Getting an IT Job in Europe as an American

IvanHo asks: "I'm looking for success stories, hints, tips and tricks from any Slashdot readers with U.S. citizenship that have managed to find gainful employment in Europe. For various reasons, my wife and I would like to spend a couple years working in Europe -- preferably Southern Europe. For the last couple months, I have been applying for IT positions there with no luck. Although, my wife grew up in Rome and her family is there now, she is a U.S. citizen, so that well trodden route to a work permit is unavailable. Any advice? I'm trying to avoid incorporating and transferring myself if possible."

"My resume is fairly strong and I've had a couple companies express interest until they realized that I would require sponsorship to work in the EU. Given the number of H1 folks I work with day in and day out, I'm starting to wonder if it isn't harder to get a visa to work in Europe than it is here. I've noticed that even American companies are posting prior right to work in a country as a prerequisite for employment. Language is a possible problem, but I do know a couple European languages beyond English -- Portuguese and French."

Been There, Done That

[Ed Almos]

I've been living and working in Europe for about nine years now, and it's probably one of the best moves I've ever made.

You WILL need a work permit and sponsorship from an employer, but this is a lot easier than an H1B.

You WILL need to make this a 100% commitment and start living like a European rather than an American abroad. Above all realize that the world does not revolve around the United States and not everyone speaks English.

In return you'll get a more relaxed lifestyle, better living conditions and a better public transport system.

Ed Almos
Budapest, Hungary

Re:Been There, Done That

[Naikrovek]

When I moved to Australia - a very Americanized nation really, not like europe at all, i learned the hard way about how americans were viewed abroad, and quickly after that I learned that the american way really isn't the only way or even the best way. i'm MUCH better off for it.

I highly recommend to anyone who reads this that they live out of the US for at least a few years. you will be enlightened beyond belief. you will be called a steenking liberal for the rest of your life, but you'll realize that 'liberal' is actually a very good thing. once i was removed from the biased US media it became extremely obvious what the correct US political choice was.

Did It in NL

[citmanual]

After college, I picked up with a Dutch software firm and went over. The connection was made by a history prof of mine who knew the HR director. It was a funny situation, but it worked out well.

It was the best thing I ever did. However, I found that switching jobs was damn near impossible due to language and permit issues. I worked for an international firm that worked in English and, as a result, had decent conversational Dutch, but poor technical Dutch.

I recommend you look into your wife regaining citizenship in Italy. If for no other reason that the US allows dual citizenships and your kids will probably thank you for it.

That also means you have a lot easier time of finding work over there.

Europe is not a country

[rjw57]

It's best not to think of Europe as a country. Remember 'southern Europe' is actually a collection of different countries with vastly different cultures, laws and, in most cases, languages. It would be better to say 'I want to work in Italy, Spain, Portugal, Southern France, Hungary, Romania, Greece, etc', all of which could be viewed by some people as 'southern Europe' and all of which have different cultures and laws.

The reality is that you will be hard-pressed to find employment anywhere in Europe unless you can demonstrate a real reason for them to have you over many other people from their own company (non multi-nationals are unlikely to have appropriate tax expertise for example). Your best bet would be to find some country which has limited local talent but is developping rapidly, some of the East-Europe countries for example, but in all cases look into the particular country in question.

The rampant anti-Americanism in Europe at the moment might be a problem too.

Re:I did this, but not in Europe.

[itwerx]

My understanding is that the US will not tolerate you becoming a dual-citizen

Two points:

1 - when that was the case it was easy enough to get around by simply not renouncing it (they couldn't legally force you to)

2 - as of 4 or 5 years ago they realised how stupid it was to have an un-enforceable law and got rid of it completely

Re:Europe is not a country

[guile*fr]

The rampant anti-Americanism in Europe at the moment might be a problem too.
yeah, like every day NBC is reporting burning Mac Donalds & mass destruction of Britney Spears CDs.

Re:I did this, but not in Europe.

[MemRaven]

As someone else pointed out, there were so many people that were just ignoring the law, and according to my lawyer brother it's virtually impossible (read: takes an act of congress) to take your citizenship away from you against your will if you're born in the US, so they changed the law.

So now you're in the clear as long as you don't make an implicit act of citizenship. My attorney in the US (I'm a US citizen living in London and plan on getting citizenship here eventually) as well as that of my boyfriend (who's dual US-UK national) says that as long as you pay your US income taxes (or file the "I don't owe you anything" form every year), and always enter the US using a US passport (they're really strict on that, it's hit my boyfriend before) you're in the clear, but it can be tricky there.

Re:I did this, but not in Europe.

