Priya Gupta, a DevOps Engineer from New Delhi, had five years of experience. Skilled in automation, cloud infrastructure, and continuous integration or deployment pipelines, Priya was at an important juncture in her life. Though her career had been stable so far, she wanted to extend her sails out into the ocean and grab newer opportunities that would challenge her and offer more monetary rewards. This was when she decided to visit San Francisco-a decision which broadened her horizons and earned her a 15 percent higher salary.
Moving Decision
Relocation to another city, let alone a foreign country, is not taken lightly. In Priya’s case, this allure of being at the hub of technological innovation was the driving force that created an urge to move into San Francisco. San Francisco is oftentimes referred to as the “Silicon Valley of the world.” From simple startups to huge corporations such as Google, Apple, and Salesforce, the possibilities are endless for anyone who would make use of them.
For Priya, the opportunity to work with some of the smartest minds in technology was hard to resist. Relocating to San Francisco, Priya knew she would be exposed not only to state-of-the-art technologies but also to great opportunities that would hopefully create a dent in her career graph.
Job Search Process
This job searching process was really intense, and she was well-equipped for it. She rewrote her resume, focused on the main accomplishments she had made in her previous roles, particularly experience in deployment pipeline automation and management of cloud infrastructure on AWS and Azure platforms. Also, Priya optimized her LinkedIn profile by underlining keywords that would make her stand out for recruiters.
After a few rounds of interviews with multiple companies, Priya started getting several job offers. There was, however, just one offer that really caught her eye: a mid-sized company which works with cloud solutions and DevOps automation. She felt the role was fit for her skillset, while the company culture appealed to her values. In addition, this offer involved a 15% increase in salary compared to her previous position in New Delhi.
Finding Her Fit in San Francisco’s Tech Scene
Tech in San Francisco is fast and dynamic. Soon enough, Priya had become part of this rhythm-attending lots of networking events and conferences the city had to offer. She also joined various tech meetups where she could exchange ideas with fellow DevOps professionals and stay updated on the latest trends and tools in the industry.
One of the major challenges that faced Priya was simply adjusting to a higher cost of living in San Francisco. The raise in salary provided some cushioning, but she had to be very aware of where her money went, especially as regards housing and transport. Despite these difficulties, Priya found this advantage of living in a city like San Francisco, pulsating with vibrancy and innovation, outweighed the expenses one has to bear.
Impact on Her Career
Her relocation to San Francisco was a watershed event in Priya’s life. She was entrusted with the responsibility of leading a team of engineers who were to focus on automating the deployment process of large-scale cloud applications. Apart from technical experience, leadership experience helped her in the management and mentoring of the team effectively.
Moreover, the fact that she worked in San Francisco allowed Priya to be exposed to a host of varied projects. This, therefore, challenged her to be innovative in thinking and finding solutions for complicated problems. She also had the chance to work with cross-functional teams, thus further enhancing her skill sets and making her all-around professional.
The Financial Rewards
The 15% increment Priya got with the relocation to San Francisco gave her, economically, a strong boost upward. For a yearly income between CAD 115,000 and CAD 135,000, all her living expenses were covered, and she could invest in her personal and professional growth. She enrolled for higher studies in DevOps to enhance her existing skill sets with the additional money that came in.
Long-term Career Avenues
Priya is quite optimistic about her future in San Francisco. She feels that with the experience and skills gathered, she is all set to move into senior roles in the DevOps segment. She is also open to exploring other areas in cloud computing and automation, such as Kubernetes and containerization, so she can remain ahead in the curve.
Priya Gupta had to make one of the boldest on-the-spot decisions-relocating to San Francisco which paid off both professionally and financially. She proved that one will never know what is waiting unless a person steps out of their comfort zone and embraces new challenges. She inspires other IT professionals who would relocate to advance their careers, as she continues to build her career in one of the world’s most competitive tech environments.
If you are interested in achieving your own career goals and need expert guidance for relocating abroad, Oasis Visa is here to help you navigate the visa process and make your transition as smooth as possible.
