Search Q&A
Non EU citizen - Searching for a job in Belgium
Hello Everybody,
My name is Ardit. I am from Albania and currently i am working in Albania as a Product Manager in a large distribution company which is trading stationaries (Infosoft Office Albania). My girlfriend (fiance, but not officially) got a work permit in Brussels from an NGO and we decided to start a new life in Brussels. Now she is obtaining the Visa from the embassy. We are searching for a apartment/flat and meantime we are preparing to move in Brussels. Does anybody knows to tell me how to act in this situation because i will move in Brussels without a Work permit and i am hoping i will find a work so that i can obtain a work permit. But i need more information about this.
Please if anyone has any suggest, i will be very grateful to you guys. Even some suggestions about how to get involved in social life in Belgium. Thank you in advance,
Best Regards,
Dear Ardit,
Welcome in Belgium. I moved here too since 2015.
Here I will give you some suggestions:
1.Do not upset with Belgian's tremendous bureaucracy. I mean in everything, finding your first apartment, opening your first bank account and getting residence papers. It just requires patience and everything goes perfect.
2. I suggest to find some sort of temporary accommodation for at least 1 month as it will take you some time to find an suitable apparent to rent as rents here are in high demand. Prepare to pay no less that 800euro/month for a decent apartment for a couple.
3. If you have decent car in Albania in your name bring it with you as it will help you a lot with your moving and until you get used with public transport here. You can keep your car here up to 6 month after you register here. (Thats what I did)After you either sent the car back or you switch to Belgian plates
4. It will be difficult for you to find a job as you are required to have a work permit and most employers ask for good level of French and Dutch language.
5. To have a good social life it will take time here as there are some barriers to break such language barrier, culture, etc. But if you follow language courses here, or follow any sports, etc you will be able to make many friends from all over the world.
6.Traveling here if you have a car is a piece of cake. You can go for a daily trip to Amsterdam, Paris or Cologne or Luxembourg,
If you need any particular help let me know.
Good luck
About social institutions that will help you to find something...My man, this is Belgium. They will do anything not to do anything. In other words, getting help is not so easy because the people working usually will do the least they have to to do help you.
There are places that are supposed to provide help services with your CV for example. They can fix grammatical errors, and such. When I was taking dutch lessons, the dutch teacher said that if anybody wanted to have their CV's checked, she could check them for grammar errors and such. A few people brought them and all of them had errors in them; but what was shocking was that these CV's had been supposedly checked by these job agencies; but even worse; it was not one person, but people that came from different cities; one lady had her CV done in Antwerp and even there, they didn't really fix it.
Point being, don't expect that somebody will be here ready to help you, specially if you dont'speak any of the official languages.
With that said, if you have skills that are in high demand, usually tech jobs, then maybe things will be easier.
If you're going to get married anyway, do it. Then you can work as a "trailing spouse".
Looks like you've got something to do with IT. Focus on that and a job should come up eventually. This is your key to finding work far more than languages. Maybe working for a large Brussels based multinational supporting or selling things to Albania/Balkans. Maybe freelancing. Maybe setting up a business.
Ardit, do not expect to find a job as soon as you arrive. I takes time. Job market here is very competitive as there are also many people coming from other countries and looking for jobs. Best way is through any connections/recommendation but also through online applications you may have a chance.
If you find something within 6 first months consider yourself lucky. I don't think you have to worry a lot at the moment as your girlfriend will be working meanwhile you can take language courses. Here language courses are very very cheap. I pay 120Euro/Year for my French classes and for Dutch is free you pay only 30Euro for books. But you have to be living here. I am also Albanian. Could you give me some sort of contact I can help you with any questions you might have. I have been here since 3 years. :)
> any company when i can search for a job
Hmm. Try the usual job sites instead.
www.monster.be
www.stepstone.be
www.references.be
Hello I would highly recommend getting some kind of recognised language qualification as soon as you can. Some communes do runs courses but many will have already started. Although there are many multinational companies based here and some that work in English they would need to see that you have something to add in order to even look at your CV if you’re not allowed to work via your visa upon arrival. Possibly consider doing something voluntary work to make connections and good luck
