It’s never too late to take a new path
Eddy Bomboko started his career as a singer and producer, but after working in the music industry for several years, he decided to set on a new path. “When I was 38, I realised that having a musical career in Belgium is not easy, so I decided to reskill and become a chef,” says Eddy.
Thanks to Actiris International (the international mobility department of the Public Employment Service in Brussels, which is also a EURES member), Eddy completed his training, and within a month he found a job in Brussels.
Eager for international work experience
One day, the young chef received an email from a EURES Adviser from Actiris International about an opportunity in France that he found intriguing. “It was a six-month traineeship at the resort Club Med in Haute-Savoie. I had always wanted to work abroad, so I immediately applied. This was also a great opportunity to learn more about how French restaurants work.”
Eddy says that EURES played a central role as an intermediary between himself and the employer. Actiris International was in charge of organising the job interview and shortlisting candidates for the employer.
“Without them, I wouldn’t have been able to find this opportunity,” says the young chef. Looking back, Eddy remembers that the hiring process happened very quickly.
“The EURES Adviser invited me to the Actiris office for an interview with Club Med. When I arrived, there were around 10 other candidates. During my interview, the employer said that they found my CV very interesting because of my artistic background. They told me they would contact me very soon, but I should already start preparing to move to France.”
The value of international experience
Having gained some experience in France, the young chef is now ready for his next adventure. He believes that having international work experience is essential for career progression: “It opens up a lot of doors for you. For example, I’m currently at the final selection stage for a job in Congo, and I believe my experience in Club Med played a big part in getting this far.”
Eddy believes that working abroad should not be taken lightly. “You need to have a certain maturity. By that I mean you need to be ready to be away from your family for a while. It is also important to have people that support you, and you definitely need to have an adventurous spirit.”
Do you want to start your own adventure abroad? Despite the pandemic, our EURES Advisers are standing by to give advice and support jobseekers in finding opportunities around Europe. Contact the EURES helpdesk to get started today.
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Details
- Publication date
- 15 June 2021
- Authors
- European Labour Authority | Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion
- Topics
- Youth
- Related section(s)
- Sector
- Accomodation and food service activities
- Activities of extraterritorial organisations and bodies
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- Administrative and support service activities
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- Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles