Post: #1

Hey guys, I just wanted to talk to fellow engineers and expat and learn how you guys got to work in other countries.

I am a civil engineer working for a Rail Engineering Consulting Firm in Montreal. Got a good start in life, graduated last may, been earning 50 000$ a year but double this salary when i'm working on projects out of town. The offices are downtown and I love the location. That company is owned by Systra, a french company and the largest of its kind.

I think though I would like to experence and move to Europe, I already lived abroad in France as a student and loved it. I know Europe is the place for me, even if I love Montreal. A girlfriend I met in France (Macedonian chick ) said I was a true european, the most european american she met, go figure.

Anyway, what I wanted to come to, I'm interested mostly in France, the UK, Switzerland, Austira and Germany with Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Netherlands, Belgium next, I wanted to know if it is easy to find a job there with 1 or 2 years of experience as a junior engineer with railway projects experience and construction experience on dykes, dams (that I got working in Alberta). Another thing I considered was doing a MBA or masters in Transportation Engineering abroad..I only have a Bachelor level diploma, even if our last year in Quebec have courses that most Canadian universities does at Master level (finite elements..)

Also, I have about 30 000$ invested, 15 000$ in bank and my car is paid..

I don't think it would be too hard to get a VISA for the UK but in France there are not a lot of jobs available..or so i've heard, haven't check myself.

So how should I proceed let's say for the UK or Switzerland, should I look online and see what's available from here or do I have to get on site? Are there jobs interviews conducted online? Is it possible for me to get an engineering job without a european or american master?

Post: #2

See if you can get your degree credited as being equivalent to the European masters. There's a central body overseeing this, can't remember the 4 letter combination.

After that I'd just go straight to the source for jobs. You have the advantage of being niched and in Europe most rails are owned by a national company that just outsources all work. Hit up each country's and you're bound to strike gold somewhere.

Post: #3

Jesus christ!

Your base salary for a civil engineer is $50,000 per year?!
I'm pretty sure that is below minimum wage for an engineer in countries like Australia and Norway.

But anyway. I can tell you that engineers are high in demand here in Norway. You could find a job in less than a week earning a minimum of $100,000. Most people I work with are earning about $200,000. Also, all the good engineering firms here operate in English.

On the flip side... Norway is fucking shit.

Post: #4

Haha Montreal cost of life is fucking low compared to Norway, I mean my flat is like 820$/month and i'm close to downtown

Post: #5

(03-26-2014 02:02 AM)Vicious Wrote:  See if you can get your degree credited as being equivalent to the European masters. There's a central body overseeing this, can't remember the 4 letter combination.

After that I'd just go straight to the source for jobs. You have the advantage of being niched and in Europe most rails are owned by a national company that just outsources all work. Hit up each country's and you're bound to strike gold somewhere.

Vicious, the Order of Engineer of Quebec has an agreement with France. French engineers from listed school in France are allowed to come and work as engineers or junior engineers while French Canadian engineers, as soon as they get in the order, are allowed to go work in France too (the hardest would be to find a job though). I don't know however if being recognized as an engineer in France is the same for most european countries.

ANd french engineers base salary is less after graduation than in Canada and QC (unless you come from a school like Polytechnique de Paris)

Post: #6

I can say that doesn't sound familiar with how the Scandinavian countries do it. They are usually not relying on old boys clubs like that but having proper credentials.

Post: #7

Spalex, you still in norway? I thought you were in Poland.

Post: #8

(03-31-2014 05:01 PM)TravellerJay Wrote:  Spalex, you still in norway? I thought you were in Poland.

Moving there in 3 months.
Gave my notice last week