If you're thinking about finding a job in Greece as an EU-EEA citizen or a third-country national, it's important to know that the country's economy is still struggling with the aftermath of capital controls, austerity measures, and increased taxation. However, Greece has been gradually transitioning towards an export-oriented, globally-focused economy driven by technology, which offers new opportunities for job seekers. In this text, we'll explore some tips and resources to help you find work in Greece. We'll also provide some guidance on the job interview stage and how to make sure that the job can support your needs as an expat in Greece.
How to find a job in Greece
Given that you're an EU-EEA citizen or that you're taking/have taken all the necessary steps for third-country nationals to procure your working permit, the most important question you should be asking yourself is what kind of work you should be looking for.
The country has had a long tradition of public-sector jobs, which contributed the most to its GDP, but after the crisis, that changed: Greece currently veers toward an export-oriented, globally-focused economy driven by technology, with the number of startups having increased tenfold between 2010 and 2013. This means that if you're specialized in tech, it will be significantly easier for you to find work in Greece — a first good step would be to join the Facebook group Startup Jobs in Greece to stay abreast of any new openings and familiarize yourself with the Greek startup scene.
If you're not specialized in any tech field, then you could probably opt for the ever-booming tourism industry -- although this would mostly mean seasonal work. A good idea is to choose the specific destination you're interested in (i.e., a Greek island) and then research the bars/cafes/restaurants, etc., there. Most have social media accounts, so it's easy to be informed of any vacancies, but even in tech-centric Greece in 2023, nothing beats going there in person and asking whether they need more staff. If you're lucky and you do that early in the season (i.e., no later than May), you may find yourself with a place to stay as well as having your meals provided. This is because many businesses also provide rooms for their seasonal staff to reside in.
If the tourist industry isn't for you, another route is by teaching your native language in Greece. Greeks speak many languages owing to tourism, and since the early 2000s, learning English has been in the school curriculum. To learn English, many young Greeks (between ages 5-16) go to frodistiria or φροντιστηρια which are after-school classes where they learn languages, usually English, French, or German. These are usually private; expats might be able to find work teaching their native language at schools or public institutions. However, in some cases, you may need to know Greek. This may be the case if you are teaching adult learners who already have a basic knowledge of the language and want the trickier concepts explained in Greek.
For everything else, check Kariera, the biggest Greek job-hunting portal. It is, unfortunately, in Greek and English (you just have to select your language at the top) but if you upload your CV there, you'll be immediately visible to employers in your field of expertise without having to submit an application for every single position you come across. Consider getting a free CV review at TopCV. The website also has useful tips and news about the Greek labor market.
Finally, it should go without saying that LinkedIn is your friend: it has become broadly used in Greece, and you still have a chance to find various job postings there, especially in sought-after fields such as media, sales/marketing and high-end retail. It is, therefore, recommended to keep your profile updated on LinkedIn as recruiters are increasingly using LinkedIn to search for potential candidates for jobs. There is also the option to have your CV linked to your profile to allow easy application to any jobs listed on LinkedIn.
Below are listed the most popular Greek job and recruitment sites to assist you in finding a job:
- Kariera
- Skywalker.gr
- Ranstad Hellas
- Speakit jobs (a good job website offering multilingual jobs which might appeal to some expats)
- Linkedin,(a professionals site, but you can reach recruiters, and jobs are also posted on the website)
- Xe.gr (job website)
The job interview stage in Greece
Congratulations, you have applied for a few jobs in Greece, and you have received responses from potential employers and recruiters. What are the next steps? Typically, if your application is successful, you will be contacted by phone or email for an initial interview. It is important to make a good first impression, even if it is just through an email or phone call. Your response should be carefully crafted, as poor grammar or spelling mistakes could harm your chances of landing an interview. If you are speaking on the phone, make sure to be confident about your work experience and ask questions about the job requirements.
In Greece, recruiters often provide information about the job role, requirements, location, salary, and benefits over the phone. However, the gross salary may not reflect the net pay, which takes into account taxes and insurance contributions. To ensure that the job can support your needs as an expat in Greece, it is advisable to ask about the net pay before proceeding with the application process. You can use helpful online resources like AfterTax.gr to calculate your net pay in Greece.
The interview process in Greece is similar to most in Europe, with the employer or recruiter arranging the date, time, and location of the interview. Both in-person and video interviews are common in Greece, especially due to the growth of remote work in cities like Athens and Thessaloniki.
To succeed in the interview, here are some key tips to keep in mind:
- Be punctual: Arrive on time and factor in extra time for traffic or unexpected delays. Punctuality is a valuable trait for potential employees, and it shows that you are organized and dependable.
- Dress appropriately: Dress to reflect the work environment of the business you are applying to. Business casual or smart casual attire is usually suitable.
- Do your research: Before the interview, do some research on the company's website, values, and challenges. Consider any potential interview questions and prepare accordingly. This will help you demonstrate your interest in the company and prove that you are a good fit for the role.
