How to Find Jobs in Europe for Americans

Overview

• How to find your dream job in Europe
• Find work either before you leave or after you land in Europe
• Different EU countries have different requirements for foreign workers
• Popular jobs for Americans looking for a new home

Many Americans are attracted to living and working in Europe. They want to experience its culture, history, vibrant urban centers, and landscapes celebrated in famous paintings. They also want to seek employment in countries with a high standard of living. An estimated 800,000 U.S. citizens already call Europe their home.

Despite a strong interest in working abroad and the fact that many Americans already live in the European Union (EU) and non-EU countries, it’s not an easy matter to land work there. You often need to prove that the work you’ll do can’t be handled by another citizen of the country.

It helps if you are one of the many expats who already have full-time, part-time, or contract work experience in the country you’re targeting, and can speak the local language. Or, you can fill the demand that many countries have for highly skilled workers in certain fields, such as engineering, information technology, health care, and teaching — especially English-language teaching. At the other end of the scale, many European countries need short-term, seasonal work in industries that include agriculture, construction, hospitality, and tourism.

If you want to get a job in Europe — whether in France, Germany, Spain, Italy, the Netherlands, or another country — this article will show how you should go about looking for and applying for work.

When looking for work in Europe, you’ll need to check the requirements for each country you’re interested in. If you are in the United States and land a job in Europe, that’s not a done deal. Your employment contract must still be approved by the host country, who will determine if you’re the best candidate for a job or whether a local candidate could do it instead — in which case your work application could be denied.

That said, Americans can actually land in an EU country and start looking for work after, if they don’t want to find a job before traveling there. With a Schengen visa, an American can travel among 26 of the 28 EU countries (except Ireland) but it doesn’t automatically give you the right to work there.

On arrival in a country, you could apply for an EU Blue Card — similar to a green card — facilitating the admission of highly skilled professionals into the EU. The work permit enables its holder to enter, re-enter, and stay in the country that has issued it, accompanied by their family.

As mentioned, you’ll need to check the work visa requirements of a country before you fill out an application. Keep in mind that non-EU countries may have different requirements.

That said, some common requirements include:

• A completed application form and one photocopy
• Two identical photos of the applicant
• A valid passport
• A return flight reservation to the United States
• Medical insurance
• Accommodation proof
• An employment contract
• Proof of academic qualifications
• Proof of language knowledge

However, don’t forget each country’s particular requirements. For example, if you stay more than three months in Germany because of work, you’ll require a residence visa. You must also have two pages empty in your passport, and it’ll need to have been issued within the last 10 years.

For a residence permit, you’ll have to complete the application form, supply two recent passport photographs, provide proof of health insurance, evidence of financial support, the employer contract, and a police registration form. And while learning German isn’t mandatory, your job prospects and quality of life will improve if you overcome the language barrier.

Some common opportunities for American citizens working in Europe include:

• English teachers. Teaching the English language has been a perennial favorite for visiting Americans. While being a native English-language speaker is important, you’ll also need qualifications, including a Teaching English as a Second or Foreign Language (TEFL) or Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults (CELTA) certification, as well as a college degree.

• Customer service. While European countries speak a wide variety of languages, there’s still great demand for customer service agents and assistants who speak fluent English and are familiar with American culture and preferences. They may make reservations and dispense information in call centers or do so in person at a hotel or resort.

• Health care. Like other countries around the world, Europe needs medical professionals, especially since it has an aging population. After more than 50,000 healthcare workers in Europe perished as a result of COVID-19, and with a wave of older doctors planning to retire in the next decade, Health Policy Watch has taken to calling this fast-approaching shortage of medical experts a 'ticking time bomb.'

• IT services. IT services are in strong demand in European countries, especially since many IT service providers and software developers have a major presence there. Since many software languages are based on English commands and originated in the American market, qualified U.S. coders and IT technicians are needed.

• Au pair. Many families across Europe want their kids raised bilingually. Thus, there’s a demand for au pair help from native English speakers, taking care of children and helping with other domestic tasks.

• Hospitality. While this industry experienced a jolt due to COVID-19, in Europe, hotels have seen a sharp rebound. This research report found that chain hotel brands like Best Western and French multinational hospitality company Accor have their sights on developing over 500 new hotels across Europe in the coming years — which means a growing need for front desk jobs and varied hotel jobs, both on location and in the office. The need for travel agents is also projected to grow.

