How would I go about getting a job in Italy?

Show all answers

tolinrome

Well, I have first hand personal experience in this. I moved to Italy from America not knowing a word of Italian (I married an Italian) and it was very difficult to find work - even if you speak fluent Italian - it's still difficult, even for Italians it's difficult! The economy in the south especially is among the worst. I lived in Rome for 5 years and even there it wasn't easy.

You can teach English though. I did that for a while and it seems that everyone from mother tongue English speaking countries does that at first. But you will only make about 4 or 5 euros an hour, better than nothing.

What I strongly suggest you do is try one of the international companies (most are in Rome) where they speak English - such as WFP and FAO or IFAD - they pay great wages and speak English and it would be comparable to working in an American environment. Ive worked for one of them for a few years and it was great, but it is difficult to get in since everyone wants to work there, so you have to persist.

Working for an Italian company would be less desirable since the pay is terrible (if they even decide to pay you) and they treat you as if they're doing you a favor just working for them for free.

I worked for an Italian company teaching English for about 4 euros an hour and after about 6 weeks they still didn't pay me (this is very typical in Italy) and they made every excuse in the book as to why. "They couldn't find the key to the drawer for the checks" - "Wait until tomorrow" etc... Finally after I threatened them they payed me. I'm not trying to scare you but just to inform you to be prepared for what you may be up against.

You also have to think of the legal requirements for working and staying there. Legally you are only allowed to stay for 90 days, unless of course you have an Italian passport or one form the EU. Even if you do find a decent job there, they will ask you for your work papers and you probably cant get those unless the company actually requests from the government that you work for them or you marry an Italian (someone from EU) - that a whole other subject though :)

You're best to go there with enough financial resources first so you don't have to depend on getting work right away.

I know cleaning jobs are also popular - cleaning peoples homes.

In North Italy it's easier to find work but still can be difficult.

Who knows, maybe it will work out for ya, it does for alot of people but be prepared to fight for it.

Hope it works out for ya!!!

conley39

If you're a Australian, US or Canadian citizen, you can only stay here for 90 days as a tourist without a visa. It also isn't legal for you to work here without having a work permit and a visa that allows you to do so unless you're from the EU. Generally, you cannot apply for a work permit yourself - the company has to apply for it which means you need to have a job lined up. This website of the Italian government has visa information: http://www.esteri.it/visti/home_eng.asp.

Jobs for people outside the EU are difficult. EU citizens have the right to move and work within the EU, so there's a much smaller burden for a company to hire someone from here than from the US. As a US citizen, you need to have skills that aren't widely available here or some other specialized knowledge such as experience with non-European regulatory bodies. Some health care fields are in demand. Another possibility though is working in a branch of an international company in your country and transfering here - that's how I ended up here for the past 9 years.

You could come over as a tourist and try to make contacts in your field while you're here. You might consider going to grad school in a program that will allow you a semester or a year abroad as a part of your education.

A good starting point for planning this type of move is to do some research on the expat websites for the countries you're interested in. This is a good way to get current information and make in-country contacts. These are sites for expats in Italy with general info on living and working and a couple with jobs listings:

http://www.us-expatriate-handbook.com/
http://www.expatsinitaly.com/
http://www.jobonline.it/
http://italy.jobs.com/
http://www.alloexpat.com/moving_to_italy...
http://www.expatfocus.com/expatriate-ita...

There are lots of other sites with information. Just Google "expat" and the name of the country you're interested in.

Al M

The most important thing -- as others have said -- is that you will need to be fluent in Italian. Some Italians do speak English, but they are definitely a minority. If you can't speak Italian, there are very good odds you'll get precisely nowhere with a job search.

Even if you are fluent in Italian, getting a decent job of any sort will be a struggle. Most people in this country get jobs through their connections. Even when there is supposedly an open recruitment process in place, it's reasonable to assume that the candidate who knows someone who knows someone in the company will have a huge advantage. Some might call this corruption. Whatever it is, it's how things work in Italy.

One possible way of working in Italy is being employed by a multinational firm in your home country and being posted here. That's a long-shot though, and hardly a good reason for deciding who you want to work for.

If you wanted the experience and if you're quite brave and resourceful, it is possible you could come here and find an informal job "in the black" working as a waiter or some other equally ill-paid and over-exploited position.

It would be unwise to assume you could come here and find work teaching English. The working conditions, pay and insecurity of jobs in that field are notorious. There is no shortage of people who can speak English and are willing to try to teach others how to do the same.

Sorry to be so negative, but the fact is that finding work in Italy is damned hard for Italians who speak the language fluently, hold recognised Italian qualifications and have extensive social networks. Coming into this job market as a foreigner is almost guaranteed to result in frustration, disappointment, an empty bank balance and some hard times before you get back home.

eric

u can't go to a country because of the money u have to go to love it.i know italy is not the riches country but that doesn't put me off

ktprieto

I don't know much about this, but I will tell you the little that I know.

I went to Italy this past summer with a study abroad group. My teacher has been going for years and years, and decided one summer to try and get a job there. She had an extremely hard time and eventually gave up simply because so many places are family run and do not hire strangers. A lot of it has to do with who you know there. Plus, employee turnover rates are nothing compared to the US. Many hold the same job for their entire lives, no matter what it is.

But then again, I don't know where you'd be staying or what type of job you'd be looking for. I know Milan is like their business capital and probably very tourist friendly (like Rome), so you could try looking into either of those places.

Good luck :)

magyarember

leave now and never come back

nofear1999

Well i would look on Yahoo Hotjobs under italy. or google Italy Jobs. But, you should learn their language first :)

.Laura

actually your name is a good sign ahahah

clandrootor

Just put a search on the net for jobs in Italy and see what comes up. I just tried it there are loads of options

A.A.Andrea

i live in milan.
in italy we've got a lot of people.. so.. we haven't a lot of jobs..! stay there!

Barry E

It really all depends on what country you are from. If you are European it's easy. You can just go there and work.
Do try and learn as much Italian as possible before hand if you can.
If you are non-European your best chance is to go there to teach English and this was you should be able to get a visa.

vertigo

english school for italian people (like british centre, british school etc) always are looking for new teachers.if you have the licence to teach it's a good, interesting job, you know lots of people and you can stay the time you want.
for example my ex teacher staied here for 5 months, another one for 1 year, another one decided to move definitly to rome.
bye- marco

Enter Your Message or Comment

User Name:
User Email:
Post a comment: