Moving to Europe with a degree

Plastic Sheeting

I was searching through the other threads and many people have said 'why move to Canada/Australia when Europe is at your door?' Am I wrong to say that this is nonsense since a requirement to get a job in Europe is having knowledge of the native language? I didn't go to college for three years in order to work in a bar in France or Germany. Where are the English speaking jobs in mainland Europe?

silentrust

Plastic Sheeting wrote: »

I was searching through the other threads and many people have said 'why move to Canada/Australia when Europe is at your door?' Am I wrong to say that this is nonsense since a requirement to get a job in Europe is having knowledge of the native language? I didn't go to college for three years in order to work in a bar in France or Germany. Where are the English speaking jobs in mainland Europe?

Hi buddy,

This is an issue I often grapple with as I went to Uni to do French and German and honestly I would have been better off just going to work as a waiter/barman in the countries in question and learning that way.

Probably the best advice I can give you is to get yourself enrolled in your nearest TEFL school if you want to be able to live in a country but not learn a huge amount of the language. When I first arrived in Germany my lingo was very basic but you'll be surprised how much you pick up when you get there.

As time goes on and particularly if you want to get a job more related to your degree (can you say what you specialise in?) you can start shopping around once your foot is in the door. You'll speak more of the language and have at least one good local reference.

For Germany, I contacted a University directly and offered to work for their English department, drafted a generic application letter with the help of a native speaking friend and Bob's your Uncle.

If you really don't like the idea of speaking in front of a class of people you could do what my buddy did in Japan which was place an ad in a few local newspapers (they seem to get a better reponse than websites for some reason) and offer to teach people one to one, in their homes, in cafés etc. etc. for cash in hand.

In accordance with forum rules I should stress you'll still need to declare any cash income you receive at your local tax office. :-)

seachto7

Agree with the above. You could get your foot in the door working in a bar or TEFL. You can steadily learn the local language, then after a year or so, you'll be a good position to apply for the types of jobs you want.

Lingua Franca

Here in the Netherlands many businesses operate in English as well as other languages. My Scottish friend who only speaks English is working for "a leading manufacturer of professional AV system integration products including computer-video interfaces, switchers, matrix switchers, ..." (this is one of those jobs that makes my ears glaze over) setting up quotes and talking to clients, and they hire all nationalities. Another friend is working in Germany doing something in data transfer and systems upgrades without a word of German. If you have a degree in something of use to an international company you should have little problem finding a job without knowing the local language.

Hop on Expatica, enter your area of expertise and you'll see what's available.

Plastic Sheeting

silentrust wrote: »

Hi buddy,

This is an issue I often grapple with as I went to Uni to do French and German and honestly I would have been better off just going to work as a waiter/barman in the countries in question and learning that way.

Probably the best advice I can give you is to get yourself enrolled in your nearest TEFL school if you want to be able to live in a country but not learn a huge amount of the language. When I first arrived in Germany my lingo was very basic but you'll be surprised how much you pick up when you get there.

As time goes on and particularly if you want to get a job more related to your degree (can you say what you specialise in?) you can start shopping around once your foot is in the door. You'll speak more of the language and have at least one good local reference.

For Germany, I contacted a University directly and offered to work for their English department, drafted a generic application letter with the help of a native speaking friend and Bob's your Uncle.

If you really don't like the idea of speaking in front of a class of people you could do what my buddy did in Japan which was place an ad in a few local newspapers (they seem to get a better reponse than websites for some reason) and offer to teach people one to one, in their homes, in cafés etc. etc. for cash in hand.

In accordance with forum rules I should stress you'll still need to declare any cash income you receive at your local tax office. :-)

I've a degree in Law. How much are paying TEFL teachers these days?

silentrust

Plastic Sheeting wrote: »

I've a degree in Law. How much are paying TEFL teachers these days?

I received the princely sum of €10.34 after tax for around 25 hours of work per week.

You can also do as I did and teach people privately in their homes like I mentioned, conversation classes and all that. With kids you may be able to negotiate to teach them other subjects as your knowledge of local lingo improves.

I asked for €20 an hour for private tuition and whenever someone paid cash I was sure to declare it immediately to the tax office so they could rake off 15% - I am sure you will do the same!

Just watch out for schools which make you sign a contract insisting on you only teaching on their time. But perhaps if you can find some legal professionals you could exchange English lessons in exchange for some local knowhow? Maybe score yourself an internship somewhere?

hfallada

If you studied engineering a lot of factories in Germany (well paid jobs) dont care you speak english as there is a huge engineers shortage in Germany. Something like only 7 new engineers for every 10 that retires. Even if you spoke German when you get to places like Munich its kinda useless as the Dialect is so different a northern German cant understand them.