• Translator. The EU is made up of 27 autonomous countries that are unified both politically and economically. It's no surprise then that the EU has 24 official languages: Bulgarian, Croatian, Czech, Danish, Dutch, English, Estonian, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Hungarian, Irish, Italian, Latvian, Lithuanian, Maltese, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Slovak, Slovenian, Spanish, and Swedish. This melting pot needs to communicate with each other effectively for business and political purposes, which means there is a high demand for translators knowledgeable in two or more of these languages.

• Software Engineer. In job markets like the U.S. and Europe, software engineers are in high demand. Skill shortages led the European Commission — or the EU's governing body — to predict a steep dropoff in available software developers as far back as 2014. Though they were off by about 500,000 jobs, the need for software engineers and developers has never been higher. With the Nordic countries (Finland, Denmark, Norway, and Sweden), Germany, and the Netherlands being perennially innovative European nations, the job outlook is particularly strong for this sector.

• Web Developer. Like software engineers, the demand for web developers is practically universal. English might not always be preferred though, so you might have to look for companies whose default language is English or who have multinational employees.

Europe is also open to young entrepreneurs who have bright ideas for new businesses or can inject fresh thinking — and capital — into existing enterprises. You usually don’t need a job offer to work in this capacity, just demonstrable professional expertise and the necessary funds to get started.

Most European countries have programs to encourage self-starters who are living abroad. For example, finding a job in Germany is made easier with programs for self-employed professionals who are expected to have a positive effect on the economy.

There are a variety of ways for Americans to find jobs in Europe, whether through personal connections via online job boards and social media platforms, or by joining an American company with European connections.

Searching for jobs in Europe is much like searching for jobs in the U.S. — most applications are made online via job websites. There are a number of international and European-centric job-hunting sites to help find the type of work you’re looking for. You also have many country-specific and profession-specific job boards and websites you can use, allowing you to upload your resume and search for different job opportunities. If you want to do a particular job in a particular city, you can dig deeper to find the job-hunting help you need.

Just as you use LinkedIn to find jobs in America, you can also work with the networking platform to land European work to make valuable connections. You can set your job searches to return to the type of work you want in particular countries. You might even already have links to European businesses through your existing LinkedIn connections and groups.

If you find a company or organization you want to work for, LinkedIn is a great place to start your research on them. You should keep your profile up to date and include experience that’s relevant to the kind of role you’re applying for.

Just like the United States, LinkedIn is the preferred social media platform in Europe for companies to find candidates. But other social media platforms are also important and worth exploring if you are looking for a job overseas. For example, XING is a popular job marketplace used in Germany, while Viadeo — whose members include business owners, entrepreneurs, and managers — does well against LinkedIn in France.

Another way to find jobs in Europe is to leverage the six degrees of separation phenomenon, which posits that all people are six, or fewer, social connections away from each other. Turn to your family members, friends, and colleagues to see who has any connections overseas. Perhaps through a friend of a friend, you can find the right connection to land some work in Europe or get good advice on how to do so.

Another way to get to Europe from the U.S. is to work for an international company with American branches, then arrange for a transfer overseas. Alternatively, you can work with a company that does a lot of business in Europe, perhaps getting posted there to do work on the ground or being asked to fly there often for meetings and consultations.

Since you don’t have to have a job lined up when you arrive in most EU countries, you can try to set up meetings with employers that interest you while you are there. An in-person meeting is a great way for the two of you to size each other up in a way you can’t do virtually. You can also go to different European job fairs — both in-person and online — bringing together job seekers and employers, with a lot of advice available on how to find work.

If you're looking to move to a European country, just know you're not alone. International migration is far from an isolated phenomenon, with the percentage of worldwide migrants steadily climbing since 2000. Nor is it a modern occurrence. Since time immemorial, human beings have migrated to different parts of the globe, which is why communities can be found all over the world.

If widespread migration built nations in the past, today it's at the very heart of modern life. Thanks to globalization and untold opportunities, in 2015, there were 244 million documented people living in a country other than the one where they were born, according to the UN. And that number has surely increased in the succeeding years.

However, with the rise of American expatriates comes both pros and cons when considering a position in Europe.

• Personal Growth. It's no surprise that moving to a new place will push you out of your comfort zone. That feeling is only increased the farther afield you go — especially to a place that doesn't speak your mother tongue. But the benefits of being exposed to a new culture, customs, and people are invaluable.

• New Start. Sometimes in life, we're placed at a crossroads. There is usually one path always available to us. You know the one: it feels imminently safe and familiar, but dull. The other is teeming with opportunities, but it's intimidating in nature due to its opaqueness. If you've hit your ceiling at work or in your personal life — or need to stretch your wings — Europe is a safe bet. Most people will choose the first path, and that's okay. Just know that you don't have to.

