US to EU
Has anyone in the Automotive industry moved from US to Europe? How difficult was it and how did you make the move? No gripe with US, just want to experience life in Europe before returning back to the motherland for good. TC: meh YOE: 6.5 #Aptiv #continental #GM #ford #bosch #zf
Because of stock price? Not sure what your logic is behind saying that. Almost all German companies offer the same tech Tesla does. Having driven the Lane Centering system on Cadillac, Tesla, Subaru, BMW and Mercedes, I’d rate Tesla at the bottom of that list in terms of driver experience. Tesla see-saws the most in the lane. While Tesla has its pros, I don’t think it will ‘wreck’ most other car companies.
I made opposite movement - from Europe to US 3 years ago. It depends where you want to live in Europe and what company you will work.
Would you go back if you make similar money?
Currently NO. I don't like work culture in Europe in automotive. It was okay untill 2013, but now it depends for which company you work. Positive in Europe - 6 weeks vacation, bigger notice period for layoffs. Medical insurance - fixed % from your salary. It covers you or whole your family for the same money.
I have experienced going from the US to Europe. I highly recommend it, but it is not for everyone. Living and working in Europe can clash with American culture and personalities. My situation really was luck combined with some hard work. I made sure that I was in the right place which provided the highest likelihood of an opportunity. I was working at a EU based supplier. This what I would consider the easiest route, as the host country will help with the work permits, moving, and integration. That said, it has became more difficult with today's state of the EU auto industry, and the pandemic has added yet even more complication. Going direct hire from the US to EU is very difficult. It isn't impossible, but most likely you will need a good CV with a well proven track record. It is a complex process with high barriers to entry, so the company needs to really want you to make it worth going through all the hoops. If this is what you want, then it will require significant work on your part. My recommendation would be referencing a list of the top 100 auto suppliers, and get to browsing their job postings locally and abroad. 5 of the top 10 suppliers are either based in France or Germany, so that is a very good starting point.
Thank you for your detailed answer. Can you share what country you currently work in? How difficult is it for someone who does not speak other European languages? Do companies use English as their official language or a local language.
As someone who tried to switch from the US to Europe a few years back: -Salaries are just lower, in general. -without good knowledge of a european language, your chances of landing employment are slim -your US driver's license probably won't transfer, forcing you to start all over again from scratch...so try to get a job in an area with good transit links.
Thanks. Did you make the move, if not was it due to unable to land a suitable role (language/culture issues) or were the offers not economically viable? I know I might take a pay cut but I’d love to explore before I settle down. The happiness quotient in Europe is certainly higher than the US. And I don’t really need a lot of $$ to be happy (evident by my stay in the midwest😂)
I ultimately failed. I tried to go the grad school route, only to have my host country ban conversion of student visas to work visas just after I scored a great internship in corporate strategy. By the time the ban was reversed I had no funds left to sustain myself, and I had to return home. Most my program participants from outside Europe had similar issues.