So You Want To Work In Italy
hough difficult, study postings on their web site.
abroad is a promising area Another good prospect is the
for finding a job in Italy. NAFSA web site (the Association
There are over 100 American of International Educators)
schools in Italy, all of which (www.nafsa.org), which posts many
hire people to teach courses and jobs in study abroad generally.
administer their programs. The Chronicle of Higher
Working in study abroad can be Education's (chronicle.com) job
exiting, but it can also offer section occasionally posts
more stability and (possibly) something for Italy as well.
better pay than other types of
jobs open to foreigners in Italy. 2. Mine the AACUPI web site (the
Association of American College
and University Programs in Italy)
How does one find such a job? at www.aacupi.org. AACUPI
Unfortunately, there is no represents American study abroad
standard road to follow. There programs in Italy and is
are a few strategies that can recognized by the Italian
lead to success, but persistence Government. It has about 90
and patience are key. members, most in Florence and
Rome, though many American
1. First, know the outlets for schools in Italy do not belong to
job postings. While many openings AACUPI. The AACUPI web site lists
are never advertised because they all of its member schools and
are filled quickly, the best most of the names and email
place to look is Wanted in Rome addresses of the directors of
(www.wantedinrome.com), which is these schools. Write a cover
an English-language magazine letter explaining your interest
appealing to the ex-pat community in working at a school, attach a
in Italy. You can freely view job resume and email it to a
director. You might be ignored, prospective employer that you are
but you may also get some willing to leave the comforts of
interesting responses. home and show up at a job site in
a foreign country. Finding
3. You might get your foot in the reliable people is often
door by starting as an intern, difficult for a school,
which could lead to a paying job. especially for those located
These positions may not pay, but outside of Florence and Rome.
could offer housing. The best way Also by meeting people in study
to find an internship is to email abroad, you will discover things
program directors and ask. Even that you cannot learn from
if a school does not have an afar—such as job openings that
internship program, you could are not advertised or how to
offer yourself as one. Study navigate the local bureaucracy.
abroad programs in Italy are just If you make yourself familiar and
coming around to the idea. It is available to a school, you might
free labor and it is legally get hired temporarily, which
easier to have an intern than to could lead to a full-time job.
hire someone who may not yet have
the legal right to work in Italy. Some Legal Considerations
Like all countries, Italy has
4. The single best strategy to legal requirements for foreigners
land a job in study abroad in who want to work and live there.
Italy is to take the risk and go Yet many articles on finding a
there and seek a job after you job in Italy make no mention of
have arrived. Once you are there this. To merely reside in Italy
you can visit schools in person. for any period of time longer
Why is this the best strategy? than 7 days, foreigners are
For one, it proves to a required to obtain official
permission to stay (called a will also need it if you go to
permesso di soggiorno). If you the hospital or deal with the
are traveling around the country government or police for any
as a tourist, you do not need a reason. If it is your first time
permesso. This is only for in Italy, then get a permesso as
someone who will reside at a a tourist. You will only need
specific address for a period of your passport for this and, if
time. The permesso is obtained you are an American, you will be
from the local questura (police granted an automatic 90 day stay
department) in the city that you in Italy. People from other EU
will live in. If you are staying countries also need permessi if
in Rome, for example, you will they want to reside in Italy.
need to register with the
questura there. A permesso can be The biggest legal issue is the
granted to you as a tourist (the right to work in Italy as a
easiest), as a student (requires foreigner, which requires a work
a study visa), or as a person visa. The hassle involved in
allowed to work (requires a work getting one is a story in its own
visa). right, but the major hurdle is
getting sponsored by the school
Many Americans tend to stay in that will hire you. It is an open
Italy without getting the secret in study abroad that many
permesso and Italian enforcement Americans work there
of this is "under-the-table" without a visa.
sporadic-to-non-existent. The usual story is that you get
Ignoring the law, however, might hired first and then, sometime
put you at a disadvantage. The later, apply for a visa. The
rental agency or landlord who trick is finding a school that
owns the apartment that you want will hire you this way. It would
may require that you get one. You be rare to find a school that
would sponsor you for a visa demand, there are also many
without you first having a track people with these degrees who are
record of employment there. There seeking these jobs. If you have a
is already an army of people in degree in business, psychology,
Italy with the desire and ability economics or writing, for
to work in study abroad. example, you may find it easier
to obtain a position. Visit the
Useful Assets to Have web sites of the schools listed
in AACUPI and look at their
If you already have Italian course offerings to get an idea
language ability, this will help of their needs. It is less likely
you. Programs in Italy always that a study abroad school would
need people who can speak both hire you to teach Italian,
Italian and English. If you are however, because there are
working in student services and countless Italians who fill these
have to escort a 20 year-old jobs. They have the home school
American student to a local advantage on language.
hospital, you might have to
assist the student in speaking to If you do land a teaching job in
the doctors. If you do not have Italy, pay is by the course and
good Italian skills, then acquire can vary from $2500 to $5000,
them. depending on where and what you
teach. Once you learn the ropes,
If you have an advanced degree, however, you can find additional
then you could teach courses. opportunities. You could end up
Courses offered at these schools teaching 3 or more courses per
span the disciplines and are term at one or more schools. This
mostly in English. While art might be a lot of work, but it
history, Italian literature and will allow you to survive.
Italian cinema are always in
If teaching is not an option, American-style academic or
then there are administrative student service standards.
positions that do not require any Italians who work for American
special education. The upside to study abroad programs, for
these jobs is that they are example, frequently have to
usually full time and offer a undergo a learning process
salary, though the pay can vary because their understanding of
greatly. Most non-teaching jobs higher education is dramatically
involve office work, housing and different than that of an
student services. There are the American.
coveted directors positions, but
these are much harder to get and Do you have dual citizenship or
usually require a Ph.D. and can you qualify for it? If so,
experience. Some of these jobs you have a huge advantage over
require significant language those who don't or can‘t. If
ability and a lot of local you can get Italian citizenship
knowledge, but you can learn. You or citizenship with any other EU
might get a job leading students country, then you have no need of
on trips around Italy, for a visa (nor for a permesso if you
example. You would have to know have Italian citizenship). If you
how to charter buses, contact have Italian ancestors, you might
hotels and create itineraries for want to visit
the students. www.myitaliancitizenship.com,
which covers all of the cases
Any experience in American higher where a person could qualify. If
education is a plus. Programs your ancestry is that of another
need people who can function EU country, visit their consulate
effectively in Italy, but also and embassy web sites in the US
need people who understand for information on qualification.
About the Author:
Michael P. Gerace is an educator who spent 4 years living and teaching in Italy and has recently completed writing a book called Full Moon Over Perugia, which chronicles the strange world of expatriates in Italy, entitled Full Moon Over Perugia. Read an excerpt at http://www.michaelgerace.com.
Source: www.isnare.com
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