June 20, 2017 at 06:49Malta as a new direction for IT professionals
If you thought about the sun, sea and yachts - then you understood correctly.
The sun shines here most of the year and even in the winter, which is sometimes rainy, the clouds often evaporate and all your problems seem to melt in the sun. At least with me it is.
The climate is suitable for all lovers of the sun and the sea. Almost always sunny, even in winter. Although once every 3 years the winter is very rainy, and at a temperature of +14 and the wind it can be pretty cool. But the island blooms with greenery!
The Republic of Malta is located in the Mediterranean Sea, on the Maltese archipelago 93 km south of the island of Sicily. It consists of two inhabited islands of Malta and Gozo and one little inhabited island of Comino (from the wiki).
The main island is Malta. There is the capital Valletta and the whole business. Gozo is more for life away from noise, and Comino is known for the breathtaking blue lagoon.
Blue Lagoon
I live on the island of Malta. Although it is the largest of the 3 islands, its length is not more than 30 km and its width is 15 km. But this is not at all felt. When you spend some time on the island, 5 km seems like a great distance.
The best way to get to know the island is to use hop on hop off tours. So you can visit the most interesting places, and although there are not very many, but some of them are amazing. For example, Ħaġar Qim - The Megalithic Temples of Malta is one of the oldest on the planet (3600-3200 BC). Or Skorba Temples - though there is not much left, but at this place there are signs of the very first settlers who are almost 7 thousand years old. In such places there are special sensations.
By the way, there is another museum in Malta, where animals that once inhabited the island, such as elephants, are represented ...
There are no dangerous insects in Malta and sharks prefer the coast of Sicily.
The beaches are both sandy and stone. But they are all small because of which they are often clogged with vacationers.
Due to its low (relative to other EU countries) taxes, Malta is very attractive for foreign companies, and especially for iGaming companies. Perhaps the largest foreign company in Malta - Betsson Group has about 1000 employees. Most of her IT office is also located on the island.
Low taxes and a warm climate are also attractive for startups, which is why there are also a lot of them and companies such as startupmalta are gradually appearing. But the startup sector is still in the early stages of its development and therefore is not interesting for recruiters. Later in the article I will talk about this in more detail.
I myself came to Malta 3 years ago through a recruiter who offered a job in a German horse betting company. At that moment, I had only heard about Malta, but I did not know anything. I became curious and so I ended up on the island.
I mentioned above that taxes in Malta are low. For employees, taxation is applied on a scale from 0 to a maximum of 35% (if annual income exceeds € 60,000) You
can see more details here . A very convenient calculator, enter your estimated annual income, choose the type of taxation and find out how much you will get on hand.
The average pre-tax salary for IT in Malta is € 40,000 per year. Senior programmers earn an average of € 48,000 - € 50,000. Of course, there are exceptions to the side of increase and you can also agree on a social package, for example, private health insurance can be included as a bonus.
As a rule, senior and middle level specialists are needed. Front-end, Backend, Fullstack, DevOps, QA, Product owner. JavaScript, Node.JS, Angular, React.Js, PHP, .NET, Ruby, Python, C #, Java, SQL, etc. As I already mentioned, more and more companies are coming to the island and the list of technologies is expanding, which leads to the emergence of demand for the widest range of IT specialists.
For startup projects, Front-end, Backend, and less commonly CTO are most often required. The most popular technologies: JavaScript, PHP, Node.js, AngularJS, ReactJS. Also experience in the development of hybrid mobile applications (Ionic, React Native, Cordova).
Middle level specialists should also look towards startup projects. Since the requirements for startups are a little softer, this is especially true for knowledge of the English language. But, like large companies, many startups offer a relocation package, which most often includes the cost of the first flight and the first 2 weeks of rental housing.
Startup projects, in my opinion, are most suitable for young and non-family (or without children) professionals. Still, the life cycle of a startup project is unknown and moving with children every year or a half is not so simple. On the other hand, there is always a chance to later switch to a new project or get a job in a large company iGaming.
Due to the great demand for IT specialists, the state has simplified the procedure (fewer pieces of paper are needed and do not refuse). From the moment your documents are accepted, you can legally be on the island even after the visa expires, but you cannot travel outside Malta. A list of documents and all relevant details can be found here .
Salaries are transferred in most cases to a current account with a local bank. To open an account, in addition to the standard set of documents, you definitely need to have a letter from your bank (reference letter), where you have an account, stating that you are a reliable and conscientious client. Moreover, it is worth checking with your bank in advance whether they will be able to promptly respond to a request for your good faith through the interbank SWIFT system.
