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I'm currently unhappy where I live (Pennsylvania) and really want to move once I have the funds and a job in a new location. I'm working on getting a 2nd job in Pennsylvania to start saving. For 6 years, I thought I'd move elsewhere in the US, but I'm finding not having a driver's license and my degree is making it very hard to stay in the US. I have an English writing degree. For the longest time I wanted to move to Germany, but decided against it in 2009 because I heard the process is hard. I did a Google search:
I was thinking about finding a 2nd job in Pennsylvania that had foreign companies, so maybe I could transfer. My one friend is originally from the UK and despite having a family in the UK and his dad gaining employment in the UK, it was still hard for his family to go back to the UK. They did move, though. If I found a job that was international, would it be the same way? I still do have family in Ireland, but I know Ireland isn't doing well and wasn't thinking about Ireland. Is an English degree useless in Europe like it is in the US? I ask because I read this from the site:
Quote:
2. Getting your work permission extended is possible, but it is also quite difficult because of the strict regulations set forth by the EU. Your employer will need to show that your job has a specific skill set that cannot be filled by another EU citizen. In Ireland and the UK, this means copies of newspaper ads and FAS employment opportunity numbers have to be provided along with proof of your qualifications. Regardless of where you are, the application will clearly specify what is and isn't required. Make sure that you have all your paperwork together precisely as dictated on the form before you submit.
Would an English writing degree be something anyone can fill? I guess right now I'm just unsure of what I want to do. I guess my best bet is to find job #2, start saving and when the time comes, just apply everywhere. Thanks everyone.
Well, I guess it's not impossible to move here with a degree in English writing. But what sort of work are you planning to do at a big foreign company? I mean, those multinationals probably prefer candidates who are able to communicate in English, are citizens of a EU member state AND have a degree that's aimed towards the industry that company is involved in.
Now, is an English degree completely useless? Of course not. You can always go into teaching and the market for English-language media is rapidly growing (print/online). Keep in mind, though, that you'll always have to compete with locals. So yeah, I guess I'd focus on these two options instead of applying for jobs at random companies.
Most of europe has very high unemployment for people under 30. Getting a job would probably be the result of luck. If I were you I'd try to get a job at a multinational doing anything and then get transferred to a european office. For example there are a lot of pharmaceutical companies near where you live. My uncle worked for GSK for many years and was always in the UK or Switzerland.
I'm not certified to teach in the US (wouldn't want to be certified to teach in the US), so maybe I'll see what the parameters are for teaching in Europe and what I'd have to do. I also have published books, so that's a good option too. I love writing.
I can speak German almost fluently and I'm pretty good with Arabic. I know some French. The companies around here; I was looking at mostly German companies, are all medical and engineering... so that leaves me out (not allowed to go for my master's... I have to find a job first and go from there). I know a British store is opening soon, but that's retail and I'm not sure if that'd be the best way to go. Maybe I'll just find something around here that isn't international and gain more experience. I work at a library now (been there for 8 years) and for 3 years I was a technical writer intern.
Maybe I'll just find something around here that isn't international and gain more experience.
More experience is always a good thing. It should be relevant work experience, though. For that you have to think about what you want to do later on in life.
Another three years at a library will probably mean that you'll stay in that field. You are overqualified for retail and underqualified for most jobs where you need to know a "skill" (legal work, accounting, engineering, ...).
Getting "any" job at a multinational won't get you a transfer to Europe. There wouldn't be a reason for that. They can hire another clerk in Germany.
I didn't meant to imply any random job will get you transferred to Germany but that there is a higher likelihood of that path working out rather than simply getting a job in "Europe" with an english degree.
For example, my uncle was a real goof off in his younger years and I am not sure what his job was at GSK or how he even got it. I believe it was some sort of project manager job, where he coordinated the activities between a team in the USA and teams in the UK and Switzerland. He certainly was no engineer, accountant or lawyer. I think most americans don't really want to live outside of the USA and vice versa so it's hard to find people willing to bounce around between countries.
More experience is always a good thing. It should be relevant work experience, though. For that you have to think about what you want to do later on in life.
Another three years at a library will probably mean that you'll stay in that field. You are overqualified for retail and underqualified for most jobs where you need to know a "skill" (legal work, accounting, engineering, ...).
Getting "any" job at a multinational won't get you a transfer to Europe. There wouldn't be a reason for that. They can hire another clerk in Germany.
Yeah, that makes sense and although I want to move, I want to make sure the job is a fit for me too. Where I live, there's not much besides retail. It's frustrating because I've been looking for writing jobs and a job that will allow me to keep the library. I want to stay with the library as long as I am here - I would love to be a librarian, but I know I would need something else. I've been looking at anything in writing from technical to creative to marketing, etc.
I know a lot of people go to Asia to teach English and I believe those people said not much is required to teach English in Asian countries. Maybe I'll see what is required in that respect for Europe... but I like the writing angle. Thanks everyone.
I still do have family in Ireland, but I know Ireland isn't doing well and wasn't thinking about Ireland.
Do you have parents and or grandparents who have Irish citizenship? If you have at least one Irish grandparent, you can easily get Irish citizenship which will give you the ability to immediately work in any of the 28 EU countries.
Why do you not have a driver's license? I was able to get mine at age 18 without an issue.
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I know a British store is opening soon, but that's retail and I'm not sure if that'd be the best way to go. Maybe I'll just find something around here that isn't international and gain more experience. I work at a library now (been there for 8 years) and for 3 years I was a technical writer intern.
