Erasmus as a cure for unemployment?

Endless holidays or an accelerated foreign language course abroad? Opinions on Erasmus are divided, but one thing is for sure, employers look favorably on an Erasmus graduate in their CV and would be happy to see him in their team.

Erasmus is a dream come true for many students. Not only can they go abroad for at least a few months, they also get money for this trip and meet a lot of people from all over the world. In addition, they learn a foreign language and, of course, pass exams at the local university. In a word, live, not die. Until you do not want to go back. Unfortunately, the day is finally coming when this “eternal vacation” must end and return to the gray reality. What now? Many students wonder, but they have nothing to worry about. Because after graduation, they will have a great chance of finding a job, as shown by research carried out by the European Commission.

Erasmus students find it easier to find a job?

A recent study on the effects of the Erasmus student exchange program shows that graduates with international experience do better in the labor market. In their case, the risk of long-term unemployment is halved in comparison with graduates who have not studied or completed an internship abroad. Moreover, five years after graduation, the unemployment rate in this group is 23% lower. This study, the results of which were compiled by independent experts, is the largest study of this type and nearly 80,000 people participated in it. respondents, including students and entrepreneurs.

See also: Harvard – unemployment insurance

– The results of the Erasmus impact study are extremely significant in view of the unacceptably high level of youth unemployment in the EU. The message is clear: if you do your studies or internships abroad, your chances of getting a job will increase. The new Erasmus + program will offer EU scholarships to four million people between 2014 and 2020, giving them the opportunity to experience life in another country through study, internship, teaching or volunteering, comments Androulla Vassiliou, European Commissioner for Education, Culture, Multilingualism and youth.

Employers are looking for Erasmus students

The study published by the European Commission also shows that when deciding to hire, 92 percent. employers choose people with personality traits improved by the Erasmus program, such as tolerance, trust, problem-solving skills, curiosity, knowledge of their own strengths / weaknesses. Tests carried out before and after exchange periods abroad show that in students who have participated in Erasmus, these personality traits are more pronounced even before the exchange trip; after returning, the difference increases compared to other students by an average of 42%.

According to Anna Węgrzyn, mHR Project Manager at BPSC SA, studying abroad forces you to deal with many problems: linguistic, cultural, legal and organizational. The same challenges are faced every day by modern enterprises that in the era of “internationalization” of business think in terms of the needs of their global customers, shareholders, owners, suppliers, subcontractors, partners.

– A person who has operated in such a multinational configuration, even as a student, will work more effectively. The process of cultural adaptation is already behind it and she will be ready to solve specific professional problems faster than her local colleague. People studying abroad are more aware of the possibilities of using their professional skills, competences, personal preferences, habits, rhythm of work, the way of providing work and ties with the employer – says Anna Węgrzyn.

“High-octane fuel” by Erasmus students

According to Węgrzyn, as a result, post-Erasmus people make more rational decisions regarding the choice of their career path. This decision is much more conscious and is rarely a coincidence. The right choice of profession and employer, combined with determination, is a “high-octane fuel” for a further professional career.

See also: Erasmus and AIESEC – foreign internships that make it easier to find a job

– Such a person knows what he wants, has a better chance of a rational choice of an employer, a better fit to the role of an employee. Graduates of international universities not only know what they want, but also know what they do not want – in what organization, environment or culture they could never work or develop – so they choose (an employer by choice) more accurately and keep employment. The last noteworthy benefit is the network of relations and contacts we establish during studies, which can later be used in business relations – adds Węgrzyn.

“Erasmus” on the labor market in Poland

And what about the subject most interested, ie the Erasmus graduates? According to Marek, a graduate of one of the universities in Wrocław, the program offers many opportunities and definitely makes it easier to find a job.

– I was on Erasmus at one of the universities in France – says Marek. – It was difficult at first, because I didn’t know the language very well, but I had an accelerated course there and I quickly started to get along and speak very good French. After returning to Poland, I wrote my master’s thesis and quickly found a job in one of the corporations, a very good knowledge of French was useful. My future employer, when he saw that I was on an exchange in France, very quickly decided to accept me.

According to Marta from Warsaw, who went to Spain for Erasmus, this kind of trip is the best way to train a language, the knowledge of which helps a lot later in finding a job.

– Many of my friends decided to stay in Spain after Erasmus and found a job there, I returned to Poland, finished my studies and started looking for a job – says Marta. – I found the position very quickly, I work in one of the corporations in Wrocław in the HR department, of course I contact employees from Spain. Talking to them is not a problem for me, and this is due to my six-month stay in this country.

See also: Polish student abroad

Despite the information that the program is to be suspended because there is no money for it, the student exchange continues. Over the next seven years (2014-2020), the new Erasmus + program will enable 4 million people to go abroad, including 2 million students and 300,000 students. university employees. In addition, the program will finance an exchange with the participation of non-European partner countries for 135 thousand. students and academics.

Lucyna Jadowska