Jobs in Turkey

Living and Working in Turkey

Life in Turkey may be your dream come true, but don’t just dive in based on the tourist attractions. After all, you'll be living there—not just vacationing—so it's best to know all the ins and outs right away.

Living There

Here are a few things about Turkey:

• The primary religion in Turky is the Muslim faith.
• Overall, interactions tend to be very polite and formal and conversations are sprinkled with many niceties.
• Body language is different in Turkey than in some other countries. According to Shelter Off Shore, nodding means the same there as it does in the United States, but shaking your head back and forth will imply that you don't know the answer, rather than no. And forget about displays of affection there unless you really wish to offend onlookers. Shaking hands is okay, but tread carefully if you're shaking the hand of someone from the opposite gender. In some areas of Turkey, it's okay; in others, it's not.
• There are so many British people there, some people view Turkey as a mini Britain, but with sun.
• Animals aren't treated very well there. Many people can't afford to keep animals, and the ones who can tend to think of them as workers or nuisances.
• The food is delicious and the climate is amazing almost year-round.

Visit Shelter Off Shore for more information on adapting to life in Turkey.

In addition, check out Escape Artist for a list of articles about living in Turkey. You'll find information about health care and insurance, moving companies, and additional immigration information.

Working There

According to Shelter Off Shore, the type of visa you'll need in Turkey depends upon where you're from, how long you plan to stay, and what you're going to do there (work or start a business, for example).

If you plan to stay more than three months, you'll need to apply for a resident's permit. In addition to that, to work in Turkey, you'll need a worker's permit. To achieve a worker's permit, you'll have to have a job offer first.

Finding Jobs in Turkey

Finding a job in another country isn't as simple as just cruising around town to drop off resumes and hopefully speak with the hiring manager. Searching online is the easiest and most cost-effective way to find a job in another country. Here are a few places to begin your search:

• Jobs Abroad usually has a nice selection of jobs available in other countries. Jobs in Turkey are no exception.
• Learn 4 Good has a great listing of jobs, too. You can find listings for everything from customer service positions to architect's jobs.
• Turkey Job Link provides job listings as well as helpful articles.
• Intel has job listings for their office in Istanbul.

Word of Caution

Any time you're looking for a job in another country, exercise additional caution. If you have your resume up on a job search engine, some illegitimate companies may contact you. Before hopping on a plane or sending any personal information, do a bit of investigative work.

One quick and easy way to find out more regarding whether the job offer is a scam is to simply put the name of the company into Google, followed by the word "scam." It's amazing what you can find out with such an easy search.

Additionally, before taking a blind leap into a new career and a new country, check out how the salary converts to your current salary. What may sound like a lot at first could amount to the same amount or even less money.

Don't forget to thoroughly research the lifestyle within the country you're considering to find out if you would be comfortable there, or perhaps even a target for crimes. Moving to a new country for a job can be an exciting and enlightening change, but it's not one to implment without carefully considering all aspects.