D la Repubblica · 19 April 2014
Roaming careers in a Europe that is hiring
A CV is stronger with “trans-European” experience. As the EU backs a mobility “licence” to revive the labour market, many companies give the green light to applicants from abroad.
English translation of the 2014 Italian article; sidebars and photo caption included.
Study in Italy, fly to Brussels for an internship that can be put to professional use in Spain, and receive a first job offer from Poland. Against the economic crisis and disheartening employment figures, mobility seems the only chance in a Europe that has set a 2020 employment target of 75% for people aged 20 to 64.
Already 7.5 million people work in a member state other than their country of origin, accounting for 3.1% of the workforce. On average, Eures figures show, around 700,000 people move within Europe each year. Although the proportion, 0.29%, is much lower than Australia’s 1.5% and the United States’ 2.4%, an increase of 4.7 million since 2005 gives pause for thought. “The phenomenon we are witnessing is different from the usual brain drain,” explains Antonio Bonardo, Public Affairs Director at Gi Group, an Italian multinational employment company, and a contributor to Garanzia giovani. Politiche attive per l’occupazione giovanile (Guerini Next). “The crisis blurs the picture, but workers too will clearly come to appreciate Europe as a macroregion.” This awareness turns moving abroad from something imposed into a choice.
The good results of the European Commission’s Eures First Job initiative, in which Gi Group is a partner, provide further confirmation. “This scheme helps young people find their first job by covering travel costs for interviews and initial accommodation expenses. We have placed around twenty people, half of them in Germany,” he says. “The roles vary, from customer service to mechanics, drivers and financial analysts, both blue- and white-collar. Everyone needs a structured CV with certified skills, including the language proficiency that makes the difference today.”
Young people with Erasmus experience have an advantage, but those who have completed a European internship have an even greater one: 75% of Italian companies prefer them, according to QS World University Ranking. Erasmus introduced work placements in 2007; in 2011–12 internships reached a record 2,973.
Universities are likewise working with companies on integrated programmes. “Internships and work programmes abroad are seeing the strongest growth,” confirms Pier Sandro Cocconcelli, the Rector’s Delegate for Internationalisation at Università Cattolica: “up 26% in 2012–13 and 184% over the past five years.” One established scheme is UCS Network Internships, lasting three to six months. This summer, for example, some Cattolica students will go to Hampshire to gain experience in payment management and financial development projects at an agency specialising in adrenaline-filled excursions, from rally driving to hot-air ballooning. Others will go to a Dutch equine-supplements company to learn marketing and business development strategies.
The step from practical training to employment is short, and would-be entrepreneurs can take the plunge by spending up to six months working in an established company abroad. “It is called Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs: participants learn how to launch their dream business, while the experienced host entrepreneur gains new energy and ideas,” says Donatella Santosusso, President of Accademia Europea di Firenze. Financial support is calculated monthly according to living costs in the destination country, ranging from €500 in Albania to €1,100 in Denmark. Since 2009, 8,000 entrepreneurs have participated in more than 2,000 exchanges. Italy holds the record for young participants who have worked at an established European business: 1,047.
One is Noemi di Tullio, a 24-year-old from Frosinone trained in fashion design, who went to Brussels in 2013 to join Claudine&Compagnie, a collar specialist. “The experience became a joint project with my host entrepreneur, Johanna,” says Noemi, who received €830 a month. Today the company is called Johanna Van Daalen and makes clothing from natural fabrics. “Johanna was intrigued by my ‘mobile’ specialisation. Together we established a business in Belgium that we will soon bring to Italy.”
JobAdvisor
Europe as a shared space for study, internships and work — online too. Launched only a few months ago, SharEUrope (shareurope.com), an offshoot of scambieuropei.info, is already very popular. A kind of TripAdvisor with a map, it offers reviews from people working or studying throughout the EU, from Greece to Sweden. “Building on Scambieuropei’s success and our network, we created a growing information resource to give a voice to people moving around Europe for different reasons,” explains editorial manager Laura Moretti, “and to offer practical help to those who want to make mobility work for them.” Comments from four groups — students, workers, interns and volunteers — cover everything from reading an English payslip to opening a bank account in Spain. Everyday social life is included too, with useful advice on finding better rent or making friends in cafés and restaurants. L.A.
EPC: Europe’s free pass ready in 2016
Europe gives mobile workers the green light — provided they hold an electronic card certifying their training. This is one innovation in Directive 2013/55/EU, known as the Professional Qualifications Directive. Called the EPC, it will be an electronic certificate exchanged by authorities in the home and host member states through the Internal Market Information System (IMI). The European Commission will decide which professions benefit. By January 2016, EU member states must therefore implement the directive on recognising professional qualifications, including periods of traineeship completed in other EU countries.
Young Italians working abroad. Previous page: Gabriele, 33, a designer in Amsterdam, and Marta, 27, an intern at a Paris publishing house. Here, clockwise from the left: Luca and Gabriele, 31, artists in London; Marco, 28, an analyst in Amsterdam; Valentina, 26, seeking work in Madrid; Giulia, 26, and Alessio, 34, a videomaker and chef in Amsterdam.