Welcome to 2 buzzing countries at the heart of the European Union: Belgium and Luxembourg. Don’t let their size fool you - the small nations offer a variety of opportunities for recent graduates, and are about as multinational and multilingual as it gets. So dig into all the information we have gathered for you in our job guide!   

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Where to find jobs as a graduate in Belgium & Luxembourg

Both countries have a strong focus on the service sector and public institutions which is where a lot of job opportunities are found.

Belgium: Located in the west of the continent, Belgium offers a truly European experience in many ways: Its capital Brussels is simultaneously the capital of the European Union (EU) and home to many EU institutions (such as the Parliament and the commission) as well as corporate subsidiaries. Read more...

Luxembourg:  Luxembourg has made its fortune from private banking services and is notorious for offering a favourable climate for large multinational companies to operate in. It houses some prestigious EU institutions, including the European Court of Justice. Read more...

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  • EU institutions and sub-organisation can be found in both nations. The application process for a position in one of the public EU institutions is run via a “Concours”. It’s are open to graduates from different study backgrounds - competition is fierce, though!
  • If you are a student or graduate of finance, Luxembourg is the place for you! Luxembourg City is the nation’s capital and largest urban area. The majority of positions are available there, and the city is considered a top location among European expats.  

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Preparing your CV and cover letter for Belgium & Luxembourg

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Although the multinationals, especially the ones located in Luxembourg, may accept an international resume, it can pay off to dig deeper into the local standards. More conservative Belgian employers, for example, prefer your extensive employment history, so a CV can be up to 3 pages long.

Note that the Europass CV that many international candidates use is mainly optimized for EU public institutions, while recruiters from private companies may prefer a very different CV format.

Read more about CVs in Belgium (and Luxembourg)…

The cover letter should always be typed on an A4 page format (there are some cases where candidates have even been asked to provide a handwritten cover letter!).

The language you write the cover letter in is also very important. Generally, you should communicate in the same language that the job description is in. If you apply for a job in Brussels and you are not sure for some reason, choose to write your cover letter in French or English.  

Read more about cover letters in Belgium (and Luxembourg)

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Getting in touch with employers in Belgium & Luxembourg

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Language: Belgium and Luxembourg are about as polyglot as Europe gets for you. People there grow up at least bilingual, or even trilingual. Belgium has 3 official languages: French, Dutch, and German. Luxembourg’s trilingual education system produces a highly qualified workforce, most of whom are likely to speak English fluently in addition to Luxembourgish, French, and German. So, whatever foreign language skills you have, now is the time to take them out for a spin!

The job interview: Both countries have quite traditional and conservative work environments. The conversation can start on an informal basis to reduce the tension a little bit, however, the overall interview will be rather formal so under no circumstances should you address the employer by his/her first name, and always use the title. Read more about job interviews in Belgium...

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Working and living in Belgium & Luxembourg

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Good luck! Bonne chance! Succes! Viel Erfolg! Vill Gléck!

P.S.: Do you have other countries on your wishlist for work life? Let us know!

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