Move Abroad

65: 10 best jobs in Europe for Americans

• Jordan Giberson

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Thinking about moving to Europe but not sure how to find the right job? In this episode, we explore the 10 best career options for Americans abroad.

We’ll cover:

  • The top industries hiring US expats.
  • Key roles and skills in demand.
  • The best cities for specific job opportunities.

From tech and teaching to finance and entrepreneurship, this episode will help you identify opportunities that fit your goals and set you up for success in Europe. Tune in and start planning your move!

👉Take the free quiz: Which European city should you move to? 🤔

Grab my free guide: 5 Exact Steps to Move Abroad

Website: jordangiberson.com
Instagram: @jordan.giberson

There is a place for so many different skillsets. So take some time to just explore visa requirements. And if there are any language requirements for the visa and job opportunity that you're looking for, and then just consider your lifestyle preferences to decide, which option might be best for you. Hey, my name is Jordan Giberson. I'm a Texas girl living and thriving in London. The best thing I've ever done? Moving abroad, hands down. And I'm passionate about helping others do the same. Are you curious about finding a job abroad? You're in the right place, friend. I'll teach you the tried and true secrets of how to make moving abroad a reality for you and how to live a fulfilling life once you get there. We'll cover topics like choosing the best visa for you, how to get a job offer in another country, how to get over your fear of moving abroad, and how to live a life you love once you get there, this is The Move Abroad Podcast. Hello, and welcome to another episode of the move abroad podcast. Today, we're going to be talking about the 10 best jobs in Europe for Americans. So if you're wanting to move abroad and work in Europe, and this is the episode for you and if you're thinking about making the leap across the Atlantic and starting a new chapter in Europe, then you are not alone every year, thousands and thousands of Americans, just like you move abroad to explore Europe and a different way of life. And they immerse themselves in new cultures and experience the diversity that Europe has to offer. And the good news is that Europe is full of opportunities for a skilled professionals, freelancers and entrepreneurs as well. Many industries actively seek English speaking employees, or value the global perspective that Americans bring to the table. Whether you're planning to work for a multinational company or start your own business, or teach English in a charming European town, there's likely a role for you. So let's dive into the best industries and job opportunities for U.S ex-pats in Europe, along with why they're ideal and where to find those opportunities. So I do have 10 best jobs in Europe for Americans and starting us off with Number 1 is Tech and IT, so the reasons why tech and IT is ideal, if you're one of those industries and looking to move to Europe is that Europe's tech scene is booming. There are hubs and cities like Berlin, Amsterdam, Dublin, Lisbon, and London, and many, many more. So many European companies operates in English or need bilingual tech professionals which makes it quite easy for Americans to transition. I actually did a podcast episode it's episode 49 that I think you might find really useful. It's can I get a job abroad if I only speak English that's episode 49 and it outlines what opportunities specifically to look for and how to find opportunities, where if you only speak English, they will want to hire you. So that's definitely a good episode if you don't want to learn another language or don't already speak another language episode 49 would be great for you. So in regards to tech and IT, some of the top roles that you could get in Europe would be a software developer, data scientist, IT consultant, product manager, cybersecurity specialist. Those would be some of the examples of top roles that you could get in this industry. And then some reasons why U.S ex-pats would Excel in this industry specifically, is that Americans often have a competitive advantage because of their expertise and cutting edge technologies. And innovative approaches plus remote work and tech is really common providing flexibility in your location that you're wanting to move abroad to. Some hotspots in Europe that you could focus on to find your tech and IT jobs would be Berlin, because it's a big startup capital Amsterdam because it's home to a lot of international tech firms and Dublin, because it has a lot of European headquarters for companies like Google and Facebook, just to name a couple so tech and IT would be one of the best job opportunities for Americans looking to get a job in Europe. Number 2 on our list of the best jobs to get in Europe is an education. So education is quite common if you're looking to move abroad to Europe. And the reason why this is ideal is because teaching English specifically as a foreign language is a classic choice for ex-pats and is in demand across Europe. So many private language, schools, universities, and even families look for tutors that really value native English speakers. And sometimes they even want someone who has an American accent specifically. So as an American, you scored here because you are in demand. Some of those hop roles that you could find within the education sphere would be an English teacher. So for this you'd need a TEFL certification, or you could also be a private tutor or a university lecturer. Those would be some of the roles that you could get. And then reasons why U.S ex-pats really Excel in the education space in Europe. Is that your fluency in English and your familiarity with American culture make you sought after in non-English speaking countries. So think of hotspots like Spain and Italy, they will offer abundant teaching opportunities while Germany and France provide options for international schools and higher education. So education comes in at number two. Number 3 of the 10 best jobs and Europe for Americans is finance and banking. So the reason why this is ideal is because Europe is home to some of the world's most prominent financial hubs and professionals with