: Jobs

he Treaties of the EU guarantee freedom of movement and establishment for all citizens and working abroad has never been easier. As a UK citizen, you also have the advantage of being a native speaker of English, the highly coveted and universally used language for business, politics and entertainment. That being said, supplementary languages are an added asset and will often provide just the edge you need. In this section you'll find information on how to get started in your job search, internship and employment possibilities with the European Union institutions and other job ideas, such as teaching English as a second language.

Beginning the job search

First: Prepare your CV 

A CV (or Curriculum Vitae) is an essential element in preparing to enter the working world.  A well-made CV can make the difference between getting a job or losing it. Take advantage of your college or university's career guidance services for advice on how to write your CV and where to begin searching for employment. 

You can also get CV examples and ideas online.  CV builders can be found at:

                www.cvservices.co.uk

                www.cvservices.net/gamma   

In addition, a common European format for CVs has been recommended by the European Commission, to simplify the presentation of an individual’s qualifications. As CV customs and practices can differ significantly between Member States, a common CV format can make it easier for employers to compare job candidates. A number of organisations have already started to ask for this format for job applications. To download the CV, instructions and examples visit: www.europass.cedefop.eu.int

Certifications 

Currently there is EU legislation pending on a common system of qualification recognition amongst the EU Member States.  Until then, it will still be necessary for you to ensure that your certifications will be recognised outside of the UK. To find out if your degree or qualifications are recognised in another country, visit www.enic-naric.net. For details about the UK qualifications scheme visit NARIC (the National Academic Recognition Information Centre for the UK): www.naric.org.uk.
 

§         The European Commission-EU civil service
Commission competitions are usually advertised simultaneously in all Member States, and the response can be enormous. The early stages of the competition itself take place simultaneously throughout the European Union, and the organisational complexity of this, together with the number of candidates involved, means that a competition can take more than a year from beginning to end.

§         The European Parliament-Working with MEPs
One of the easiest ways to get a foot in the door of Europe is to work for an MEP (Member of the European Parliament) as an Assistant. University graduates in politics, law, economics, European studies, or history with competence in two or more Community languages are good candidates for these positions. There is no organised method of application as employment is based on an agreement between the Assistant and MEP. If interested in such a position, you should send your CV to your MEP and request that they circulate it around the European Parliament in the event of any vacancies.
 

Test drive—Learn about the EU through Work Experience at a European Institution

A good way to prepare yourself for employment within the European Union or EU-related fields is to complete a traineeship ("stage" in Brussels lingo). These traineeships differ between the various institutions, but still offer you the opportunity to see how the EU works from the inside out.

§       European Commission Traineeship

The largest trainee scheme in the European Union is the stagiaire programme of the European Commission. These in-service training opportunities are available twice a year for periods of five-months and are extended to young university graduates and public service employees. They involve a work experience in one of the Commission's departments and run from 1 March and 1 October every year. They are by far one of the best ways to get involved in the EU after graduation.

§       European Parliament

Paid and unpaid traineeships are awarded for a period of four to five months. For deserving university graduates there is an opportunity to qualify for a Robert Schuman Scholarship or the Ramon Cajal scientific scholarship.

Unofficial traineeships are also available through individual MEPs, either in their home office or in Brussels. These arrangements are left to your MEP to negotiate with you and are not considered part of the Parliament scheme. However, they do afford you the opportunity to learn what an MEP does on a daily basis and the general workings of the EU.

§       Translation Option

The European Union employs thousands of translators and interpreters as it is absolutely necessary to keep in step with the large amount of policy work that has to be translated into the twenty official languages of the EU. The Commission offers a traineeship for linguists involving experience working under senior staff as staff support. The requirements are the same as that of a traditional Commission trainee, but there is a different application to be completed.

§       European Ombudsman

The European Ombudsman offers a limited number of traineeships, usually for a duration of four months.  Trainees are selected on an individual basis at the discretion of the European Ombudsman.  The ideal candidate is a European citizen able to work in at least two of the official languages of the European Communities and at an advanced stage of professional training, or research, in Community law.

§       Economic and Social Committee

The Economic and Social Committee (ESC) offers traineeships in Brussels twice a year (in February and September), for a duration of five months to university graduates.

§       Other Offices/Committees/Agencies      

You might also want to check the Eurodesk website for available work experience at everything from the Council on Refugees and Exiles to the World Bank to the AGIS programme on police and judicial co-operation in criminal matters, as well as more details on EU institution work experience at a wide range of agencies, committees and special offices.

Useful Resources for the Euro-Job Hunt

§       The European Personnel Office (EPSO)

As mentioned above, EPSO is responsible for organising the civil service competitions for the EU’s institutions. It lists upcoming, ongoing and past competitions as well as providing interactive and sample tests and information on preparatory courses. It also answers Frequently Asked Questions on the competition process and work in the institutions generally.

