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Looking for employment overseas (US to EU)

Markos Viridian

Hi,

I'm looking into relocating to Europe. Currently, I'm in the US and as of last year graduated with a Bachelors in Chemical & Biological Engineering and a Masters in Biotechnology Management. I hear that businesses in the EU are looking for highly skilled workers and I've sent out applications to companies through job boards like Irish Jobs, but I haven't heard back from a single one.


Are there any recommendations for businesses I should applying to or other ways to becoming an expat? As far as languages go, I can speak a fair bit of German and Spanish and I'm currently learning French and Italian. Right now, I'm working as a CVS Pharmacy Tech until I land a job that'll put my degrees to use and sending my resume everywhere. I've also been looking into the Peace Corps as an option for gaining skills and learning more about the world while volunteering. Does anyone know if there's a way that the Peace Corps is able to assist with moving to the EU.

See also

Job offers in GermanyFinding work in GermanySetting up a business in GermanySummer jobs in GermanyInternships in Germany
beppi

You are not telling why you want to move to the EU, but since you are rather un-focussed about where in the EU, I suspect you have more push ("I want to get out of ...") than pull ("I want to get to ...") factors.

Since an international move needs a lot of effort and dedication, a sense of purpose is far more helpful in it than an "anywhere and any job will do".

Furthermore, why would a potential employer hire you, despite the additional buerocratic procedures, risk and uncertanty compared to a local candidate? In case of same skills and abilities, the local will always win - so you need to be better than him/her. And if you are not fluent in the language, you need to be much better. Are you?

I don't want to discourage you, but as long as you don't have a VERY convincing explanation why you want to move to their country, and no-where else, and why the employer should hire you, and no-one else, you are bound to fail. In your post, I cannot see any such explanation.

beppi

As a fresh graduate, it would certainly help if you get a good job at home first and gain experience (preferably valuable in future employers' eyes) for a few years while learning ONE European language to a near-fluent level (B2 minimum, better C1, but not just "a fair bit") - and try a focussed job search then!

Fred

Beppi has that right.

Put yourself in a potential employer's shoes and assess your candidacy.

Would you hire yourself?

TominStuttgart

In addition to needing highly demanded skills, nearly always associated with degrees or specialized technical or vocational training one needs a high level of German for nearly all jobs.


I would add a personal note that I spoke with a number of German students in the last week finishing up their masters degrees. One in the field of architecture and urban planning, the other in electrical engineering. Both have been actively looking for a job upon graduation for the last 6 months or so, although not full time. Neither has found work although Stuttgart has many large international companies. Trump’s unpredictability has eroded confidence in future business so that many companies are very hesitant to hire new workers; could be that they more have lay-offs or not replace retirees.


Thus the job market in many professional fields is not good in Germany at the moment. And the likelihood that employers would take the extra risk, cost and effort to recruit people from outside of the EU in such a climate is reduced. I find German a great country to live in but people should not assume it is easy now to find employment here.Â