Are you or your friends thinking of moving abroad to work in 2016? If so, we here at Job Coconut have compiled a list of what we deem to be the Europe’s top 10 cities to work in. Here are the first 5!
Dublin, Ireland
Dublin is one of the best cities to live in in the world according to the latest annual Quality of Living Survey by Mercer. Dublin’s ranking outstrips some of the world’s most cosmopolitan cities including Paris, London and Tokyo.
Despite Ireland’s economic struggles, Dublin is becoming known as the new Silicon Valley with its so-called “Silicon Docks” district, where tech giants such as Google and Facebook have set down their international HQs. Other major players in Dublin include LinkedIn, PayPal, Amazon and Twitter. Similarly, Dublin is becoming a hub for start-ups, with recent additions including Dropbox, Indeed.com and Hubspot. This cluster effect is earning Ireland a reputation for the being the heart of tech in Europe.
Luckily for jobseekers, Dublin is suffering a skills gap. Companies are crying out for skills in as technology, business/management, R&D and engineering and foreign languages. This means there is great potential for European language speaking professionals in Dublin! Do you have these skills? Check out our job availabilities here.
Some of the highlights of living in Dublin include:
It is located beside both the sea and the mountains so you never have to go too far to get some fresh air!
People speak English and are very friendly. The Irish are known for their “craic” (fun) and pub culture.
There are many green spaces and parks within the city such as Stephen’s green, Trinity College and Phoenix Park where you can relax!
Galleries and Museums – such as the National Gallery is a perfect place to discover some of Ireland’s finest art collections.
Guinness Storehouse – exhibition of Ireland’s favourite beverage (plus you get a free pint of Guinness!)
Amsterdam is the commercial and cultural centre of the Netherlands. The Economist Intelligence Unit ranked it as the 2nd best city to live in the world!
It is one of the top financial centres in Europe. Many large Dutch institutions have their headquarters there along with some of the world’s top 500 companies. Recently, Amsterdam has become known as a creative city with many creative companies basing themselves there.
Some of the main attractions of living in Amsterdam:
The Dutch are very welcoming to foreigners.
Amsterdam is famous for its liberal outlook i.e. sexual orientation, cultural backgrounds etc.
One of the largest expat communities in Europe.
Its bicycle culture. Check out the multi-story bicycle flat used by thousands everyday!
Its scenic canals which permeate the city.
Home to many world famous museums such as the Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh Museum and Anne Frank House.
Sound tempting? Check out Job Coconut’s job availabilities in Amsterdam here.
Barcelona, Spain
Barcelona is the capital city of Catalonia. Barcelona is today one of the world’s leading tourist, economic, cultural and sports centres.
Although Spain and Barcelona have been hit hard by the global economic crisis, and unemployment is high, there are still plenty of job opportunities, especially for those who speak Spanish and/or Catalan along with English. Banking and logistics sectors are particularly big, and the city is currently trying to regenerate the district of Poblenou into an IT and technology hub.
Highlights of living in Barcelona include:
The unique architecture – notably Gaudi’s modernist movement which permeates the city such as the Sagrada Familia Casa Milà and Casa Batiló.
Strolling through the Gothic Quarter – The centre of the old city.
The view from the top of Parc Guell, one of Barcelona’s 8 UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
It is located beside a beach so you can go to the beach after work!
The delicious local food such as fresh seafood and tapas. Not to mention the exquisite Spanish wine!
Looking for a job in Barcelona? Click here for job vacancies. For information on living and working in Spain - clickhere.
Krakow, Poland
Krakow, the old royal capital, is acclaimed for its many impressive architectural monuments and a unique friendly atmosphere. With visitors to Krakow regularly falling in love with both the place and the inhabitants, there is inevitably a steady steam of foreigners taking the plunge and relocating to the city. Thankfully for them, the service and technology industry is strong and growing, with many off-shore divisions of banks, financial and technology companies like Google, IBM, State Street, HSBC and Shell.
Highlights of living in Krakow:
The enchanting Old Town which includes Europe’s largest medieval square. The Chirstmas Market is must see.
Cheap compared to Western Europe.
Vibrant and varied music scene.
Great local cuisine. Don’t miss the “Milk Bars” remnant of the past communist influence. Not to mention trying its notorious vodka.
Excellent public transport system
Thinking of working in Krakow? Click here to view our live job openings. For further information on living and working in Poland -click here.
Copenhagen, Denmark
Copenhagen has been ranked the number 1 city in the world to live in (twice!) according to Monocle’s “Most Livable Cities Index”. Factors taken into account for the winning title include safety, tolerance, green initiatives and international connectivity. Copenhagen is renowned for its creative environment, its relaxed lifestyle, cycle culture, democratic design and active use of city spaces.
Copenhagen is a major business centre not just for Denmark but the entire Scandinavian-Baltic region. In 2009, Copenhagen was ranked third “Richest City in the World”, so its of no surprise that company's pay out some of the world’s highest wage rates.
Copenhagen is home to a number of international companies such as Novo Nordisk, Carlsberg and Novozymes. The city also has successful business clusters in several innovative sectors including IT, biotechnology, pharmaceuticals and clean technology.
Some of the benefits of living in Copenhagen include:
Its gastronomy – Copenhagen is one of the world’s top culinary destinations.
Its great public transport system and ingrained cycle culture.
Perusing the National Museum of Denmark – Denmark’s largest museum of cultural history.
Free health benefits (however the taxes are high).
Visiting the Tivoli Gardens – a famous amusement park and pleasure garden.
Check out our follow up blog for more of Europe’s hottest cities to work in here. If you have enjoyed reading this blog please share it with your friends! If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to get in contact with us here at Job Coconut.