- Use positive body language and verbal cues: Maintain eye contact, give a firm handshake, and smile. These nonverbal cues show confidence and that you are ready to interact.
- Be honest: Express your qualifications, skills, and language abilities truthfully. Lying will not help you in the long run. Being self-reflective about your skills and weaknesses shows maturity and a willingness to improve, which are qualities that employers value.
- In summary, the job interview process in Greece is similar to other European countries. By being prepared, punctual, and honest, you can increase your chances of landing the job you want.
Setting up your business in Greece
Starting your own company or being self-employed in Greece is definitely not easy for non-locals, let alone for non-EU citizens. To become self-employed in Greece, you must have already had a residence permit in Greece for one year before you apply, a formal business plan (in Greek, approved by the Ministry of Interior Affairs) that proves your business will contribute to the Greek economy plus a 60,000 euro deposit in a local bank account to prove solvency. If you want to start a bigger company with employees of your own, that capital increases to 300,000 euros, and 30% of your employees must be Greek citizens.
If you manage to navigate all this, then there's something else you need to be aware of: the tax percentage for self-employed professionals has risen in 2023 from 26% to 45% to combat tax evasion and strengthen the various social insurance organizations like OAEE. This has actually led many Greek self-employed professionals to turn over their accounting books and seek jobs as employees (or even try their luck abroad), while it has also, unfortunately, increased the number of people who are getting paid 'under the table' to avoid the staggering taxes. To summarise: surviving as a self-employed professional in Greece is not impossible, but you are advised to have a solid business plan that will make you stand out from the competition, and a healthy capital to help you land on your feet, regardless of the result.
Doing an internship in Greece
If you're an EU citizen, the Erasmus program offers many opportunities in fields related to your studies. But regardless of your home country, what you need to keep in mind is that most internships in Greece are summer internships, usually in some kind of marine or nature preservation work (i.e., taking care of dolphins and turtles or exploring underwater caves). Of course, there are also summer medical fellowships and several tech and business-related ones if exploring the rich nature and ecosystems of the Greek islands is not your preference.
The Greek labor market
It's a well-known fact that people in France are often on strike. As undeniable truth as that may be, you will soon realize that the French have nothing on the Greeks. Strikes and rallies have always been ingrained with the Greek DNA, but ever since the austerity measures, they have become such an aspect of everyday life that several websites have been created (unfortunately in Greek) with the exact purpose of helping people decipher who's on strike today and why, and how that affects public transportation in Greece.
But the cliche of the lazy, angry Greek who thinks rules don't apply to him is exactly that: a cliche. Greeks, in fact, work harder than any other nation in Europe: they put on approximately 2.042 hours of work per year, with the Germans putting on 1.371 and the US citizens 1.790. Add that to the fact that most companies will not pay overtime and that even though the minimum monthly salary is currently 780 euros, and many companies have been known to pay significantly less than that (or not pay at all), it's a small wonder Greeks take to the streets to protest so often.
As is well known, the Greek Labour market is highly reliant on Tourism, so as a sector, it is always recruiting. It is a highly attractive sector for expats due to the type of work but also because of the languages required. English, French and German are highly sought after. Thus, for expats, there are plenty of opportunities for work, such as holiday agents, hotel front desk administrators, entertainers, tour guides, translation, and greeting services.
As of June 2022, it was estimated that around 800,000 were employed in Tourism, accentuating the importance it has to the Greek economy in terms of jobs and revenue it brings in. Furthermore, travel receipts in 2022 (a combination of tourist expenses) accounted for 17.63 billion euros in revenues for Greece, again emphasizing the dependence on Tourism on its service economy.
Other important sectors in the economy include agriculture, which employs 11.2%, and has seen growth and improvements in the last few years due to the benefits it receives in the form of EU subsidies, as well as substantial trade links within the EU trade zone and beyond. Shipping and industry account for 15.6% of Greece's workforce. What's more, Greece is still a leader in the shipbuilding industry, with five of the largest shipyards in Europe located near the port of Piraeus in the south. Responsibility for the building and maintenance of luxury yachts is also a specialty of the shipbuilding industry in Greece.
The largest sector in Greece is the service economy, which employs 73.2%, which includes tourism, leisure, teaching, legal, accounting and many others. The issue for Greece is that it is over-reliant on this sector, while other sectors, such as industry (including exports), have stagnated, which are critical for an economy to recover and grow. Dependence on the services sector, namely Tourism, showed the fragility of the labor market and the economy when revenues were hit during the COVID-19 pandemic, and many tourism employees faced no work.
In recent years, there has also been growth in sectors such as IT, technology, retail and construction. Despite the preference for Greek workers, EU nationals and non-EU citizens have the possibility to find work in Greece. For example, in the IT and technology sector, countless new roles have become available (in office and remote). This has coincided with steady growth in startups in Greece, which is another promising area in which expats can look to find work.
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