Finding a summer job in Greece has changed little in the past 10 years, but the job climate for illegal jobs has changed significantly with new laws, stepped up enforcement and the expansion of the EU. Anyone interested in working in a bar, cafe or club on a Greek island or even seaside on the mainland should read, “Summer jobs in Greece,” in addition to this FAQ.

Are there summer jobs in Greece for Americans?
Are there summer jobs in Greece for Canadians?
Are there summer jobs in Greece for Australians?
Are there summer jobs in Greece for _______ ?

In a word, ‘no.’ Jobs aren’t listed like that.

Have you ever seen a job in the USA or Canada advertised like this: “Jobs for Italians” or “Jobs for expats only.” I haven’t. So if you’re looking for a summer job in Greece, you are competing against everyone. Searching for “Jobs in Greece” is more accurate. (Use links in the 3rd column for that)

The only time I’ve seen nationality specified is when an employer wants Greek or EU citizens, and this is because they are seeking candidates with authorization to work in the EU. aka, They don’t want non-EU citizens. It might even be more subtle, such as: “British English native speakers only.”

Sometimes there are ads specifying, “Foreign women,” but this is usually because an employer is seeking women for gentlemen bars or cheap housekeepers, live-in child care, etc.

Specifying nationality in jobs ads is technically illegal.

Can an American find a summer job in Greece?
Can a Canadian find a summer job in Greece?
Can an Australian find a summer job in Greece?
Can a ____ (non-EU citizen) find a summer job in Greece?

Yes and no.

Yes, if you’re only looking for illegal work, low wages, working conditions that range from poor to mediocre, and don’t mind being fired or otherwise let go for any reason.

No, if you’re looking for legal work and a permit to stay in Greece.

Why is it considered illegal if I work for the summer in Greece as an American/Canadian/Australian/non-EU citizen?

Because all Americans, Canadians, Australians and other non-EU citizens in Greece with only a Schengen or national visa are not permitted to work legally. You can only work legally if you have a permit. See, “How Americans/non-EU citizens can live and work in Greece” if you are unfamiliar with visas and permits.

Why won’t an employer give me a permit to work in Greece?

In a nutshell, getting a Greek residence/work permit is an expensive and lengthy process taking several months that involves getting approval from authorities, issuing a work visa through the Greek Consulate in your homeland and putting up a huge deposit to hire you. It’s simply not worth all of that bureaucracy and expense for summer work, when there are plenty of other workers available who don’t need a permit.

It must also be proven that no Greek or EU citizen can fill this vacancy, and this is why you must be hired and given a permit. For bar work or casual summer jobs, there is no basis for authorities to approve this. Even for regular non-summer jobs in Greece, this rarely happens. I saw stats published in a Greek newspaper that showed no new permits were issued to Americans in 2007; there were only renewals.

Is it easy to get a summer job in Greece?

It was much easier to get a summer job 10 or even 2 years ago, than it is today. But it also depends on your qualifications, what you’re willing to accept and your definition of ‘easy.’ If you think a job is going to drop out of the sky without doing some work, then ‘no.’

Why is it harder now?

Several reasons:

a) The EU has expanded to include Eastern European nations. There are plenty of workers who are not only legal (need no permit), but are also willing to accept wages lower than most Americans, Canadians or Australians would. There are also a number of illegal workers from Asia and the Middle East who are working here for as little as 23 euros a day under deplorable conditions.

b) Fines for employers hiring illegal workers have increased and now include jail time. Thus, unless an employer is absolutely sure he/she won’t be caught or has connections or money to bribe officials, it’s simply not worth the risk.

c) A new law was passed in December 2007 requiring certain American and other non-EU citizens to provide proof of financial means when applying for a visa or when entering Greece. See, “Non-EU travelers to Greece need 50 euros a day.” This is an attempt to cut down on the number of Americans and Canadians who work illegally in Greece every summer and overstay their visa.

d) Enforcement has stepped up. In the past year, police checks are more frequent and I know a greater number of people who have lost their illegal jobs or simply weren’t hired and had to go home.

e) The Greek government is in favor of tightening borders and immigration. It’s no secret that Greece and France are cooperating to close borders.

f) It’s not as cheap to live in Greece as it used to be. A lot of people hear stories from relatives and friends who were here years ago when it was relatively inexpensive to live here, and how great it was to work on an island, go to the beach every day, go to work and party every night. You can still do that, it’s just more expensive and a lot of people find that it’s harder to make ends meet while salaries have increased little or not at all. Plus, if you overstay your visa, it will cost you between 600-1300 euros in fines — that’s more than most people earn in a month.