However, it is possible to circumvent this requirement by contacting Banif Bank, which, as it may, will open an account and issue a card to you, but will require a deposit of € 500 and you will be charged at least € 50 every month to replenish the deposit. Everything that accumulates on the deposit will be returned to you after closing the account (which is nice).
Having lived for 2 years on the island and having a working contract, you may well try to get a loan on real estate at a ridiculous 3.5% per annum. Down payment 30%
Medical care, in my opinion, is of a good enough level. Mater Dei Central Hospital is well equipped. Among the shortcomings of local medical care, I would also highlight long lines. For example, to make a preventive ultrasound, you need to wait 6-12 months. If something serious and urgent, of course, medical assistance will be provided to you promptly, and the ambulances here are super fast.
Renting 2k, 3k apartments in good condition in popular cities will cost € 700-1200. 1k and 2k apartments are less common and the price is not much lower. Please note that only bedrooms are considered here, therefore 1k apartment is actually 2 bedroom. Typically, 2 and 3k apartments have 2 bathrooms each, one of which is ensuite. All apartments are furnished and have a fully equipped kitchen. An alternative for single and unpretentious is to rent a room. It is much cheaper and more convenient, and very popular among young people.
Most IT companies are concentrated in the cities of St Julian's and Sliema, respectively, the cost of renting housing there is one of the highest. You have to choose - or pay more for the rental and get to work in 5-10 minutes or rent an apartment in less popular cities and buy personal transport. Rent 3k, relatively new apartment, for example in the city of Buġibba or St. Paul's Bay will be € 100-200 cheaper.
On average, a person gets about 40 euros per month. Depends on how well you can save light and water.
Public transport is poorly developed here. The reason for this is the fact that in Malta there are 4 cars in a family of 4 people. Therefore, buses run along popular tourist routes. If you are so lucky that the bus routes coincided with yours, the bus cost will be approximately € 26 per month.
Prices for new Chinese scooters start at around € 1,200. You can buy used for € 500 +. For engines up to 125cc license is € 10 per year. For cars, the cost of an annual license starts from € 100 and depends on the age of the car and engine size.
New cars cost about the same as in Europe or more. Used cars are much more expensive than, for example, in Germany. Toyota Yaris 2010-2011 Will cost € 6000- € 7000. The annual license is approximately € 130 +. For € 300- € 1000 you can buy a real pimped here. It’s as if you are gaining wings with your transport. You will learn many new places, and shopping becomes much easier.
The island has large supermarkets, where there is almost everything. You can also always find local shops with an assortment of everything you need. For a family of 4 people a week, food costs € 100-120 or € 200 + if you buy bio products.
Fish is not cheap, although there is a fish market in the south of the island, where, according to eyewitnesses, the price is significantly lower than in stores.
The average bill in a restaurant for two will be around € 40. The most common cuisine is Italian. For lovers of Japanese and Chinese cuisine, there is also something.
There are both public and private schools. In public schools, the Maltese language is compulsory, so for foreigners the choice is reduced to private schools, where the main language is English. The cost of private schools starts from € 1100 / year for primary school children + school uniforms and school supplies. The kindergarten is a little cheaper, the senior classes are more expensive.
The level of education is average. I had no problems with the adaptation of children - which is already a good sign.
Although this is the EU, in Malta it has become noticeable only now. Relatively uncleaned streets and poor roads are still commonplace. The low cultural level of many Maltese can also spoil the impression. But I am glad that the young generation thinks much more progressively and the situation has begun to change for the better radically.
Many people come to Malta because of the climate, but in practice they are sometimes disappointed, as it turns out that at + 15, high humidity and the presence of wind of 25 m / s it can be very cold in winter. Winters are different, rainy or without rain at all. But we must remember that if Malta has a long cold winter, then what is it like in other European countries ...
Nightclubs, discos and parties, according to colleagues - amateurs of entertainment, very much nothing.
It’s more difficult for children. Although there is a water park and Popeye Village.
Popeye Village
For those who wish to learn how to manage sailing and motor yachts, all the conditions are here. The cost of courses is from € 150 and you can even get a local certificate.
Several low-cost airline companies fly to Malta, including Wizz Air, Ryanair and EasyJet. There is a local airline Air Malta with pretty good service. She also carries out direct flights from Moscow. There are no direct flights from Kiev, but can be reached with a change via Munich, Frankfurt or Istanbul. Tickets cost from € 150. From Belarus you can get through Lithuania - Ryanair flies from Vilnius.
