There’s a lot to consider when deciding to uproot your life for a new role in a different country, but it almost always brings great opportunities, both professionally and personally. Daniel G. and Kylie D. decided to leave their homes in Australia to relocate to the U.S. for a career at Meta. We asked them to share their stories of how they made the move with Meta, and the challenges and adventures they faced along the way. Here’s what they had to say.

“Before I joined Meta, I was working as an engineer in Australia. I wasn’t looking to make a career move, much less move to a different country. When Meta reached out to me about joining the team in Menlo Park, I was extremely hesitant. How would I adjust in a country where I knew no one? I consider myself an introvert, so I worried about making new friends and meeting people, and the logistics of moving across the world felt daunting. The concerns I had reminded me of starting high school; I had my worries and misconceptions, but soon realized they were completely baseless. Meta not only took care of all the unknowns and removed the stress of everything that comes with moving to a new country, but the culture and team also gave me a sense of belonging.

Making the move to Meta gave me the opportunity to work on exciting projects in a fast-paced and engineering-centered environment—something I would have never experienced in Australia. I work on the Platform Sharing team, a growing program within Facebook that allows people to share more meaningful content to their Facebook Stories using third-party apps. It’s exciting to work on an innovative product that merges the Facebook experience with other brand experiences to enrich the way people can connect with one another.

I love my role and team, but my favorite part about life at Meta is the social scene. Within this huge organization, there are so many opportunities to find my community and instantly connect with others. When I was looking for a place to live, Meta recommended apartments near the Menlo Park campus, which made it easier for me to meet other colleagues who also lived there. I also love playing board games, and I’ve met others who share that love through one of Meta’s employee social groups. Some of us are even part of a large board game group that meets weekly with players from all the big tech companies in Silicon Valley. Meta has not only given me the opportunity to make new friends, but it’s also made the process so much easier for an introvert like me. The benefits and perks offered by Meta are also worth mentioning, because the health insurance alone is unparalleled to anything I've had back in Australia. I don't have to worry about anything when I go to the dentist or get new glasses, because Meta takes care of everything, and that's a great feeling.

When I first arrived in the U.S., I had no intention to stay here long-term, but I quickly realized how much I value working at Meta, living in the Bay Area, and being a part of the amazing community I’ve been able to build around me. Meta helped me discover where I belong, and I’m very thankful.”

“I was looking for a big change before I joined Meta. I was ready to take on a new professional challenge, and at the same time, I wanted to experience living in a different country. I had my sights set on moving to Japan and received a few job offers there. I thought I knew exactly what my next move was going to be when an opportunity to work at Meta in the U.S. came along. Though the role wasn’t in Japan, the idea of living in New York and working at one of the biggest tech companies in the world was really exciting to me.

Today, I’m a software engineer working on an app where any UX designer can use to test out and research user experience without having to build an entirely new app. It’s very rewarding to create a tool through Facebook that other companies can use to create their own products. One of my favorite things about Meta was participating in the six-week long engineering bootcamp when I first joined the company. I was pleasantly surprised that Meta offered software engineers an opportunity to learn more about what different teams are working on and find projects that align with their interests. It felt like going to university, because you’re meeting new friends and discovering what motivates and excites you. This was incredibly helpful to me because I was able to join a team where I can define my role and work on a product I love. Even more, I found an amazing friend and roommate in one of my boot camp colleagues.

It's also no secret that the benefits and perks provided by Meta are among the best. In addition to health care coverage and generous vacation days, I'm most thankful for the BFF (Best Friends Forever) program. In a very short time after I moved to New York City, I was able to make lifelong friends through the program, which encourages employees to get to know one another by covering the bill for a group outing. In a place like New York City, it wouldn't have been possible to meet these important people without Meta. Even though I was nervous about leaving my friends and family in Australia, I was more excited to go on an adventure and get out of my comfort zone. Meta has done everything possible to ensure my transition was smooth, from moving to getting settled in. As an added bonus, I now work for a global company, so I hope an adventure in Japan is still in my future.”

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