A thousand applications, 800 wasted: six things Cara wants you to know before you move to Europe for work
You can work in a company without a third language, age is not the main problem, and a CV photo does not help the way you think. Cara on six things from her route from Thai student to working in Spain.
In short
In Cara's experience, a third language, your age or knowing nobody do not decide whether you get a job in Europe. What decides it is an application that matches the role, and a plan that starts before you graduate.
Cara is Thai and moved to Spain to study. After graduating she sent about a thousand applications before landing a job at a company there. Today she works mostly in English.
We asked her the questions Thais ask us most, and several of her answers overturn what most people believe. The quotes are her own words.
1. “You have to speak the local language first” is not always true
Before she moved, Cara thought what most people think: that to work in Spain you have to speak Spanish.
Actually, a third language matters for daily life too. But working in a company in Barcelona, or France, or Germany, you don't need a third language at all, because in the end we communicate in English in the corporate world.
Takeaway: the local language helps with daily life, but it is not the first hurdle for a job in a company that works in English.
2. A thousand applications, 800 wasted
Cara sent about a thousand applications and says 800 were wasted, because she used the same CV for every role.
Click apply, same CV, no portfolio at all. The people who screen CVs, the recruiters, they know whether you really meant to apply.
These days AI might help, but it has to match the job description.
Takeaway: apply less, but adjust every application to the advert.
3. An internship is the easiest door in
Cara asked her school early whether an internship was required and how it worked, because nobody had told her.
Because it is a really easy application, you don't need experience. Basically you have the same opportunity as everyone else.
Takeaway: ask about internships before the course starts, and pick your target companies in advance.
4. Age is not the problem. Mindset is
Starting over or changing, the older we get, the smaller the window feels. But actually, in Europe they are not concerned about age at all.
She gave the example of a colleague at the same Project Manager level as her, who is 50 and still performing well.
Age is not the main issue. It comes down to your own mindset, whether you can adapt.
5. You can start without knowing a single person
For a little over her first year in Spain, Cara was on her own.
Honestly? It is not a problem at all.
But if you have contacts, they help get you to a point where things might be easier. But they are not everything.
6. A photo on your CV does not help the way you think
Here a lot of people don't put a photo, about 90%. It's about privacy.
That figure is what she sees around her, not a statistic. What makes a CV stand out is your skills, most important first, because recruiters rarely read to the bottom.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a third language to work in Europe?
Not always. Many roles in companies that work in English do not require the local language, but some do. Check real adverts in the country you are aiming at.
Do I need a photo on a CV for a job in Europe?
Mostly not, and many people leave it out for privacy, though some countries still expect one. Follow the custom of the market you apply to.
Can I find a job in Europe if I know nobody there?
Yes. Contacts make it easier, but they are not a condition. What matters more is an application that matches the role.
A question for you
Of these six, which one did you believe?
Read next
How-to
You want to work in Europe. Where do you start? Do not spend the first 30 days applying
Most people start by sending applications, when an application should be the end point of three earlier decisions: which market to go after, which route you will move on, and how you will make an employer see the value of experience gained in Thailand.
Read this far and still not sure where to start? Two minutes, and you will know which stage of the path to working in Europe you are on.