Greece
Job market
What are my chances of getting a job?
Greece was hit hard by the global financial crisis and is still in recession. The erosion of public finances, inaccurate statistics, lack of adherence to reforms and public tax evasion has led to a major financial emergency. The government has adopted austerity measures which include cutting government spending, reducing the size of the public sector, decreasing tax evasion and reforming health care and pensions.
In May 2010, the International Monetary Fund and Eurozone governments had to provide Greece with emergency loans totaling £96billion. The public have strongly opposed the austerity measures and there has been strike action and public protests. There may still be opportunities for UK graduates but knowledge of Greek will be essential, as will be an acceptance of the perilous state of the Greek economy.
- Typical problems: unemployment is high, currently at 12% and is expected to rise. There will be a high level of competition from home graduates. More than 15,000 students graduate each year and there is no shortage of Greek graduates with a Masters degree. Greek degree courses last at least four years, so holders of three-year undergraduate degrees from the UK may not be considered as highly qualified as graduates from Greek universities.
- How to improve your chances: vocational degrees such as engineering, accountancy and IT are more popular with employers than non-vocational courses such as humanities or science. As Greek employers tend to require a relevant degree, it is easier for UK graduates of non-vocational courses to find jobs in Greece once they are established in their careers, rather than immediately after university. The Greek higher education system is selective and some institutions are seen as more prestigious than others. Employers may, therefore, be favourably impressed by high grades and prestigious universities.
- Language requirements: it can be difficult to get a graduate job if you are not fluent in Greek. The majority of younger people speak at least one foreign language, the most popular being English. Jobs that do not require a knowledge of Greek include teaching English, jobs in the tourist industry, working as an au pair, manual or agricultural work, working as a musician, dancer or DJ. Competence in Greek is likely to be less important for those working for multinational companies which have English as their main language, or in UK/US companies.
Where can I work?
- Major industries: tourism, food processing, textiles, chemicals, tobacco processing, metal products, mining, petroleum, shipping.
- Recent growth areas: technology and telecommunications, transport infrastructure, organic farming, research and development, minerals.
- Industries in decline: textiles, shipbuilding.
- Shortage occupations: qualified personnel for the shipping industry, office and accounting employees and construction workers.
- Major companies: Hellenic Petroleum, ANT 1 Group, Hellenic Telecommunication Organisation (OTE), Intracom, Motor Oil SA, ANEK Lines, Unilever Hellas SA, Alpha Bank, Attica Group, Zagori.
- Search for more companies: Kompass, Athens Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI), British Hellenic Chamber of Commerce, Greek Yellow Pages, Greek Export Directory.
- Major cities: Athens (capital and largest city), Thessaloniki (second largest city), Patra, Heraklio.
What’s it like working in Greece?
- Average working hours: the usual week is 40 hours and the working day cannot exceed ten hours.
- Holidays: average 20 days per year.
- Average graduate starting salary: €1,100 per month.
- Tax rates: income tax rates are progressive, ranging from 5% to 40% (in 2010). The first €12,000 of income is tax exempt. Up-to-date income tax rates and other tax information are available from the Greek Ministry of Economy and Finance.
- Working practices and customs: similar to the UK. Dress code is less formal (smart casual) in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Self-employment is much more common in Greece than in the UK. Greek workers are rather less likely to move for work than in other European countries. This is due partly to the high rate of home ownership (80%) and partly to social and cultural factors, particularly the strength of family ties, which form a very strong network of social protection.
Applying for jobs
How do I apply for a job?
Application forms and CVs are the typical methods of application. Many Greek companies use application forms instead of a CV, which can be long and detailed.
What kind of CV do I need?
CVs, when requested, should usually be typed and two to three pages long. A photograph is not required, but is welcomed. Greek CVs are very detailed and usually in chronological order. For graduate jobs, all companies require at least a first degree, and a Masters will increase your chances. Practical experience is considered very important. Mention all the experience you have obtained, including apprenticeships, university projects and courses. A listing of leisure activities is optional, but welcome. Your knowledge of foreign languages should be stated.
