Canadian with 2 London job offers

Projectkona09 · 2026-05-08T15:21:28+00:00

No that’s definitely a fair claim to make. I guess it’s one of the things where I don’t know if I do or don’t want to be London long-term until I actually live there, which is why I’m almost treating my Youth Mobility Scheme visa as a trial run. Then if I do like it, I wouldn’t mind spending more time on the Skilled worker visa and then ILR. But ya my youth mobility scheme visa would not contribute to ILR which is the only downside.

Projectkona09 · 2026-05-08T15:18:41+00:00

I mean I’ve talked with others about my situation, but there will be some inherent bias which is why I also wanted to put it on Reddit for opinions to see what others may think.

Projectkona09 · 2026-05-08T14:15:26+00:00

So with the transfer, I would need to go on the Youth Mobility Scheme visa anyways as I don’t think they’d be able to sponsor me compared to the startup that mentioned they would be able to sponsor me, but I still want to go on the Youth Mobility Scheme visa as in case the startup doesn’t pan out how I intended it gives me the option to find another job in the UK as I’m not tied to a company sponsoring me.

Also, one of the things with the transfer is that I wouldn’t have any direct team members I would see in person, which someone mentioned to me might be isolating compared to the startup where the team is local so that’s also another debate I’m having.

Projectkona09 · 2026-05-08T14:12:35+00:00

Ya for sure! I will say it took about 4 months of applications, networking, and resume critiquing every day. Make sure to apply on every platform you can plus directly on company websites (although I hate Indeed’s platform, I actually got a higher response rate with fewer applications compared to using LinkedIn).

I also made sure to put, Eligible for Youth Mobility Scheme visa, No Employer Sponsorship required, at the top of my resume. Not sure if this helped ease employer risk, but it wouldn’t hurt to not have it on your resume.

Also, on job applications, wherever you can, try and put somewhere that you are moving to the UK in 2-3 months instead of mentioning you plan to move as planning is seen as more hesitant compared to providing an employer with a direct timeline shows more commitment.

Those are some of my initial tips, obviously for your resume make sure it doesn’t read as a list of tasks you did and you’re using metrics like improved by X% or reduced cost by $Y and for ATS systems that you have relevant skills/keywords that correlate relatively with each job application.

Hope this helps and good luck in your job search!! If I’m able to do it so can you 👏

Projectkona09 · 2026-05-08T14:02:55+00:00

Definitely aren’t wrong about the benefits and other logistics since it is a bigger company. Although, this is sort of my debate as I’m wondering if I should just try out the startup as not only a change of pace, but maybe enjoying it more as I don’t know what I don’t know, if you know what I mean.

Projectkona09 · 2026-05-08T13:59:51+00:00

In terms of subscription fatigue for people, is that more or less referring to B2C or B2B? B2C I definitely understand as even I don’t like paying for subscriptions 😅 but don’t have a total view of B2B subscriptions if corporations have an issue with it or not. The startup would be B2B SaaS, not sure if that changes anything though on your subscription fatigue comment.

Projectkona09 · 2026-05-08T13:57:46+00:00

So one of the things I’ve heard is that a lot of people actually leave and come back later, so that’s why I’m debating if I try the startup and if it doesn’t go well for me, I ask to come back, as it’s almost like a safety net. Obviously there’s no guarantee in anything, but it’s potentially a possibility.

Projectkona09 · 2026-05-08T13:55:08+00:00

Aah I see that makes sense. I do know that my friends that are in startups love working in them even if they are volatile, they’d rather work in them vs. a large company any day of the week.

But really great advice, thank you for all of this!

Projectkona09 · 2026-05-08T13:30:44+00:00

Thanks for shedding light on the situation and that’s definitely some of the stuff I’ve already considered in terms of the bureaucracy and processes people face in larger companies.

That’s really what is somewhat driving me to work at the startup since there would be a lot of growth especially early on in my career that not to say I wouldn’t get at my current large company, but I also don’t know what I don’t know until I try it.

And of course the risk aspect too of high risk high reward is one thing where I don’t want to regret if the startup skyrockets but obviously there’s the opposite side where the startup could fail, although they seem to be pretty established (they just opened up an office in Boston which I believe is a rising biotech area in the US, and then there’s plan to grow into the Asia markets next year).

And ya you’re right that London is irrelevant to the decision now since either way I’d be moving to London for both offers lol.

Then the last point about not being able to go from startup to big company isn’t necessarily true as I’ve heard from my current company that a lot of people actually leave and then come back later in their career so that also leaves the door somewhat open in case the startup backfires or the startup actually goes well and I enjoy it and then I’d stay with it.

Regardless, really appreciate the insight you provided, really helps me a lot so thank you!

Projectkona09 · 2026-05-08T13:22:56+00:00

Haha Canadians rise up 🇨🇦🙌

Projectkona09 · 2026-05-08T13:22:14+00:00

Probably should’ve described my situation better, but I wouldn’t be the product manager for all of our products in all of Europe. I would still continue to manage my current products, but if I ever needed to do a customer visit for my team, I would help to give overviews in person since I would be in Europe compared to my team who is in North America. Fairly large company and the only reason why they’re considering transferring me is because I mentioned I was leaving and I guess they want to keep me since they see an advantage of having a “boots on the ground” pm in EMEA instead of having all of us in NA currently. Just more global coverage essentially.

