This article was first published on the Online EU Training blog

If you are aiming to get an EU affairs job in Brussels, you must act by the classic job market rules: you shall convince an employer that only you have the specialist knowledge they are seeking. This requires horizontal (generalist) and vertical (specialist) knowledge. Neither of the two is enough these days, so we decided to share some great ideas in the coming months on how to get an EU affairs job.

Let’s see the first crucial element: find your niche.

What is a niche? It refers to a special segment of EU issues or a specialty that makes you, as a prospective job candidate, unique. If you are an expert on “EU policies”, very few employers will be interested in a such a generalist profile. Pick an area that is concrete, in demand and special to you: being an expert in European energy policy, on the EU’s Common Fisheries Policy, EPSO selection procedures or being a journalist who covers EU relations with South-East Asia are all good niches that can easily land you a great job.

No doubt, this is a two-edged sword: you may posses such a special knowledge that you cannot find the right employer. However, when the opportunity arises, nobody else will be so well positioned as you are.

As a first step, take a close look at your current profile and see if you can improve your focus. Adding an extra layer of knowledge (e.g. learning some basic Chinese or Arabic), getting some new skills (e.g. learning how to use social media in EU affairs) or combining your existing EU knowledge with a diploma in engineering, chemistry or other technical fields can significantly boost your chances of being hired in Brussels.

As the famous quote says: “Know something about everything and everything about something”. So what are you waiting for..?

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