Having part-time jobs and balancing them with your studies can prove to be very beneficial as an international student in Europe. Part-time jobs give you some sort of financial ease. If you are clever enough, learn a skill that you are somewhat passionate about before you go to study abroad. It is going to make your task of finding a job so much easier if you learn some common skills beforehand.
People with some sort of experience and skills are always considered fit for the job in interviews. Also, it is better to have some sort of idea about a job rather than learn from the very beginning, right?
Which set of skills should you learn, you ask? The answer to this question is that you know yourself a lot better than anyone else. You just need to figure out your interests and sharpen up your skills to be the best at them.
However, here are some major skills you could learn and some training you could take that are easily available before you go to Europe on a student visa!
Driving:
Driving is a skill that is a must in European countries. In the very beginning, you could work for a delivery service, which requires driving and navigation skills. A part-time delivery service could ease your pocket and help support your tight budget as an international student. Driving will help you understand the city's routes and find your way around them. In addition, it will help you learn the traffic rules and become an ethical driver.
Learning The Local Language:
Learning the basics of the local language can be very helpful for your entire stay in a . You can just start learning simple words and continue learning them throughout your stay. Knowing the local language will surely help you engage easily in a new society. This helps you make new relationships with people, be they personal or professional, and learn more about native people, their culture, food, and lifestyle.
One way to please people who could potentially be your employers is by learning the local language. This will make them like you, as they will see your initiation into their society.
Moreover, you will not be limited to jobs such as waiters or CSR departments, which require you to interact directly with customers if you know the local language.
Cooking and Baking:
Some of us must surely be passionate about cooking and baking. This could be one of the best skills that you have learned before going to Sweden. Cooking and baking skills could get you a job at a restaurant or a bakery.
No! You are obviously not going to get a job as a chef at the very beginning, but you can always work your way up. You just need to take 2 to 3 months of training to learn to cook and bake.
Hairdressing And Makeup:
Hairdressing and makeup can be quite expensive in European countries, unlike in our country. This is one of the job sectors that has a very high demand at this age and pays very well.
Also, many basic to advanced training courses are easily available to learn hairdressing and makeup skills. Working in salons will also give you upfront interactions with customers that will automatically enhance your communication skills in Swedish.
Plumbing:
Plumbing is a job that has one of the highest salaries in the UK, and Britain has been facing the biggest shortage in this skill for a generation now. Learning basic plumbing skills can help you get a job easily as an international student. Learning plumbing enhances your ability to pay attention to detail, work well with people in a foreign land, and grow your customer service skills.
Training to learn plumbing can give you firsthand experience dealing with customers. Working as a plumber, you are at a client’s home or business, which is pretty much what you need for networking and socializing as an international student. In addition, this will ease your pocketbook since you will be on a tight budget as a student.
Note: Skills such as mobile repair, dog walking, and grooming will also help you find odd jobs at the local level.