The best advice is to get relevant skills, qualifications and ideally work experience in the UK before seeking employment elsewhere in the EU and beyond. This is partly because international students with professional qualifications tend to leave university at a later age than UK students. Some ideas for finding work in Europe: . access information on jobs and learning opportunities throughout Europe at EURES - www. ec. europa. eu/ eures . target UK companies with links in Europe or multinationals who operate across Europe . consider the European commission . consider spending time in Europe either by studying or working during a year out or summer. Use the time to look at vacancies available, make contact with employment agencies, and other people who may be able to help. Obviously you must develop your knowledge of other languages if you want to live and work in other European countries. Ask your local Connexions adviser for the best ways of finding work in Europe. Living abroad Be prepared to: . do loads of research about the country before you go. . make sure you have all the necessary paperwork such as valid passport, European Health Insurance Card, registration documents etc. For countries outside the EU you will need to obtain a visa before entering the country if you intend to study or work. . be open to new opportunities - try new foods, new cultural experiences, make new friends. . learn the language - or at least learn to get by in it. . experience homesickness - everybody does but you'll get over it. . have your life changed! EUROFACTS and GLOBALFACTS - A series of leaflets on all aspects of living, working, and studying in Europe and worldwide, published by Careers Europe. ERASMUS UK COURSE GUIDE - An online search facility for all participating UK institutions to discover which courses offer an Erasmus study period or work placement. EXODUS - The Careers Europe Database of International Careers Information. WEBSITES - Check out all the sites listed under the heading ' Study and work abroad' on page 33, including Erasmus ( www. erasmus. ac. uk) and Careers Europe ( www. careerseurope. co. uk). " Speaking another language is not merely a skill to be admired today but a vitally important business asset" - Managing Director, York Place Company Services Ltd. " We would not now recruit graduates who have not spent a period of time in another country" - Personnel Director Volkswagen, " 90% of jobs involving languages are in sectors such as sales, customer service, market research and finance and not in teaching or translating" - Languages NTO. Job huntingFurther information International Opportunities 29

30 Sources Of Advice Connexions Service Each local Connexions Service will have its own centres or contact points providing access to information and advice on further and higher education, student finance, employment and training. Connexions advisers will be on hand with guidance or may refer you to resources for your own research if you prefer. Some Connexions Services make special arrangements around exam results time for those who may require urgent assistance. Refer to your local Connexions Service for details. Schools and colleges Many schools and colleges have a designated tutor to assist students with higher education applications, finance, job seeking, or planning a gap year. They are likely to offer a programme of events to raise awareness of careers/ higher education options. Make sure you take full advantage of these and any individual guidance opportunities. Student support services Most colleges have a team of staff with experience in providing information, advice and guidance on a diverse range of issues. Many of these services have been established to support current students but are an invaluable source of advice to prospective students as well. They can provide help and information with: . decisions concerning course options and career choice . application procedures . student finance and budgeting . general benefits advice . accommodation . referral to more specialist counselling services e. g. debt, health, relationships, welfare, etc. Some students, particularly those with disabilities, may require more specific support for learning. This might include: . making special arrangements for physical access . providing a learning support assistant . assessing individual learner needs . additional funding applications . providing special equipment or arranging transport . arranging access to other more specialist services e. g. therapy. Inform student services teams as soon as possible if you think you have additional learning needs as this will greatly assist planning. Also refer to Skill - The National Bureau for Students with Disabilities, for expert advice ( see below). Universities and colleges Admissions staff and tutors welcome enquiries from all prospective students. Take advantage of open days to look round institutions and surrounding areas. Remember also the regional higher education conventions organised in partnership with UCAS ( see page 7). Your local Connexions Service, school or college will have further details of all these events. Skill: National Bureau for Students with Disabilities ( including dyslexia) Skill is a national organisation that advises and supports students with learning difficulties or a disability, that are considering further and higher education or training. Increasing numbers of students with physical, sensory or specific learning difficulties ( for example dyslexia) are gaining access to higher education as institutions become more responsive to individual needs. If you have a learning difficulty or disability you should get early advice from your Tutor and/ or Connexions Adviser and contact Skill, long before making applications. Skill: National Bureau for Students With Disabilities Unit 3, Floor 3, Radisson Court, 219 Long Lane, London SE1 4PR Telephone and Textphone: 020 7450 0620 Fax: 020 7450 0650 Email: skill@ skill. org. uk Skill Information Service Telephone: 0800 328 5050 Textphone: 0800 068 2422 Email: info@ skill. org. uk Careers Advice Service and nextstep If you are older than the 13- 19 age group normally supported by Connexions you can access impartial information and advice about careers and courses through the Careers Advice Service ( www. careersadvice. direct. gov. uk) or nextstep ( www. nextstepsouthwest. org. uk). The Careers Advice Service offers telephone and web based help and can be contacted free on 0800 100 900 seven days a week between 8am and 10pm. The service is confidential and you will not have to pay. If you prefer face to face advice you can also contact nextstep. For more information about the services they offer telephone 0845 850 5070 ( local rate call).