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Getting an IT Job in Europe as an American

Posted by Cliff on from the americans-getting-employed-overseas dept.

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."

6 of 187 comments (clear)

  1. Modify your resume.... by gus+goose · · Score: 2, Funny

    Tell your prospective employer's that you're a Canadian. You will probably get more interviews at elast, even if you fail subsequent background checks .... ;-)

    gus

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    .. if only.
    1. Re:Modify your resume.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny
      Really?

      Are you full of BS, or is this for real? I actually am Canadian, living in the US illegally. (Very Long Story). I've been thinking about doing something like this myself.

      Does being Canadian make it easier to get employed in Europe?

  2. Re:Welcome to... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    Plus Spain is a monarchy. What's the point of living in Europe if you don't even get to have a king?

    Italians try to live vicariously through the pope, but it just isn't the same...

  3. Re:Been There, Done That by duffbeer703 · · Score: 4, Funny

    Everyone knows how to speak english, just keep progressively raising your voice! Eventually, even the most barbarian of eurotrash will understand!

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    Conformity is the jailer of freedom and enemy of growth. -JFK
  4. Re:Been There, Done That by Uncle+Jimmy · · Score: 2, Funny

    Please, everyone stop telling Americans to come here.

    It's bad enough that we get all their products, just don't make us put up with their people as well.

  5. Hang on just one second now by theantix · · Score: 3, Funny

    Are you suggesting that transit infrastructure in North America is lacking? I mean, Seattle has a two stop monorail that serves a city of more than three million people. Are you daring to suggest that is somehow inadequate?

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    501 Not Implemented