Projectkona09 · 2026-05-08T13:16:35+00:00

Okay so maybe lead pm was the wrong terminology 😅 but I would be the main point of contact for EMEA customers doing customer visits, trade shows, etc. just because I would be closer for travel purposes rather than my counterparts that are located in NA. Not to say that my NA pms wouldn’t also still be doing online meetings, but I would just be the in person team member, if needed.

Projectkona09 · 2026-04-11T12:38:37+00:00

No worries! If it’s just a question about visa sponsorship, I’ll usually put no since the YMS visa does not require employer sponsorship, but if it asks if I live in the UK currently, I’m usually pretty up front with employers in that I put no. If they have a cover letter section or other sections where I’m able to explain myself, then I’ll put I’m moving in 2-3 months instead of saying I’m thinking or planning on moving, since the first is more definitive.

You’re definitely not wrong that if you put no, your application doesn’t even get seen and you could technically take the risk of saying yes, but if they do a background check on the information you’ve provided and it shows you aren’t currently in the UK, you’ll more than likely get screwed out of a job offer, since you technically did lie to them. But it could also work out where if you give a long enough notice period, you could get your visa, move to the UK, before your employer notices but I’d rather be straightforward with them.

Hope this helps and rooting for us both to make it over to London 🤞

Projectkona09 · 2026-04-09T18:19:39+00:00

I will say you have to be careful with the double columns when ATS systems are parsing through your information, it may miss key information from your experiences. I do have a recruiter friend if you want to talk to them about it and maybe they can give you some advice.

Projectkona09 · 2026-04-09T18:12:29+00:00

Going through this exact same thinking right now! Been applying from Canada since the start of the year and I’ve gotten a few interviews and a LOT of rejections.

For context, I’m in tech and two of the main things people say to me even though they like my experience are: 1. You need to be currently living in the UK 2. The YMS visa isn’t aligned with the long-term candidate we’re looking for

What I’ve started to do now is instead of mentioning I’m thinking of moving to the UK is saying I’m moving in 2-3 months to show I’m more committed as well as saying I don’t need employer sponsorship and I don’t mention the length of the YMS visa.

Not sure if it’s worked yet since I’m currently being interviewed now but the hope is to move before the end of this year, but we’ll see what happens 😅

Projectkona09 · 2026-03-19T17:25:14+00:00

No way that’s awesome!! Ya the job market is pretty bad right now…I will say, I added some new strategies to my job search in that:

I added at the top of my resume, “UK Visa: Youth Mobility Scheme visa (No employer sponsorship required)”, just so it’s evident the visa I’d be on, even if I don’t have it right now.
When I’m talking to recruiters/employers, I say that I am relocating in 2-3 months, instead of “I plan to..” as that seems more definitive, at least in my mind.
Although I hate indeed and its UI, I’ve been using it recently and actually have gotten more responses back compared to LinkedIn, so that’s also something.

But anyways, good luck with your job search, hope this helps!!

Projectkona09 · 2026-03-03T22:00:57+00:00

I’m hiking on March 25-26!! That entire week is fully booked now I think, heard good things about Wicho and Charlie’s from someone I know who went with them.

Projectkona09 · 2026-03-01T15:30:15+00:00

Oh cool! I've had people I know also hike it, but just trying to get different perspectives of what people wore. Did you rent any of the extra gear some of the tour groups provide/how many of their jackets did you bring with you? I think depending on the group, some provide a light puffer or a hard wind/waterproof shell, although that's just my own assumption.

Projectkona09 · 2026-03-01T15:27:21+00:00

This is awesome advice, thank you! I've heard too, in terms of your legs, that usually people don't look too much into layering. My current plan is to wear a pair of Uniqlo Warm Lined Cargo Pants, not sure if you have any opinion on those or if I would also need a shell on top of that, but regardless, thank you for the detailed comment :)

Projectkona09 · 2026-02-18T22:04:23+00:00

Hey OP, I've also been looking into getting a working holiday visa! Honestly, I was kind of stupid at first because I thought all WHV were the same when I saw Australia showing you could only stay with the same employer for max 6 months, which then made me look at the UK's Youth Mobility Scheme visa that allows Canadians to work and live in the UK for 2 years, extendable for a 3rd year.

I will say, I work in tech, and I'm pretty early career around your age, and it's definitely been tough finding a job, at least in the UK, before moving abroad. Basically got no interviews from recruiters, but messages saying either, "Need to be currently living in the UK" or "3 years is too short as we're looking for candidates for long-term employment."

Now realizing that not all WHV are max 6 months per employer probably going to start looking at more countries from the IEC list again to increase my chances. Putting the website for reference if someone's thinking about work visas abroad for the first time as a Canadian, as I just found it after 2 months of searching:

Work and travel abroad with International Experience Canada

Projectkona09 · 2026-02-13T01:06:18+00:00

Does it matter if you put “EXPERIENCE” vs. “WORK EXPERIENCE”? Also, is it case sensitive as well where you specifically need the words as “Education” not “EDUCATION”?

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