Italy is a country that regularly features on the top destination lists of travel websites, and this is unsurprising as it is the nation that has everything – the perfect blend of the ancient world meeting modern society. This article is for you if you are an English speaker searching for English-speaking jobs in Italy for foreigners.
Steeped in historical significance and at the forefront of fashion and culture, you’ll enjoy its sunny climate, breathtaking landscapes, inspiring architecture, and fine food by living and working here.
When you’re not working you could visit art cities such as Florence, with its Michelangelo and Giambologna sculptures, or admire Venice’s Gothic palazzi and canals. You could also tick sightseeing in Rome off your bucket list, and relax in one of its delightful cafés. On other days you could hit the fashion boutiques of Milan or head to Naples, the birthplace of modern pizza.
Cost of Living in Italy
The average cost of living in Italy is going to look very different depending on which part of the country you move to. So, is it expensive to live in Italy? It doesn’t have to be if you pick the right city. But in general, if you enjoy the fast-paced city life that you will find in Milan or Rome, you should count on slightly higher expenses.
Rent Prices in Italy
The average rent price in Italy is 800 EUR (880 USD) a month. However, this is just the average—you will find rental prices to range from 490 to 1,550 EUR (540 to 1,700 USD).
Utility Costs in Italy
As for some utility costs, you would typically pay between 100 to 150 EUR (110 to 165 USD) for electricity, gas, and water for an 85-square-meter apartment. Internet would cost around 20 or 30 EUR (22 to 33 USD) monthly.
Travel and Transportation
Daily trips on public transportation usually cost around 1.5 EUR (1.60 USD), while a monthly pass costs 35 EUR (40 USD).
If you plan on driving in the country, you should know gas prices are currently around 1.55 EUR (2 USD) a liter.
Healthcare Costs in Italy
When it comes to healthcare costs, you can expect to pay around 80 or 90 EUR (88 or 100 USD) for a visit to a private doctor, and no more than 8 EUR (9 USD) for over-the-counter medicine or antibiotics.
Costs of Education in Italy
Enrolling your kids in private school will cost around 15,000 EUR (16,500 USD) a year, but it could cost anywhere between 7,000 and 19,000 EUR (7,700 and 20,900 USD) yearly depending on the school.
If you are going to have expenses with preschool for your child, this would cost around 400 EUR (440 USD) a month for a full day of daycare.
Italian Visas
If you’re an EU citizen or come from Norway, Iceland, or Liechtenstein, you won’t require a permit to work in Italy. However, to remain in the country for longer than 90 days, you’ll need to apply to your local town hall (comune) for residency. They will be able to advise you on the documentation to be submitted along with your application.
Non-EU citizens, including those from the UK, will require a visa, residence, and work permit to live and work in the country. There are different types of visas available depending on the purpose of your stay.
When applying, you’ll need to submit a completed visa application form, a valid passport, recent passport photographs, and supporting documents, which will depend on the type of visa you’re applying for. You should also check the required format of these documents, like whether they need to be:
- translated
- originals or copies
- signed electronically or with ink
- dated within a certain time before submission.
If you’re a foreign national, you’ll need to apply for a residence permit as soon as you arrive.
What It’s Like To Work In Italy
If you’re employed in Italy with a social security number then you’re entitled to all the benefits, including free public health care, annual leave, and pensions. If you’re self-employed, not all of these benefits may apply.
Family time is an important aspect of Italian culture and as such workers try to strike a healthy work/life balance.
According to Statista, Italians work 36 hours per week on average, with the maximum legal working week set at 40 hours, plus eight hours of overtime. As work tends to be highly structured, you’ll typically work Monday to Friday 8/9 am to 1 pm, take a two-hour lunch break, and then work from 3 pm to 6/7 pm.
All employees are entitled to at least four weeks of paid annual leave as well as 12 public holidays.
There are five income tax bands ranging from 23% on income up to €15,000 (£13,154), all the way up to 43% on income over €50,000 (£43,848).
Language Requirements
In most cases, the ability to speak Italian to a high level is essential for securing a job.
Proficiency in Italian will make living in the country a lot easier too, as many parts of the population don’t speak English. English is more likely to be spoken in tourist areas and large towns and cities, but less so in rural areas.
Studying an Italian language course will help you learn the language or further improve your skills to the required standard.
How To Get A Job in Italy
Networking through friends and family is still considered a viable means of hearing about any available work in Italy.
Therefore, finding a job when you’re already in Italy will be easier, as you can begin making contacts directly – wherever you decide to start looking.
If you’re currently employed with a company that has a presence in Italy, you could enquire about possible secondment opportunities.
If this isn’t feasible, try making speculative applications, which are welcomed in Italy as many jobs aren’t advertised. If you go down this route, be sure to do your research and send your application to the most appropriate person at the organization.
For advertised positions, applications are usually completed online and consist of a CV and cover letter, or an application form. All applications should be submitted in Italian unless otherwise stated. To save time, get your academic transcripts and certificates translated too.
You should expect a lengthy application process, which will generally involve a series of interviews as well as psychometric testing.
English Speaking Jobs in Italy For Foreigners
1. Summer Jobs
As tourism is such a big business in Italy, casual or temporary work should be easy enough to find.
There are plenty of seasonal jobs on offer including bar, hotel, and restaurant work. You could find employment in summer camps or holiday resorts and if you possess some skills on the slopes, you could work at a ski resort in the Italian Alps.
The agricultural sector also provides casual summer jobs such as fruit picking and other outdoor activities.
If you have some childcare experience, you might consider finding work as an au pair.
As long as you have the funds to work for free, volunteering is a great way to expand your skill set and learn a new language. Voluntary work looks great on your CV and gives you the chance to network and build contacts.
2. Teaching Jobs
English teachers are in high demand in Italy, so competition for posts is fierce, with many teachers expected to have a TEFL certificate of 100 hours minimum. The majority of teaching jobs are available in large towns and cities such as Rome, Florence and Milan, although opportunities exist throughout the country. You could teach in state schools, private language schools, universities, or within businesses teaching their staff English.
You can enroll online to study for a relevant Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) qualification, while some teaching jobs may require a bachelor’s degree.
Recruitment for teachers typically begins in early spring for positions available in September/October.
For more country-specific details, go to TEFL jobs in Italy, and for a list of language schools in Italy, see ESL Base – English language schools in Italy.
There are also opportunities to teach English through the British Council’s English Language Assistants scheme.
3. Internships
As Italians place such value on networking, a work placement is a great way to build up your contacts in the country. An internship is also useful for sharpening your language skills.
Internships in Italy usually last between three and six months with the country especially popular with those looking to get work experience in fashion, architecture and art.
Internships and summer work placements are available at:
Internship Italy – a student recruitment organisation that works with over 500 companies across Europe.
AIESEC UK – a youth organisation that offers career-focused internships for students and recent graduates.
GoAbroad.com – an online search engine for global internships.
IAESTE – traineeships for science, engineering, technology, and applied arts students (apply via the British Council website in the autumn).
Conclusion
Few countries can compete with Italy’s culture, so unsurprisingly it’s popular with expats and tourists. As a result, you’ll need a strong application and grasp of the language to succeed in the job market
