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October 04, 2006
Q and A- Working in Europe
Hello Readers!
As ESL teachers, we've all probably romanticized about working in beautiful cities like Barcelona, Venice, or Paris. But have you ever done any research on work visas? I know that when I looked into working in Spain, I was in for a shock.
To read more about this month's question relating work visas and working abroad in Europe, please continue reading the following question...
... that was posted by Frank, from the US. Thanks for the question, Frank!
Question:
As I see job postings requiring EU passports, I am dismayed at this obvious unfair practice that excludes both Canada and the USA, (and of course other countries that aren't part of the EU.) Would someone be kind enough to explain why this is the way it is ? I have more than ten years teaching experience both in the USA and Asia and would just like to simply know why this apparent block exists. Thank you, Frank
Answer:
Hi Frank,
While it is frustrating to hear that many jobs in the EU require an EU passport, you might find it refreshing to know that it's not an act of discrimination. It's actually about the work permit. As far as I understand, in order for non-EU citizens to get a job in the EU, they have to prove that they are more qualified than all other EU citizens. Then they have to get their employer to go through the hassle of supplying a work permit for them. It is possible to still work there- in many countries, it is possible to work part-time while studying, for example.
If anyone else has information about this, please feel free to comment. It'd be great to hear from any non-EU citizens who have found work in the EU.
Carol Rueckert
Writer, ESL Lesson Plan
E-mail: crueckert@eslemployment.com
Blog: www.esl-lesson-plan.com
"I hear, and I forget. I see, and I remember. I do, and I understand." - Chinese Proverb
*To read more ESL Questions and Answers, please click HERE!
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About the author of this entry:
Carol, a native English-speaker who hails from the small town of St. Joseph in Minnesota, USA, and lived and worked in China for more than 7 years. During that time, she worked with students that range in age from three to more than sixty years old. She worked in universities, private language schools, grade schools, international schools, as well as private tutoring. Besides teaching, she also worked as a head teacher, an education manager, and a material development manager. In addition to working on this newsletter, she currently writes a monthly column for Time Out Beijing. Carol is also currently working on her MA in TESOL at the Oxford Brookes University in England. Look for her posts on the ESL-Jobs-Forum discussion boards!
Posted by crueckert at October 4, 2006 03:37 AM
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Comments
Dear Frank,
It's just as difficult for a non-European to find a legal job in Europe as it is for a non-US citizen to find a legal job in the US. Both are trying to protect the country's legal workers. The same process that Carol describes for Europe is also used by the US. The process does not mean that there aren't illegal workers because there are illegals evading the labor laws on both continents.
It doesn't mean that you couldn't find work in Europe. It just wouldn't be legal work and would not have the protections that legal work has. There are lots of language schools and most of them are honest enough. However, I've heard of unscrupulous ones that can make life very difficult by not paying you promptly (i.e., 3 or more months after you've worked) or not paying you adequately. If you're not legal, then what recourse do you have?
I've been working in Italy for some time but became legal only during a government amnesty for illegal workers. Being American can open a lot of doors but when it comes to the European Union, you're just as much of a foreigner to them as someone from Bangladesh.
Lee
Posted by: lee at October 4, 2006 05:48 PM
