Johnathan Salmon

Johnathan lives in the Netherlands since November 2019, together with Charlene. Read more about their experiences.

Johnathan, why did you emigrate to the Netherlands?
I had the opportunity to work in Europe during my studies and after that experience I knew that I wanted to come back one day. When I had the chance to come to the Netherlands I didn’t have to think twice and also because the language difference between Afrikaans and Dutch is small enough for someone to be able to read and understand basic things easier than any other neighbouring countries. My main motivation to come here was to acquire new skills and broaden my horizons. The fact that safety risks are lower this side, allows you to focus on more important things and to enjoy life to a greater extent.

Can you tell us something how you do like the Netherlands?
We really enjoy being here in the Netherlands. Everyday there is something new to experience and the fact that public transport actually works makes it a breeze to just go exploring and not have a boring weekend. The Dutch are often described as being direct which is sometimes perceived as being rude, but we have only experienced friendliness and helpfulness. Just being greeted by strangers that cross your path and your neighbours wanting to get to know you makes you feel more at home.

Please tell us something about the projects you are currently working on
I will be working at a company that creates Accounting applications for small to medium sized businesses. They work in small teams per project and once the project has been completed, they disband and go into a reserve pool. New teams are then created from the reserve pool. They are one of the largest users of Microsoft Azure in the Netherlands and one of the largest users of Azure SQL DB in the world.

Did the process of emigration go smoothly?
Our emigration process was smooth sailing all the way. summit developers did all of the heavy lifting with regards to applications and it was only up to us to get our Unabridged Birth Certificates and Passports ready and go and fetch your visa’s. All communication and documentation are done electronically which you can just sign and send back to them. Nothing was a hassle.

Can you explain to the South Africans who are considering to go overseas how you did experience the support from us?
summit developers does something different compared to other overseas recruitment companies: Personal Touch. They don’t just get you here and then you never hear from them again or only when you get a new project. They support you every step of the way. If you have questions, just ask, even if its not about work. They are always willing to help and just a Whatsapp message away. They understand that you are making a life changing move and they want to make this process as easy for you as possible. I would recommend summit developers to anyone looking to make this move without a doubt!