Where do I look for summer jobs in Greece?
How do I find a job in Greece?

Typically, you would search a number of classified ads and any normal methods you use, just as you would back home. There are a number of links in the 3rd column to get you started. The best ads are in Greek.

Preferably, you would show up in person on the island or location of interest and interview on the spot with an employer because quite honestly, he/she will want to see what you look like.

There’s no way to know exactly where to go because there might be a ton of jobs in one place this week, but by the time you get here next month, they might all be gone. That’s why it’s best to show up early in the season, not in June.

Are there a lot of summer job classified ads this year?

Like every year, there are a great number listed right now. But of the 1,000 ads I saw today, two were in English. They’re all in Greek and in Greek newspapers, which basically means they are all legal jobs for anyone who can speak Greek and has authorization/permit to work in Greece. This may reflect what I said earlier about the job climate being different due to laws, enforcement and fines. Maybe not, but nevertheless it’s a reality.

The two that were in the Greek newspaper in English wanted: Someone speaking both Greek and English to work in the center of Athens (presumably so the owner could escape to his village or island); and a girl for a pub that I know has a terrible reputation for not paying on time.

There were no ads in English-language newspapers for summer jobs; those don’t usually appear until later when employers become desperate and are in a position to attract equally desperate tourists getting low on funds.

Where can I find ads for illegal jobs?

Illegal jobs won’t be advertised in regular newspapers unless they want to be visited by police. Some employers post in unknown forums and see who comes to them, but I question the quality of these jobs.

Most employers with illegal jobs wait for candidates to come see them in person.

Should I post in a forum?

No.

Why not?

Because getting a summer job, or any job, requires that you apply for open vacancies offered by bars, cafes and hotels that are actually looking for people.

I doubt these employers have time to search forums for candidates, write down everyone’s name, address and phone number, then spend the time and money on an international call to give you a job. They figure if you want the job badly enough, you will take action and the initiative to contact them. If you don’t, there are plenty who will. Trust me.

So are you saying I shouldn’t answer a job for Greece advertised in a forum?

No, I’m saying you shouldn’t post your own details asking for a job. There’s nothing wrong with answering an ad from someone who says they have a job vacancy.

Do you know anyone who has gotten a summer job in Greece by leaving their name, phone number or e-mail in a forum?

No. Not a single person in the 11 years I’ve been here.

Everyone I know who got a summer job in Greece has applied to an ad by phone or showed up in person.

I know people who were promised jobs via e-mail or phone, but then showed up only to find the employer had hired someone else who was actually here in Greece. As there were no contracts or anything legally binding the employers to keep these promises, these people then had to find work somewhere else or go home. Most ended up going home when funds ran out because they had no backup plan or savings and had come too late to find anything else.

Is speaking English enough?

Sometimes, sometimes not.

Some hotels or bars with a predominantly English-speaking clientele don’t mind if you can’t speak another language, or if you’re applying for a position in which you have very little contact with customers. i.e. IT technician, barman taking orders only from waitresses who all speak English, DJ, etc.

Sometimes it’s helpful if you at least speak some Greek. Remember that Greeks go on vacation in summer as well, and they are not required to speak English in order to be in their own country.

Most people I know who got summer jobs in Greece very easily are multilingual. Nikos was hired immediately because he spoke German, and Kos is a popular destination for Germans. George speaks English, Greek and Italian and was hired immediately on Skiathos. I worked in Rhodes for a summer speaking mostly English, but sometimes Greek and French. The only person I know who didn’t speak another language and had no experience ever working in a bar/restaurant was a girl who had enormous bre@sts — you can draw your own conclusions from that.

Will a summer job come with accommodation?

There is a trend to not offer it anymore, but it really depends on what you find and if there is room to negotiate. Alex and I both had accommodation and food included with our jobs, but George and Nikos did not. Christy got food, but still had to pay for her own apartment.

Is it easier for women to find summer jobs in Greece?

Yes, especially if you are under 30 and attractive.

Some ads specifically state an age limitation because younger women are perceived to be more willing to accept certain conditions and lower pay, while also appealing to men of all ages.