The covering letter should be short and formal in style. Covering letters are typed and should be signed. It is important to state why you are applying for the job and why you think you are the best candidate. Include referees and their contact details if requested.
Find out more about CVs and covering letters.
What will the interview process be like?
Interviewing is the primary selection method in Greece and it is common to undergo two or three interviews for a job. Greek recruiters look mainly at your general level of education and communication skills. Be prepared for a greater degree of inquisitiveness about your personal circumstances than in many other European Union (EU) member states, although you are not obliged to answer questions on your personal situation.
Will my qualifications be recognised?
In Greece, academic qualifications can be recognised by DOATAP (National Academic Recognition Information Centre) in Athens.
More information about recognition of qualifications and related topics is available from ENIC-NARIC.
Do I still need to pay UK tax and National Insurance?
If you are planning to live and work in Greece, check your UK tax and National Insurance position with HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) to ensure that you are not losing any UK pension rights.
Vacancy sources
Job websites
There are many websites and search engines that will help you find work in Greece, including:
- Go Greece
- Kariera
- Just Jobs - Greece
- Global Management Services for jobs in hospitality and catering and on cruise ships;
- Jobical for IT jobs;
- Job in Greece
- Stelechi for marketing, administration, finance, IT, sales, engineering, medical, and consulting jobs;
- EURES - European Job Mobility Portal, maintained by the European Commission, provides information about job vacancies, living and working conditions, and labour markets in Greece, as well as a CV-posting service for jobseekers.
Recruitment agencies
Newspapers
English language newspapers include:
Greek language newspapers can be accessed on Dolnet or as follows:
Other sources
- EEA (European Economic Area) nationals have the right to set up their own business in Greece, but it is important to contact the Embassy of Greece in London or a Greek Manpower Employment Organisation (OAED) office in Greece to find out whether any special registration is required.
- Teaching English as a foreign language (TEFL) is a popular option for UK graduates wanting to work in Greece. The main recruitment agency is Anglo-Hellenic Teacher Recruitment. It advertises on TEFL.com, where other jobs in Greece are posted from time to time. Although a TEFL qualification is not necessary to work as a teacher in Greece, you must be a university graduate. Advertisements for TEFL teachers in Greece also appear in The Guardian (Tuesday). Jobs in this area are usually seasonal.
- UK graduates often find jobs in tourism, most commonly by going to Greece and making enquiries in cafés and hotels, etc. Vacancies are also advertised in the Greek press or check Jobs Abroad for examples of typical openings. Work in tourism is usually seasonal.
Hidden vacancies
- Many job vacancies are filled informally by networking with friends and relatives who may know suitable employers, although this method does not work so well for jobs with the big multinationals.
- If you are a member of a professional association or union, they may have contacts with counterparts in Greece.
- Speculative applications are an important way of finding employment because most Greek companies are rather small and do not have a large personnel department. Word of mouth is still a very important medium for job hunting in Greece.
- Go to job market for details of how to find Greek companies.
Work experience
Temporary work experience is an excellent way to learn more Greek to equip you to apply for employment or postgraduate study in Greece.
Work placements and internships
Organisations that can help you find internships or work placements include:
Exchange programmes
Your institution may be involved in the Leonardo da Vinci Programme, through which vocational training exchanges and work placements are arranged with partner organisations in other countries. Contact your institution's international office or careers service for more information.
Teaching schemes
Consider teaching English by looking at the vacancies available through Anglo-Hellenic Teacher Recruitment.
Volunteering
Opportunities for voluntary work in Greece are available through Elix - volunteering in Greece and numerous broader organisations such as the European Youth Portal.
Casual work
Casual and temporary jobs are widely available in the tourism and hospitality sectors. For examples of typical opportunities, see Jobs Abroad.
