So, you decided to take the leap and move to Europe for good? That’s amazing, I’ve done it and I’ve never looked back! But I get it, it can be stressful to get everything in place before you move to another country. That’s why I’ve created this guide to the best jobs in Europe for expats.
Whatever kind of job you’re looking for, whether it’s full-time, part-time, seasonal, freelance, remote, or in-person, there are tons of options.
So, if you need flexibility, want to work from home, or just want some more free time to explore your new home, some of the jobs on this list are really going to speak to you.
Okay, so what are the best jobs in Europe for expats? Let’s find out!
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1. English Language Teacher
First up we have an absolute classic work abroad job that’s a firm favorite for travelers and expats alike.
As an English Language Teacher, you can work in local schools, international schools, adult learning centers, online, in businesses, or as a private tutor.
Depending on where you are in Europe and what kind of establishment you’re planning to work in, you might need different qualifications.
The easiest way to teach is as an English tutor where if you’re a native speaker with a degree or a good knowledge of teaching techniques, you can get started pretty easily.
If you want to teach in an actual school, you’re going to need a more substantial teaching qualification, and in a lot of European countries, this is a degree or a Master’s in teaching, rather than a TEFL or TESOL certificate.
If you’re planning on teaching night classes for adults or as a weekend community class, or you’re working as a teaching specialist, with industry-specific vocabulary, you may be able to get away with TESOL, TEFL, or CELTA certificates and a fair amount of experience.
So, there are plenty of options depending on your experience and qualifications.
2. Coder
Next up, we have one of the original remote working jobs. If you’re a coder, largely all you need is your laptop and a stable internet connection.
It’s one of the best-paid jobs abroad thanks to the specialist skill level of the role.
There are a few different coding languages that you can work in and different companies and developers prefer different ones.
Coding is primarily a contract-based industry, but there are a lot of start-ups and big corporations that employ in-house coders to constantly improve and debug their various sites, apps, and projects.
So, when you get to Europe you can always take on some freelance or contract-based gigs while you look for a more permanent coding job if that’s what you’re looking for.
3. Marketer
If you’re more of a creative type, then you might be well-positioned for a career in marketing.
It’s worth mentioning that the reality of marketing in Europe is not exactly how it’s portrayed in Emily in Paris, but there are still a lot of fun and interesting marketing opportunities all over Europe.
Whether you’re wanting to work in-house for a larger corporation or an interesting startup, you want to get experience in an exclusive field, like fashion, with an internship, or you want to mix it up and work at a creative agency or go freelance, there are so many options.
A day in the life of a marketer can be completely different depending on your seniority or specialty.
Some of the things you might be doing day-to-day include writing content, creating adverts, testing with focus groups, planning events, and creating quarterly analytic reports.
This industry is a good mix of creative and analytical, and if you have experience in a foreign market – aka the place you’re moving away from – you might be able to use this as a plus point to get you through the door.
For instance, if you’re coming from the US and the European client is trying to break into the US market, having someone who knows the scene is going to help massively.
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4. Waitress
If you’re not sure about what you want to do when you move to Europe or don’t have a lot of experience, there are always vacancies for waitresses.
Particularly if you’re in a big city or a touristy area, you’ll see a lot of hiring flyers in the windows of restaurants, hotels, and cafes.
It’s worth mentioning that to get a lot of these waitressing gigs, you’re going to have to speak the local language (I use Pimsleur!!)
I seriously love using Pimsleur to learn useful phrases quickly (instead of “The duck is yellow” like Duolingo!).
The phrases I have learned on Pimsleur have stuck with me for years, so I can’t recommend it enough for language learning.
If you’re bilingual, however, it’s going to count massively in your favor over locals who can only speak one language.
Especially considering you’re moving permanently to your chosen European country, you’re going to need to learn the language anyway.
Unlike in the US or UK, high-end waitressing is considered a career and not just a part-time job.
There are hospitality colleges and high levels of training for those wanting to work in the nicer restaurants, cafes, and bars. It’s because of this that the wages can be higher than you’d think!
5. Resort Staff
If you’ve got experience in hospitality or you want to pick up some seasonal work when you first arrive in Europe, working in a resort might be a good opportunity for you.
There are a lot of different roles within a resort, with different pay scales and levels of seniority.
From guest services to ski instructors to entertainers to bartenders to kids club supervisors and more, you can definitely find something to suit your skills at a resort.
The great thing about European resorts is that although some roles like specific sports instructors are seasonal, many of the roles run all year round on a permanent basis.
That’s because many of the ski resorts transform into hiking and mountain biking hubs in the summer, and the coastal resorts tend to have tourism all year round, thanks to the glorious Mediterranean conditions.
6. Au Pair
If you’re moving to Europe on your own and don’t have a whole lot of money saved up for accommodation, then maybe consider becoming an Au Pair.
Thousands of people work as Au Pairs overseas every year and it’s a super affordable way to live in a different country.
You live with the family you’re helping out and sharing meals with them, so even though the wage isn’t amazing, you’re not really spending anything while you’re there.
You’re going to need some kind of experience working with children or in childcare, but even if it’s babysitting, you have a solid chance of being placed with a family in your chosen European country.