Men find jobs too, so don’t be discouraged by this news.

I’m planning to be in Greece in June, can I still find a summer job?

Like I’ve said before, all of the good jobs are secured through connections or advertised and gone by April or May. But it’s not impossible if you’re not picky, don’t mind low wages and substandard conditions.

I encourage everyone to read:

1. Getting a summer job in Greece
2. One day on the island of Ios
3. Non-EU travelers need 50 euros a day
4. Overstaying a visa in Greece

* Further questions will not be answered at this time, as 20 were addressed above and based on the most popular ones I get. I am also not a job placement agency and have provided you with tools to help yourselves. Thank you.

Certain American and other non-EU citizens vacationing or intending to illegally work in Greece may need to show Greek authorities they have at least 50 euros a day for the length of their stay.

An interior ministry decision published in the Government Gazette on December 31, 2007 states in Article 1 that non-EU nationals traveling to Greece with a Schengen visa must show upon entry that they have at least 50 euros for each day of their stay, or a minimum of 300 euros for up to five (5) days. Non-EU minors need a minimum of 25 euros per day.

Article 2 says that non-EU citizens entering Greece with a national visa — a visa granted by Greece for entry to Greece only — with a validity of up to 90 days must have at least 300 euros for the entire length of their stay, whether it is one day or 90 days. The amount increases to 30 euros a day for anything beyond 90 days.

Finally, Article 3 says that the above two rules are in effect for non-EU citizens who are from countries that impose the same requirements on Greek citizens. Meaning, this legislation was written to retaliate or prevent against certain countries targeting or planning to target Greek citizens. As Australia, Canada and the USA currently do not require visiting Greek citizens to show financial means upon entry, American, Canadian and Australian citizens are technically not included as part of these new laws. But border police can still question anyone from any country at anytime for any reason.

Whether or not this applies to you, or authorities actually request that you show a credit card or cash at the border/airport, 50 euros a day is an accurate estimate of how much travelers to Greece need for food, transportation and sightseeing. Getting by on 20 euros a day is unrealistic.

* Convert 50 EUR to your currency by going to www.xe.com

In the “news”

An incomplete version of this story in the Athens News misled readers — particularly Americans — to believe the 50-euros-a-day rule applied to all non-EU citizens. It does not.

It primarily applies to non-EU citizens from countries that target Greek citizens, “undesirables” trying to live/work in Greece illegally, hooligans and citizens from western countries (Americans and Canadians) who overstay their visa.

The number of American tourists to Greece increased to nearly 436,000 in 2007, and the Greek tourism sector is a growth market that accounts for almost 20 percent of this country’s GDP. This country would be ill advised to impose monetary restrictions on all non-EU countries, and this is why I investigated further.

In discussion

The 50-euros-a-day topic was opened on posting boards, where more misinformation and rumors were spread. These rules are not amendments to existing legislation in law 3386/05 regarding a minimum financial requirement, as none existed previous to December 31, 2007 (I read it). It is a new addition. It is also not guaranteed that being clean shaven, well spoken and neatly dressed will absolve you from being checked. Whether you are questioned is purely the discretion and mood of border/passport control.

Greece is not alone in asking certain visitors to show minimum financial means. Bulgaria does the same thing, and other EU countries have historically asked select non-EU visitors to show a return ticket or financial resources if border/passport control suspects a person has intentions of staying/working illegally in the country.*

A lot of Americans, Canadians and other non-EU travelers who come each summer to work illegally in island bars and restaurants account for the highest number of overstays in Greece. There are no official stats, but the indicators are there — “Overstaying a visa in Greece” is one of the most popular posts on this site, and there are a number of Americans, Canadians and other non-EU citizens posting in forums requesting advice and job leads specifically for Greece, not Germany, Sweden or Spain. It is illegal to work in Greece as a traveler.

Therefore, Greece is within its right to discourage “undesirables” and question or demand proof of financial support from anyone they deem suspicious.

Two stories of many

* Upon learning my profession, certain countries have requested proof of financial means, a handwritten and signed statement that I promise to not work in their country, and the confiscation of some of my possessions. This happened in the UK, Germany, Hungary, France, India, Egypt, Mexico and the former Yugoslavia.

