Job Discussion Forums

[aspenanders]

Hi.
I'm a 27 year old American female with a BA and an MS as well as two years experience teaching/tutoring ESL students at a public university here in the U.S.

What are the odds that I can get a job teaching in Europe?

I know American=disaster for these sorts of positions, but I guess I need to hear it on a message board from strangers. Thanks!

[acwilliams]

aspenanders wrote:

[denise]

It's not impossible, just really really difficult. My understanding is that EU countries can hire you if they want to, like if you've got a specific skill that they want and they can prove that there are no EU candidates with similar skills, but when given a choice, they choose EU candidates just because there's much less paperwork.

Does this sound more or less correct, folks?

d

[spiral78]

Denise, not quite true. For example, when I was living legally in the Netherlands, thanks to my spouse's job, the local university made a case on my behalf in Den Hague. The case was based on two arguments: that no one else suitable had applied for the position within 18 months, and statistics indicating that the students needed/wanted at least one North American on staff. Case denied.
I ultimately did get a work permit, but only because my spouse's big international company worked a deal with the government to cover all non-EU spouses of its employees. Big business wins again!

The laws are obviously different in every country. Even in a country where an employer may make a successful case fro a non-EU member worker, it's still extremely rare for North Americans to actually be approved. This is because there are highly-qualified U.K. citizens competing for positions in most of the 'desirable' locations. Very few employers are going to simply want this specific North American enough to take the time and trouble when there are qualified (through MA and Phd level) teachers available - and there are, 95% of the time.

O.P., you might look into Belgium or Germany. It's still possible to get work permits for those countries (or was a couple of years ago). However, the economies of both countries are pretty rocky and you 'wouldn't reasonably be able to expect to make much more than subsistance living (subsistance meaining living all right in the country, but not much for saving/extensive travel/payment of debts). Ditto for Central/Eastern Europe. However, if it's the experience you want, go for it - in terms of daily life, it's a fantastic step. And if you are very good and very lucky, you may with time make the contacts needed to become one of the 5% lucky ones who get established in Europe.

[aspenanders]

I would love to take a crack at being one of the 5%, but where do you start? Belgium and Germany would both work for me, but how do I get a work permit? Hunt down a job and hope they see me as valuable enough to challenge the gov't on my behalf? Any ideas you have would be helpful!

As for mining my relatives for EU connections, the best I can do so far is a great-great-grandfather born in Germany. Which seems tenuous at best, but is that worth a dig for EU status?

[stillnosheep]

Presumably spiral78's 5% figure refers to US citizens already in Europe trying to get permission to work, not to those who would like to come to Europe and do so. The vast majority of those EFL teachers in that 5% qualify by reason of marriage, like spiral. As so many EU EFL teachers possess an MSc plus experience the 'special skills unavailable in any locally qualified candidate' argument doesn't apply.

Claiming German citizenship is possible if you have documentary proof of German ancestry, plenty of time - you cannot legally work while your claim is being investigated - money and patience. You will, of course have to renounce your US citizenship to do so, unless there has been a recent US govt policy change.

Far simpler would be to marry an EU citizen or resident or look for work somewhere where there isn't a glut of locally qualified (and overqualified)candidates.

[stillnosheep]

...undRudolftherednosedreindeer.

It is not a question of (EU work-permit) status, but of citizenship.

There is no half way house and non EU citizens of German ancestry are in the same (mixed-)metaphorical boat as everybody else regarding work permit elegibility, as far as I know.

The eternal truth that all German blood forever flows as part of the great German Volk was often on the lips of West German politicians of a more, ahem, German persuasion after WWII, and the inalienable right of all those of distant but provable, German descent to (West) German citizenship was a convenient propoganda for the ruling Christian Democrats during the Cold War.

As soon as Eastern Europe called their bluff and started opening their borders the West German right proved remarkably unprincipled regarding the principle and were soon falling over themselves and each other to backpedfal furiously just as fast as their little piggy legs would carry them.

Full steam astern and don't spare the horses; so to speak.

For up to date information regarding this week's interpretation of the eternal truths try German Government or Embassy websites.

[Cdaniels]

From what I've heard second-hand from US citizens who have sought Irish citizenship, is that you don't have to renounce your US citizenship. If one is born with foreign citizenship though, he /she must renounce previous citizenship in order to gain US citizenship. Irish citizens coming from Ireland cannot get dual citizenship, but US citizens of Irish ancestry can. This is obviously unfair, but US law regarding immigration is no more rational or sensible than Germany's. I do not know what happens if a single Irish citizen immigrates to the US, becomes a citzen, then marries an Irish citizen!