An Indians guide to getting a job in Europe after Masters (MSc) … (with special attention to France)
Truth on Frequently Asked Questions.
In the years, I was contacted by hundreds of prospective students who want to study in France (or in Europe) and then find a job after their Masters. So, this article is to help prospective students(especially from India) who wants to study in Europe and then find a job in Europe.
Thank you, readers, for making it viral. You can now book a 1:1 session with me at https://topmate.io/sakett
Firstly, Brief about me: I completed my Masters in Digital Marketing and Customer Relationship Management from IESEG School of Management, France. You can learn more about my background through LinkedIn. You can book a session with me at https://topmate.io/sakett
2 months before of completion of my masters in 2016, I had 6 offers (3 of them from Billion$ companies). I chose Philips Lighting in the Netherlands. Besides India, I have lived & worked in France, the Netherlands, and Germany. Right now I work as Senior Director Of Growth, Product Marketing and CRM in Berlin. I have worked as Sr. Product Manager, product manager and other positions in Tech at Berlin.
I’ve video consulted 1000+ students in choosing their career options, college/university, masters applications, essays, finding amazing jobs, and beyond. I give transparent advice because normal career councillors give you biased advice for their commissions from partner universities. #enoughsaid
I have kept this article to-the-point, practical and apt. No jargons. Simple English. Note that: I’m a Non-EU citizen, an Indian, — so my answers are based on that.
Now let’s dive into most frequently asked questions (FAQ):
- You want to do a Masters in XX from YY college in ZZ(country in Europe). What is the job prospect after that?
Answer: Your XX (the field & program), YY(the university and ranking), and ZZ (country where opt to study) — matter a lot to find a job after masters. So, a right combination of these elements is very important.
XX- Must have demand & value. For examples: Computer Science, Cyber Security, and Digital Marketing. Importantly, you should be genuinely interested in that subject.
YY- Should be a reputed college/university. YY should have strong Alumni Network.
ZZ- Should be a country with growing job opportunities in your XX. In Europe, mostly, it’s Germany, Ireland, France and the Netherlands. — — London has closed borders after Brexit. Spain, Italy, Greece, etc have high unemployment. The UK is the favourite destination for ‘career-councillors’ to send students and earn their commission. If you decide to do your masters in The UK, it’s advisable to book the return ticket in advance because it is certain that you will come back to home country. In UK you would most likely not get visa or sponsorship or job. In short, Don’t go to The UK. So where should you go? https://topmate.io/sakett
Question 2. ‘I’ve worked in ABC company in India and I want to work in France. Will the masters help me to get a job in France?
Answer: In France, You will Only get a job if you speak FLUENT French. B2+. Sorry to be blunt, but if you don’t speak French, you will NOT get a job in France. Skills and the master’s degree are secondary, (only in France).Getting an internship if you speak intermediate French is possible.
Germany has many English Jobs(limited to Berlin and some major cities), Ireland is English speaking, the Netherlands is English speaking (but small economy) and northern Europe is fairly English speaking with limited jobs.
3. Can I work in Germany/Netherlands or any other country in Europe, when I complete my masters in France?
Answer: YES you can, only if your company helps you get your visa. You cannot work in a different EU country on your student visa (if you are a non-EU citizen). Your student visa is not a work visa. You need a job offer from the company outside France to do an internship/job in that country. Different countries have different laws. Google it.
It’s advisable to study in the country ‘where you want to work after-masters’. Example: If you want to work in Ireland after masters, you should choose a college/university in Ireland. Trinity College is a good option. Jobs In Ireland are paid less with higher cost of living. Book a session here https://topmate.io/sakett to know where you can earn more and save more.
Do you want personal advice to your situation: book a slot https://topmate.io/sakett
If you plan. to invest € 40,000 in education and living. Spending €100 is definitely worth it.