expertise and finance, accounting, and investment often find very lucrative opportunities. So some top roles might be a financial analyst investment banker. So if you want to work really long hours, you could be an investment banker in Europe. An accountant risk manager, just to name a few, the reason why U.S ex-pats excel and finance and baking in Europe is because there are a lot of multinational banks and corporations that really value the U.S perspective within global markets. And a lot of firms often operate in English. So if you only speak English, this is a great opportunity for you. Some hotspots for finance and banking in Europe would be London because it is a leader in global finance. Frankfurt also hosts the European central bank. And Zurich has a lot of opportunities because it offers high paying roles and investment and wealth management. So if you're within the finance and banking sphere and industry, then this is a great opportunity for you. Coming in at number 4 of the 10 best jobs in Europe for Americans is marketing and communications. The reason why marketing and communications is ideal is because as global companies targets English speaking audiences, specifically, the U.S would be, you know, a really big one. They need professionals to manage the branding, content, social media, and other marketing and communications aspects as they're growing into these markets. So some top roles might be a content creator, a digital marketing specialist, social media manager, PR specialists. I am in partner marketing, in a company in London. So those are just some of the many roles that you could have in marketing and communications. And like I said, one of the reasons why U.S ex-pats really do well in marketing and communications is that Americans bring fresh ideas and experience with U.S centric marketing strategies that can be adapted to European markets. And they have knowledge of the American market, The U.S market is one of the biggest markets in the world. And a lot of European companies want to tap into that. So as an American, moving to Europe, you have an American perspective. And a lot of companies will value that. I remember as I was applying for roles in London a couple of years ago, A lot of companies that I spoke to really valued the fact that I was an American and it gave me a leg up compared to some of the other candidates that were looking to get the role, because I did have that you know, U.S perspective as an American. Some hotspots for marketing and communications would be Amsterdam, Paris, Berlin, because they're hubs for creative industries while multinational companies are really just spread throughout Europe. So if you want to work for a multinational company that has offices all over Europe, all over the world, those are also really great companies to target. Coming in at number 5 for the 10 best jobs and Europe for Americans is tourism and hospitality. Europe is rich in history and has a very vibrant tourism sector that really creates endless opportunities and hospitality and travel Americans often stand out with their customer service experience and their fluency and English, which make them a, an ideal candidate for these types of roles. So some of the roles might be a hotel manager. A tour guide of some sort, event planner, travel consultant. Those would be some of the top roles and tourism and hospitality in Europe, and some reasons why americans are a really great fit for tourism and hospitality opportunities. Because as an American, you can leverage your cultural insights, as an American speaking to other Americans that are, you know, wanting to travel across Europe and because of your English speaking proficiency. A lot of companies are really interested in that because you do speak English very fluently. You would hope one would hope that as an American, you can speak English very fluently. So for a lot of really popular destinations, it would make you really attractive as a candidate looking for a job. And some hotspots would be Italy, Spain, and Greece, because there is a really high demand in tourism roles. And Switzerland also has great opportunities in the luxury hospitality sector. And in a lot of these countries, did you really value people that speak English very fluently, especially Italy, Spain, and Greece. So those are some of the hotspots within tourism and hospitality. If that is an opportunity for you Number 6 in the 10 best jobs in Europe for Americans is healthcare. So many European countries face healthcare worker shortages, particularly in nursing and specialized medical fields. So if you are in the medical profession, this could be your chance to make a meaningful impact and score a job in Europe, quite easily. Some top roles that you might be able to go after would be a nurse. Like I mentioned, a medical researcher perhaps. A physical therapist, healthcare administrator, I think one of the main reasons why Americans can do really well in healthcare, in Europe is because there really is a healthcare worker shortage. So if you are in the healthcare industry, it is quite easy to find an opportunity and pretty much any European country, but some hotspots that you might do really well in our Germany, the Netherlands and Sweden, because they're actively recruiting healthcare workers. I do have a lot of friends in London also, that work in healthcare. And while the pay is not super great, especially for living in London. You can find a job quite easily. And a lot of healthcare organizations will sponsor visas really easily and quickly. So if that's you and you want to get over to Europe, then honestly being a healthcare worker is a really great way to get your foot in the door. Our 7th best job in Europe for Americans is the creative industry. So the reason why this is really ideal for Americans is that Europe's vibrant cultural scene. It makes it a great base for freelancers and creatives in general. And what's great about this is that with remote work, becoming the norm, you can also serve clients globally while enjoying the lifestyle benefits of Europe. So if you're an American and you have connections with different American companies, where you can build up your freelancer portfolio and get different jobs, then you can live like a king in Europe, especially in locations