I provide this as an example that border police can question anyone at anytime for any reason, then decide to allow passage or turn someone away. Their actions need not be supported by written law.

* I urge you to read Dubaibilly’s comment attached to this post, which details what happened to his stepson. His story illustrates that a non-EU citizen may be asked to show 50 euros a day even before a visa is issued.

For related stories, see “Travel” or “Visas for Greece.”

Sources

- All sources are linked above
- Special thanks to Stathis for retrieving the necessary documents, which I then translated from Greek to English
- Hat tip to DubaiBilly for sharing his story attached to comments
- Photo source: www.Bilderkiste.de

Learning Greek is key to finding a job in Greece, true or false? This is both true and false.

True

Speaking several languages, including the local one, will make you more attractive to an employer on paper and in person. It is good business sense to hire someone who can speak to everyone, rather than someone who is limited to communicating with only a few. Even employers offering summer jobs in tourist spots prefer people who are bilingual in Greek.

Reading, writing and speaking Greek will undoubtedly increase your chances of finding work, simply because the whole job market is open to you and make you more competitive. It will help you stay in your field and perhaps even get you a position on par with the level you attained back in your homeland, instead of settling for less.

Lastly, although being fluent or proficient in Greek does not guarantee you a higher salary, it gives you the power to negotiate a salary, rather than allowing your employer to use it as leverage to pay you less.

False

While learning Greek, even at a basic level, will help you in everyday activities and make your transition smoother without being dependent on others for help, I and several people I know can attest that it is not necessary in finding some jobs.

There are programmers/technicians at IT companies, secretaries at Greek and multinational companies, editors and proofreaders at publishing houses and ELT schools, tourist industry workers, administrators at universities, some teachers of English, personal assistants to Greek professionals — all of them do not speak Greek at a fluent or even basic level because their company has a UK, German, Spanish, American or otherwise non-Greek speaking clientele or industry focus.

A significant drawback is that the entire job market is not open to you, in fact you won’t even be able to read the majority of newspaper ads/classifieds without knowing some Greek. The good jobs for native speakers of another language without fluency in Greek have no turnover and come available once in a blue moon, only to be filled through connections or recommendations by relatives or friends without ever being advertised.

Vacancies that open up more often or continuously advertised in “foreigner” newspapers are usually less than desirable jobs with high turnover. There is a reason. These companies count on the fact there is a continuous supply of non-EU citizens who will work illegally, accept a lower salary, cannot demand IKA (insurance) and bonuses (Easter, summer and Christmas), work unpaid overtime and settle for being treated poorly or exploited in other ways out of fear of being fired or otherwise unemployed.

You may be fine with that as a means to stay here and support yourself, but your life and career will rarely advance beyond these “recycled” jobs into a more professional realm. Those who aren’t picky and enjoy routine and stability may find this just fine; others seeking growth and opportunity should know that your career will top out very quickly without connections.

And if you one day intend to return to your homeland or migrate to another country, a prospective employer may not be sympathetic about your job situation in Greece, and it will be difficult for you to regain the position you once held.

Contrary to popular belief that international experience is looked upon favorably, I’ve found that many multinational companies see you as unstable, unfocused or a flight risk (aka, you’ll leave again), unless the move abroad was for good reason — company transfer, family reasons or accepting a golden job opportunity with a recognized brand, institution or NGO. Many well-known job agencies I consulted in New York, Stockholm, Madrid and Miami say that it’s often better to leave this period off a CV if there is no significant or related experience to contribute, as it will only raise suspicion.

In Life

It is a widely held belief that most Greeks speak English and Greece caters to an English speaking population. That’s both true and false. In affluent areas, larger towns and areas frequented by tourists, many know some English, especially younger people. However, you will still find a lot of ATMs without the option for English even in big cities, 95 percent of bureaucratic forms are in Greek, and government Web sites offer slimmed down versions of their Greek counterpart. Further, public sector offices (dimos, eforia, nomarxeia, IKA, OAED, etc.) are staffed by people who will insist on speaking Greek, except in rare instances.

There are people who live here for years without bothering to learn Greek even at a basic level and do fine. They congregate with people speaking the same language or multilingual Greeks, manage OK at the grocery store and are dependent on a friend, girl/boyfriend, spouse, child or lawyer to do the translating and bureaucratic legwork for them. Greece remains a mysterious stranger to them.*

That’s fine, I suppose, but I’ve found that having even a basic command of Greek does wonders. With some grasp of the language, independence and confidence replace isolation and fear, knowledge chips away at ignorance, and closed doors inch open. You feel like a functioning adult again with a full life instead of a helpless child, and Greece feels more like home than a foreign country.

