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Working towards accessibility best practice

This article was written using information from Expertise in Labour Mobility. For more information about living and working in Europe and to order your invaluable ‘Looking for work in…’ guide, visit www.labourmobility.com

Italy

Italy now has one of the most powerful economies in Europe, and prospects for foreign graduates are improving all the time. However, Italian employers tend to recruit through personal contacts, so to compete with Italian jobseekers, you’re going to have to learn the value of networking!

Italy’s economy

The Italian economy has progressed from being one of the weakest economies in Europe, after World War II, to being one of the most powerful. Its strengths are its metallurgical and engineering industries; its weaknesses are a lack of primary materials and energy sources. More than 80% of Italy’s energy requirements are imported.

A strong entrepreneurial bias, combined with liberal trade policies since the war, enabled manufacturing exports to expand at a phenomenal rate, but a cumbersome bureaucracy and insufficient planning have hindered an even economic development throughout the country.

The Italian economy comprises of areas as diverse as the ‘industrial triangle’, formed by Milan, Turin, and Genoa and dating from about 1900, and the less prosperous regions of the south and the islands. The latter are now being developed, mostly with aid from the state and the European Union.

Agriculture, which operates in often difficult natural and economic conditions, contributes about 4% of the gross domestic product (GDP); industry about 30%, and public and private services more than 50%. Italian industry includes every type of production. Although mineral resources are scarce, imported raw materials since World War II have boosted the production of iron and steel, other metallurgy, and construction.

The chemical industry is also flourishing, and textiles constitute one of Italy’s largest industries. Services, particularly tourism, are very important, and efforts have been made to provide comprehensive networks of autostrada (express highways).

Making contacts

Italian graduates are not the most mobile, and are often reluctant to relocate away from their own region for employment. Despite this, Italian companies don’t recruit all that many foreign graduates, as they tend to use networking as a form of recruitment.

Work permits

If you’re a citizen of the EEA, you’re free to move and work wherever you want to within it. However, you will need to apply for a residence permit. This is valid for five years and should be issued to you within six months of your arrival in Italy. Contact the Italian embassy in your home country for more information.

Management culture

What is important to an Italian employer?

• Most companies in Italy have a clear, hierarchic structure based on traditional leadership.

• Working relationships are based on a feeling of mutual dependence and reciprocal commitment.

• The hierarchy in Italian organisations is strict and influential in the work process.

• The aim of business meetings is to enable decision-makers to explore views towards a proposal, not to come to a decision.

• For Italians, punctuality is less of an issue than it is elsewhere – in fact, time is overlooked when meeting other people.

• It’s important to make a good impression in Italy. The business dress code is neat, formal and to the latest fashion.

• Don’t be surprised if a less qualified, but senior colleague is promoted before you are.

Working life

The facts about day-to-day working life in Italy

Graduate starting salaries

EUR18,200–EUR22,965

Age at graduation

Approximately 26. Bear in mind that ‘home-grown’ graduates from Italy tend to be much older than those from Scandinavia or the UK, as Italian degrees take longer to complete than many in Europe – at least five years.

However, Italy’s education system is being reformed in the light of the Bologna Agreement, and in time will reflect the more common Bachelor’s/Master’s format.

Working week

48 hours maximum by law, but usually less than 40.

Holiday entitlement

25–30 days’ annual leave

10 days’ public holiday and local saints’ days.

Making applications

The best ways to apply for jobs in Italy.

• In principle, the Italian public jobcentres deal with all job appointments. This gives them a good overview of all vacancies available.

• In accepting a job, the agreement of the public employment service (known as ‘Nulla osta’) is necessary.

• One of the best ways of finding a job in Italy is through networking – don’t underestimate the power of personal contacts. Italians are great at this themselves; use this to your advantage.

• Be prepared for three to four interviews during an Italian application process.

• Pay attention to your appearance and to small details. Italians believe it to be a sign that you’ll also pay attention to your work.

• Be enthusiastic and dynamic – that’s what Italian employers are looking for.

• Don’t mention your expected future salary in the first interview.

Winning CVs

What information should an Italian CV contain?

• There are no strict rules for a CV in Italy, but it shouldn’t be too long – certainly no more than two pages.

• Hobbies are rarely mentioned in a CV.

• A photo is not usually required.

• Your CV should be written in formal language.

• A CV written in Italian will be greatly appreciated!

• In order to allow a firm to contact an applicant, while still obeying Italy’s privacy laws, candidates should add the statement "Autorizzo l’utilizzo dei miei dati personali in conformità alla legge 675/96" (I agree to disclose my personal information according to the law 675/96) to the end of their CVs.

Application letters

What your letter should cover and how you should present it

• A formal style and formal language should be used in your letters of application to Italian employers.

• Don’t try to include too much information in your application letter; the Italians prefer to hear this directly, so save it for the interview.

• Copies of diplomas and references should also be saved for the interview.

• The application process tends to be long – possibly up to three months – so allow plenty of time to search for a job in Italy.

Expert tips

Professor Pierpaolo Luderin, Head of the University Counselling Centre at Azienda, offers some advice for jobseekers looking to work in Italy: ‘Currently the sectors offering the best job opportunities for foreign graduates looking for work are information and communication technology, the foreign trade and language teaching. For native speakers of popular languages such as English, there are opportunities at institutions such as universities and schools.

‘Italian employers are, in general, interested in people capable of speaking several languages. Furthermore, they seek practical skills, such as computer skills, and softer skills such as strong communication skills in successful candidates. Economics and legal knowledge is also much appreciated.

‘My advice to foreign jobseekers is to try to be present at one of the “job meetings” that are being held at many Italian university towns. It is the perfect opportunity to make contacts and start building a network.’