From Brescia to Valencia: Giorgia’s new adventure with EURES TMS

At 25, Giorgia Carri decided to leave her job in Italy and take on a new challenge in Spain. Now working in Customer Service in Valencia, she shares how EURES TMS helped her approach this important step with greater confidence and peace of mind.

Giorgia Carri has always been curious about the world and passionate about languages. For years, she had dreamed of gaining experience abroad. After studying Tourism and Territorial Development at the Catholic University of Brescia and gaining her first professional experience in Italy, she decided to turn that ambition into reality in September 2025.

She chose Spain and now lives and works in Valencia. It was an important decision, carefully considered with the support of EURES TMS, which helped her navigate her job search and prepare for the move.

Giorgia, could you tell us a little about yourself and how the idea of working abroad came about?

I’m 25 and have always lived in Brescia. I specialised in tourism because I really enjoy learning languages, and I graduated in Tourism and Territorial Development from the Catholic University of Brescia. I started working while I was still at university, first as a receptionist at a hotel for almost a year and then in a company, where I worked in reception and sales.

I had always thought about gaining experience abroad, perhaps through the Erasmus programme, but I didn’t feel ready when I was at university. At some point, though, my life had started to feel a little too repetitive, going back and forth between work and home. So, in September 2025, I decided to start looking for a job abroad.

Why did you choose Spain?

I really like Spanish and wanted the opportunity to improve it every day, including through everyday interactions. I also think Spain is similar to Italy in many ways, particularly when it comes to lifestyle and the way people relate to one another.

How did you find out about EURES TMS, and how did it help you?

I came across EURES TMS on social media while looking for information about finding a job abroad. I had a permanent contract in Italy, so I wanted to make sure I found an opportunity I genuinely liked before making the move.

I contacted Marco, the EURES adviser in Brescia, and I’m very grateful for his support and for always being available to answer my questions. We worked on my CV together, and he gave me advice on how to structure it, where to send it and how to approach my job search effectively.

He also encouraged me to take part in EURES TMS and explained the support available, including language courses and financial assistance. Knowing that I could count on practical support at such an important moment gave me more confidence to take the leap.

One aspect I particularly appreciated was having someone to discuss my choices with. Marco helped me understand what I really wanted and which opportunities were best suited to me. He always stressed the importance of applying thoughtfully, rather than letting the desire to move abroad drive every decision. Since I was leaving a permanent job in Italy, it was important for me not to make an impulsive choice, but to find an opportunity that was genuinely worth making the move for.

You now live and work in Valencia. What was it like arriving in a new country?

I started working in Valencia in May, in a Customer Service company whose client is a hotel chain. I felt very comfortable from the beginning, although settling into a new country and getting used to different cultures and traditions takes time.

The main challenges have been getting used to being a foreigner and navigating the Spanish bureaucracy. Here, too, EURES TMS has been an important point of reference. I received support in understanding my employment contract and dealing with some administrative matters.

On a personal level, the hardest part is being away from my family. Living far from the people you love is not always easy, but I consider this experience the best decision I have ever made.

What has been the best moment of your experience so far?

Definitely meeting my colleagues, whom I connected with straight away. Every day, we share experiences and create new memories together. It’s lovely to have people around you who make you feel comfortable, even when you’re far from home.

This experience has also given me the opportunity to meet new people and improve my language skills. As well as Spanish, I use English at work because the company I work for is Dutch.

What are you learning from this experience, both professionally and personally?

I’m learning new things every day. There are the small everyday achievements, such as cooking dinner for myself or doing the laundry, and then there are the bigger lessons: learning to manage my time and money, organise my life and become more independent while living in another country, far from my family.

Professionally, working in an international environment is also an opportunity to grow, improve my language skills and learn from people with different backgrounds and habits.

Do you think you would have moved abroad without EURES TMS?

I think I would have moved abroad anyway, but probably with less peace of mind. At this stage of my life, knowing that I have someone to turn to makes a real difference.

The support I received also reassured my family. Knowing I was in good hands helped me approach both the move and my first steps in Spain with greater confidence.

How do you see your future after this experience?

At the moment, I don’t have any clearly defined personal or professional plans. However, this experience is teaching me that opportunities can come along when we least expect them, and that having someone or a service to rely on is always a great help.

What advice would you give to someone considering working in another European country?

I would encourage everyone to give this adventure a try. We’re lucky to have incredible countries just a few kilometres away and a whole world waiting to be discovered. Moving abroad can be daunting, but it’s also an opportunity to meet new people, learn a language and discover more about yourself.

Complete the sentence: “Moving abroad with EURES TMS has meant…”

Being able to approach both the move itself and everything leading up to it with peace of mind, knowing that I have support and someone to rely on at such an important and new stage of my life.

I would encourage everyone to give this adventure a try. We’re lucky to have incredible countries just a few kilometres away and a whole world waiting to be discovered.