like Lisbon, where the cost of living is a lot lower. I think it's a really great opportunity to move abroad quite easily. It's really easy to get a visa as an American, as long as you can just prove that you make a certain amount of income per month. It's really easy to, you know, be able to live abroad and get that visa and jump over to Europe quite quickly and easily. Some top roles in the creative industry that you might want to look into, and if you're already doing one of these roles, then hotdog. That's great. It's graphic designer, photographers. If you're a writer, musician, artists, just to name a few opportunities. I think some reasons why U.S ex-pats would do really well in the creative industry and Europe is that you're bringing a unique perspective and, you know, creativity they'll help you stand out. You know, if you've had experience in U.S markets and American markets and bringing that over to Europe, or if you're able to gather, you know, American clients and then bring that money over to Europe, I think it's also a really great opportunity to live really well in an area that has a lower cost of living. And then also, you know, you could get a job with an international company and an international market. So I think there's great opportunities for that as well. And then some hotspots for the creative industries would be, you know, Paris, Berlin has a massive creative industry. Lisbon, those are just some of the popular locations amongst different creatives. Coming in at number 8 of the 10 best jobs. And you're at for Americans is international organizations and NGOs. So the reason why is because Europe hosts some of the world's largest international organizations. Including the United Nations, the world health organization, and NGOs focused on various global issues. Some top roles that you might want to look into our policy advisor roles, program manager, human rights specialists, and many, many others. And then reasons why U.S ex-pats can do really well in international organizations and NGOs is that U.S professionals, if they have experience in advocacy or policy or humanitarian work are often really well-suited for roles in these organizations. And it's quite easy to jump over. So if you're really interested and you know, more of the charities, fear and human rights sphere, then this will be a really good fit for you. Some of the hotspots that you might want to look into would be Brussels, Geneva, and Strausberg they're key locations for NGOs and inter governmental bodies. Number 9 for the best jobs in Europe for Americans is consulting. So why is this ideal? It's because European businesses value consultants who bring global perspectives specifically in business strategy, technology and management, some of the top roles that you might want to look into would be business consultant, management analyst, and strategy consultant, and then reasons why Americans typically do well on consulting is because you have experienced in US-based markets. So you can provide insights that European companies may lack and really want your expertise on. Some hotspots for consulting would be London, that's a really big one. Paris and Zurich. They are prime locations for consulting roles, but there are a ton of consulting roles and many other locations across Europe as well. And then number 10 of the 10 best jobs in Europe for Americans. So this is our last one and I feel like I kind of cheated on this one because it is entrepreneurship and freelance work. I wanted to include this in the 10 best jobs in Europe for Americans, because while it's not a traditional job where you're working for a company, I do think that entrepreneurship and freelance work is a really great opportunity. So even if you are employed court, so even if you are employed currently in the U.S, and you're wanting to move abroad to Europe and get a job, I still think that you should be open to an opportunity and entrepreneurship and freelance work. Maybe freelance work would be a good starting place. And then kind of transitioning into more entrepreneurship. That is a bit more high risk, but I just wanted to touch on the reasons why this would be a good fit for Americans that are wanting to move abroad to Europe and work abroad. So with entrepreneurship, I think that it's ideal for Americans because Europe offers really great opportunities for entrepreneurs, with a lot of countries, introducing visa programs and incentives to attract startups. Sometimes opportunities for entrepreneurs aren't as saturated in Europe as they are in the U.S. So if you've ever thought about being an entrepreneur, it would be challenging to you know, have the challenge of entrepreneurship and that, you know, being a new journey for you while you're also getting used to a new country. But I do think that even if you've got a job abroad and then thought about being an entrepreneur afterwards, which is kind of what I'm doing, I think, you know, sometimes these opportunities are great because there's not as much competition in Europe. I think within obviously it depends on your industry, but I think within some industries, I think the U.S market is so saturated. There's so much competition, but there is a lot more opportunity still in Europe where it's not as you know, tapped into, so you have to look for the opportunities and, you know, and find them. But I do think that it would be a great opportunity for an American wanting to move abroad to Europe. I think some of the top rules would be, you know, obviously a startup founder or a digital nomad. If you're going to be an entrepreneur because you know, you're owning the business basically, and then reasons why I think Americans would be so great at this, which I kind of touched on a little bit already, but I think Americans tend to often be you know, initiative and you often tend to be a bit more. Open to risk taking opportunities and attitudes that can do really well. And Europe's emerging tech and creative sectors. So I do think that Americans tend to do pretty well in entrepreneurship, especially if you're the type of person that wants to move abroad that in and of itself is someone who is open to taking a risk because moving abroad is a risk. It's something that's different from what normal, you know, people do. It is, you know, you