Work for a 18 year old american in denmark, norway, or the UK?
I am a college student from Michigan. I want to work in europe next summer to make some money and experience some time abroad. I have already taken part of a rotary youth exchange to Hungary, so i am familiar with some of the difficulties that come with living abroad. i want to know what i can do for work? living conditions? pay? is it practical for someone my age to try to work in europe for summer work? and any other insight anyone might have. thank you all, every post is helpful to me.
Denmark - 1 Answers
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To be honest your chance of working in Europe illegally is slim to zero, and working legally even less The days of being able to travel around Europe working for cash-in-hand have long gone I'm afraid. Since the expansion of the EU of Eastern Europe has taken place, the market has a massive influx of people prepared to do the traditonal low paid jobs that tourists used to do (e.g. waitering, bar jobs, kitchen workers, porters etc). Also fines for taking on illegal workers are on the increase and it is just not worth the hassle for employers now when they can legally employ staff from other EEA countries Also consider that Europe is facing the effects of the global crisis and therefore jobs are not "plentiful" anyway In order for an American to work legally in the EEA (Denmark, Norway & the UK all being part of the EEA) then you would have to find an employer who would be prepared to apply for a work permit on your behalf. He would have to pay the costs and also proof unequivically that the job position could not be fulfilled by anyone else from the total pool of labour from within the EEA. As a result it is only persons with specalist skills/experience (where there is demand Europe wide) that employers will invest time in. You will see most adverts that are in English these days state that applicants must already be eligible (in a positon) to work legally within the country as they will not invest the time/effort to do so for regular positions So in your case as an American student, you don't have the work skills/experience (yet!) to fulful the skilled migrant route, and as an American you would not be able to work legally without a work permit. Also consider that Europe have their own students who already live locally and are eligable to work, and are looking for summer jobs as well. I say this as someone who was a student and who has lived in both Norway and the UK as well. It is a real shame that the US does not allow the reciprical "Working Holiday Visa" that Australia/NZ and the EU have which would be perfect in your situation. I would suggest you look closer to home for work (or you could always look at the situation of other European countries not in the EEA as I am not sure of the situation there but imagine you would still need a visa?). Also consider the possibility of an exchange program for study which would be easier for you to do. Anyway, good luck
