Work abroad as a gas engineer

Like any industry, the gas and electrical services sector has been hit by a poor performing economy and companies are more tentative about hiring new staff. While there are still new positions out there, electrical and gas engineer students need to up their stakes and really sell themselves to come out on top against a sea of job seekers. There is light at the end of the tunnel, however, if you’re prepared to travel a little bit further for work. A number of European countries are investing heavily into the gas industry and are welcoming qualified British gas and electrical engineers with open arms. The competition is still strong but with more jobs to go around, the possibilities of launching a career as a gas engineer abroad are perhaps more tangible than if you were to start out in the UK. There’s also greater potential for reaching a senior level within this industry and higher wages/lower cost of living.

Once you have successfully completed the UK’s core gas competency certificate – CCN1 – you are entitled to apply for work abroad as a qualified heating engineer however a number of countries also require foreign workers to undertake a trade certificate before they grant a licence for you to work.

The CCN1 is internationally recognised and highly respected in those countries which are suffering from a skills shortage. In the same way as the UK, gas engineers who want to broaden their skills and knowledge so that they can work on a larger range of appliances will need to complete additional qualifications.

How do you find work abroad as a domestic gas engineer?

Many overseas businesses advertise in the UK in an effort to attract strong candidates for work and boost their skills base. It is worth searching online and in the media for such vacancies as these companies are used to hiring British workers and are more likely to have a good system for helping people through the emigration process. One of the things that many freshly qualified gas engineers forget is that moving abroad isn’t straightforward as there are the legalities and visa paperwork to contend with, particularly for jobs outside of Europe. There’s also accommodation and health care/tax to arrange prior to moving abroad.

There are a number of recruitment agencies which specialise in careers abroad so it’s worth signing up to those which offer opportunities in the domestic heating and gas sector. It is also a good idea to write to overseas firms directly and include your CV to enquire about possible work opportunities.