have to put yourself out there and, you know, you're kind of walking into the unknown. And I think those type of people tend to be, and I think some of those characteristics align really well with an entrepreneur and what you need in order to do really well as an entrepreneur. So I think Americans moving abroad to Europe and pursuing entrepreneurship, I think would be a really great opportunity. And I also think that there's, you know, really great visa opportunities too. There are, like I said, a lot of visa programs and incentives to attract startups. So, you know, if you're wanting to get a visa and wanting, it's going to be so quite easily, there are a lot of pieces where it's quite easy to, you know, be able to get that. Secured your visa and be able to live in Europe and be able to, you know, fast track your ability to get permanent residency in some countries. Some hotspots for entrepreneurship. I mean, really take your pick. You can move anywhere. And it depends on the opportunity and you know what you're looking to start up, but Estonia might be a great opportunity. They have, a great visa program, Germany and the UK. Those are all really big top choices for entrepreneurs. So Estonia, Germany, UK, but really there's a lot of other opportunities, other countries that have great options as well for entrepreneurs. So that's when entrepreneurship, I think along the same lines, freelance is another great option. I think this is a great opportunity that is not maybe as intense as entrepreneurship. Obviously, freelance is kind of entrepreneurship in and of itself, but I think freelance, it feels a bit more like kind of dipping your toe in the water. So it's really ideal for remote workers and it allows you to live in Europe while working for U.S or international clients. And I think this flexibility allows you to enjoy the perks of European living without needing a local employer, which entrepreneurship offers as well. But with freelance, you can start building up, you know, freelance clients on the side of your job. If you're in the U.S or another country. So you can start kind of building that up on the side and then make enough income to where you can move abroad to Europe. And I actually don't think that it takes that much. You know, if you're moving to Portugal, for example, the cost of living is really low. So you actually don't need that many freelance clients in order to, you know, have that cost of living, be able to live, You know, a good life, and be able to get the visa secured because for those freelance type of visas to move to Europe, you'll have to prove a certain income threshold per month. But that threshold will be pretty low. And some of those lows costs of living cities. And like I said, I think this is a great transition opportunity for Americans wanting to move abroad, because I think this is one of the easiest pieces that you can get. As a freelance visa. And like I said, you can start building up freelance work slowly, slowly, on the side, and then be able to jump into that. Full-time if you wanted to, and then be able to get a visa quite easily in Europe. So some top roles that you might want to look into would be a writer, a virtual assistant, developer marketing specialist of some sort. So there's a lot of different, you know, job opportunities. And then, like I said, I think that your ability to cater to international clients as an American and be able to cater to, you know, your American connections and be able to get those clients and then move over to a European city. That has a lower cost of living, I think is such a win. I'm actually trying to convince a friend of mine, he's you know, wanting to move abroad to Europe, to Germany. And he currently works as a freelancer and makes a decent living, being able to do that. But he's trying to find a job in Germany and I'm like, I think it's awesome. And definitely, you know, if he wants to do that, I think it's a great option, but he already has freelance work and it's really easy to get a visa and move abroad from there. And then once you're there, then you can look for other jobs, a full-time role if you want to. So I think it's just a great foot in the door. If you feel confident that you'd be able to get some freelance work and kind of, you know, make it doing that for a little while. And even if you wanted to be a freelancer and kind of bop around to different countries and then eventually get a job abroad where you're a bit more settled. I think that's also a really cool opportunity if you're able to do that. And then I mentioned a couple of the hotspots for freelance work in Europe, but some cities with affordable living costs like Lisbon, Prague and Budapest are some of the most popular amongst remote workers. So in closing out, I think that moving abroad, you know, there are so many job opportunities and I did not list out all of them. I think these are just some of the best opportunities for Americans wanting to move abroad to Europe. You know, we listed out 10 of them. And like I said, I don't think this is all of the opportunities. So if I didn't list out the job that you're currently in, don't worry. There's probably still an opportunity for you to move abroad to Europe and get a visa and thrive. So please don't sweat it. If I didn't list out what are the jobs that you want to do. But I do think that these are some of the best opportunities in Europe for Americans. And it's so exciting to think about moving abroad to Europe and just all the opportunities that are out there from bustling tech hubs, like you mentioned to charming European classrooms. There is a place for so many different skillsets. So take some time to just explore visa requirements. And if there are any language requirements for the visa and job opportunity that you're looking for, and then just consider your lifestyle preferences to decide, you know, which option might be best for you. So I am so excited for you to start looking into your dream job abroad. Let's make it happen. I feel so excited for you to look into some of these job opportunities and make it happen for you. So as always, thank you so much for listening to another episode of the move abroad podcast. I so appreciate that you're here and I will catch you next time. Same time, same place. I'll catch you then.