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Working in Crete

Employment Opportunities - Work in Crete

Thinking of working in Crete? If you are coming to look for work in Crete
you'll find that Summer jobs in Crete are generally easy to find.

The main areas of work in Crete for non Greeks are in tourism, real estate
and teaching English.

Year round employment opportunities for foreigners are very limited, even
for fluent Greek speakers. The majority of jobs in Crete are only seasonal
or part time, and low paid.... fine to keep you ticking over but pretty much
impossible to support a family on year-round without a back-up fund.

Here are some ideas on where and how travellers and others can find
Crete summer jobs in 2008... as well as information on other jobs such as
teaching English in Crete.

Tourism related jobs and businesses
British (and other nationalities) holiday companies generally take on
overseas staff for working in Crete from their home country.
You usually need to apply for seasonal positions such as reps or overseas
admin staff in October for the following summer, although some companies
still advertise vacancies in February, March and even later. Occasionally
part time staff are employed locally in Crete, e.g. transfer reps. Ask the
reps at Heraklion and Chania airports whether they are taking on staff -
on a Tuesday there are plenty of charter flights from the UK and lots of
reps milling around!

There are numerous jobs in Crete hotels, cafés, tavernas and shops, all
usually seasonal. Many North Europeans book a two week holiday at the
beginning of the season and start searching the bar, café & taverna
windows for ‘staff wanted’ notices. Chat to local bar and taverna owners,
make connections, and they will very likely point you in the direction of
places looking for staff. In the busy resorts this is the norm and hundreds
of young people turn up looking for jobs each year.

Those who are already living on the island can start checking the local daily
newspapers (‘Haniotika Nea’ in Chania, ‘Patris’ in Heraklion and East Crete,
and ‘Nea Kriti’ for Crete in general) in February/March as this is when many
places start advertising for seasonal staff. Jobs are mostly advertised in
Greek, with the occasional English advert. For jobs in the main towns you
will usually need to speak some Greek, but non-Greek speakers can find
work in the tourist areas.

Estate Agents/Property Developers
Offices have sprung up all over the island. They employ English speakers to
sell land and property to non Greeks, usually on a commission only basis,
as well as office staff. Visit them in person, or apply via email (a web
search will bring up a host of companies). They often take on extra staff,
especially in the height of the season.

Teaching English
There is a considerable demand for the teaching of English as a foreign
language and there are opportunities for regular and part-time
employment.
In Crete there are literally hundreds of "frontistiria" (private language
schools) and the majority of Greek school children attend one after school
hours. Many native English speakers work teaching English either in
frontistiria or by giving private English lessons to pupils. Frontistiria are
open during the school year, September to June, and usually close for 3
months in the summer.
A Presidential Decree signed in 1997 made it possible for European Union
Nationals to be generally employed in and also open Foreign Language
Frontistiria. Officially you need a university degree to open or teach in a
'frontistiro' language school, but some will employ you without one.
A TEFL or TESOL certificate is very useful, it will greatly improve your
chances of employment and importantly you will learn how to teach English
as a foreign language... which will include brushing up on your English
grammar (can you distinguish the present perfect simple tense from the
present perfect continuous?).

TEFL / TESOL courses can be taken online as well as at many centres
throughout the world, also in Crete (see Intersol )

For a free online TEFL trial 'taster' go to

More information about teacher requirements, plus details of vacancies
from the Panhellenic Association of Language School Owners (PALSO) :

PALSO Chania
Tel. (0030) 28210 42546
Email info@palso-chania.gr

You can also post your CV on the local PALSO notice board for vacancies.

Pay is around 8 to 12 Euros an hour at the language schools, usually plus
IKA (National Insurance).
Private lessons are more lucrative, 10 to 20 Euros an hour, and students
usually found from the frontistiria who need extra lessons at home too. Or
try advertising in the local newspapers.

Information on Teachers' Certificates:
General Education Directorate
Ministry of Education
15 Mitropoleos Street
Athens 105 57
Tel: 210 323 0461, 210 323 0862-4

Qualified nurses
The British Embassy issues this statement, however I have never heard of
any British nurses working in Chania hospital!
" Qualified nurses wishing to take up employment in Greece should write
before coming to Greece directly to: The Association of Graduate Nurses,
Athens Tower, Building C, 2nd Floor, 2 Messoghion Avenue, Athens 115 27
Telephone No: 210 770 2861. With their letter nurses should include full
details of their qualifications and experience and mention when they would
be available to commence employment".

UK Agencies
There are agencies in the United Kingdom who may be able to assist in
finding employment in Greece, usually as nannies and governesses. You
are advised to secure a written statement (agreement) before arrival in
Greece as to duties involved, hours of work, salary and arrangements for
payment of fares to and from Greece. If in doubt you should seek legal
advice before any contract for employment is signed.

Fruit Picking
In the winter months, usually December to February, the olives and
oranges are harvested. Many local farmers take on workers to help
harvest their fruit. If you are living or staying in a village, ask the locals at
the cafeneon if there are any jobs going.

Other...

Check the Living in Crete Jobs Message Board for current

job vacancies in Crete

Summer Jobs in the Greek Islands Article - for more ideas and
information.

The secondhand shop, To Pazari, Daskalogianni St. Chania, often
has ads, in English, for job vacancies, or you can advertise your
services here.

The CIC newsletter, an English language monthly publication,
available at 'To Pazari', above, and in Rethymnon (News Stand) has
the occasional job ad..

Many jobs are advertised by word of mouth throughout the
community. Ask around and tell friends and neighbours that you are
looking for work.

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This information is based on extracts from the book Living in Crete
To learn more about working in Crete click here to get a copy.

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