EURES = EURopean Employment Services

EURES is a network foundedand coordinated by the European Commission, represented in countries of the EU/ EEA and Switzerland. The goal of its activities is to facilitate the mobility of labour force. Target groups are job seekers, employers, students and partners of the network. Services of the EURES network are free of charge.

Services and many activities of the network are oriented towards students, schools and youth. These include visits at schools, advisory by choosing a course of study and a career, cooperation with educational advisors, and information and job fairs organised on a regional and national level.

Ways how to increase qualification, gain practice after graduation and improve language skills include completing a study exchange programe during studies, study abroad, intership stay after graduation, or take part in language courses, do summer jobs, and work in European countries.

Knowledge of a foreign language is a basic requirement for placement with- in EU/ EEA countries. It is necessary for communication, as well as when dealing with offices, visiting a doctor and understanding documents.

Advantages of studying abroad are the ability to gain valuable experience, communication skills in foreign languages, making contacts with foreign colleagues, getting in touch with new cultures and have a better chance of employment.

Advantages of working abroad are acquiring professional experience, adopting work habits, improvement in foreign language commands, becoming independent and get a better wage assessment.

Useful websites:

http://www.eures.sk Labour opportunities in EU/EEA
http://eures.europa.eu Labour opportunities in EU/EEA
www.europa.eu.int/ploteus Study in European countries
http://www.eurydice.org Information on study in European countries
http://www.europass.cedefop.europa.eu Recognition of documents on education
http://www.saia.sk Slovak Academic Information Agency, study
abroad, scholarships
http://www.saaic.sk Slovak Academic Association for International
Cooperation; internship stays
http://www.euroguidance.net National Information Centre for Professional Training and Career Guidance
http://www.euroeducation.net Database of educational institutions in Europe
http://www.europa.eu.int/youth European youth portal
http://www.minedu.sk The Slovak Ministry of Education; the equivalence
of study abroad

Alena Házašová, EURES coordinator