From Malta by ferry you can get to Sicily - the cost of a return ticket is € 40-80, depending on the season and the availability of discounts. But you can fly to Catania on Ryanair for € 12.99 one way (if you follow the prices)
In general, if you buy tickets on time, the average cost per person will be € 40-50 one way.
A bit about the itRabota.com project
Over 2 years, a strategy has been formed, based on personal communication with each candidate. Sometimes people are surprised when they find out that most letters, especially regarding profile and vacancies, I write with my own hand. Which is not surprising when you consider that everyone wants to automate as many operations as possible. But my experience has shown that it is necessary to personally work with each candidate in order to correctly assess his needs and wishes regarding vacancies. The same applies to working with companies and recruiters - I personally discuss the requirements for vacancies with everyone.
To make time for personal communication, I automate the process of collecting information.
itRabota.com has recently been completely rebuilt. Also appeared an additional domain resuma.io
So, at your disposal there are 2 types of profile:
The resume is constantly being improved. I will write a separate article about this.
By the way, all services are provided for free!
There are many
vacancies and the demand for IT specialists is huge (which you already knew) For example, in Germany alone there are more than 50 vacancies. All with visa support and almost everything with a relocation package. The technologies are the same as those mentioned above - JavaScript, Node.JS, Angular, React.Js, PHP, .NET, ASP.NET, Ruby, Python, C #, Java, SQL ...
I also talked about working in start-up projects and that there are vacancies for strong middle. I will give as an example the vacancy of one start-up project, the founders of which I personally know.
Front-End Web Developer
Core skills: JavaScript / ES6, ReactJs (React Native)
Experience: 3+ years
Industry: iGaming (football related)
Work on creating an application on React Native has just begun. The team is young but experienced.
Salaries range from € 30,000 to € 40,000 per year. At € 40,000 after tax there will be € 2,500 per month. The company pays for a flight to Malta, 2 weeks of accommodation, private insurance and reimburses 250 € per year for the gym.
If you have questions about Malta, I will be happy to answer!
The sun shines here most of the year and even in the winter, which is sometimes rainy, the clouds often evaporate and all your problems seem to melt in the sun. At least with me it is.
The climate is suitable for all lovers of the sun and the sea. Almost always sunny, even in winter. Although once every 3 years the winter is very rainy, and at a temperature of +14 and the wind it can be pretty cool. But the island blooms with greenery!
The Republic of Malta is located in the Mediterranean Sea, on the Maltese archipelago 93 km south of the island of Sicily. It consists of two inhabited islands of Malta and Gozo and one little inhabited island of Comino (from the wiki).
The main island is Malta. There is the capital Valletta and the whole business. Gozo is more for life away from noise, and Comino is known for the breathtaking blue lagoon.
Blue Lagoon
I live on the island of Malta. Although it is the largest of the 3 islands, its length is not more than 30 km and its width is 15 km. But this is not at all felt. When you spend some time on the island, 5 km seems like a great distance.
The best way to get to know the island is to use hop on hop off tours. So you can visit the most interesting places, and although there are not very many, but some of them are amazing. For example, Ħaġar Qim - The Megalithic Temples of Malta is one of the oldest on the planet (3600-3200 BC). Or Skorba Temples - though there is not much left, but at this place there are signs of the very first settlers who are almost 7 thousand years old. In such places there are special sensations.
By the way, there is another museum in Malta, where animals that once inhabited the island, such as elephants, are represented ...
There are no dangerous insects in Malta and sharks prefer the coast of Sicily.
The beaches are both sandy and stone. But they are all small because of which they are often clogged with vacationers.
Work in IT
Due to its low (relative to other EU countries) taxes, Malta is very attractive for foreign companies, and especially for iGaming companies. Perhaps the largest foreign company in Malta - Betsson Group has about 1000 employees. Most of her IT office is also located on the island.
Low taxes and a warm climate are also attractive for startups, which is why there are also a lot of them and companies such as startupmalta are gradually appearing. But the startup sector is still in the early stages of its development and therefore is not interesting for recruiters. Later in the article I will talk about this in more detail.
I myself came to Malta 3 years ago through a recruiter who offered a job in a German horse betting company. At that moment, I had only heard about Malta, but I did not know anything. I became curious and so I ended up on the island.
Taxes
I mentioned above that taxes in Malta are low. For employees, taxation is applied on a scale from 0 to a maximum of 35% (if annual income exceeds € 60,000) You
can see more details here . A very convenient calculator, enter your estimated annual income, choose the type of taxation and find out how much you will get on hand.