Postgraduate study
How does the higher education system work?
Public higher education is divided into universities, polytechnic schools, the Higher School of Fine Arts and the Hellenic Open University. Students are admitted on the basis of their performance at national level examinations in the second and third grades of Lykeio (high school). In addition, potential students who reach the age of 22 are admitted to the Hellenic Open University by drawing lots.
Taught postgraduate courses are not as widely available in Greece as in the UK. However, recent years have seen a steady growth in postgraduate courses, both at Masters and PhD level.
What courses are available?
PhD courses are often modelled on the US Doctorate and include taught courses. These are primarily in technical areas such as IT, engineering and food technology. The main source of information is the university prospectus, usually in Greek, but some course information is available on the internet.
There are comparatively few students from other European countries studying in Greece, apart from a few doing classical studies. Some UK students do their Doctoral research in Greece, especially in classics and archaeology, whether or not they are students of a Greek university.
Masters programmes usually last two years and Doctoral degrees take a minimum of five years.
Where can I study?
A full list of Greek universities is available from the Greek Ministry of Education or Universities Worldwide.
What are the entry requirements for postgraduate study?
Admissions tutors will usually decide on eligibility but, in general, a Masters degree will be required for entry to a Doctoral programme at a Greek university. The Greek first degree, or Ptichio, is officially regarded as being equivalent to a UK Masters degree.
Universities usually teach in Greek. Greek language requirements for students who are not native speakers vary between universities and departments. Some courses are taught in other languages, including English, but these are usually run by organisations representing universities from other countries.
When do I apply?
Candidates should contact their postgraduate study programme of choice for information on closing dates.
How do I apply?
Admission procedures vary between institutions, so contact the department you are interested in joining. As well as submitting an application form, you may have to take an oral and/or written entrance examination. Selection criteria vary from programme to programme, but may include: the grade you attained in your first degree; your performance in undergraduate courses related to your chosen postgraduate study programme; knowledge of foreign languages; your undergraduate dissertation and/or your experience of research and writing.
For admission to a Doctoral programme, candidates should usually have successfully completed a Masters degree. You should submit your application, together with your CV, a report on your work and/or a copy of your postgraduate degree certificate as required. Holders of postgraduate degrees from outside Greece should have their degrees recognised by the appropriate national authorities.
Further advice is available from the Greek Ministry of Education.
How much will it cost?
The Greek Constitution states that higher education should be provided free of charge. However, fees may be set for some postgraduate study programmes. Contact individual institutions for information about fees.
Are any scholarships available?
Only a few postgraduate scholarships are available through the Embassy of Greece in London, The British Council and individual universities, so be prepared to fund yourself. Fees are usually lower than in the UK.
Are there any exchange programmes?
UK students on undergraduate degree programmes or postgraduate Masters and some PhD programmes may be interested in spending time studying in Greece through the Erasmus scheme. Check with your university’s Erasmus coordinator (usually based in the international office) to find out what possibilities are available.
Will my qualification be recognised in the UK?
Candidates should contact ENIC-NARIC to enquire whether the qualification they want to study for in Greece will be recognised in the UK.
Visa and immigration
Do I need a visa or work permit?
Nationals of most of the European Economic Area (EAA), which includes European Union (EU) countries and Norway and Iceland, have the right to live and work in Greece without restriction and without a work permit. They, and their families and immediate dependants, have the same rights as Greek nationals in terms of pay, working conditions, access to housing, vocational training, social security and trade union membership.
Passports must be valid for the intended period of stay in Greece. British passports holders are permitted to stay in Greece until the last day their passport is valid.
However, citizens of the new EU accession countries, Bulgaria and Romania, still need work permits. If you are from one of these countries and want to work in Greece you should contact the Greek Embassy in your home country for more information.
Citizens of non-EU counries may need a visa and/or a work permit.
How do I get a visa?
British and most other EU/EEA passport holders do not require a visa.
