- Name: Sarah McNally
- Age: 29
- Current location: Ibiza, Spain
- Home town: Toronto, Canada
- Education: Social Science at University of Western Ontario (Dropped out.) Dental Assisting certificate, and diploma in Dental Hygiene, Fanshawe College
- Current position: Journalist, White Ibiza
- Bio: Sarah McNally is proof that while having a degree is important, networking, making connections, and having a little bit of moxie will get you further every time. Currently working for marketing publication White Ibiza and living on the Spanish island, Sarah isn't afraid to give anything a shot. When she realized a social science degree wasn’t for her, careful thought led to completing her education in dental assisting and dental hygiene. When the profession wasn't what she expected, she followed her love of EDM to Ibiza - and turned one summer into a blooming writing career.
- Countries I've worked in: Canada, Spain, USA
- Sector / subsectors: Marketing, Advertising, Journalism
- Areas of expertise: Writing, PR, Marketing
- Country: Spain
- Region: Europe
- Sector: Journalism
-
Who are you and what do you do?
Experiencing everything Ibiza has to offer, and then writing about it? Dream job.
-
How did you get to where you are now?
Giving up a steady career for unpaid work and on-the-job training is a bold move. Selling all your stuff and chasing your passion for EDM music to Ibiza is even bolder.
-
What happened once you arrived in Ibiza?
Sarah talks about arriving in Ibiza with no plans, and how she started a career and life there.
-
What's a typical day or week like for you on Ibiza?
Experiencing spa treatments, yoga retreats, and interviewing celebrity DJs? I repeat, dream job.
-
What are some of the professional and personal challenges you've faced working internationally?
Sarah talks about the challenge of arriving in Ibiza without a visa, and other lessons she learned in her first season on the island.
-
You arrived without a visa and made it work. What was the process like once you did apply for a visa?
Sarah discusses the Youth Mobility Visa for Spain, how to get it, what to bring, and how to extend it after the first year.
-
What do you enjoy the most about working internationally?
Nothing makes you feel like the world is your oyster more than starting a new life in a foreign country.
-
Do you think moving to Ibiza has helped you professionally? Would you have had the same opportunities back home?
Find out why Sarah thinks her job now is unlike any she would have found in Toronto.
-
Are there certain abilities and qualities that will help some succeed in this field?
Sarah tells us the mistake she made when she first got to Ibiza, and why the North American approach won't always work in other countries.
-
You've had an interesting educational journey, in that you don't have formal education in your current field. Tell us about that.
Sarah tells us why it's better to wait and know what your career goals are before jumping into a degree, something she learned the hard way.
-
You metioned having to do a lot of networking when you first arrived in Ibiza. What is your best networking tip?
Sarah gives us her best advice when it comes to networking.
Tags: networking -
What about tips for interviewing?
Mirror, mirror, on the wall, am I prepared for this interview at all?
Tags: interview -
What's the most common mistake you see young people make?
Sarah almost gave up and booked a flight home 5 times, and tells us why she's glad she didn't.
-
What's your best overall advice for someone wanting to work internationally?
Don't let fear hold you back.