Salaries in IT
The average pre-tax salary for IT in Malta is € 40,000 per year. Senior programmers earn an average of € 48,000 - € 50,000. Of course, there are exceptions to the side of increase and you can also agree on a social package, for example, private health insurance can be included as a bonus.
Jobs
As a rule, senior and middle level specialists are needed. Front-end, Backend, Fullstack, DevOps, QA, Product owner. JavaScript, Node.JS, Angular, React.Js, PHP, .NET, Ruby, Python, C #, Java, SQL, etc. As I already mentioned, more and more companies are coming to the island and the list of technologies is expanding, which leads to the emergence of demand for the widest range of IT specialists.
For startup projects, Front-end, Backend, and less commonly CTO are most often required. The most popular technologies: JavaScript, PHP, Node.js, AngularJS, ReactJS. Also experience in the development of hybrid mobile applications (Ionic, React Native, Cordova).
Middle level specialists should also look towards startup projects. Since the requirements for startups are a little softer, this is especially true for knowledge of the English language. But, like large companies, many startups offer a relocation package, which most often includes the cost of the first flight and the first 2 weeks of rental housing.
Startup projects, in my opinion, are most suitable for young and non-family (or without children) professionals. Still, the life cycle of a startup project is unknown and moving with children every year or a half is not so simple. On the other hand, there is always a chance to later switch to a new project or get a job in a large company iGaming.
Work permit
Due to the great demand for IT specialists, the state has simplified the procedure (fewer pieces of paper are needed and do not refuse). From the moment your documents are accepted, you can legally be on the island even after the visa expires, but you cannot travel outside Malta. A list of documents and all relevant details can be found here .
Banks
Salaries are transferred in most cases to a current account with a local bank. To open an account, in addition to the standard set of documents, you definitely need to have a letter from your bank (reference letter), where you have an account, stating that you are a reliable and conscientious client. Moreover, it is worth checking with your bank in advance whether they will be able to promptly respond to a request for your good faith through the interbank SWIFT system.
However, it is possible to circumvent this requirement by contacting Banif Bank, which, as it may, will open an account and issue a card to you, but will require a deposit of € 500 and you will be charged at least € 50 every month to replenish the deposit. Everything that accumulates on the deposit will be returned to you after closing the account (which is nice).
Having lived for 2 years on the island and having a working contract, you may well try to get a loan on real estate at a ridiculous 3.5% per annum. Down payment 30%
The medicine
Medical care, in my opinion, is of a good enough level. Mater Dei Central Hospital is well equipped. Among the shortcomings of local medical care, I would also highlight long lines. For example, to make a preventive ultrasound, you need to wait 6-12 months. If something serious and urgent, of course, medical assistance will be provided to you promptly, and the ambulances here are super fast.
Rental of property
Renting 2k, 3k apartments in good condition in popular cities will cost € 700-1200. 1k and 2k apartments are less common and the price is not much lower. Please note that only bedrooms are considered here, therefore 1k apartment is actually 2 bedroom. Typically, 2 and 3k apartments have 2 bathrooms each, one of which is ensuite. All apartments are furnished and have a fully equipped kitchen. An alternative for single and unpretentious is to rent a room. It is much cheaper and more convenient, and very popular among young people.
Most IT companies are concentrated in the cities of St Julian's and Sliema, respectively, the cost of renting housing there is one of the highest. You have to choose - or pay more for the rental and get to work in 5-10 minutes or rent an apartment in less popular cities and buy personal transport. Rent 3k, relatively new apartment, for example in the city of Buġibba or St. Paul's Bay will be € 100-200 cheaper.
Utilities
On average, a person gets about 40 euros per month. Depends on how well you can save light and water.
Public transport
Public transport is poorly developed here. The reason for this is the fact that in Malta there are 4 cars in a family of 4 people. Therefore, buses run along popular tourist routes. If you are so lucky that the bus routes coincided with yours, the bus cost will be approximately € 26 per month.
Purchase of personal vehicles
Prices for new Chinese scooters start at around € 1,200. You can buy used for € 500 +. For engines up to 125cc license is € 10 per year. For cars, the cost of an annual license starts from € 100 and depends on the age of the car and engine size.
New cars cost about the same as in Europe or more. Used cars are much more expensive than, for example, in Germany. Toyota Yaris 2010-2011 Will cost € 6000- € 7000. The annual license is approximately € 130 +. For € 300- € 1000 you can buy a real pimped here. It’s as if you are gaining wings with your transport. You will learn many new places, and shopping becomes much easier.
