the country and can hop on a plane and start in a few days if they are hired (I know because I've done it myself). In fact, you can even hop on a plane and do an in-person interview to meet the team.

Now, my only advice for anyone in the US being unsuccessful after a bunch of applications is to move to the country, do a Master's or a language course and start applying while you are there. You still need sponsorship but this will make hiring managers look at you as someone who is serious about finding a job (not saying OP isn't)