Job Discussion Forums

[naturegirl321]

I've read the job information journal and the posts here on the forum and it all seems so negative about jobs for people without EU citizenship. Is it really that difficult to find a job if someone has experience and qualifications?
Or is Italy a lost cause along with France, Switzerland and Spain for people without EU citizenship?

[rogan]

naturegirl
- the answer to your 2 questions are YES and YES

[naturegirl321]

Where in Europe can non-EU citizens work?

[Guest]

I'm afraid the clue is in the question.

You will have a better chance in the European countries that are not in the EU.

[scot47]

Or you can risk working as a "wetback". I must admit when I see the swarms of illegals making a precarious living selling trinkets and perfume on the pavement, I think they are not so far removed from the illegal EFL teachers.

[rogan]

Take the 15 EU member countries - now forget them !

Take the 10 EU candidate countries - now forget them too !

Now take what's left and consider those. You might be able to find a job in one of those.

Hope that helps

[shirley]

There are a lot of negative comments on non-EU citizens working in Europe but I have not found this to be the case in working at universities and state schools. I have worked with plenty of non-EU citizens. My first uni job in Italy was as an American who just walked in and asked for a job. I was in luck. You must have at least a BA, better with an MA and simple with a PHD. Any of the universities will provide the work visa for qualified applicants in Germany, France and Italy. I'm not sure about the others as I have had no personal experience. Without a BA I think the negative comments are warrented. In most cases, but not all, you will need to be able to read the language to find the positions and apply for them. Check with each individual school. There are currently 3 university positions open in my city for mother tongue experts with at least 5 years of university. Citizenship does not matter.

[jud]

Actually, at least up until 2 years ago, teaching in Germany was relatively easy for Americans, Australians, and Canadians. All you needed was a letter from your employer indicating their intention to give you a certain number of hours (and therefore a certain amount of salary) and you could get a permit to stay.

Maybe this has changed, but I'd be surprised.

Italy (where I am) is next to impossible without an EU passport.

[LAgirl]

I'm not sure how helpful this is regarding working in Europe but this is my experience and maybe someone else will benefit as I have.

Because so many immigrants came from Europe in the 1800-1900's many European countries are now offering dual citizenship through parents, grandparents and in my case the great grandparents line who settled in America.

I have wanted to go and teach in Europe for SO long but knew that it was very difficult and hard to obtain Visas etc etc.

Only after stumbling upon it, did I realize that I am able to obtain dual citizenship through my great grandfather who was born in Italy. It does take time - getting all the birth, death and marriage licenses, apostilles and translations but it is worth it. You also have to make sure the Naturalization took place at the right time and that the country is offering it - but many are.

I have met with the Italian Consulate in Los Angeles and am now about to have my Italian passport and dual citizenship able to travel and stay anywhere in Europe.
I know each situation varies - but if you are like most Americans - with immigrants in the family tree - it is worth looking into.
I am SO VERY grateful.
My one and only obstacle gone.

Good luck...and I hope this helps someone in a similiar situation.

LAgirl

[Albulbul]

Great-grandfather !

Wow, that IS a generous citizenship law.

Note that the laws are different in different EU member states.

[daily chai]

Note that people may be motivated to downplay the availability of work to reduce competition. I'm not saying this has happened, but it is a possible factor.

However, the information reported for non-EU citizens is optimistic but not recent. Note the economies in this part of the world are not strong nor hiring a lot of people. I find it hard to imagine with local competition for work it would be easy to find a job in the current scene: you have to get permission to work, that permission relies on "proving" in one way or another that no EU person is similarly qualified/available (note this regulation is sometimes very lax, and other times/places really enforced), and no outsider will come with as many contacts as the local competition. They may also have better language skillls for the area, which is an obstacle. If any non-EU person wanted to work there, only come with money set aside and with an exit plan if things don't work out. If you don't have either, Korea is a wise choice--your expenses will be paid and your nationality is not critical as long as you have a passport from an English-speaking country and a bachelor's degree.

My fiance (almost husband) is from the EU and he wants to stay in Taiwan because the job market is so bleak.