Living and working in Italy
 

Hi all

I am looking to move to Italy in the near future and need a bit of a point in the right direction. I am a British Pipefitter/Welder and wondered if anybody had any info regarding tradesmens jobs? Are any of the guys on this site tradesmen themselves? If so, what are your experiences?

Basically, will i find it difficult to find a job in this sector? Just to mention that i do not mind which part of italy i will live. I suppose whatever area is good for work.

I am currently "trying" to learn the language so i have a basic grasp!

Any help is greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance

Re: Living and working in Italy
 

:)Hello pipeman, and welcome. I must tell you that finding a job of any sort in Italy nowadays is extremely difficult, with or without the language. If I were you I would do a bit more research on the political and economical situation in the country as it is today. Watch today's news on protests from factories closing down in Sardegna for example. or the situation re the Illva steelworks in Taranto, to name but a few. Look at Fiat car sales/production, and you'll begin to get the picture. Italy in 2012 is a wonderful place to come to on holiday, or even to live if you have no financial worries; otherwise I would advise think again.
good luck,
'o nonno

Re: Living and working in Italy
 

The last post was spot on i moved here two years ago. I am a electrician getting my qualifications recognized and getting registered here has been impossible.
Then the problem I found was the Italians can give you work but cash only basis in the black economy which is at such a low rate it didn't pay the fuel to go to site.
I have started my own business doing something very different from what I did in the Uk. There is no job centers or job agencies you can go to. finding an income has been my biggest challenge, so my advise is be flexable and think out of the box, self employment is the only route

Re: Living and working in Italy
 

I would agree with 97% of the above.

I only disagree about the job centres.

http://www.manpower.it/
http://www.adecco.it/

You will find their offices in many cities.

There is a "job centre" in our city where people go to lodge a claim for benefits.They have a notice board with jobs, although unlike the UK some adverts will say only people between the age 20 -35 should apply:blink:


Work is very hard to find over here, and a lot of work is cash in hand.

Re: Living and working in Italy
 

I agree - if there's any chance at all it's in you being self-employed, but I don't see much hope there either. Not these days. Even self-employed work has got much more difficult lately.

(For some time I've been advising young Italians looking for working that they should maybe look at the voluntary sector, in Italy or abroad, on the grounds that that way they'll be learning something (a language, how to help sufferers from Alzheimer's ...) , they'll have something to put on their CV, they won't be spending the time about themselves and their own problems, and they'll be a pride to their families. I have a feeling might be an awful lot of people after volunteer jobs nowadays, though.)

It sounds as though you may have some reason apart from work for wanting to be in Italy - e.g. to be near someone. Is there ? If so, perhaps there's some other way of sorting that out.

Re: Living and working in Italy
 

Thanks you all for your replies.

I actually have a wife and baby, and I am young and fit, with loads of international experience so no worries on any of those fronts.

It seems like my job scope is being misunderstood, welding qualifications are European standard, and recognised in all European countries. I have full City and Guilds trade papers and qualifications.

I am currently working in one of the supposed bad economies in Europe, and doing quite well , we just fancied a change!

Cheers, see you out there!

Re: Living and working in Italy
 

Actually, no one is questioning your qualifications. Rather, the possibility of finding you work here. Not impossible, but extremely testing. By your username, I assume that you are a pipeline welder. Well, the only welders in that line I have every known have ALL worked abroad.

Re: Living and working in Italy
 

Your qualifications will have to be tranlsated into italian and it is possible that you will have to do an oral exam in italaian to meet health and safety requirements for work on a recognised cantieri. You should ask your union inthe uk what e arrangements are.

Re: Living and working in Italy
 

Me too,I have all EU recognised qualifications, But in reality the Italians have a way of not considering EU regulations if it does not suit them or adding Italian qualifications so you can be a registered tradesman.

Re: Living and working in Italy
 

Get them translated and rubber stamped by the Italian Consulate before you come out. Plus get a dichiarazione di valore in loco ..
read all about it:
http://www.conslondra.esteri.it/Cons...oni_di_valore/

..good luck

Re: Living and working in Italy
 

It seams like things in Italy are similar to Spain.

Re: Living and working in Italy
 

I couldn't agree more with what's been written on here. Whilst moving to Italy may feel like a great lifestyle choice, the economic situation here is dire at the moment, and chances are you will be passed over in favour of an Italian. I know Italians who moved back to Italy from the UK - both have British wives and small children - both of them have moved back to the UK within 2 years of moving here. And they are Italian!!!!! Comments were : we need to move back to civilization! After 4 years here, I have now decided to move back. I was a Senior Manager in Automotive manufacturing before I moved here and have never had a hope of getting a job, even with 15 years experience and speaking the language.

Like others have said, think carefully about your decision. Despite living on "idyllic Lake Como" unfortunately I don't have George Clooney's financial means so it's not quite as much as fun for me. I'm looking forward to coming back for holidays and saying goodbye to Italian bureaucracy!

Re: Living and working in Italy
 

You need to try these to see what is on offer and sign up to be advised when something suitable is posted . The best is said to be Monster
http://cercalavoro.monster.it/
http://lavoro.trovit.it/lavoro
http://www.adoos.it
I tried using Saldatore ( welder )
The economic climate is dire but all three of the boys I know who finished a technical / industrial school this summer are already working . Your biggest problem is going to be the language - you'll need to be fluent e know all the specialised terms . good luck

Re: Living and working in Italy
 

:)Now that is brilliant news. The best I've heard for a while. Good to hear there is some hope out there for youngsters. I suppose they have a lousy contract, but at least they have jobs.
ciao for now,
'o nonno

Re: Living and working in Italy
 

Two have 3 yr industrial apprenticships , the other is 'tempo indeterminato ' because he did some kind of special electrical course .Parma and the area around it has a lot of food processing technology companies and they seem to be doing ok for the moment .:fingerscrossed: