India is estimated to be the country with the largest number of emigrants in the world. Europe alone hosts around 3 million Indians. The number has been growing quickly in the last decade since many Indian nationals find jobs in European countries. While securing employment in the EU is not the easiest of tasks, the statistics show that it is not impossible. In this article, we offer some practical recommendations on how to get a job in Europe from India.
In 2022 alone, more than 1.5 million foreign newcomers were granted employment visas in the EU, and a large part of those went to Indian nationals. In Ireland, Luxembourg, Malta, and Sweden, Indians got more first work permits than any other nation and in countries such as Belgium, Denmark, Cyprus, Netherlands, Finland, Norway, and Switzerland they were among the top three.
The EU countries appreciate India primarily as a valuable source of professionals in the science, technology, engineering, and maths (STEM) fields as well as healthcare and human medicine. In Europe, jobs for Indians are plentiful in these sectors. But even if your specialisation is different, there are still opportunities out there. Let’s look at how you tap into them.
Roughly speaking, the process of finding a job in Europe as an Indian national has three stages: before, during, and after getting a job offer.
Before: aim to be the best
Keep in mind that there are no visa-free jobs in Europe for Indians, which means the companies tend to hire the best of the best, to justify all the immigration troubles. Therefore, while thinking of how to get a job in Europe from India, you should maximise your professional credibility.
First of all, you must have a great CV and online footprint. Update your profile on LinkedIn and other professional platforms in your field. Make sure your social media look decent. Starting a specialised blog might complement your image in some cases.
Don’t worry if you have just graduated, there are jobs in Europe for Indian freshers as well. But in the meantime, do your best to add as much relevant experience to your CV as possible. Take on side gigs, participate in online projects and/or competitions. Consider getting your skills officially certified, even if through free online courses. This will add weight to your credentials and help you further develop your skills.
An obvious start to your job search is online; there are hundreds of dedicated websites, including those offering jobs in Europe for Indians. Some of them are official, such as EURES, some commercial. Just remember that if you’re offered visa-free jobs in Europe, as might happen, then it is most probably a scam. It may be a good idea to first search for vacancies at multinational companies because the chances of their needing international multilingual staff are higher than with local businesses.
In addition to searching online, think of whether you know any Indians who already work in Europe; don’t be shy to reach out and share your plans with them. They might help with information on how to get a job in Europe, advice, or even a referral to a potential employer.
If it is a specific country in which you are planning to look for jobs in Europe for Indian nationals, check if it has a social security agreement with India and/or whether there are any tax preferences for foreigners. Start learning the local language. Mastering it even at a basic level would be a great advantage.
Organise your education/professional/training documents, such as diplomas, certificates, licences, and such in advance. Make sure they are properly translated into English or the language of the destination country. Also, check if your degree is officially recognised there. This is especially important if the focus is on jobs in Europe for Indian freshers whose experience might not yet be that impressive.
Last but not the least, together with sifting through job vacancies for Indians in Europe, start saving up some money to cover expenses related to your relocation. Even if it is paid for by the employer, it’s never a bad idea to have money in such a case. Furthermore, certain countries might ask you to prove your financial independence during your visa application for a job in a European country.
During: be prepared and professional
Suppose your efforts to find a job in Europe as an Indian have finally paid off and you have been invited to an interview, either online or in person. So, how to get a job in Europe (and anywhere else) during an interview? The main rule: be prepared! Research the company, study their website(s), annual reports, social media, etc. Find if they are eligible to hire foreigners (in Europe, jobs for Indians often require a company to secure a special permission). Try to figure out their corporate culture. Prepare a list of relevant questions to ask the recruiter during the interview. Working out some recommendations on how the company can improve their business – with your help – might be a good idea in case you are asked to share some insights.
During the interview look and simply be professional. Connect/arrive on time, dress appropriately, have the documents they might be interested in ready, and carry yourself with confidence. Again, all these mean being well-prepared.
After: deal with formalities
After the interview, make sure you follow up within a couple of days. If eventually the result is negative, don’t let that discourage you from finding a job in Europe. Job vacancies for Indians are there, and you will surely succeed! Keep searching and honing your skills in the meantime.
However, we’re positive that for you the interview results in a great job offer. Which means you need to get ready for relocation. Your first step is getting a visa, because – as we already know – there are no visa-free jobs in Europe for Indians.
Apply as early as possible, because most European diplomatic missions require 2 to 3 months to evaluate your application. Even if your job in Europe is for Indian freshers, that is, entry level, you might be eligible for an EU Blue Card (check out “How to get EU Blue Card: the ultimate guide for Indians” to learn more).
Commonly, the list of the required documents would include:
· A completed application form
· Two recent (no more than 3 months) photos of specific size
· A passport valid for 6 months or more
· Fight tickets and proof of accommodation
· Travel insurance
· An employment contract or a binding job offer
· Proof of education, such as diplomas, certificates, etc.
· In some cases, proof of English/national language knowledge
Prepare all these, schedule an appointment at the consulate to complete the formalities and…wait for your visa. As soon as it is issued, you’re ready to start your job in Europe as an Indian.
Support your family
In most cases, securing a job in Europe for Indians means they would support their loved ones back home. Luckily, these days all one needs to send money from Europe to India is a smartphone and a bank card issued by a European bank. Let us show you how easy it can be with Profee, a leading online money transfer service. A fully licensed European fintech provider, Profee operates in over 40 destinations across the world, including India. It combines a simple, user-friendly interface with the highest level of security. It works both as a web-based service and an iOS/Android app ensuring seamless and convenient user experience and offering the most favourable conditions.
Immediately after registration, which only takes a minute, users can send up to €1,000. The limit can be increased through simple and fast verification procedures (required by the EU financial authorities).
When sending money internationally, one should pay attention to the currency exchange rate and transfer fees applied as these usually comprise the overall cost of transfer. Profee deploys an in-house state-of-the-art market monitoring system; therefore, it is able to offer a very competitive EUR/INR conversion rate at any given moment. In addition, the service has no hidden charges, and the user knows the final amount before any money is sent. Simply visit www.profee.com or get the app from the App Store or Google Play, open the converter, and enter the transfer destination and amount to see the exact sum your recipient would get. There is also a bonus for new users: in the respective field, enter PROMO to start getting €5 cashback for every €300 you send with Profee.
As soon as your loved ones receive your first Profee transfer, you will know that all your efforts to get a job in Europe as an Indian were worth it.
