Job Discussion Forums

[canadianmoving]

Hello you two,

I've been reading the Italy forum immensely as I too am interested in moving there at the end of 2009. However, from your numerous posts I have gathered that if you want to make money - Asia is where is at. Also the Asia forums are not as full as doom & gloom so it's probably a fair assumption.

Here's my plan, do tell if you think I'm absolutely green or if it's viable.

As a non-EU Canadian, my plan is to get the 6 month working holiday visa to Italy, which should allow me to work legally for at least 6 months. In that time I will start out doing a Via Lingua 1 month course and hopefully start working somewhere in Italy. Prefferably Florence, but the helpful coordinator was a bit more realistic than the other schools I researched - and said that Florence is not easy but some other surrounding areas like Bologna a safe bet. I don't know if that means just jobs or pay as well but whatever the case it's better than my beloved Florence. I would also be interested in Napoli - but at the moment know nothing of it. Feel free to fill me in if you do.

I was told that after a trial period a school MAY sponsor me. After reading this forum I realise that it's probably not going to happen and I guess the school has to give me some form of hope (Cest Vrai?). So I do not get sponsored, after 6 months my plan is to head off to Asia make some money and come back another year for a little while and try again.


So will it really NEVER EVER happen? Or does it 99.9% of the time not happen? I have read that the EU native Eng speakers are all flying off to Asia for the money so there may still be the glimmer of hope for us non-EU native Eng speakers?

Also, if you don't mind me asking, how are you both so knowledgeable? I'm just curious to know your experiences as well since you both are kind enough to answer a lot of the posts from us newbies here.

Thanks very much,

Canadianmoving....somewhere....sometime...somehow

[spiral78]

Jetgirly's got an EU citizenship through ancestry, I think - and I'm married to an EU citizen. These are two of the most common routes to landing real jobs inside the EU.

The other thing that makes my own situation workable is simply that I've paid the dues - 11+ years of experience now and an MA TESL/TEFL from a British university. This means that I was able to land a decently-paid university position.

I wouldn't count on lots of openings around due to EU citizens jetting off to Asia. There are always tonnes of well-qualified Brits longing to live in sunny locations relatively close to home, meaning Spain, Italy, and France.

It's not 100% impossible, but it's really, really rare unless you get married or have recent European ancestry from a country that will give out citizenships.

I've an American friend who, like you, was an Italy junkie. She did a 1-year exchange in Rome during her university days and fell in love with the country. She changed her major to Italian, and has been working as an official translator ever since (obviously fluent local language skills). She went to Rome and tried for four years to land something permanent and reasonably paid. Working under the table and on short-term projects all the time, because there just wasn't anything available. She finally had to give up in light of the constant insecurity.

Not to say you won't find some way to make it work. But, no, I wouldn't expect it to be easy, and make sure you have a backup plan!!

[canadianmoving]

Hi Spiral,

Thanks, yeah, well I've been told if I don't mind going off away from the major cities it's more doable, so perhaps if i do that for a while, more chances of getting sponsored? then after some experience come into my beloved Florence and try again. By then I will have hoped to have learnt Italian as well.

If not- the backup plan is to fly off to Asia, make some money and come back again and again until I land something or marry someone. ha!

What do you think?

Thats pretty cool that after 11+ years of being there and being comforted by the fact that you married into EU that you still have the time to post reality checks for newbies here.

[spiral78]

I actually think the thing about 'off the beaten track is easier' is a myth.

The laws regarding hiring only EU member citizens for a list of jobs including English teacher are national, not regional.

Working illegally is likely to be safer in large cities, where you're more likely to be one of many - you'd stand out more easily in small towns.

I'm quite happy to give whatever general advice I can to newbs...not trying to imply that you (and others) shouldn't give it a go - you may get lucky!! However, having realistic expectations is really important.

[canadianmoving]

I have definitely learnt a lot from this forum and will be saving up a lot more money than I initally planned before I go.

If it is only for 6 months, then I will have at least been there for 6 months better than none.

If I make it - woohoo, if not- Asia here I come!

[spiral78]

Best of luck to you - and let us know how it goes

[Jetgirly]

Sorry, I just saw this thread. Yeah, I am a German citizen so I can work legally in the EU. I had one illegal coworker in Italy, but he got laid off with zero notice. Literally, he came into work and was told to go home and not come back. My understanding is that the school wanted to take on some government contracts and couldn't risk having an illegal teacher on staff. I don't know if he stayed in Italy or left. However, he did work there for quite some time... at least six months. The school was hard-pressed for teachers and I'm sure they would have sponsored him if they could have. I didn't meet any other people teaching illegally, so my experience is that 100% of the illegal teachers I knew found a job, and 100% were eventually laid off due to their immigration status.