• Financial and Career Opportunities. For individuals who are working for a multinational company and are angling to be placed overseas, there's a good chance that your company values you as a worker. Not only could you see your pay increase, but the opportunities made available to you by moving could exponentially increase as well.

• Culture Shock. On the other hand, leaving behind your social network could lead to disastrous results. Without friends and family as an anchor, you could find yourself in social isolation at the beginning of your stay as you slowly assimilate into the new culture.

• Poor Fit. There is also the chance that, try as you might, you never fall in love with the new culture or social norms of this new country. To avoid this happening, make sure to do your research and even travel there ahead of time (if you can) before making any hasty decisions. Sometimes, even the best geography, promotions, and cuisine simply can't bridge the gap, and the problem comes down to personal chemistry with the aforementioned country and people.

With 27 different countries to choose from in the EU, you have a nice list of perspective landing places. Some are better than others depending on what you're looking for, be it industry, job outlook, specific companies, and a host of other factors. We've made a list of the top countries in Europe for American workers below.

The economic powerhouse of the EU, Germany is held in high esteem for being an industrious nation. Four sectors, in particular, dominate the country's industry: automotive, mechanical engineering, chemical, and electrical. The household names include the likes of automotive giants Volkswagen, Daimler, and BMW; chemical giant BASF; and Siemens. It's estimated that about half the population speaks English.

Germans, taken on the whole, tend to be highly punctual, very private, and well-mannered, though they do have a fondness for beer and sausages.

Spain is a beautiful coastal country with sandy shoreline that runs along the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean as well as its fair share of mountainous regions, fertile land, and majestic architecture. Similarly, its main economic sectors are also varied. Its biggest industries include automotive production, medical technology, chemicals, shipbuilding, tourism, and textiles. The Santander Group, a multinational financial services company, is headquartered in Spain, as is Telefónica.

While some businesses and stores close in the early afternoon so employees can go home to eat and rest, most working-age people don't take siestas. People do speak English in Spain; however, the proficiency level and the number of people who speak the language are limited, so you would most likely have to pick up Spanish to live here full-time.

In Italy, many small- to medium-sized businesses have been owned by families for generations. However, outside of these smaller boutiques, the country's major industries are predominately tourism, motor vehicles, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, electrical goods, textiles, and fashion. Its top companies include household names like Ferrari, Eni (an energy conglomerate based in Rome), and Enel (a multinational manufacturer and distributor of electricity and gas).

The two mainstays of Italian culture are family and food. Italians are generally hardworking and people-oriented, making it easy to get along with them if you are friendly and have a conscientious mentality. It's estimated that under half of all Italians speak English, but as long as you live in an urban environment you should be fine.

Besides being one of the top producers of world-class wine, France's major industries are energy, retail, technology, agriculture, and tourism. It's estimated that only a small fraction of the country speaks English, so you would most likely need to take some French lessons before moving there. If you do, however, you'll be treated to a culture that savors meals and has a deep appreciation for fine dining, formal dress, and intellectually stimulating conversation. While French people value good etiquette, a sizeable percentage of the population still smokes cigarettes.

Three of the most prominent companies in France include multinational conglomerates Carrefour (retail), Axa (insurance), and TotalEnergies (energy).

Portugal is known for major industries that span textiles, clothing, paper, chemicals, and footwear. The country's modern-day titans of industry include Jerónimo Martins (food distribution and specialized retail), Energias de Portugal (utilities), and Sonae (retail, financial services, technology, shopping centers, telecommunications). It's estimated that somewhere between a quarter and a third of the populace speaks English, which means it's not imperative to learn Portuguese.

Portuguese people are generally considered welcoming, easy-going, and friendly. Their society is largely open-minded, but they do tend to place greater importance on religious values than other western European nations. In Portuguese culture, the strength and nature of relationships are considered more important than being punctual.

The Dutch have built a well-functioning society that is the envy of many first-world countries. Dutch citizens enjoy a thriving economy, great child and healthcare, a stellar education system, and green cities that strive to cut down on harmful emissions caused by car transportation with lifestyles that revolve around biking.

The Netherlands' top businesses include household names such as ING (banking and financial services), Unilever (food and detergents), and Heineken (beer). The biggest sectors in their economy are agriculture, energy, chemicals, metallurgy, and tourism. Over 90% of Dutch people speak English, making this country an ideal place to live and work in.

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