Job Opportunities in Italy

To teach English you will need to get ESL certified. It takes about a year. Check your local colleges or community colleges to see if they offer the program.

Then, before going over, you'd have to get a job. It then takes time to get the proper work permits. In Italy, it can take forever. The usual commitment for this type of job is a minimum of one year.

Unless you can find a job before you leave, the only type of work you could get would be under the table. Discussions on how to get illegal work is prohibited on this website.

You might want to go to Lonely Planet's board and post there.

To teach English as a second language I would HIGHLY recommend that you get a CELTA certificate, which you can do through training centers in the US, or you can do in Italy. I got one in Milan, doing a one month course at the British Council, I should however say that it wasn't cheap, however cities like Rome and Florence which are full of native English speakers won't even look twice at you unless you are certified.
Getting legal employment won't be easy unless you have a Permesso di Soggiorno because you are not an EU citizen. If you are happy with some unreported income pubs are often looking to hire people, the other option is to try the nanny/au pair route. You'll find that there are these "networks" once you get to Rome or Florence for people like you, and people will know people who might be able to find something. I will say this, try and have a nice cushy savings before you go. The economy has slowed down and people are looking for work, and I doubt any language school would hire someone who will only be around for a few months, the same for the au pair thing. Also it may take you longer than expected to actually find something. Try looking in Wanted in Rome if you are considering staying in Rome, they have job announcements aimed at English speakers. I do know there are companies always looking for tour guides, but if I remember correctly, you were paid entirely on tips. Ultimately if you can go for three months without the stress of looking for a job or suffering through some horrible position I would do that. Trust me, I speak frome experience. Good luck!

Just to elaborate a bit on the ESL option . . . You say that you know about the priority given to EU citizens; but have you thought about the fact that there are two countries where English is the first language, namely the UK and Ireland? There are lots of ESL training programs there, and lots of natives wanting to live for a while in sunnier climes. To get specific, we have friends whose son took a course for teaching ESL from a very reputable school. The EU citizens on his course had no trouble securing positions in western Europe. The only place he could get a job was Vilnius. (He did it and enjoyed the experience, but it wasn't Rome or Florence.)

James,

"My friend did her masters there, and got hired by a reputable company."

I've found over the years that it's always easier for those in "professions" (Physicians, Nurses, etc.) with a Degree or other credentials to get work in other countries.

The jobs requiring lesser qualifications seem to operate more on a "supply and demand" basis with locals usually getting preference.

Hi - I am the original poster. I am 29 years old and will be turning 30 during the time that I plan on spending in Italy. I currently work as a pharmacy technician instructor, so I have teaching experience. Also, I heard of ESP (English for Special Purposes) or something that was designed for specific trades. I was looking to see if pharmacy is one of those trades.
Does that help narrow some options down?

Also the poster is looking for a short term 3 month job. If she wanted to relocate to Italy and find a permanent job then my advice would be different. I too have reputable job working for an Italian company, but I live here. Finding short term employment in any foreign country is not easy.

How old are you? For young people (I think up to 25 years of age) looking for short term emmployment a "work and travel visa" can be a good option. I've met a few people who've done that and usually do entry level work in the hospitality business. In that case the employer doesn't have to give priority to EU citizens.

Monique, why not get in touch with the American community in Rome and Florence. They must have some kind of network or publication for expats. You could place your own ad there and offer your services. Perhaps you could house- or dogsit for somebody who wants to do a long stateside holiday or be a short-term nanny or something of that nature. I don't know if that would fall under the work regulations and laws, though.

I think Monique was not thinking about working in a pharmacy, she was talking about teaching English using her background in Pharmaceutical terminology as a job plus. This is very common over here. Doctors, scientists, high level business people, all do presentations in English, or present papers to English language journals. Therefore they do need someone with specific language skills to help them with the correct terminology, pronunciation, and so on.

If Monique is serious about this, she should be contacting some universities or possibly some pharmaceutical companies with locations in Italy.. Unfortunately, only a 3 month time frame being available to work is not a very good selling point.

Jo is right - that is more what I was referring to. And you have offered a very good starting point that I never really thought of. Thanks! And I agree with everyone who thinks that a 3 month stay makes it extremely hard to really find the type of employment I would like. Staying longer is an option, but since it's not up to me, more up to the Italian goverment, I cant presume that I will be granted a visa.