Belgium Guide: Jobs

Finding a job abroad is not easy, and foreign working conditions are often quite different from those at home. Our job guide explains where to look for a job and how to apply for it. You will also find information on salaries, working conditions and social security issues.

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  Introduction

  The Belgian job market for foreigners

  Finding a job in Belgium may not be quite as difficult as the statistics would lead you to believe, but it does take a certain amount of experience, a number of qualifications and a lot of perseverance.

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  Qualifications

  What qualifications do I need to get a job in Belgium

  Belgium adheres to the EU’s general system of recognition of diplomas and qualifications. This means that if your occupation is regulated in Belgium, you’ll have to have your home country qualification or experience formally recognized in order to practice your profession in Belgium.

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  Employment Agencies

  Public and Private Employment Agencies

  There’s a European Employment Service (EURES) network, members of which include all EU countries plus Norway and Iceland.

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  International Civil Service

  Working for an international organisation

  Belgium offers some unique opportunities for employment in what is sometimes called the ‘international civil service’ sector.

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  Job hunting

  How to look for a job in Belgium

  National and local newspapers and magazines in Belgium carry job ads, often concentrated in the Saturday editions.

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  Job Applications in Belgium

  CVs and cover letters

  If you’re primarily looking for a job amongst the large multinational companies or international agencies and organisations located in Belgium, you can use a CV or resume in English similar to the one you’d use in your home country.

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  Working in Belgium

  Salary and working conditions

  Belgium has long been a prosperous region in Europe, and salaries are generally above average, although not as high as those in Germany and France.

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  Employment contracts

  What employment contracts entail

  In Belgium, an employment contract exists as soon as you undertake a job for which you expect to be paid, although employees nearly always have a written employment contract to document the existence of a formal work relationship.

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  Social Security

  The Belgian social security system

  Belgium has a comprehensive system of social security, which applies to all residents.

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  Unemployment Benefit

  Getting money when you loose your job

  Unemployment insurance is mandatory for all employees in Belgium, contributions are shared between employers and employees.

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  Pensions

  An introduction to the Belgian pension system

  All employees and self-employed people in Belgium pay compulsory contributions to state funds for old age and invalidity pensions.

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