4. Do companies outside ‘study-county’ sponsor VISA?
Answer: In most cases, No. But if you are smart and they really want you, companies will sponsor(help you get your visa). The company should be of decent size. Don’t waste time looking for early-stage startups (less than 20 people). Know more: https://topmate.io/sakett
5. If I study in France, will I have a job-search period?
Answer: You will for 1+1 year after completing your masters.
6. What matters to find a job in Europe?
Answers: Firstly, Your skills. Europe is a very skilled market. Secondly, The city you live-in and your networking efforts. I did 400 coffee meetings in 250 days. Thirdly, Does your study-subject have job opportunities in that country and how much is the demand/supply of the prospects. Truly ask yourself why should someone give you that job. What skills do you have that others don’t? #nobullshit answers #nogeneric answers. Fourthly, Your CV and Cover letter(/motivation letter). Fifth, Prepare your interviews very well. Write down every possible question and answers before an interview and learn them.
There are more to this list, but you will figure out after receiving rejection emails. Finding a Good Job is like a ‘challenging Job by itself’. Take it seriously. I have taken 45+ interviews in life. Not necessarily to look for jobs, but I just like the fun of taking interviews.
7. How should you go about applying to companies?
Answer: Start Early, from the first month of the start of your Master’s program. Sort out companies, connect with people, go for coffee-meetings with alumni, networking events, hackathon, job fairs, tech fairs, etc. Be bold to approach people.
Just apply and after you have your first job offer, then start being choosy. https://topmate.io/sakett
8. What are the two biggest challenges I faced to find a job in Europe?
Answer: 1st, To find a company that is ready to help in the working visa process. 2nd, The local language. In Europe, companies prefer candidates who can speak the local language.
Fun-fact — Inspite of that, I got 6 job offers. I am happy about it because I ‘tossed every coin possible’ and learned lessons a hard way.
9. How are masters studies different in France compared to India?
Answer: It’s very different. In good schools (like IESEG) in Europe, you would work on practical case-studies, presentations and most importantly with an internationally diverse group of students. It’s a great experience team-work.
10. How was my experience at IESEG? Is IESEG good?
Answer: My experience at IESEG was amazing. Probably, the best year where I truly discovered myself till then. I learned in a diverse International environment and made great friends. I’d definitely recommend IESEG, if you want to work in France.
IESEG ranks #17 Globally by Financial Times. It’s not Harvard, Stanford, or INSEAD. IESEG is increasing its brand name by several initiatives. IESEG is great value for money. I spent 10% of what my education would have costed in The USA. I even paid less than Indian PGDM because I got a scholarship.
Q11. Did all students get jobs in France/Europe?
Answer: About 30% of International Students booked their return flights to their home country. (I think you got what I mean). They didn’t manage to get a job/visa/language or found something better in their home country. As the saying, ‘A bad workman blames his tools’. A good workman focuses on sharpening the tool.
12. How are the career fairs from IESEG to find a job?
Answer: Career Teams at IESEG (or any other similar school ) have decent support to find you an internship/job, but you can’t rely on them. Limited English speaking jobs. But if you know French/local language, defiantly you will find a job with their help.
13. What would be the living expense in France?
Answer: It depends on the city you live-in. The major expense is rent. Thus, I would say Rent + 390 Euros per month(because in France you get CAF reimbursement from the government which would reduce your costs significantly).
14. Can I part-time work along with my education and earn my living?
Answer: Yes, you can. But I would recommend focussing on building relevant skills that matter to you. Example: I learned Google Analytics, and Google Adwords on my free time and also got certified by Google. Focus on being the BEST -in the subject you are passionate about.
15. Do I get Free advice if I contact Saket via Facebook, Instagram or LinkedIn? Answer: NO, because every single week I get 100+ free requests. Due to time constraints & priorities, I am following a no distraction policy.
Good news: Click here. Book a slot with 60$. Be very specific with your questions. Please don’t ask questions already answered in this article. I like to be straightforward & specific because it saves time for both of us. :)
Please note that this article is only my personal opinion and should not be conclusive to any decision. If this article helped you, please 50 clap below.
Originally Published in 2017 and viewed by 106241 people.
