18 Job Tips After 18 Years in Brussels
What are the best job tips you’ve heard in Brussels? 18 years ago Tim McPhie began his career in Brussels. To mark this anniversary he wrote 18 career tips based on his 18 years of experience in Brussels, and we're glad he did. For all EU job seekers out there, this is gold.
This article has been republished with permission from Tim McPhie. His original post was published on his own account on LinkedIn. Tim McPhie is not affiliated, associated, authorized, employed, endorsed by, or in any way officially connected with EU Training.
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What are the best job tips you’ve heard in Brussels? 18 years ago I started my first job here. It feels like an anniversary worth marking in some way. So, for what it’s worth, here are 18 Brussels career tips based on my 18 years!
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Don’t worry about not having a plan
Like so many people, my story started with an unpaid internship. And I had no idea what would happen after that. Don't be put off if everyone around you sounds like they've been building up to Brussels for years and know exactly what they want and how they will get it. It's only by experiencing life here that you will really know what you want to do, and how you might do it.
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Don’t be scared of change
Brussels careers don’t follow an obvious path. You can always reinvent yourself or try something new. At any age. After 9 years doing policy work, I moved into press and politics. With next to no experience in either. At the risk of sounding like a LinkedIn cliché - you will develop transferable skills in any job. It's up to you to use them, and to sell yourself to a potential employer.
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Move sideways to move up
Two of my best job moves in Brussels came from moving sideways (and taking a pay cut). Sometimes you need to prove yourself to new people in a new organisation to allow yourself to really grow. Look at where there is longer-term opportunity and the chance to try new things. Don't just look at job titles and pay grades when you make a move.
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Make friends…
However good you are at maintaining work-life balance, you're gonna spend plenty of time in the office, so you might as well have fun while you're there. It's probably where you'll make some lifelong friendships, or even relationships!
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...and don’t make enemies
Brussels is a bubble, and your reputation will follow you, whether it's good or bad. So don't treat your colleagues, clients or contacts badly. Most importantly because it's just not cool! But also out of self-interest because chances are you'll meet again, and might need a favour that you haven't earned.
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It’s never too late
Just spotted your dream job ad, but there's only one hour until the deadline for applications? Go for it anyway! I wrote a job application in my lunch hour on deadline day once, and got the job!
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Take risks
Sometimes you have to gamble and be bold - on a job interview, a company, a policy issue, or a candidate or party to support. When you do, you should be aware of the risks, but also the potential rewards. Brussels can be a little bit tribal, but it can also reward people who can take a stand and at the same time accept a compromise.
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Work hard…
As the saying goes, 'if a job is worth doing, it's worth doing properly'. And people will know if you're slacking, and reward you if you're going the extra mile. It’s a tough job market so be the best you can.
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…but don’t do long hours for show
Don't spend hours in the office just to be seen. I know many people that have done that, and don't want to log off before their boss or a certain colleague. But that shows too, and you don't earn extra credit that way. Have confidence in the quality and completeness of your work, and don't stay for show. Life's too short for unnecessary hours in front of a computer!
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Share the load
However good you are at your job, you will never succeed by yourself. So make sure you ask for help, acknowledge the role of other members of your team, and chip in when you can to help others, even if it's not your responsibility to do so. It will make you better, and it will help others to develop too.
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Read and learn
If you're lucky, you will spend a lot of your career in Brussels learning new things. You will never run out of interesting reading or conferences on any policy area, and there will surely be many hours of debate over coffee, drinks or dinner with colleagues and friends too. Drink it all in, and be ready to listen to different opinions, and change your own!
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Travel if you can (sustainably of course!)
Brussels is lovely, but it's good to leave too! Go and see how your policy work or lobbying impacts people in countries around Europe, and remind yourself of the reality behind your daily discussions. And get out of Europe too to see how the rest of the world lives and works, and how they interact with Europe. For me, working in India and Dubai were the most eye-opening experiences, but I also learned so much working on campaigns across Europe.
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Be yourself...
Everybody has their strengths and weaknesses, whether that is quietly working away and getting things done, or being more of a schmoozer and networker. There is room for both ends of the spectrum and everything in between in any organisation in Brussels. If you aren't a natural at working the room at cocktail receptions, or giving big speeches and presentations, that's okay. There are other ways to build a network and do business. If you prefer small groups and one-to-one chats there is a place for that too. And don't be too self-critical. For everything you think is a weakness, there is somebody who thinks it's a strength.
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...and respect others
We all have different working routines, styles, hours and methods. You can't make everybody conform, and you don't get the best out of people by forcing them to change too much. It doesn't matter if you're an early morning or an evening person, as long as you get the job done. And more and more employers will adapt to your routine.
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Leave the past behind you…
One of the great things about Brussels for many of us is that it's a clean slate. I'm not talking about leaving dodgy criminal pasts behind (!) but rather about the fact that you are in a different job market compared to 'home' and your CV is seen in a different light. Speaking for myself, my University degree was from a good Law School, but not one of the top grades. I wouldn't have been a first choice for employers in the UK. But in Brussels, I found employers were less interested in my grades and more interested in the fact that I had such a degree, and that it included international experience thanks to the Erasmus programme.
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… but don’t forget where you came from
The experiences that formed you are unique and invaluable. Don't forget them and fall victim to the Stockholm Syndrome of talking and thinking like everyone around you in an attempt to conform or fit in. Don't be afraid to be different or challenge the status quo.
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Be proud…
Every now and then you should pat yourself on the back for what you've achieved so far. It's probably more than a younger you ever dreamed of, and there will be plenty of people who wished they had your job. You don't have to post how great you are on social media every day, but you can have the occasional moment of self-satisfaction if you like!
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… but also humble
Don't forget that there are plenty of people queuing up for a job in Brussels and you are not irreplaceable, however good you are. There will always be somebody who knows more than you. And you always have more to learn. So just give your best every day, keep an open mind, and don't be too proud to sit on the floor!
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What do you think of these tips? We think they are very relevant for EPSO candidates, and all EU job seekers.
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