Working in Europe

May 18, 2005 8:26 AM

How difficult would it be for a nineteen year old with one year of college, moderate work experience, a TEFL certificate and little to no European language ability to get a temporary work visa in the EU? I'm thinking Germany, specifically. I've checked out this thread, but that seems to pertain mostly to becomig a citizen. I'm not looking to become naturalized or anything (though that would be nice), just find a menial job to support myself for six months or less. Note: I'm willing to accept "impossible" as an answer.
posted by borkingchikapa to work & money (6 comments total)

Bunac might be an option.
posted by normy at 8:36 AM on May 18, 2005

not sure it helps, but it might be worth remembering that english is a european language.
posted by andrew cooke at 8:48 AM on May 18, 2005

You might like to try some of these links.
posted by peacay at 9:18 AM on May 18, 2005

Talk to the career people at your university -- they're paid to know this sort of thing. Assuming you're still in school or fresh out, you'll have lots of options through different exchange programs, as the previous posters noted.

If you were a random young person with partial college education and boring normal skills, then you'd be hosed.
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 10:42 AM on May 18, 2005

I know someone who is currently an undergraduate American studying in France, and she seems to think she'll be able to go back there after graduation and work as an English teacher.
posted by alms at 10:50 AM on May 18, 2005

Depends on the country... I've lived in Iceland for the past year and can't find work that I'm qualified for that does not require fluent Icelandic.

No matter which country you chose, you're going to have to go through a lenghty process to get a work permit (prepare for this to take about 3 months - most countries require you to have a job first). While you wait for that to be processed, do everything in your power to learn the local language. Unless you're going to Britain, it will come in mighty handy. Don't expect to become fluent, but being able to do basic things like ordering from a menu are very empowering when you're living in a foreign country.

(Says she who wishes that she had learned Icelandic *first.*)
posted by grapefruitmoon at 5:51 PM on May 18, 2005