How to get a programming job in the EU

May 30, 2007 7:13 AM

How does a computer programmer find a job in Europe?

I'm a 54 year old computer programmer with a Ph.D. in CS and 25 or so years of experience. I have a family of 4, including myself. I would like to move to the EU. We are only english speakers, but we are open to studying other languages. What's the best way to do this? I know that the obvious candidates are Great Britain and Ireland, mostly because of the language. But some countries, maybe the Netherlands and Denmark, have a large population of English speakers, and I'm not averse to learning a new language. I've taken a web-based test from some British recruiting firm who believe I would qualify for the British Highly Skilled Migrant Program. This seems mostly to be a program aimed at residents of the Commonwealth countries, such as India or Hong Kong, but it would also apply to me.

FWIW, my SW experience is in what used to be the core of SW - programming languages, operating systems and compilers. I have never done any web programming or really done any GUI programming.

posted by vilcxjo_BLANKA to work & money (9 comments total)

The best way to get into the EU is to get an EU passport, if you can. This will make finding a job a lot easier. Ireland and Italy have relatively easy application processes if you have a parent or grandparent born there (you have jus sanguinis); it varies in other countries.

Otherwise, start looking for jobs as soon as you can. For technical and academic work in the UK, the most comprehensive site is jobs.ac.uk. Have you ever taught programming? The Guardian newspaper also has a good jobs section.

Be aware that if you're a non-EU citizen, you can only be hired if you are more qualified than every other EU applicant, and even once the job offer is made there's a lot of paperwork to get the work permit. Basically, either be shit-hot, or exploit any connections you might have.

For the UK, US citizens have traditionally been able to come in on a tourist visa and apply for a change of visa without leaving the country if they find work once here, but that may have changed since 2005, and it is absolutely not the case for any other non-EU nationality, even Commonwealth. You WILL be sent out of the country to wait for your leave to remain. You CAN NOT work on your tourist visa, and anyway, you probably won't have a National Insurance number until the paperwork goes through.

My experience is that it's easier to look for work once in a country, but again, check up on visa requirements before you go. You might consider an extended holiday to look for work, then returning home if successful while the paperwork is sorted and to arrange your move. Stating that you're looking for work when you come in on a tourist visa is not a good idea. They'll let you in, but you'll get hassle. Otherwise, having a connection to set up an address and phone number in your country of choice can be useful, as notification for an interview is usually sent through the post.

My experience of the Highly Skilled Migrant Programme is that having the minimum qualifications is just step 1. Also, your US income would have to be pretty high with today's conversion to make the benchmark for income. Your age may also work against you in the application (mine did, at 31!). It takes a long time to do, and once underway, you have to stay put... changing your country of residence means the process starts again. So if you start it while in the US be prepared to stay there, otherwise, I'd find a job, move, and then commence the application for HSM.

Good luck!
posted by methylsalicylate at 7:47 AM on May 30, 2007 [1 favorite]

Luxembourg has a hi-tech industry and nearly everyone speaks english, same with Geneva, Switzerland.

NATO hires programmers and you can get a job anywhere in Europe (near EU Government offices). Plus it's tax free.
posted by blue_beetle at 8:07 AM on May 30, 2007

Apply at a research institute like frauenhofer institute.
posted by markovich at 9:11 AM on May 30, 2007

I'm American, have been living in London for about ten years now and ended up here partially by accident. I was working for one of the large German Investment Banks (actually THE large German Investment Bank) with responsibility for North America.

A couple of global projects came up with the focus of the work taking place in Europe. After a few trips I knew I wanted to relocate, so then it was just a matter of time, positioning myself carefully before they asked me to move.

Once they'd asked I knew I had them so the task then was positioning them to ask me what would it take to get you to relocate?

So I guess I'd suggest getting a job at a multinational and look for your opp. Relocating on your own will be far more risky, time consuming and tedious than doing it via employment at a multinational. Not only do they have extensive resources to help your move succeed, as they are paying they have a vested interest.

"if you are more qualified than every other EU applicant, and even once the job offer is made there's a lot of paperwork to get the work permit. Basically, either be shit-hot, or exploit any connections you might have."

Correct in that you've got to be more qualified than someone else in the EU but, having been on both sides of this process (relocating myself and I've brought others over since), it's trivial to write the job application so precisely one individual can fill the position. There isn't any second guessing; write the job description, advertise the position and you're fine as far as The Home Office (in England, of course) is concerned.
posted by Mutant at 10:56 AM on May 30, 2007

My wife and I (both in early 30's) decided to move to the EU a couple of years ago. We both had enough work experience and previous salary (working in NYC helped). We had heard that the HSMP visas were hard to get and took a long time but ours was approved in only three weeks. YMMV. Oddly enough, I think you can only apply from OUTSIDE the UK so read up on those rules carefully.

In the end, just as we were ready to pack up and move to London, I was offered a transfer from my job in NY to the office in Paris. The company took care of everything visa-related. So that's another way to do it.
posted by DefendBrooklyn at 11:15 AM on May 30, 2007

Thanks, all. According to the published HSMP rules, I have more than enough previous salary. (Working in Boston helps a lot.) Also, though I say it as shouldn't, I'm pretty good at what I do, though what I do is pretty specialized.

I'm interested in what DefendBrooklyn said about HSMP visas, though. Did you do the application yourself, or did you get an agent to help you? Would having an agent help at all?

Also, is there a similar program for Belgium or for the Netherlands?
posted by vilcxjo_BLANKA at 12:07 PM on May 30, 2007

Dutch "knowledge migrant" visa
posted by different at 1:48 PM on May 30, 2007

Oops, sorry, where'd my link go?
posted by different at 1:48 PM on May 30, 2007

it's trivial to write the job application so precisely one individual can fill the position

Nice work if you can get it. I just have to rely on being shit-hot.
posted by methylsalicylate at 9:29 AM on June 1, 2007