If you are from a non-EU country you should apply in person in the Greek Embassy in the country where you are for a National Visa. Forms are not available online.
You will need the following documents:
- your passport;
- if you are currently in the UK, and wish to return: a UK residence permit valid for at least three months longer than the expiry date of the visa you are applying for;
- two recent passport-size photographs;
- a criminal record check certificate issued by the authorities in your country of residence;
- a health certificate stating you do not suffer from any contagious diseases that are a threat to public health according to the International Health Organization.
You are advised to ask your contacts in Greece, such as a potential employer, to send appropriate documents or letters before you go for your visa interview at the Greek Consulate.
You may wish to take advice from your ministry of foreign affairs, or from your own embassy if you are not in your home country, about whether there are any issues you should take into account when considering visiting or working in Greece.
How do I apply for permanent residency?
If you wish to work but know that you will be in Greece for three months or less, you need only register with the local police within eight days of your arrival.
If you intend to stay for more than three months, you should apply for a residence permit within three months of your arrival, either at your local police station (astynomia) if you are living outside Athens, or at any Aliens Department Office (grafeio tmimatos allodapon) if you are living in Athens.
Help and advice abroad
Public employment services
Public employment services in Greece are provided by the Greek Manpower Employment Organisation (OAED). Fields of activity include the promotion of employment, vocational guidance and training and the supply of social security provision. They also help groups of the population facing social exclusion in the labour market.
Advice on individual employment rights can be obtained from any OAED office, or a local office of the Greek Ministry of Employment and Social Protection.
Contact details for European Employment Services advisers in Greece are available through EURES - European Job Mobility Portal. EURES advisers are trained specialists who provide information and guidance to jobseekers interested in working in Greece.
Higher education careers support
Careers services in Greek higher education are a recent development and aim to assist students and graduates with finding employment. All Greek universities and technical education institutes (TEIs) have careers services.
Careers services offer a range of information, including details of postgraduate study and funding, employers, the labour market and occupational information. Careers advice is also available and some universities seek to organise work placements. Services are usually restricted to students enrolled at the individual universities concerned, but it may be helpful to contact the counselling and advice services at relevant institutions. The Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and the University of Piraeus careers service websites (English language versions available) give an overview of the services available in Greece.
Help in an emergency
The British Embassy in Greece (in Athens) can provide a range of help for UK citizens who find themselves in emergency situations, including:
- loss or theft of passport;
- arrest or imprisonment;
- political emergencies or natural disasters;
- serious illness;
- being victim of crime;
- searching for missing friends and relatives;
- dealing with the sudden death of a relative or friend.
Other emergency contact numbers in Greece are:
- 112 - emergency (general);
- 100 - police;
- 166 - ambulance;
- 199 - fire department.
Country overview
Geography
- Full country name: The Hellenic Republic
- Population: 10.7 million
- Border countries of mainland Greece: Albania, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), Bulgaria, Turkey
- Climate: temperate with mild, wet winters and hot, dry summers.
- Terrain: mainland Greece is mostly mountainous with occasional plains, and has more than 2,000 islands.
- Natural hazards: earthquakes, forest fires, which are comparatively common during Greece’s hot and dry summers.
Living in Greece
- Cost of living: compared to the average income, the cost of living remains quite high. The cost of living is higher in semi-urban and tourism areas. In non-tourism areas the cost of living is lower because of the availability of local agricultural products, lower rents and lower expenditure on travel.
- Utilities: the average cost of water, electricity and gas is around €30-€40 per month, depending on the number of people living in a property, which affects the level of consumption. Gas is not yet available in all parts of Greece.
- Internet domain: .gr
- Health: the national health system is operated by the Social Insurance Institute (IKA). You must obtain a health booklet from your local IKA office as soon as you start work. The booklet has to be presented on all visits to a doctor or hospital. The local IKA office will provide a list of doctors who work within the national health system. All medical care is free, but there is a prescription charge equal to 25% of the cost of medicines. If you are an EU national, you should obtain a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC)
before leaving the UK; this will entitle you to emergency medical treatment on the same terms as Greek nationals, but it does not cover you for medical repatriation, ongoing medical treatment or treatment of a non-urgent nature, so take out appropriate insurance.
