[NaimhO]

Hello all,

I'm 23 and finishing up my undergraduate degree in Political Science at a uni in Canada. This fall I will be volunteering in South America but come January I have no idea what to do!

What I WANT to do is go to the EU but that doesn't look too promising. I don't care what I do as long as I am there and it is legal.

As for which country, any really. Hopefully one where I know the local language or could learn it quickly, I have a fairly good level of French and Portuguese and will be adding Spanish in July. Eventually I would also like to learn Italian. Perhaps German would have been a better idea but it sounds so . . . well not my thing. Still, I am even willing to try German!


Option 1

I am thinking TEFL is a good option, even during hard times it seems there are still people looking to learn english. I like teaching but to be honest I don't think I would want to be a teacher my whole life and the cost of a CELTA is not cheap.

Option 2

Find any kind of work for those few months and then go back to school in September 2013. This is mainly due to fear, whenever I am reading professional job descriptions I feel so underqualified. Does anyone take Politics majors?

Option 3

Nothing. Any suggestions?

All advice or ideas very much appreciated!

[cgraham15]

There is high unemployment, especially in places like Spain (24%). But go for it, I know TEFL do a lot of courses and able you to work in a number of countries, such as France, Germany, Italy, Poland, and Austria. I'm not really sure what to suggest, but good luck

[NaimhO]

Thanks!

Yes the numbers aren't that heartwarming are they?
And a lot of them don't even reflect the amount of people who are leaving to find work elsewhere.

So I must be crazy

[standreams]

The answer to this question will depend to some extent on your citizenship- if you are a Canadian without dual nationality of an EU member state then getting work in the EU will be next-to-impossible unless you work for a company and get an internal transfer.

[NaimhO]

Sorry for not mentioning it, yes I am a dual national.

[hiding12]

(Original post by NaimhO)
Hello all,

I'm 23 and finishing up my undergraduate degree in Political Science at a uni in Canada. This fall I will be volunteering in South America but come January I have no idea what to do!

What I WANT to do is go to the EU but that doesn't look too promising. I don't care what I do as long as I am there and it is legal.

As for which country, any really. Hopefully one where I know the local language or could learn it quickly, I have a fairly good level of French and Portuguese and will be adding Spanish in July. Eventually I would also like to learn Italian. Perhaps German would have been a better idea but it sounds so . . . well not my thing. Still, I am even willing to try German!


Option 1

I am thinking TEFL is a good option, even during hard times it seems there are still people looking to learn english. I like teaching but to be honest I don't think I would want to be a teacher my whole life and the cost of a CELTA is not cheap.

Option 2

Find any kind of work for those few months and then go back to school in September 2013. This is mainly due to fear, whenever I am reading professional job descriptions I feel so underqualified. Does anyone take Politics majors?

Option 3

Nothing. Any suggestions?

All advice or ideas very much appreciated!

yup TEFL is a good idea, I wouldnt come to England looking for a job, its very tough no matter what degree you did or where you went

[NaimhO]

Thanks!

[star_violet]

(Original post by standreams)
The answer to this question will depend to some extent on your citizenship- if you are a Canadian without dual nationality of an EU member state then getting work in the EU will be next-to-impossible unless you work for a company and get an internal transfer.

Actually that's not really true. In some EU countries, Canadians are eligible for a working holiday visa of 12 months. And even if you work for a company and are offered an internal transfer, that does not necessarily help with obtaining a visa.

But as OP is a dual national I guess it doesn''t matter.

[star_violet]

OP, for what it's worth, I'm working in the Netherlands as an expat and have noticed there are quite a lot of people here from other EU countries as they've found it easier to get a job here. I met someone just last week from France who had graduated and come here to work in sales support for a fairly reputable company. I don't know how much work experience you have but I would say this is far more important than any additional qualifications if you are planning to work in a skilled position.

[NaimhO]

Thanks Star_violet!

Unfortunately I have little work experience in anything except your basic babysitting, part-time mall job, some volunteering and tutoring.

Maybe I should wait it out and see what happens . . . a lot can change in 7 months. I just hate not having a plan.

[star_violet]

(Original post by NaimhO)
Thanks Star_violet!

Unfortunately I have little work experience in anything except your basic babysitting, part-time mall job, some volunteering and tutoring.

Maybe I should wait it out and see what happens . . . a lot can change in 7 months. I just hate not having a plan.

In that case I would definitely recommend you try and find a job before you actually move over. The job market is tough enough for graduates in their home countries, let alone for foreigners. (I am also a non EU national btw). Either that or delay until you have some work experience. When I first moved to Europe at the start of the recession I had already worked for 2 years in quite a decent job (marketing for a very well known company), and even then it was 3 months before I found anything. I did find a great job in the end but had to be prepared to wait it out.

[AtomSmasher]

(Original post by NaimhO)
What I WANT to do is go to the EU but that doesn't look too promising. I don't care what I do as long as I am there and it is legal.

