Europe — your next career destination

I have had a few people reach out to me on LinkedIn lately with the same question: “How’d you do it?” And I thought I’d put my thoughts down in an organized way so that it may be helpful to those who asked me this question, and others like them.

I have been living and working in Europe for the past 3 years. I don’t have that “I’ve made it” feeling, yet. I’m still settling down in more ways than one. But I do feel good about where life has taken me over the years. It’s not been easy, and things certainly just didn’t happen to me. Okay, that was a very grandpa thing to say, but you get the idea.

All you dreamers out there looking to break into the European job market, especially my fellow country people, this one’s for you. Read on.

Do your research

Anything life-changing as a move to another continent, deserves thorough research. I mean dedicated notebooks, sticky notes, different colored highlighters, flash cards and all.

And after your trip to the stationery store, sit yourself down with a cup of your favorite beverage and ask yourself one question: “Why?”

The answer to this question will be your guiding star on your quest. You need to know what your end goal is, be it savings, a better life for yourself or your children, better opportunities, or whatever. It’ll also determine where you end up moving to, and the pros and cons surrounding that decision.

Once you have the why, then start with the ‘what’. Do some generic market research on the scope for your current role. Find out if you need to learn any new skills before you’ll be job-ready. Looking to switch careers? Find out which transferrable skills you can leverage.

Zoom in

Now that you’ve done your basic research, it’s time to narrow your search. Based on your purpose and requirements, start by first narrowing down a few cities you’d like to target.

Again,this mean doing more research, because Europe is vast and there are plenty of cities that are bustling tech hubs, from Lisbon and Madrid all the way to Helsinki and Tallinn.

Consider your reason for moving, the weather (very important), cost of living, amenities, demographics, etc, when you pick your choice of cities. Remember that you’re not just looking for your next job, but also your home for the foreseeable future.

Find out salary ranges for your role in various locations. Do the math to see how it stacks up against the taxes and monthly expenses like rent, food and recreation. Taxes are quite high in most places in Europe. There are also some countries that offer expats tax breaks. Find out how much you’ll be able to save, if that’s your goal. Look into all of this before you decide on a place or two.

Ready your resume

Once you’ve decided on the cities you’d like to live in, it’s time to go to work. Start with readying your resume. Remember that resume is a short document and a curriculum vitae is a lengthy one. And since most companies ask for resumes these days, keep it short. If it doesn’t fit in one sheet of paper, it’s not short enough.

Also, it’s good to note that most companies here use automated Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to receive, process, and screen candidates. So make sure your resume is very basic (yes, you read that right) because ATSs can’t process fancy designs and layouts and will most likely end up adding you to the reject pile. Make sure your work experience and contact details are accurate, and that you’ve mentioned the keywords that pertain to your profession and aspiring job role in your resume. But make it organic. Don’t stuff the keywords in there for the sake of it. You may get past the ATS only to be rejected by the recruiter.

Time to use that stationery

Once you have a resume you’re satisfied with, the real legwork begins. Scour the internet for companies that are located and/or hiring for your roles in the location(s) that you want to live in. Pore over their career pages and short list openings that you’d be a great fit for.

Set up search agents on LinkedIn and other job portals for the role you want in the location(s) or region(s) you want. Go over each search result carefully, and short list the ones you like.

Be realistic and more importantly, be honest with yourself about the kind of roles you shortlist. Be sure that you check off at least 80% of the boxes required for the job. There’s no point having five years of experience, for example, and applying for a Director level position.

Pay attention to what’s said in the job post, especially regarding relocation and visa sponsorship. Most job posts are very clear about whether this is possible or not. If the company says they can’t sponsor visas, don’t apply. You’re only guaranteeing yourself a rejection, nothing more.

This job hunt will feel like a crap shoot in the dark as it is. You don’t need to blindfold yourself too.

And note down and track every application you send out. You’ll be sending out a lot of them. You can’t trust your memory to keep track of them all. Use that stationery you bought and be systematic about this whole process. It will save you a lot of anxiety.

Network, network, network

That’s just it! You never know which connection will lead the way to your next job in Europe.

But be smart about it. When you network, you need to make sure you’re building meaningful connections and possible professional relationships. Network with people in similar positions as you are, people who are in a hiring capacity, people who’ve been through what you’re going through, and people you aspire to become.

Boost your presence on professional platforms like LinkedIn. Make yourself visible by participating in discussions and meaningful debates on topics that are close to your heart. Use this as an opportunity to further your network by connecting with other likeminded folks. Share your thoughts and knowledge about topics and skills you’re most comfortable with, and those that will help you land your next job. Write about the stuff you like to work on, your past challenges and learnings, and so on.

As a wise man I know once said, use these platforms as your professional journals and document your journey.

Keep it upbeat

This process is not a sprint, it’s a marathon. You may land a job with the first interview you attend, or you may not land one even after a hundred. But that’s just how it is. Use every interview as a learning opportunity and identify what went wrong, what you could improve, and constantly work on those aspects.

Be mentally prepared for rejections, learn not to take them to heart, and train your mind to play the waiting game. Understand that job interviews are two-way streets, and be willing to ask questions and think critically about you in that company you’re interviewing with. Keep an eye out for red flags and don’t let yourself get swept away by the moment or your desperation.

In the meantime, don’t bring your life to a halt around this process. Keep everything running smoothly, go to work, go to the movies, play with your kids, take vacations, eat, sleep, fight, work out, and overall take care of yourself and keep things normal.

In conclusion, do your research, prepare a solid resume, network constructively, be systematic in your approach, and be patient while maintaining the status quo until you land the job.

Be smart about the whole thing. I have probably not mentioned anything here that you didn’t already know. It’s about applying these to your everyday process and making the best out of it.

There are also a bunch of other regular job hunt related tricks to keep in mind like having a specific cover letter, being eager and proactive, and all that jazz. But I’m assuming you’ve got all that covered already.

Good luck with your search and feel free to reach out to me if you want to discuss any specifics. Toodles!