- Laws and customs: indecent behaviour is not tolerated and can incur heavy fines or prison sentences. You should not become involved with drugs of any kind, or bring drugs - including ‘class C’ drugs - into the country. Possession of even small quantities can lead to long terms of imprisonment. You should also know your alcohol limits as your insurance may in some cases not cover you after excessive drinking. Driving any vehicle whilst over the legal drinking limit is heavily penalised and may result in a heavy fine and/or imprisonment. If you are seeking employment in bars or night clubs in Greece, you are required to have a health certificate/licence issue by the local authorities. Failure to have such a certificate is punishable by a fine and or imprisonment. The law requires that you should be able to identify yourself, so carry your passport or a document with an ID photograph at all times. In order to comply with Greek law, you should ensure that you obtain a receipt for goods purchased. Purchasing pirated CDs or DVDs can lead to imprisonment. Since September 2010, smoking in all indoor public places is illegal.
Economy and finance
- Currency: Euro (€)
- Type of economy: capitalist
- Health of economy: Greece entered an economic recession in 2008 and has not recovered. By the end of 2010, the economy is expected to decline by 4% and another 2.6% in 2011. The budget deficit in 2009 was 13.6% of its GDP, which far exceeded the agreed EU figure of 3%. In April 2010, major credit ration agencies downgraded Greece’s international debt rating to ‘junk’ after concerns it would default on its borrowing. In May 2010, the International Monetary Fund and Eurozone governments had to provide Greece with emergency loans totaling £96billion. Under the loan agreement, Greece must decrease the budget deficit to the 3% that is the EU standard. The government recently promised spending cuts and tax increases totaling $40billion over the next three years, as well as putting into place austerity measures including a public sector pay freeze, a VAT rise and new labour laws.
- Unemployment rate: 12% and is expected to rise to 14.5% in 2011 as the country enters its third year of recession.
- Main exports: food and beverages, manufactured goods, petroleum products, chemicals, textiles.
Culture
- People: 98% Greek with a very small Muslim minority made up of Turkic people, Pomaks and Muslim Roma.
- Major religion: Christian Orthodox
- History: see BBC Timeline: Greece for an outline of Greek history.
- Local etiquette: there are unwritten rules that you should greet friends with a kiss on both cheeks, offer a seat on the bus to the elderly and bring a small gift (wine or flowers) when dining at somebody's home. Wine is common at lunch and dinner and it is usual to help yourself to food set out in the middle of the table. Reaching across the table for food is not uncommon. Sending a personal thank-you note to the host or hostess is not expected. Good manners dictate that you should use the formal plural pronoun (sas) when addressing an older person or someone you are meeting for the first time. It is inappropriate to ring someone at home in the afternoon between 2pm and 5pm when most Greeks rest, but it is fine to call after 9pm. Greeks do not take offence if you bump into them in the street and tend not to say ‘sorry’ or ‘excuse me’. Greeks tend to speak loudly in public and also come up close and make physical contact when talking to people. A raised palm means ‘stop’ in most countries but in Greece is a very offensive gesture. It is quite common to be asked personal questions about, for example, your income or your marital status and this is considered acceptable. When keeping appointments, it is best to be punctual, although in some instances you need to be prepared to wait.
Politics
- Type of government: Parliamentary democracy
- Major political parties: New Democracy (ND), Panhellenic Socialist Movement (PASOK), Communist Party of Greece (KKE), Coalition of the Radical Left (SYRIZA)
Travel advice
Check the information available from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) for travel advice and a checklist for travellers.
Contacts and resources
Jobs and work
Study
Embassies
Government websites
Reference
AGCAS
Tweet