Tasks can include teaching the children English, helping them with homework, taking them to and from school or other activities, and helping out around the house. In exchange, you get designated days off to explore.
It’s a good job to get familiar with a new country and living with a local family allows you to have that social support and learn more about the culture.
7. Customer Service Agent
Consider yourself a people person? Then why not go into customer service?
Choose from working online as a larger company’s webchat or social media customer care account, working for guest services at a hotel or resort, or helping out in a call center.
As businesses are becoming more global, they’re looking to build multilingual customer service teams, so that no matter what country their customer comes from, they can have their concerns dealt with.
This is actually great because if you don’t speak the language of the country you’re moving to, it can often be difficult to find work, but in this role, it actually works to your benefit.
Another positive to becoming a customer service agent as an expat is that you can either work in an office or at the venue, or you might also have the option to work remotely.
This gives you more flexibility to work away from the office or explore your new home.
8. Consultant
Have you had an experience that you think others can learn from? Have you done something cool or interesting that other people might want to emulate?
Do you have a deep knowledge of something that you can give reliable advice on? Then you might be able to earn a living as a consultant.
Common examples of consultants include management, self-employment, travel, financial, social media, and many, many more.
There are a few ways to run a consultancy business as you’re likely either going to be self-employed or working on contracts.
Traditionally consultants went into businesses, audited them, and offered solutions. They also used to provide in-person one-to-one services to give a more personalized solution.
Nowadays, consultants are largely online. This way you can build a bigger portfolio of clients and share resources via online downloadable guides, checklists, and offer webinars for people to sign up to.
Want to see what that looks like? Have a look around my site and you’ll see just that!
9. Writer
Fancy yourself as a bit of a wordsmith and want to work from anywhere? A job as a writer might be for you.
Although writing novels isn’t the most lucrative job in the world, there are still plenty of writing gigs that you can actually make money from.
One of the most popular and stable paid writing jobs is a content writer within a marketing department.
This means you’ll be a part of a team and be writing blogs, scripts, social media posts, email newsletters, reports, website copy, and more as part of your role.
It’s a steady way to earn and there are content writer jobs, especially in English, available in companies all across Europe, many of which with flexible working options.
If you have a lot of experience, can manage your time, and are looking for some more flexibility, then you can work as a freelance writer.
There are plenty of sites like Fiverr and UpWork where you can find and apply for gigs that you’re interested in, in exchange for a small cut of your wages.
Freelancing often pays better but sometimes lacks security, so if your visa requires a certain income every month, make sure you can 100% commit to making at least that amount every month.
10. Graphic Designer
Are you artistic with an eye for user-friendly design? Graphic designers are always in demand either on an in-house or freelance basis, and European businesses are no different.
Obviously, it does help if you can speak the language if you want to bag an in-house role, as you need to be able to communicate with the rest of the team.
Also, you should brush up on your language skills on Pimsleur so you can add it to your CV confidently if you’re looking for a local job!
However, in the freelance world, you can usually get by using a combination of basic Duolingo lessons and Google Translate.
As long as you have a laptop or tablet and a WiFi connection, you should be good to go. Much like writing or coding, being a graphic designer is largely a solo job that sometimes links in with wider team-based work.
As such, it lends itself nicely to freelance or remote work, meaning you can work in more affordable European spots.
11. Chef
One of the best things about moving to Europe is the amazing and varied food that you find around every corner. As such, it’s an amazing place to be a chef.
In many European countries, it’s normal to eat out in restaurants more than you cook at home, especially in the cities. That’s also why, with the exception of big-family homes, European kitchens tend to be tiny.
With this being the case, there are always vacancies for qualified or experienced chefs. Many kitchen crews around the world tend to be multinational, so the language barrier often isn’t as much of a big deal as it might be in other industries.
From little cafes to Michelin-starred joints to hotel and resort services, there are a lot of opportunities for someone who knows their way around a kitchen.
So, if you’re thinking about becoming an expat in Europe, there are plenty of jobs to help you build your life here.
Whether you’re creative, can cook up a storm, want to help others, or are a tech wizard, there’s something to suit you.
Europe may seem like a whole other world, but work-wise there are tons of parallels to the US, Canada, and Australia.
If your job is in demand and can be done remotely, or is necessary for multiple languages when you’re in your native country, chances are it’ll be the same in Europe.
Obviously, if you can learn the language of your new country, it’s going to open more doors for you, so if you have the time before you move, invest in those lessons!
Are you an expat living in Europe? What’s the best job you’ve had or heard of while you’ve been here? Let me know in the comments!
Read More About Jobs Abroad:
- 4 Jobs Abroad with Accommodation Included & No Experience Required
- How to Find a Job in Europe as a US Expat
- The Best Jobs in Tulum, Mexico for Expats
- 11 Jobs for Teachers Abroad Without Degrees
- How to Move to the United Kingdom Without a College Degree
Vanessa Wachtmeister is a travel tech professional and the creator of the wealth & wanderlust platform, Wander Onwards. Vanessa is originally from Los Angeles, California, she is a proud Chicana, and she has been living abroad for the last 9 years. Today, she helps people pursue financial and location independence through her ‘Move Abroad’ Master Class, financial literacy digital products, and career workshops.