How did I find a Job in Europe with a non-European Passport? 🔍 During the first year of my master’s degree, I started looking for internship programs and potential organizations to launch my career. During this process, I came across a webinar for French and German-speaking students, presenting various internship opportunities with well-known companies. It wasn't until the end of the webinar that I realized my non-European passport might be a barrier, even though my language skills and qualifications were not. A speaker from a renowned company made what he thought was a funny joke: “If you don’t hold a European passport, you should consider marrying a European citizen.” Some laughed. I didn’t. I asked if they were considering international students and if there were any other ways to apply since I was studying in Europe but didn’t hold a European passport, nor did I plan to marry a European citizen. While limited opportunities did exist, the conditions and requirements for internationals were clearly not comparable to those for European students. Today, I work for an international company that focused on my skills, not my passport. In my daily work, I discuss the importance of diversity in the workplace and strategies to achieve it. Europe is often seen as the continent of possibilities, but we internationals know that there are many hurdles. And yes, legislation is a separate issue, but I ask leaders inside and outside of Europe: 💡Are you aware of the importance of diversity? 💡Are you offering enough opportunities for international talent? 💡Are you supporting the international members of your team? 💡How can you better integrate international talent into our organizations? 💡What steps are you taking to ensure a level playing field for all candidates? 🌎Let's get creative on how to break down the barriers and create an inclusive and diverse workplace where talent and skills are what matter. #diversity #diversityintheworkplace
As fellow non-European citizen, couldn’t agree more! Thank you for sharing awareness!
Very well written and addressed Ana!
Great perspective!
Vice President at EMLS, Inc.
6moEurope's appeal among USA citizens seems to be growing. A rather new phenomena.