Are you an African software developer looking to get hired in Europe? I have just discovered a hack that few people know about--signing up with a tech consulting firm instead of applying to companies directly. Let me explain ๐งต:
While I applied on the company website directly, every other software engineer that I meet here (including the Kenyan programmers that I know) is not an employee of the company, but works with a consulting firm.
Basically, a company rents the employee from the consulting firm. It pays the consulting firm, which in turn takes a cut and pays the employee
What are the advantages of this for an employee? Why go to the consulting firm instead of the company directly?
The first is job security. In most cases, if you lose your job as an immigrant, you're supposed to leave the country. But here, if the company decides to downsize, the employee still has the right to remain as they r employed not by their company, but by the consulting firm
Another benefit is the flexibility. Consulting firms work with many clients, usually across the globe. If you're in, say, Sweden and feel like you've overstayed your welcome, you simply notify your agency that you feel like shifting to a company in London instead.
They'll make it possible, since they usually have dozens of clients and know required vacancies and such even before they're advertised
Even though the consulting agency takes a cut off your pay, they negotiate the best possible salary with your employer on your behalf. You get paid the highest rates and don't feel the pinch, as they have top-class negotiators for both salary and working conditions.
Also, agencies take care of their people. In European cities where getting a place to rent is a nightmare, they will organize your housing, pay your phone and Internet bills, take care of taxes and invoicing, etc. You just have to move in and start working
But here's my favorite part: While thousands of people will apply for a job directly on the company website, few know about these agencies, thus they get considerably fewer applications. Meaning they're more likely to notice your application and there's less competition overall.
A number of agencies that operate across Europe include Techhunters Recruitment, Amaris, Sigma, CapeGemini, Talent Search Technology, and MCA Sweden. They'll interview you and place you in a suitable company.
Google them and have a look at their vacancies page. Follow me, I'll be adding more as I get to discover them.
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