Europe is a fantastic place for young professionals to begin a career, learn new skills, and become immersed in a diverse array of cultures and industries.
If you are looking for a new job and a new place to live there are plenty of great cities and sectors to explore.
In this blog, we’ll be highlighting the top 5 European cities with job opportunities for young people, including topics like:
- The top five cities:
- Berlin
- London
- Copenhagen
- Vienna
- Barcelona
- How to learn other languages
- How Small World can help
Top 5 European cities for young job-seekers
- Berlin
The German capital is well-known for its counter-culture music and fashion but it has also, more recently, become a hub for exciting tech and financial companies.
Today there are plenty of opportunities for qualified young developers, analysts, and product managers in Berlin
Berlin Partner found that there are around 500 new startups in Berlin every year and they’ve collectively secured around $10.8 billion in venture capital, in recent years.
This is great news for any ambitious young job-seeker who wants to work hard and play hard.
Berlin is also home to some of the world’s major companies like Microsoft and Google. Both companies have made significant investments in ‘accelerator’ spaces across the capital for new startups. Similarly, Twitter, Uber, and Facebook all have offices and a substantial presence in the city.
So, there are job opportunities but what about accommodation and daily life? Well, Berlin is famously relatively affordable when compared to other major cities like London, Tokyo, or New York.
It remains to be seen whether Berlin will continue to be affordable as businesses continue to boom and more high-flying professionals start making Berlin their new home.
- London
London has always been a draw for young professionals. It is a massive city with a host of opportunities in a variety of sectors. Whether you’re in tech, banking, consulting, the creative arts, healthcare, engineering, or any other industry, there will be opportunities to work.
If you’re into the world of finance, then Canary Wharf may be the right place for you. Alternatively, if you are looking for opportunities in the creative sphere you might be drawn to Soho or Clerkenwell.
For startups, head straight to Shoreditch or Islington and you’ll find you can’t move without bumping into the next ‘hit startup’.
All in all, London is a great city for young job-seekers. There is a lot of variety in professional life and different parts of the city offer different professional experiences.
Depending on where you live it can be quite expensive. However, the average salary in London is higher than in many cities in the rest of the UK and Europe.
To search for relevant opportunities in London check out Guardian Jobs.
- Copenhagen
Copenhagen, the capital of Denmark, is one of the most exciting and unique cities in Europe. In recent years, the city has also become one of the best places for young professionals. It is the most populous city in Denmark and there is always somewhere new to eat, drink, and dance.
Young professionals in Copenhagen have perfected the art of urban living by making the most of the historic beauty and culture that the city has to offer while enjoying the quaint new trends that can be found in other modern cities.
Come to Copenhagen if you love architecture, art, and cycling. Stay in Copenhagen if you want to work in cleantech, life sciences, or renewable energy.
There are plenty of job opportunities in Copenhagen for young professionals. The perks including the great Scandinavian food, and the luscious summer weather, make Copenhagen a standout destination for any interested young job-seekers.
- Vienna
Vienna has been ranked as one of the top cities to live in the world for many years. As well as being a great centre of art and music, Vienna is a growing hotspot for young professionals hoping to kickstart their careers.
For many years Vienna has been a great place for traditional industries like manufacturing, tourism, and construction.
In recent years Vienna has also grown into a modern business hub for entrepreneurs, startups, and the creative arts.
While it may not have the reputation of Amsterdam or London when it comes to modern industries, Vienna has been forging its unique path and it is now a prime choice for any young professional.
- Barcelona
Living and working in Barcelona is a highly attractive proposition for any young person. As a port city with a thriving tourism industry, Barcelona has always been a place where people from all over the world have mixed and become immersed in the unique culture, food, music, and sport that drives the city's beating heart.
Today Barcelona is also one of the biggest incubator cities in Europe for startups and entrepreneurs. It is in the top 10 most attractive cities in the world for digital talent alongside the likes of Berlin and London.
Indeed, a couple of years ago The Boston Consulting Group, ranked Barcelona the fourth best city in the world to work in.
Barcelona is a digital capital that holds a lot of promise for young professionals interested in climbing the ladder in the tech, finance, and digital industries. With amazing nightlife and relatively affordable housing, Barcelona is one of the top European cities to look at for young professionals looking to make an exciting move.
How to learn other languages
An important part of settling and working in any of these European cities is learning the language of the country. Being able to speak even a little bit of the native language will be vital to securing accommodation and employment.
Equally, if you want to enjoy everything the city has to offer it helps to know how to communicate with people.
Thankfully, today there are several ways to learn other languages online and via in-person classes and services, including:
- Apps like Duolingo, Rosetta Stone, and Memrise
- Local language learning schools such as InternationalHouse London or Speakeasy BCN in Barcelona
- Via free online resources on YouTube through channels like Learn Spanish with SpanishPod101.com or Learn Danish with DanishClass101.com
Once you’ve arrived in your city of choice and you’ve settled in, there will also be local language services that you can use to improve your skills, meet new people in your area, and start feeling at home.
How Small World can help
If you are hoping to settle in one of these existing European cities sometime in the future you may need Small Worlds help.
Small World is an international money transfer service that helps millions send money to family, friends, and businesses around the world.
Our money transfer services include Bank Deposit, Cash Pickup, Mobile Wallet, Mobile Top-up, Home Delivery, and Cash Card Reload.
Whether you are starting a new life in sunny Barcelona or settling into a job in one of London’s bustling boroughs, you can use Small World to send money home to your loved ones quickly and securely.
Send money back home via our app available on iOS and Android
Send money back home via our website
Good news! Your first transfer with Small World is fee-free!