Nutrition
The island has large supermarkets, where there is almost everything. You can also always find local shops with an assortment of everything you need. For a family of 4 people a week, food costs € 100-120 or € 200 + if you buy bio products.
Fish is not cheap, although there is a fish market in the south of the island, where, according to eyewitnesses, the price is significantly lower than in stores.
The average bill in a restaurant for two will be around € 40. The most common cuisine is Italian. For lovers of Japanese and Chinese cuisine, there is also something.
School / kindergarten
There are both public and private schools. In public schools, the Maltese language is compulsory, so for foreigners the choice is reduced to private schools, where the main language is English. The cost of private schools starts from € 1100 / year for primary school children + school uniforms and school supplies. The kindergarten is a little cheaper, the senior classes are more expensive.
The level of education is average. I had no problems with the adaptation of children - which is already a good sign.
disadvantages
Although this is the EU, in Malta it has become noticeable only now. Relatively uncleaned streets and poor roads are still commonplace. The low cultural level of many Maltese can also spoil the impression. But I am glad that the young generation thinks much more progressively and the situation has begun to change for the better radically.
Many people come to Malta because of the climate, but in practice they are sometimes disappointed, as it turns out that at + 15, high humidity and the presence of wind of 25 m / s it can be very cold in winter. Winters are different, rainy or without rain at all. But we must remember that if Malta has a long cold winter, then what is it like in other European countries ...
Entertainment
Nightclubs, discos and parties, according to colleagues - amateurs of entertainment, very much nothing.
It’s more difficult for children. Although there is a water park and Popeye Village.
Popeye Village
For those who wish to learn how to manage sailing and motor yachts, all the conditions are here. The cost of courses is from € 150 and you can even get a local certificate.
Travel / Flights
Several low-cost airline companies fly to Malta, including Wizz Air, Ryanair and EasyJet. There is a local airline Air Malta with pretty good service. She also carries out direct flights from Moscow. There are no direct flights from Kiev, but can be reached with a change via Munich, Frankfurt or Istanbul. Tickets cost from € 150. From Belarus you can get through Lithuania - Ryanair flies from Vilnius.
From Malta by ferry you can get to Sicily - the cost of a return ticket is € 40-80, depending on the season and the availability of discounts. But you can fly to Catania on Ryanair for € 12.99 one way (if you follow the prices)
In general, if you buy tickets on time, the average cost per person will be € 40-50 one way.
A bit about the itRabota.com project
Over 2 years, a strategy has been formed, based on personal communication with each candidate. Sometimes people are surprised when they find out that most letters, especially regarding profile and vacancies, I write with my own hand. Which is not surprising when you consider that everyone wants to automate as many operations as possible. But my experience has shown that it is necessary to personally work with each candidate in order to correctly assess his needs and wishes regarding vacancies. The same applies to working with companies and recruiters - I personally discuss the requirements for vacancies with everyone.
To make time for personal communication, I automate the process of collecting information.
itRabota.com has recently been completely rebuilt. Also appeared an additional domain resuma.io
So, at your disposal there are 2 types of profile:
- Quick job application - a quick way to create a profile by filling out only the most important information + downloading a resume (it is assumed that you have one)
- Full resume - create a profile in the form of a resume, which can be downloaded for free in PDF format (if you want)
The resume is constantly being improved. I will write a separate article about this.
By the way, all services are provided for free!
There are many
vacancies and the demand for IT specialists is huge (which you already knew) For example, in Germany alone there are more than 50 vacancies. All with visa support and almost everything with a relocation package. The technologies are the same as those mentioned above - JavaScript, Node.JS, Angular, React.Js, PHP, .NET, ASP.NET, Ruby, Python, C #, Java, SQL ...
I also talked about working in start-up projects and that there are vacancies for strong middle. I will give as an example the vacancy of one start-up project, the founders of which I personally know.
Front-End Web Developer
Core skills: JavaScript / ES6, ReactJs (React Native)
Experience: 3+ years
Industry: iGaming (football related)
Work on creating an application on React Native has just begun. The team is young but experienced.
Salaries range from € 30,000 to € 40,000 per year. At € 40,000 after tax there will be € 2,500 per month. The company pays for a flight to Malta, 2 weeks of accommodation, private insurance and reimburses 250 € per year for the gym.
If you have questions about Malta, I will be happy to answer!