When it comes to a career you have three options: Enjoyable; lucrative; legal. Pick two.

Seriously though, what are you interested in? Surely you have some career aspirations? Before you decide to go back to uni it makes sense to actually try finding a job. How else are you going to know if you're under qualified? Then, if you do decide to go back to uni, think very hard about what you're going to study and whether it will actually help you get a job. If you are seriously interested in a certain career, whatever it is, there should be very little stopping you from pursuing it.

[standreams]

(Original post by star_violet)
Actually that's not really true. In some EU countries, Canadians are eligible for a working holiday visa of 12 months. And even if you work for a company and are offered an internal transfer, that does not necessarily help with obtaining a visa.

But as OP is a dual national I guess it doesn''t matter.

The OP didn't give me the impression that she was talking about a temporary stay- hence why no mention on my part of WHVs.

As for internal transfers, in my company and the one I worked in previously (both large, well known technology and service providers) you would only be offered an internal international transfer if you were already 'cleared' for immigration (i.e you didn't actually have the work visa in your passport, but the receiving country HR had already proven no suitable candidacy from the local market and therefore the chances of refusal were much reduced).

[chad_bro_chill]

(Original post by NaimhO)
X

Wow.. I've met so many European grads saying they would like to move and work in Canada/USA but it's the first time I hear of a Canadian grad wanting to come to EU.. This is possibly the worst time to do that.

As many people have mentioned, the employment market is terrible over here. It is so much better in Canada, trust me. I finished my Bachelors in Canada last year, I'm now in London and the employment prospects are bad for new grads here. Last year (in Canada) the vast majority of graduates in my program had jobs already lined up. Here, completely different situation, and the competition for jobs is very intense. At least you have dual-citizenship so moving here won't be a problem, but with no work experience you will have a hard time finding a full-time job.

TEFL is probably your best option if you're really set on this idea. Good luck!

[NaimhO]

(Original post by star_violet)
In that case I would definitely recommend you try and find a job before you actually move over. The job market is tough enough for graduates in their home countries, let alone for foreigners. (I am also a non EU national btw). Either that or delay until you have some work experience. When I first moved to Europe at the start of the recession I had already worked for 2 years in quite a decent job (marketing for a very well known company), and even then it was 3 months before I found anything. I did find a great job in the end but had to be prepared to wait it out.

Yes, my goal is to find a job before I go!
I realize it is difficult, that was the whole point of this post
I just want to know if there is a chance.

It isn't like I don't understand the situation, I have plenty of friends and family splattered across the continent, I visit often and I was living in France last year. I just don't dare ask them because they would probably discourage me.

[NaimhO]

(Original post by AtomSmasher)
When it comes to a career you have three options: Enjoyable; lucrative; legal. Pick two.

Seriously though, what are you interested in? Surely you have some career aspirations? Before you decide to go back to uni it makes sense to actually try finding a job. How else are you going to know if you're under qualified? Then, if you do decide to go back to uni, think very hard about what you're going to study and whether it will actually help you get a job. If you are seriously interested in a certain career, whatever it is, there should be very little stopping you from pursuing it.

Good point, well made.
I am actively searching and constantly revamping the CV.
Thanks for the input!

[NaimhO]

(Original post by chad_bro_chill)
Wow.. I've met so many European grads saying they would like to move and work in Canada/USA but it's the first time I hear of a Canadian grad wanting to come to EU.. This is possibly the worst time to do that.

As many people have mentioned, the employment market is terrible over here. It is so much better in Canada, trust me. I finished my Bachelors in Canada last year, I'm now in London and the employment prospects are bad for new grads here. Last year (in Canada) the vast majority of graduates in my program had jobs already lined up. Here, completely different situation, and the competition for jobs is very intense. At least you have dual-citizenship so moving here won't be a problem, but with no work experience you will have a hard time finding a full-time job.

TEFL is probably your best option if you're really set on this idea. Good luck!

Call it the grass is always greener syndrome?
I am even considering South America if it means getting out of North America.
The only issue being I would need a visa.
New Zealand is also an option.

I am not looking to make a lot of money, not looking to start a family, or own a big house which could fit 7 people comfortably and have only three people living in it. I just want to support myself in a place I do not find incredibly dull. As much as I love Canada it is increasingly becoming 'America Lite'.

Except Montreal.
The only city in Canada I am considering is Montreal.
But it is very cold.

And Western Europe has always been my dream.
Dreams are rarely logical.
Perhaps I'll hate it.
But I am going to try.

Thanks, I'm going to need it

[NaimhO]

(Original post by chad_bro_chill)
x

In which province did you study btw?

[chad_bro_chill]

(Original post by NaimhO)
In which province did you study btw?

I understand why you find your life dull being at UWO. jokes.

I went to McGill in Montreal, and yes, the winters were terrible.. but you get used to them

[NaimhO]

Ya frat parties get old after first year and there is nothing else for miles . . . Lol.

Really? I have a hard time dealing with Ontario winters and I've lived here most of my life!