Learn to say “no,” even when it feels like the hardest decision you could possibly make.
The year 2026 has turned out to be quite eye-opening. Once again, I found myself navigating the job market in Europe, only to realize something has shifted. Perhaps I’ve changed? Maybe I’m simply no longer willing to humble myself for scraps? I’m not sure.
I recently went through an interview process with a company based in the suburbs of Barcelona. While the initial conversations seemed decent, the moment we moved toward documentation and operations, the whole thing turned into a complete circus.
Out of sheer necessity, I initially agreed to a salary of €60,000. For context, my CV shows over 15 years of international experience; this offer is barely €5,000 above the current minimum threshold for a Blue Card in Europe. We will get to the specific math later—I believe it’s vital to share these numbers so people understand the reality of working conditions in Europe today.
The Red Flags You Cannot Ignore
If you are currently interviewing, watch out for these warning signs:
- The “Upsell” Trap: They hire for one role, but during the process, they realize they don’t know what to do with you and offer a “higher” position. In reality, it’s more responsibility for the same money. They exploit the fact that you might not know the local salary benchmarks for the senior role, effectively buying a leader at a discount.
- Disregard for Family: For a migrant, family logistics are paramount. This company was utterly indifferent to the fact that I have a wife. They ignored the legal requirement to file our documents simultaneously. In Spain, this process requires a licensed representative; I literally cannot do it myself, yet they treated it as “my problem.”
- Broken Agreements: This is the biggest warning. if the hiring manager is late, distracted, or juggling ten other things during your interview (e.g., the “Big Boss” who is perpetually on another call), walk away. If this is how they treat you during the honeymoon phase, there is no foundation for a long-term relationship.
- The “Mistaken” Offer: They “forgot” to send the offer, and when they finally did, it was for the wrong position. I was supposed to be a CTO; they sent a Technical Manager offer. For a high-level international engineer, being demoted to “manager” (a term I find insulting in this context) without a word of discussion is a slap in the face.
- Gaslighting as a Strategy: “We never promised that,” “I thought you already signed,” “That’s your responsibility.” This happened despite having clear email threads proving the opposite. If the CEO is a narcissist who can never be wrong, you will always be the scapegoat.
- Being Unheard: If you have to repeat your position four times and they still “don’t get it,” they aren’t stupid—they are doing it on purpose. They are trying to bend your reality to fit their agenda. Run.
- The Dependency Trap: Never let a hiring scheme put your family’s legal status in the hands of a single, incompetent individual. If the company’s whims can cause you financial and legal ruin before you’ve even started, it’s a bad deal.
- The “Company Risk” Myth: In 2026, capitalism still functions on exploitation. Owners make disproportionate profits from your labor. When a manager claims the company is taking a “huge risk” by hiring you, ignore it. In most jurisdictions, employees are “meat”—easily fired with zero risk to the employer.
The Reality of the “Dream” Relocation
Three days before the final visa application deadline, I realized the absurdity of my situation. I had an offer I had to beg for, but no contract—not even a draft. I had gathered a mountain of legal documents (Spain remains one of the most bureaucratic nightmares in 2026, requiring apostilles and licensed translations for everything).
The company’s expectation? I was expected to pay €400 for my translations, urgently fly myself and my wife to Barcelona, pay her filing fees, pay for her translations, find a lawyer for her, pay for a month of temporary housing to wait for the visa, and only then sign a contract I hadn’t even seen yet and see my workplace for the first time in my life.
The employer looked me in the eye and said this was “normal.” They gaslit me by pretending they didn’t know a contract was necessary, even though an offer letter has no legal standing for visa purposes. And even more - they “preparind it” for 2 weeks already and missed agreament on delivery twice. I’m no sure if it’s only me, but this looks like someone is delusional and scary and probably don’s really understant what with this conditions you can hire only idiots and desperate people and i’m not in this list and definetly don’t wanna work with them.
The 2026 Price Tag: A Financial Breakdown
Let’s look at the actual cost of “moving for a job” in 2026: (Take into account, what i ALREADY have EU visa and also have access to everything and can apply on spot)
| Expense Item | Estimated Cost |
|---|---|
| Document collection (previous countries) | €200 |
| Licensed translations (2 people) | €800 |
| Legal filing fees (company payed mine) | €400 |
| Shipping (3 boxes, 75kg total) | €400 |
| Flights (including cat & luggage) | €300 |
| 1st Month Housing + Food | €2,300 |
| 2nd Month Housing (Deposit + Rent) | €4,000 - €5,000 |
| Total Initial Outlay | ~€9,000 |
Can you ever break even?
If your net (take-home) pay is €3,300:
- -€1,600 Rent & Utilities (for a basic apartment, not a student dorm)
- -€100 Transport
- -€600 Basic Food
- Result: €1,000 left per month.
This doesn’t include clothes, healthcare, dental, or actually living. The Math: You work for 9 months just to pay off the cost of moving. You work another 9 months just to save enough to survive or move again if they fire you.
Essentially, you are selling yourself into debt slavery for two years. You work 10 hours a day (including the commute) just to eat and sleep, all while a manager tells you how “risky” it is for them to have you there.
Conclusion: The Power of “No”
The world is full of delusional people who don’t understand how employment or human respect works. I’ve left out the details about the local politics—like Spain legalizing half a million undocumented migrants while making high-skilled engineers jump through bureaucratic hoops—because the main point is the experience itself.
Ultimately, I found the strength to tell them to go to hell.
I refused to enter a toxic relationship that would have led to burnout and depression. Yes, the losses are huge. I lost my EU visa. I will likely have to leave Europe forever. But honestly? I feel better than I have in years.
I’ve had enough.