Page 15 - euroguidance-insight-newsletter-2015-autumn

Working for EU agencies:

Systematic career management or pure happenstance?

Working for the European Union has been a dream for many people since their young age and they have taken sys-
tematic steps to make this a reality in their lives. For others, having a career as an EU expert was never something
carefully planned but rather happened by coincidence. These two main approaches to having a career abroad
come through in an ongoing doctoral research on EU labour mobility.

Twenty interviews with staff mem- self-evident that they wanted to grounds. These include personali-
bers of 12 different nationalities, have an international career whereas ty-driven skills like getting along well
working for three European Union for the rest it was a natural develop- with people and who have different
agencies (Cedefop, European Train- ment after many years of working in worldviews (i.e. concerning cultural
ing Foundation and Eurofound), were their own countries to embark on a sensitivity), listening and engaging
conducted by Mr. Mika Launikari professional path abroad. Guidance easily in small talk (i.e. being chatty
(Finland) for his PhD research in early support, for example from teachers, and open) and showing curiosity for
2015. Four themes were touched trainers, psychologists and significant new situations and phenomena.
upon: the motivation to pursue an others was often part of the prepara-
international career, professional tory stage when the interviewees Making friends abroad
development, the life outside of were orienting themselves towards Living abroad can be very challenging
work and the multicultural aspects of working abroad. in terms of establishing contacts with
working in the EU environment. the locals in the new country. Many
Emphasis on soft skills interviewees shared their frustration
Guidance support for self-directed Working in the EU context means a about how difficult it can be to be-
experts constant development of profession- come integrated in their new society
A common general feature to most al competences, the respondents and how time-consuming it can be
respondents was a high degree of reported. Hard skills are vital but less to break into the circles of the locals.
self-directedness when taking deci- tangible soft skills are absolutely nec- Not knowing the language of the
sions on one’s career development essary in the everyday office life with country well enough was seen as an
and management. For many, it was colleagues with diverse cultural back obstacle in the case of Greece and It-
aly at least. Having children, though,
often facilitates the bridge building
with local parents and opens access
to the local community through day-
care or school-related activities.

Mika Launikari, Finland

More information about the doctoral
research available at www.launikari.
eu/phd/ and www.launikari.eu/blog/
first-impressions-based-on-inter-
views-of-eu-experts/

Proposed image for this news item
is the one euro coin taken from flickr
available at http://bit.ly/1HFMeFd

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