In the past two years, my life has taken a turn worthy of a video game, unfortunately, without a “Restart from checkpoint” button.
It all began with the job of my dreams: breaking into the world of video games, contributing to creating unique experiences for players around the globe, and building a life with my family in beautiful (and rainy) England.
But, like in every good game, there’s a plot twist: this October, the company I worked for, NaturalMotion Games / Zynga, decided to close its Birmingham office. It’s the end of the level. “Game over?” Not yet!
We had three months before our visa expired. Three months to decide our future, with a two-year-old daughter who had already mastered “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star” and adored her English nursery.
In a frenzy, yet full of optimism, I attempted to secure the famous “Global Talent Visa.” Well, let’s just say it didn’t go as planned – not for a lack of skills, but for a reason that feels almost surreal: I didn’t have enough online interviews. (Note to self: if you see me in a supermarket with a microphone, I’m just boosting my notoriety evidence.)
And so, here we are: my family and I are on the verge of leaving a country we hoped to call home long-term. It’s been a chaotic, emotionally intense period, but also profoundly educational.
What have I learned from this adventure?
- Pause and breathe: When everything feels like it’s falling apart, it’s crucial to take a moment to recalibrate priorities.
- Appreciate your support network: In times of crisis, you truly discover who stands by you. The people who helped us along this journey have made all the difference.
- Accept the inevitable: Not everything is under our control. I can work hard, improve, and adapt, but some rules (like those governing UK visas) are beyond my reach.
This isn’t the ending we had envisioned, but as in every game, I’m trying to see it as the start of a new adventure. Italy awaits us, along with new opportunities, new challenges, and, why not, lots of pizza (thankfully, that doesn’t require a visa).
I’d like to thank everyone who supported me in preparing for the Global Talent Visa application. Special thanks for the time and effort put into the reference letters. I’m also grateful to my colleagues and recruiters I’ve connected with, relationships cut short only by companies’ inability to sponsor a work visa, the main obstacle to our life in England.
If you’ve gone through a similar experience, or if you simply have advice or an encouraging word, let me know in the comments on LinkedIn. And if there’s a recruiter out there looking for someone with ironclad resilience and multitasking superpowers (managing a toddler, a move, and deadlines simultaneously is an art), you know where to find me!
Source: LinkedIn