Learning Greek isn’t the easiest thing in the world, but it’s not the most difficult either.

* Getting familiar with Greece using wisdom from this site does not count as knowing something or having your own first-hand experience.

Jump start your job search

You can start your job search with the links I’ve provided in the third column by scrolling down to the heading “Jobs, Homes and Auto Ads in Greece” and clicking anything that interests you.

Many sites are bilingual with the best jobs usually listed in Greek.

Related posts

“Common jobs for Americans/non-EU citizens in Greece“

“Free Greek language lessons“

“Why don’t you speak Greek fluently?“

Arriving in June to find a job in Greece was one of many mistakes I made as a newcomer 10 years ago. All of the best jobs are gone by Easter, people are in vacation mode and summer is in full swing.

Funds spent initially on a hotel, then a studio apartment, were running low and none of the interviews I had in Athens turned up anything viable or legitimate. I needed a job…and fast.

There was an ad requesting young women interested in bar work, so I called and visited the agency in Nea Ionia with CV in hand. Kyria Katerina asked me a few basic questions, didn’t look at my CV and gave me the once over, then called and briefly spoke to a man in Greek. As I understood no Greek at that time, I had no idea what was said, but I had a bartending job on Ios with room and food included. I was set to travel in three days.

I kissed my new boyfriend goodbye, hopped on a ferry and arrived by sundown on Ios, where I was met by a young woman named Irina and shown to a hotel room that was nice, but lined with blankets on one wall. She showed me around the hotel, port side cafe and seaside bar. We talked about her life in the Ukraine, how she came to the island and letters from her mother. She was homesick.

When she showed me her room, I was surprised by how small it was. Barely the width of her bed, it had one closet in the corner blocking most of the window, no chairs and a tiny bathroom with a combo shower/toilet/sink with a sliding door, which was fitting since a normal door would have nowhere to swing.

I returned to my room to unpack and relax before meeting my new boss that evening before my shift.

Mr. Nikos was a paunchy man in his 50s with greying temples and prematurely wrinkled skin caused by too much island sun. We sat down at a table, during which he spoke slowly and methodically in English about my responsibilities, meals, hours and salary. A work/residence permit would follow if there was a mutual fit.

Mr. N: And by the way, you need to move out of your room and into my house.

K: Sorry?

Mr. N: We need that room to rent to tourists. You’re not a tourist, so you live with me.

K: No, that’s not what I was promised.

Mr. N: What’s wrong? You have a boyfriend.

K: What’s that got to do with anything?

Mr. N: Well, I try to find why you have problem living in my house.

K: Because that’s not the agreement I made. If I had known, I wouldn’t have come here.

Mr. N: No problem, no $ex at first.

K: Eh?

Mr. N: Yes, I leave you alone for some time. $ex come later.

K: Excuse me. $ex come never.

Mr. N: You American girls, what’s wrong with you?

K: Nothing is wrong with me. I came here for a bartending job, not to be a pro$t!tute. A job, food, money and a room.

Mr. N: Yes, at first you have your own room in my house, then you stay together with me in my room. You don’t like it, stay in Irina’s room.

K: Irina’s room isn’t even big enough for her alone.

N: Fine, live with me.

K: No. I’m calling Mrs. Katerina.

Mr. N: Sure, you think about it.

I was excused from working that night and could stay in the hotel room. Mrs. Katerina had gone home for the evening, so I would have to call her first thing tomorrow with the few units I had left on my prepaid phone.

I called Mrs. Katerina, and she didn’t believe what I was saying. She told me that Mr. Nikos had already called her that morning and said he didn’t want me because I “don’t speak Greek.” This was obviously a smokescreen since he knew from the start I didn’t speak Greek. In any case, Mrs. Katerina didn’t believe me.

Irina got on the phone with Mrs. Katerina, verified everything I said and confessed that she went through the same thing many months ago, but was afraid to say anything because she didn’t want to lose her job or her permit. Mrs. Katerina apologized, talked to Mr. Nikos and asked me to come back to Athens at his expense. I said goodbye to the girls, including a fellow American, and didn’t attempt to get another job on the island because Mr. Nikos was a very powerful man and owned much of it (and still does). So I returned to Athens, saw my boyfriend and got another job on Rhodes…but that’s another story altogether.