Why dont you send your CV to a few employment agency and see what they have to say

Plastic Sheeting

silentrust wrote: »

I received the princely sum of €10.34 after tax for around 25 hours of work per week.

You can also do as I did and teach people privately in their homes like I mentioned, conversation classes and all that. With kids you may be able to negotiate to teach them other subjects as your knowledge of local lingo improves.

I asked for €20 an hour for private tuition and whenever someone paid cash I was sure to declare it immediately to the tax office so they could rake off 15% - I am sure you will do the same!

Just watch out for schools which make you sign a contract insisting on you only teaching on their time. But perhaps if you can find some legal professionals you could exchange English lessons in exchange for some local knowhow? Maybe score yourself an internship somewhere?

That's good advice, thanks very much.

hfallada wrote: »

If you studied engineering a lot of factories in Germany (well paid jobs) dont care you speak english as there is a huge engineers shortage in Germany. Something like only 7 new engineers for every 10 that retires. Even if you spoke German when you get to places like Munich its kinda useless as the Dialect is so different a northern German cant understand them.


Why dont you send your CV to a few employment agency and see what they have to say

I might give it a try. I already have the TEFL cert from a few years back but never got around to using. I've always dreamed of living in mainland Europe.
Hopefully I will have enough proficiency after living there for a year.

Ponster

Plastic Sheeting wrote: »

Am I wrong to say that this is nonsense since a requirement to get a job in Europe is having knowledge of the native language?

I moved to France in 1998 and found it very easy to get work based on a degree and the fact that I spoke English (and had zero French skills). It was presumed that I'd learn the local language and having a native English speaker was considered a bonus.

I don't know if the situation has changed now with a more English-educated kids joining the workforce but I'm sure that skills will trump language is a lot of companies.

Plastic Sheeting

Ponster wrote: »

I moved to France in 1998 and found it very easy to get work based on a degree and the fact that I spoke English (and had zero French skills). It was presumed that I'd learn the local language and having a native English speaker was considered a bonus.

I don't know if the situation has changed now with a more English-educated kids joining the workforce but I'm sure that skills will trump language is a lot of companies.

What degree have you?

Ponster

Plastic Sheeting wrote: »

What degree have you?

It was in Physics.

Law I'd imagine is a different kettle of fish. France for example has a different legal basis than that of Ireland/UK so I'm guessing that your degree would be less useful there than elsewhere.

iusedtoknow

I moved to Spain with little or no spanish(or catalan) and got an IT job in 5 days based off my skillset.

A little over a year later I was fluent in Spanish. Every immigrant I spoke to tended to go with Job first, language 2nd. English is the international language of business. Just don't neglect the local language and you'd be fine

zweton

what part of spain and what area of i.t are you in?

iusedtoknow

I was in Barcelona where I worked in a level 2 service center (Exchange Admin since closed) moved to Madrid and was in a Level 3 (Exchange Admin still there)

I work for the same company, just based out of SF instead of Spain. I know for a fact that the office in Madrid cannot fill the open positions they have. Spanish people tend to have the technical skills, but lack of English is a real issue there

seachto7

Interesting to note about Spain. I would have thought Spain is in a worse position than Ireland? I'm looking to move out of Ireland next year. I'm hopefully heading back to do a Grad Dip first.

I'd love to live in the South West of France, border region of Spain, but realistically my options of a good job are slim there. Or are they? At this stage of my life, I'd like to try and get a decent job after years of sh*tty paying jobs.

So realistically maybe my options are London, but I'd like to explore all options. For example, Paris, including elsewhere in Europe, such as Sweden etc.

I don't know how to go about it when the time comes.

Ponster

seachto7 wrote: »

I'd love to live in the South West of France, border region of Spain, but realistically my options of a good job are slim there. Or are they?

Depends on what you can do I guess. If you were an aeronautical engineer then that's almost the only part of France where you could get a job

seachto7

Nope. I'm not that intelligent. I work in digital marketing. I know Rip Curl etc have EU offices down there, but I have heard that the Sth Wst of France is "great to retire to". I've only been once, on my own, but didn't think it that bad!

iusedtoknow

I have a couple of friends in Bilbao that work in digital marketing, the same in Barcelona

However, I can't imagine SW France is a hotbed for it unfortunately

seachto7

No, twouldnt, but Bilbao has got my interest. I'm learning Spanish at the moment. I speak French and Italian as well, so thought I'd learn another recession hit language! Half of me is thinking of a lifestyle choice, other half is thinking of finally trying to save some $$$ which is why I thought of London etc. I can't imagine the pay is that good in Spain? Though it's all relative...