In this guest post, business graduate Rosamari Rissanen shares her experiences of working in the EU and the kinds of opportunities a career in the EU can open

If someone had told me in 2018 when I started my business studies that I would one day work in the European Parliament and assist with some of the biggest climate laws of the moment, I would never have believed it.

But that's exactly what happened. My studies in media production provided an excellent foundation for managing and organizing various tasks, understanding a bit of economics, and honing my prioritization skills. When I was looking for an internship related to my degree in the summer of 2019, a close friend suggested I apply for an internship with a Member of the European Parliament's team. They said I would be a good fit for the role.

Politics had never interested me, but I decided to apply anyway. I had nothing to lose. It would be great to work abroad since exchange studies did not fit into my plans during my studies. Despite my doubts, I was wanted in Brussels because I had gained diverse work experience before my business studies, and my studies supported the administrative tasks particularly aimed at interns. With a background in a University of Applied Sciences, I was a great fit for the role, even though, with the exception of two colleagues, the entire Finnish group in the parliament had university backgrounds. It was all about competence.

My internship ended just before the pandemic, but my interest in politics had been sparked, and strongly so. It had been a great honor, privilege, and learning experience to intern in the European Parliament. I enjoyed the multicultural and challenging work environment so much that I would have loved to stay on as a full-time assistant, but there were no vacancies in the team. The parliament's restrictions are quite strict in many matters. However, before I left, I asked what I needed to learn to be hired if a position became available. I received tips on areas for improvement and returned to Finland.

After spending the pandemic period in Finland, I first started as a substitute for a domestic assistant of another MEP, and then came the call – would I like to come back. And I did. I had proven my development. My responsibilities included communication and administrative tasks, such as managing the parliament's official communication funds and organizing official visitor group trips. Eventually, I was also asked to substitute for the chief of staff and was given the responsibility to follow the important Green Deal climate package and provide voting instructions for the entire package in plenary sessions. Still – with a business degree and a University of Applied Sciences background.

This summer marks five years since one person dared to tell me that I would be a great fit for that position as a business student. Since then, this business graduate has worked full-time in politics. One encouragement, the right timing, hard work, and maybe a bit of luck brought me here. After personal life changes, I returned to Finland last summer, but I currently work as a special assistant to the Deputy Mayor of Helsinki. You don't see many business graduates in these corridors either. Yet.

From my own experience, I dare to say that EU jobs are perfectly suited for business graduates, and the EU needs the diverse skills of business students. We business graduates can truly achieve anything we set our minds to.

FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions:

What languages do I need to know for EU jobs?

In a Finnish MEP's office, Finnish and reasonable English are sufficient. Knowledge of Swedish is beneficial, and knowing French is never a disadvantage in Belgium.

What kind of salary can I expect when working in the EU?

Salaries in EU institutions are tax-free, meaning you take home almost the entire amount. Therefore, the salary is relatively better than in Finland.

Where can I find EU positions?

EU positions can be found on the official EU websites. However, for roles like parliamentary assistant, you don’t need an official position; these and many other jobs can be found on individual organizations' websites. So, it's a good idea to search online!

Do I need to belong to a political party to work in the EU?

Being a member of a political party is not an official requirement, but sharing the same values as the MEP you are assisting is extremely important.

The guest-writer of this post is BBA graduate Rosamari Rissanen, who has experience of working in EU