How to get a job in Luxembourg
In this article we will tell you how to look for a job in Luxembourg and what to look out for.
For third-country nationals, which means anyone lacking a European Union passport, as well as Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, or Sweden nationality, the employment process in the Grand Duchy can be divided into five steps.
The search for a workplace
It is possible to find the appropriate job opportunities, including English-speaking vacancies in Luxembourg, by three methods:
- With social media and messengers: LinkedIn, Facebook, Telegram;
- With special job-related sites: relocate.me, GovJobs, EURES, by specifying Luxembourg as a location;
- With the local employment agency ADEM, where you can find open vacancies in the Grand Duchy;
- With social networking and the help of friends.
The particular demand is concentrated in the IT sector and finances in Luxembourg, but it doesn't mean there are few jobs in other areas. Look at the list of vacancies and the most popular professions in the country.
Keep in mind, that you will need an education diploma in order to be employed as a Blue Card highly-qualified specialist. Keep in mind, that high-skilled specialists are always in demand in Luxembourg:
Resume and motivation letter application
A well-written resume and cover letter are crucial elements of the employment process in Luxembourg.
The resume should be done in English and/or French and be well structured. Fill out the information in 5 specific sections: contacts, education, experience, personal projects, and skills. When preparing your resume, use a regular font and fit all the information on an A4 sheet. Use headings and bullets to keep the text consistent and clear.
A cover letter must accompany your resume when you apply for a job. This also could be an email in the language of the job description or in English or a separate document. The entire text should also fit the A4 format. It is also important to structure the cover letter: state the position you are applying for, include the greeting, main part, and conclusion, and mention your contact info. Keep the narrative in a business style.
The invitation and several rounds of job interview
Luxembourg, like the rest of the EU, approaches the recruitment process very seriously. Normally, those looking for jobs from abroad will have several online interviews that last an average of 45-60 minutes.
Being invited for an interview means that your resume and cover letter are potentially interesting to the employing company. But be prepared for more than one round of interviews to get the job you want.
ADEM certificate for third-country nationals
In EU law, a third country is any country that isn't a member of the EU or the European Economic Area (EEA). The EEA countries are often treated similarly because of its agreements with the EU, even though they are not a part of EU. A third-country national is anyone who is a citizen of a country outside the EU and EEA. This means that people from countries outside the EU/EEA, like the United States, China, India, or Morocco, are considered third-country nationals.
One of the most famous cases in recent years happen to be Brexit. In June 2016 the United Kingdom decided to stop being part of the European Union. So from 2020, the United Kingdom is no longer part of the European Union.
If you're a US citizen, you don't need a visa to visit most European countries in the Schengen Area for stays up to 90 days. Still, from 2025, US citizens will need to apply for an ETIAS travel authorisation before visiting. This isn't a visa, though.
Normally it takes 3 to 4 weeks to obtain the certificate from ADEM for third-country nationals. It is an important paper from ADEM, that grants your employer the right to hire and make a labor contract with a third-country national. This will also allow the employee to obtain temporary authorisation to stay.
Third-country nationals should keep in mind that recruitment and employment eligibility has certain nuances.
- Thus, the employer must submit the vacancy information to ADEM, the national employment agency of Luxembourg. They are obliged to first look for a suitable candidate in European Union. If none is available for specific job requirements, the employer has the right to hire an employee from a third country. The given certificate allows hiring an individual who is not registered with ADEM.
- The employer must create a labor contract with the worker, stating the date of entering the job.
The ADEM certificate and the labor contract should be attached to your temporary authorisation to stay application.
Third-country nationals often work in technical and service positions:
The employment contract creation
Every single thing that was discussed and agreed upon during the job interview process, should be spelled out in your contract. This applies to the conditions of relocation, cultural and language adaptation, your payment, the reimbursement of expenses conditions, termination terms on your own and by the company, etc.
Moreover, the contract specifies information about the parties, the place and time of work, job description and responsibilities, the amount of salary and additional benefits, if any, the length of vacation and trial period, etc.
The employment contract must be made in accordance with Luxembourg law and created in 2 copies signed by both parties.
Once these steps are done, you can collect your documents and apply for a visa and a temporary residence permit.
How to become self-employed in Luxembourg
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Where to look for a job
I am not in IT or finance. Am I still eligible for a Blue Card
Can ADEM help find a job
Is it necessary to write all terms of relocation in the contract
Source: relocate.me, govjobs.public.lu, ec.europa.eu, adem.public.lu
We took photos from these sources: Resume Genius for Unsplash
Very helpful!
Informative!
I didn’t get it.
This is outdated.
