I'm in US right now, 1 semester left for degree and have interned at a respectable company. I wonder if they're looking for experienced engineers over fresh ones.
I've read so much that work life and culture is so much better in France, so heres hoping...
Yes and no. There's certainly room for a healthy work-life balance, but don't believe that you're guaranteed to get an interesting job AND great work-life balance. You can find it, but it's not 100% of the market.
If interested, I would suggest doing your research quickly since the program has been watered down on the US side and I would expect some tit for tat as time goes on.
Admittedly, this was on Reddit, which is just a huge echo chamber, which led me to stop using it.
However, I wonder how your point of view on this subject is?
A lot of people I know over time build mental walls that resemble what the US culture respects and pushes on everyone. Work is #1 and money is everything. I see people that never use their vacation days and feel bad when they do!
I believe if there was more focus on philosophy teachings in the US, things would be different and maybe more healthy individuals would exist. I think it's easier in the US to fall into a unhealthy pattern of life and not realize it. Some people are dumb founded by the notion or just don't think about it as they don't see alternative options available. I've had luck of working with many older engineers that advise if they had done things differently in life...
Yes. This is how I feel when reading those comments as well. I am from Europe, but living in the US at the moment, but will be moving back soon again. Obviously, people who never experienced an alternative cannot really see how what they have now might be bad.
Having been in both Europe and the US I can easily compare both lifestyles and conclude that Europe is more suited for me, even if it means that I will not own a 5 bedroom house with 6 TVs.
In Europe we both get a month off every year by law, which means we can both enjoy it. My salary is lower, but hers is higher. In general, we find we have more fun this way.
"the attitude towards healthcare : it's not a business, rather a right"
"I first heard the words "Preexisting condition" when I moved to London and researched private insurance there."
The human right to healthcare is already catered for in the UK, through the NHS, so private healthcare doesn't have to accommodate the right, it's simply a business.
You have the official national healthcare that you're forced to pay "la securite sociale" and a wide range of private healthcare that you're forced to pay as well "une mutuelle".
You're not actually forced to pay them, are you?
Noawadays, it's even picked and forced by your employer (but taken on your pay). You may not be able choose or deny the plan you're offered. It's messy.
Your idea of jobs in the US is wrong. I work 40 hrs a week and sometimes that goes up to 45 or 50 but not often. I get breakfast and lunch provided to me (also dinner but I don't stay for it because I would go insane) and I make 150k + 80k a year in equity. You could also however work at amazon and get paid the same but also work 60 hours a week (Amazon is the exception and has a very bad reputation).
> health care through Employer is so much better than through government
Health care through the employer can be significantly better than through the government. It can also be worse.
If you are a high performer in the US, it is perfect.
And why do you think that getting insurance through the employer is better than government? Maybe it is only great for people who know they won't get laid off. In Europe if you get laid off you are still insured. If you are working and wish to have better insurance, you can always go with a private insurance company. I am just not fond of the idea that basic social services are tied to your employment status, since getting laid off could put you in a negative cycle.
There is a lot of variance between teams.