For tips on how to get your share of fun, sun and legitimate work on an island, see:
“Getting a summer job in Greece“
“Summer jobs in Greece FAQ“
“Non-EU travelers need 50 euros a day“

–
* This post is dedicated to BitTorrent Man, who laughs as hard as I do when telling this story.

Looking for a summer job in Greece?

Thousands go seaside every summer to escape the city for a little fun and sun, which means clubs, resorts and cafes in Greece are brimming with natives and tourists. Based on the real-life experience of people who did it successfully, here are a few tips to getting a summer job in Greece:

1. Start looking in March

Big clubs in on the mainland move to the coastline in summer and take their staff with them, and additional staff are mined from previous years, connections or ads placed in March or before that. Clubs, cafes and hotels on islands re-open after being closed in winter with staff from previous years, but there are usually vacancies. By end of April, most positions are filled except for a few at smaller venues on popular islands, unpopular clubs/islands, or islands some distance from the mainland (i.e., Rhodes, Kos).

If you are a tourist with plans to be in Greece by June or July, you might still find work if someone quits, the boss underestimates business and needs more staff or someone on staff wants to go on vacation. i.e., My friend Alex worked on six different islands for 2-3 weeks at a time for various staff on holiday, had a holiday of sorts herself and made a good amount of cash because she could speak 4 languages, was Greek-Canadian with no permit issues and very attractive. Sometimes it’s about being the right person at the right place at the right time.

Getting work at a hotel in Greece is more difficult, since larger hotels tend to prefer candidates with degrees in hotel management and hospitality; and smaller hotels are usually family owned and therefore have family and friends running it with the same year-round staff. Hostels have casual work, but during high season (April-October) there are fewer or no vacancies.

2. Look the part

Employers want people who are attractive, clean and pleasant, the kind of presentable men and women who will attract customers to their establishment and keep them coming back to spend money. Sometimes the best looking staff members are asked to stand outside or occupy a high visibility position for this reason.

It’s not necessary to be anorexic, in fact a lot of Greek men like a little meat on their women, but men and women should have a certain look and attitude. Women have a better chance of finding bar work than men (except at places with a gay clientele) based solely on beauty, even without previous experience. It’s unfair, but that’s reality.

3. Be open minded

Maybe it’s not the biggest club or hotel on the island or it’s a cafe situated away from the beach, so what? You can still make good money and have the means to stay for the summer, go to the beach, meet people and party after work. Your spare time is your own. Some people are even offered free accommodation and food with the job. Enjoy it!

4. Don’t assume that speaking English is enough

Sometimes speaking English is enough in a predominantly tourist area, sometimes it’s not. Keep in mind that local Greeks frequent the seaside on the mainland and islands, so the employer may sometimes require you speak basic Greek or another language. It’s much easier to hire someone that can speak to everyone, than someone who can only speak to a few.

My island-hopping friend Alex speaks French, Arabic, English and Greek. Her employer may not have required all of those languages, but it certainly didn’t hurt and it gave her the power to choose the best jobs on the best islands at the last minute (in June). My friend Nikos speaks Greek, English and German and found work very easily on Kos for three summers.

5. Have some emergency cash

It is always wise to keep a small stash of money for emergencies, whether it’s medical care, an unexpected trip back home, unsuccessful attempts to find work or the need to move on if your employer or the job turns bad. Don’t assume that people will help you, you must be able to help yourself.

Depleting funds before finding gainful employment is also risky because it may force you to accept less acceptable work out of desperation, and your employer may end up exploiting you. I know women on the island of Ios who are forced to live in the same house as their boss for a few months with “no $ex at first” because they have no money and nowhere else to go.

6. Show up and interview on the spot

Job ads are not the only way to get a job, no one I know has ever gotten a job by posting in a forum, and few employers will hire you by phone or e-mail anyway. Why? They want to see what you look like. There is also no such thing as summer jobs for Canadians or summer jobs for Americans, i.e. when was the last time you saw an ad in your homeland that advertised “summer jobs for Italians?” Summer jobs in Greece are for everyone regardless of nationality.