§       The European Fast Stream

Operated by the Cabinet Office, it is a division of the Civil Service Recruitment process. It offers British graduates and professionals the opportunity to train and increase their qualifications to perform better in the EU employment competitions. The EU institutions do not typically hire new graduates; rather they seek candidates with work experience. However, under this scheme, the Fast Stream offers a programme of relevant work experience with the British government, including language training. Successful candidates will first have a job with the British Civil service while they await EU employment. They cannot guarantee success within the EU, but there will always be a post in the Civil Service open to candidates. The Fast Stream is open to anyone under the age of thirty-three and graduates in their final year who expect to gain a first or second class honours degree.

§       EURES

EURES is a co-operation network which brings together the European Commission and the Public Employment Services of the countries belonging to the European Economic Area (EEA), along with other regional and national bodies concerned with employment issues, such as trade unions, employer organisations and local and regional authorities. Its purpose is to facilitate the mobility of workers within the EEA. The website at EURES allows you to select another EU country where you may be interested in working and details all the necessary qualifications for employment and other specifications unique to that country. There are also job vacancies listed for a variety of professions from hotel accommodations to legal support.

§       Careers Europe

Careers Europe is the UK Resource Centre for International careers as well as the UK Euroguidance centre. It produces information on working and learning abroad. Careers Europe publishes a variety of infosheets, newsletters, and fact sheets aimed at careers guidance to the largest possible audience. They also co-ordinate a one week exchange training placement with several EU countries. You can receive regular info updates by email by signing on at their website.

Other Employment possibilities

§         Law firms, lobbyists, trade associations, non-governmental organisations and other EU Actors

If you are interested in the European Union's activities and want to be involved in affecting policy or representing the interests of a particular sector or issue, you might want to look into opportunities with law firms, public relations and policy companies or any number of firms or trade associations with offices in Brussels. To get an idea of the thousands of organisations that follow EU affairs closely, visit  www.eurobrussels.com

§         Linguists

If you are interested in the field of interpretation and translation, you should contact your university language department to learn about any possible positions as a language assistant working with exchange programmes with other teachers and assistants.  For further information write to the Assistants Department of the Central Bureau for international education and training, now a part of the British Council’s Education department. For more information visit www.britishcouncil.org/learning-learning.htm .  Application deadlines are December of the previous year, so apply early. 

§         Teaching English

There is currently great demand for native speakers of English all around the world.  Citizens of the United Kingdom will find it relatively easy to get well-paid positions throughout the European Union due to easy work exchanges.  But there are also many opportunities in Asia and Eastern Europe.  Over all, you should feel free to select your dream location, but be prepared to spend some time getting language teaching qualifications and researching the working environment both for legal and linguistic restrictions.   

There are two ways to teach English abroad:

1 - Work for a school

There are several types of English schools, ranging from commercial schools that teach English to business people and professionals, to universities and secondary schools.  Reputable schools will require some degree of certification.  For most schools it is necessary to be TEFL certified  (TEFL--Teaching English as a Foreign Language). In addition to TEFL, a university, or in some cases a post-graduate, degree may be required to qualify for employment. The greater your qualifications, the more benefits and the higher salary you are likely to receive. Most schools will provide insurance benefits and assistance with living accommodations. These institutions can also offer assistance with residence permits and legal restrictions that may be present within the country where you will be working. 

2 - Work for yourself

Although you may be able to earn more money, working as a private tutor does have its disadvantages.  You will have to find your own clients, fund your own marketing and advertising campaigns, and independently try to establish residency and obtain work permits.  If you are looking to supplement your income while studying abroad or only planning on living in a country for a short while, teaching English individually may be a viable option.  However, if you are looking for a permanent secure source of employment a school may be your best bet.

§         The Corporate Route

There are many employment opportunities available in multinational companies, who tend to establish their headquarters in major European cities and capitals. You should try to contact the British Chamber of Commerce in the country where you would like to live and ask for a listing of British companies with offices in that country. You can then send a covering letter to those you think might be interesting. Also, many companies with international branches maintain employment sections as well as online applications on their websites.

The following website, set up by the Department of Work and Pensions, offers advice on beginning your job hunt and allows you to search for jobs in all kinds of sectors across the UK and Europe: www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk
 

§         The Non-Profit Option

If you're not interested in working for the private sector, there are lots of opportunities in the not-for-profit, non-governmental organisation (NGO) field. International organisations such as Amnesty International, WWF, Human Rights Watch, Greenpeace and other NGO's are always looking for young people with varied skills-from lawyers to engineers to human resources people; anything is possible. Again, most of these organisations will have websites with employment information and announcements.