Tuesday, September 16, 2008

Employment - in Italy

Ok the logical question before someone decides to move to Italy is will I be able to find work? And of course it would be wise to think about this before actually moving to Italy! I will tell you a little of what I learned during my ten years in Italy with regard to work.



Teaching English

Yes there is always a great demand no matter where you go in Italy to learn English from a native speaker. You can enlist yourself with one of the many English schools, teach privately, teach Business English, offer conversational English. No matter what town or city you reside in, English is always in demand. Although you may not like or want to teach English, it is a good way to meet people and network.

In the very early years I taught Business English to a subsidiary of Coca Cola in a tiny town in Abruzzo. If you do this privately you can purchase your own teaching books online or at any good bookstore in Italy. You may decide that it would be easier to work for a private school like the British Institute or similar schools. With internet you can research the top schools in the town you will be residing in and just send them your c.v. with any teaching experience you may have.


Interpreting and Translation

Italy is made up of small and large companies, some family owned and run and others large corporate-like companies, depending on the city you are in. Nowadays all companies do some work with foreign companies and yes the common language is English. So you can get a list of the companies in your town, get a good c.v. and contact each company individually. Hint: in Italy a personal visit is always preferred to receiving a letter through the mail. Plus you don't want to risk your c.v. being trashed by some envious secretary. Sorry but been there, done that. So since image is everything in the bel paese...get dolled up and look as professional as possible, get a good c.v. in hand (translated if possible in Italian) and start visiting each company and tell them about yourself.

Many companies exhibit at tradeshows and may need a native English speaker to work the tradeshow with them. These jobs usually pay pretty well, should pay your transportation, hotel, meals and hours working at the show.


You may offer the companies the possibility of translating all comunication they receive and send the customers, suppliers etc and could even suggest handling some clients once you learn more about the company.

Working from Home
Nowadays through the internet one can become creative to find work. There are many publications for instance that pay freelance writers to write about their living in Italy. You can also offer translation services (Italian to English) if your Italian is good enough. You can become an agent or representative for Italian companies wanting to export abroad. Perhaps you have some good contacts in your home country that you can start networking with and start an export business (foods, clothing, shoes, etc.). Ebay is also a great way to earn extra cash. Why not scout Italian companies for their overstock and start putting those items on the internet for sale. Maybe you can even have your own website and just sell off your own site directly from the factories. I think the possibilities are endless.

Employment with an Italian Company
Many ask me how they can be hired by an Italian company. Here things work similarly as in the United States. I would begin if possible to have at least one contact name in the department you are interested in in that company or at least a contact with the company. This will help you get your foot in the door for a first interview. Unfortunately it is very much who you know and not what you know for many companies out here. Luck plays a huge factor too as I was lucky to contact a company at the right time (they happened to be looking for a native English speaker with a MBA in marketing). So you can try cold calling if you cannot get a contact name. The best type of contract to get with an Italian company is called "a tempo indeterminato". This is the most secure and you have the right to all the benefits (sick leave, maternity leave, vacation,etc). Nowadays it is very difficult to get this type of contract so consider yourself lucky if you are offered it. If you are confused about what they are offering you, talk to an accountant (comercialista) that can explain to you exactly what the terms are.

I will be honest that finding serious employers in Italy is not an easy task. My advice is to get as much information in writing as you can about the terms of employment, your responsibilities, etc and talk to as many people as you can about it. Be smart and shrewd and you will not be taken advantage of. Good luck!

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Thank you for your tips on employment in Italy. My boyfriend who lives in Italy wants me to move there and be with him. One of my big worries is a job...and I'm just a beginner in learning the language. I'm sure that makes it even harder to find employment?

Unknown said...

You definitely need to have some grasp of the Italian language to find employment. Would it be possible for you to take a course while you are still in your home country before you come to Italy? I would also suggest you try to find work in Italy while you are still in your home country. The best scenario would be working for the home country company's subsidiary in Italy. It is slim pickings here in Italy as far as employment even for Italians. Where in Italy will you be going? Let me know should you have any more questions and buona fortuna (good luck)!Lucia

This Time Now said...

I've learned a lot from your blog about living in Italy.
I am a photographer and writer here in Seoul, South Korea. As an America teaching English here (to make ends meet and save money) I find myself thinking more and more about the possibility of living and working in Italy. I lived in Europe for about 10 years and only visited Italy, but fell in love with it and I mean, fell hard for Italy. I will enroll in language classes (I speak French and Swedish fluently) to better prepare myself. I no longer want to teach English so I must find another way to thrive in Italy. Would you have any suggestions?

Thank you in advance for any and all advice.

Sincerely,

Felicia, This Time Now (blog)

Unknown said...

Thank you for your comment. As I am sure you know the employment rate is extremely high in Italy and the salaries are the lowest in all of Europe. I don't want to sound discouraging but give you a realistic scenario. The best suggestion is to do your homework first which it sounds like you are doing. If I were you I would begin to send your c.v. to companies before you actually come to Italy. I would focus on the bigger cities of Milan, Rome or Florence. I wish you all the luck and look forward to hearing from you.Lucia