Finding work in Italy isn't as easy as it is in other countries.
It's not that the work isn't there. It is. But it is hidden. You need to know where to find it. You should also be prepared to make the move without necessarily having a job to move to or considering taking a job that you wouldn't necessarily do.
Teaching is a great option when you are looking to ease your way into the Italian culture, especially if you are teaching adults. By talking to your students, you find out more about the local customs from the natives, you widen your circle of contacts and you make friends - both with the Italians and the other English teachers. It's also useful because you can earn a living while having the time to join networking associations, expat clubs and gyms.
But don't expect to see instant results. It's a bit like saving money. The interest grows over time and the more you save, the more you earn. But you are never going to see your investment reap rewards overnight.
Keep plugging away at the networking and be proactive. And don't be afraid at working long hours. When I moved to Cagliari, I made the decision that I would take every single teaching job offered no matter how little I earned and cram into one year the experience I would otherwise have ammassed in three. So instead of the standard 20-hour teaching week, I worked more than a 50-hour week. I'd get home at 10.45pm and would leave at 7.30am the next morning to start all over again. It was hard work. But by the end of one academic year, I could write on my resume/CV that I had taught adults in a private language school, I had taught individuals, I had taught Business English, I had taught kindergarten childeren, and I had taught in every year of the state school system in four different public schools.
Not only did I then have the teaching experience for the following year which allowed me to up hourly rate considerably, I also had tonnes of contacts in all different sectors that I wouldn't otherwise have made. It was those contacts and the fact that I could validate my reasons for teaching English that then allowed me to pick and choose between the contracts offered to me.
So say 'yes' whenever a different opportunity is offered to you. It may not be the one you were initially after and it may not pay huge amounts of money but it will get you a foot in the door. And who knows where that will lead.
Comments