How to find a job in Brussels: the main job boards & how to use them
How to find a job in Brussels: the main job boards & how to use them
Looking for a European affairs position in Brussels? Check out the major job boards and these tips to increase your chances of success.
Finding a European affairs job in Brussels can be a challenging endeavour.
Fortunately, there are many tools that can help you land the position of your dream in the company of your choice. In this article, we will take a look at the major job boards for European affairs jobs and I will give you tips on how to use them effectively, based on personal experience too.
Although I wrote this article for young starters, I believe that it can be useful to more experienced professionals. In fact, I’d bet there is something you will learn in this piece. If not (or if you want to support The Beubble), let’s meet in the comment section below!
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The Main European Affairs Job Boards
EurActiv Jobs
EurActiv Jobs is probably the most popular job board for European affairs positions.
All organisations in Brussels know about it, and a lot of them actually pay to post an ad, because they know that they can increase their chance to find qualified professionals.
You can register to receive in your mailbox a listing of the newest openings.
EuroBrussels
EuroBrussels is the second go-to job board for European affairs.
It has several declinations for your preferred positions, such as EuroClimateJobs for workers in the Sustainability field. This one too offers a newsletter for new positions.
What I like about Euractiv Jobs and EuroBrussels is that they monitor the job postings that come in. It means that only serious and high-quality jobs are listed.
LinkedIn
The main advantage of LinkedIn is that, besides proposing jobs, it remains a professional networking site and social media.
This means that you can easily reach the person who posted the announcement, look at their company, and if you are active on the platform, make your candidacy stand out.
By the way, if you want to connect on LinkedIn, click here:
Indeed
Indeed is perhaps the least interesting job board to get a job in Brussels.
Yet, it does a great job at catching job postings on all other platforms or from company websites. This way, you’ll be sure not to miss any opportunity.
That’s why I would recommend you subscribe to one or two alerts based on keywords we will identify below.
How to Use Job Boards Effectively
Use Keywords
Yes, keywords are key (pun intended).
When searching for jobs on job boards, it's important to use specific words related to your skills and experience. This will help you narrow down the results and find jobs that are a good fit for your skills and past experiences.
To know what your keywords are, find ten job adverts that resonate with the position you are looking for. List the two to three words that come most often in the title: these are your keywords for a better job search. You’re welcome!
Set Up Job Alerts
That’s when your keywords come in handy.
For very large job boards like LinkedIn and Indeed, you need to sort out the ones that are relevant to you. Set up alerts to your mailbox according to the two to three keywords we identified above.
You don’t need more than two or three alerts per platform: your job is to find one, not spend your days looking for all the positions available!
Apply Quickly
Even if there is a deadline far in the future.
Once you find a job that interests you, apply as soon as possible. The competition in Brussels is fierce, so it's important to act quickly. Make sure to read the job description carefully and tailor your application to the specific job and company.
Network
That’s the cherry on the cake.
Join professional organisations in your field of expertise, attend events, have coffee with more experienced colleagues, contact recruiters, etc. It will lead to more opportunities and increase your chances when applying.
LinkedIn is a great resource for networking, and more than that—showcasing your expertise. So don’t be shy and reach out.
Alexandre Météreau is the author of The Beubble and a specialist in European policies and politics. Discover more about Alexandre at alexandre-metereau.eu or LinkedIn.