There are agencies in Athens that screen potential employees and send you to islands, but some agencies don’t disclose the whole truth about a job and you find out only when you get there.

It’s often best to go around town, speak directly to the boss/manager and inquire if there’s a job; other employees may see you as competition and lie about whether there’s a vacancy, so that may not always be the best approach. Even if the boss/employer does not have a vacancy himself, he might know someone who does and give you a lead.

Interviews often start from first glance, which is the reason you should be ready to “look the part” as I mentioned above and be polite but confident in your approach when inquiring about a job. By meeting the boss directly, you can get a sense if you’d like to work for him, and if he’d like to work with you. The process of interviewing is varied, anything from a few basic questions and a shot of whiskey to celebrate hiring you or no questions at all and a rundown of terms and payment. If the employer doesn’t lead, you should be prepared to introduce yourself, state your experience and ask questions yourself.

7. Be clear about your responsibilities and payment terms

Clarify what your responsibilities will be (i.e. bartender or server, dancer or escort, face control, dishwasher, part-time cafe worker/housekeeper, a combination), what hours you may work, if you’ll have a regular or fluctuating schedule. Normal things.

If you are a Greek citizen, EU citizen or non-EU citizen with a valid Greek residence/work permit, then IKA (insurance) and a salary are the norm. Sometimes jobs come with accommodation, food and two days off per week, sometimes none of those things. What you’re willing to accept is up to you, keeping in mind that decent employment is much better than no employment. If you want to trade days off, free accommodation and food for a higher salary, and your boss is willing to negotiate, it’s your choice.

If you are a tourist or temporary worker just looking for a summer job, then it is understood you’ll be working illegally and not likely have the power to negotiate because getting a work visa and permit is a lengthy (several months) and expensive process to legalize a non-EU citizen for only casual work. Therefore, your boss may ask you to hide in the kitchen or pretend to be a tourist should police come around because penalties are high and include jail time. It is much more difficult to find casual, illegal work now than it was 10 years ago because enforcement has become more common.

No matter what citizenship you hold, inquire about terms of payment.
- How much will you earn? Will you be paid a flat rate per day, a percentage of sales or a little of both? Most people I know negotiate a flat rate per day for work in a club or cafe and either keep individual tips or pool them with others and split them at the end of a shift. A flat rate is calculated according to the size of the establishment, whether business is good and your known capabilities. If you’re new, perhaps you can make a deal with your boss about step raises — i.e. this much at the start, an increase after 15-30 days when you prove your worth, etc.
- Will you be paid monthly, twice monthly, weekly or daily? Some people are OK with twice monthly, some need to be paid daily because they’re working illegally and may not have a way to recover money if unexpectedly fired because their boss is not trustworthy.

8. Don’t hand over your passport

This may seem obvious, but I have seen people turn over their passport for reasons I can’t understand then experience difficulty in getting it back. If your boss wants a copy of your passport, it’s better to go to the local photo store, bookstore or printer and make one for him.

Also in relation to your passport, do not overstay your visa according to the period specific to your country. If you do overstay your visa, it will haunt your passport until it expires and you will be questioned upon every entry/exit by every country if you don’t pay a fine of up to 1300 euros. Until the fine is paid, you will be denied entry to the Schengen zone and a record of your overstay remains in the computer. See “Overstaying your visa in Greece.”

9. Don’t place an ad yourself

Some guidebooks recommend doing this, although I know absolutely no one who has secured work this way in my 10 years in Greece…or my lifetime, for that matter. Think about it.
- Legitimate employers place ads and let job candidates come to them.
- How desperate or cheap is someone to approach a stranger through an ad by phone or e-mail? How good could the job be?
- Listing your number and/or e-mail invites all types of people to contact you, not just potential employers. Do you want that kind of attention and is it worth the risk?

See “Job ads in Greece vs. other countries” for important detailed information.

10. Be humble and have a good attitude!

No matter what happens, challenges make great stories and it’s important to focus on the experience and opportunity you have to work in Greece for the summer. The sun is shining, you’re at the beach every day, you’re young and free — it’s the best time of your life! What could be more beautiful than that?

Kalo kalokairi!

Related posts

“Summer jobs in Greece FAQ“
“One day on the island of Ios“
“Non-EU travelers need 50 euros a day“

Then start your job search with listings in the third column.

Article updated April 17, 2008