6 Steps to Starting a Professional Career Abroad

Moving from student life to professional life abroad can be daunting. Moreover, applying for a job is often a challenging and time-consuming adventure! In order to make the transition smoother, 6 steps are listed below with useful ’hints & tips’ that you may want to consider before moving to another country. Please click on each item and consult the relevant page.

Hints & tips ...

• I. FINDING INFORMATION ON JOBS ABROAD
• II. PRACTICAL AND LEGAL ASPECTS OF MOBILITY
• III. APPLYING FOR A JOB ABROAD
• IV. THE SELECTION TESTS AND THE INTERVIEW
• V. MOVING ABROAD
• VI. SETTLING IN A NEW COUNTRY

For further information and opportunities to help you manage the transition from student life to professional life abroad, please consult other websites by clicking on "Information and jobs for graduates" in "Related Links".

Last but not least: more than 800 EURES advisers are ready to advise and assist you on all matters related to the European job market. Start by contacting a EURES Adviser in your country of residence. You can find contact details of EURES Advisers by clicking on "Contact a EURES Adviser".

Source EURES

Working and Living in EU

This is a very useful site for finding information concerning Working and Living in EU.

Moving across Europe for work... Do I need a work permit?

Unfortunately, not all EU citizens have the same labor rights when working in another EU country. Citizens of new member states of European Union do not have the same labor rights as citizens from older member states. In order to check which rules apply in your case you can use this website. 

Select the country you want to work at and then the country you are from.

The website will give you the information you need in order to prepare your paperwork

Paperwork... Motivation Letter

Of course your CV should be accompanied with a Motivation Letter aka Cover Letter or Statement of Purpose. While CV can be always the same when it is sent or attached to a job application, the motivation letter should be different each time.

Why is that? Well, the motivation letter is the letter in which you are explaining to your future employer why you have applied for the job he posted.

Believe me, people are reading it!

When writing the motivation letter, try to answer two things:

-         why do you want the job

-         why should they hire you

Here you can find some great examples and instructions.

http://www.trincoll.edu/depts/career/guides/cover_ltr.shtml

http://web.mit.edu/career/www/guide/coverletters.pdf

http://web.mit.edu/career/www/students/workbook.pdf

Paperwork... Curriculum Vitae

The CV (Curriculum Vitae) of a person can speak by itself to the employer or the recruiter.

A professional looking CV would give higher success rate to a person, compared to a CV made with a sloppy way. You would do the same, if you would be the employer.

Once you finish it, give it to a few people for evaluation. Consider their feedback and correct your CV if it’s necessary.

Europass - CV Template in various languages

Europass - Instructions of filling in your CV

Europass - Examples of completed CV’s