[metachilly]

My mother was born in Italy and I'm in the process of getting an Italian passport. The law has been changed. You can have dual citizenship with most EU countries -- this has been changed within the last 20 years.

Be aware that very few countries in the world do not have such a permissive attitude towards civil and miliary service as the US does -- most places have some sort of mandatory service, so make sure that you don't qualify. Otherwise you may find that your move to Europe lands you working with the couriers at La Posta.

Re:That may no longer be the case.

[dunkelfalke]

bullshit.
after 8 years of living in germany you can apply for a sitizenship.

got mine that way.

also people born here can obtain german sitizenship.

Be prepared for Bush bashing

[Inexile2002]

Seriously. I forgot. I have a couple of Republican friends here and their number one complaint about Spain is that everyone just assumes that you're going to be ashamed of Bush and you'll want to join along in the Bush bashing. If you're the type who'll defend Bush, or one of those My Country Right or Wrong types, be prepared for long awkward pauses in conversation, outright hostility or people looking at you like you're a cretin. Europeans don't hate Americans. Seriously. But they hate Bush with the white-hot burning intensity of ten thousand suns. Either join in in the effigy burning, or learn to stay away from political conversations.

I wish were kidding here. Mod me as Flamebait if you want, but I'm here on the ground and I'm calling it like I see it.

Buying stuff in Europe?

[Burb]

This might be true for the developing eastern European nations with relatively weak currencies, but less so in the West. Prices are pretty high in the Northern European countries as anyone who buys clothes in Britain or a beer in Sweden will attest.

I'm a Brit who visits USA quite often (holidays, every couple of years) and we always buy lots of stuff there..

And that's so *before* you take into account the US exchange rate issue. Mind you, if you get paid in Euros or Pounds sterling you might do well if the dollar drops again... or not.

Re:Welcome to...

[Anonymous Coward]

Sorry, but it seems that you only got to the places designed for paella-hungry tourists.
Being a native spaniard myself(currently studying in Sweden), i haven't even been able to taste all the different specialties from the different places.

Food from the South is completely different from that of the North, and from Eastern, or North-Eastern, or North-Western, or Central, or Western! Different basic ingredients, ways of cooking, different philosphies of life.

Sorry, sir, but you don't know enough about what you're talking about.
It is exactly the same as if i deemed Italian food is low quality and boring because all i usually see my italian friends eating is some variation of pasta or pizza.

BTW, spanish olive oil is allegedly the best in the world (specifically the one produced in the Jaén or Baena-Luque regions). Most "italian oil" exported to the US or elsewhere is actually spanish, only bottled and 'branded' in Italy.

EU job-hunting in a Nutshell (not for dummies)

[Anonymous Coward]

(Little background note: I am a United States citizen, and have had two successful job interviews in Germany. It was not easy for me.)

Unfortunately, "green cards" are not easy for non-EU citizens to obtain. However, there are options for you.

One way to find work in Europe is to transfer within a company you already work for. But, if you worked for such a company you'd already know that... so, I will spare you the details.

Here are some tips for finding work in Europe. My experience is as a US citizen getting hired in Germany, but I think it will apply to a number of situations... grain-of-salt disclaimer over:

1. Don't expect it to be easy. "Old Europe" has got a lot of good talent. Why should they hire you? Remember that you will be more expensive for them to hire than a local every step of the way. You need to give them a reason to invest in you.

2. If your language skills are poor, write in English. Explain that you are working on it (and you had /better be/!), but don't try to apply entirely in the language of the country you're wanting to move to if you don't have a strong command of the language spoken there. You will sound like a dumbass, even when the person reading it understands that you're just learning, not everyone will be so understanding. Having said that, I again stress that you had better be making a TON of real effort to learn-- it's good for you, puts hair on your chest, etc..

3. Get your ass over to where you want to be hired. Get in contact with a few companies, and tell them when you will be in their neck of the woods. Drop by in person-- you are not on vacation, you are looking for a job. While not technically legal, this works. It is much harder to ignore a person than a piece of paper. Never pester, but do have a relentless inward attitude.

4. Find a headhunter. Major advice here. I found a job in Munich within /two days/ with the help of headhunter. When I was looking on my own, it took over two months. Food for thought.

5. Don't get discouraged. It can be really, really tough-- but there /are/ jobs out there. Keep at it. Don't whine.

By the way, you could just marry an EU citizen. Just find someone (probably an Eastern European) and pay them.
No problem. Seriously. ;>

That said, here's my last hard-won piece of advice for the moment: If you have (and it sounds like you do) a partner, make /sure/ that they are on board with you during your journey. Be understanding that the other person (or people, or dog) will have other expectations and requirements-- their parameters will not inherently be your parameters.

Good luck, and have fun!