Turkey is a country with a rich cultural heritage, and its location at the intersection of Europe and Asia gives it a unique perspective on both continents. This well-known travel destination is frequented by a large number of people due, in large part, to the numerous points of interest and beautiful architecture that can be found there.
Dolmabahce Palace in Istanbul and the Greek and Roman ruins of Ephesus ('Efes'), which now borders the town of Selcuk, are two examples of the historic sites that you can visit in this country. The Ottoman Empire had a significant impact on the culture of Turkey, which can be seen in the country's historic architecture. In addition, it is home to some of the world's most famous beaches, such as Maramis, Antalya, and Alanya, which are popular among tourists.
Turkey was one of the few economies that expanded in the year 2020, and it did so at the rate that was its fastest since 1999, despite the widespread spread of the coronavirus pandemic. Even though the political climate in Turkey has improved somewhat in recent years, it is still important to familiarize yourself with the most recent travel advice issued by the United Kingdom government before venturing there.
Jobs available in Turkey
Even though the Turkish economy has struggled over the past few years to maintain its rapid expansion, it is still expected to grow by 5.7% in 2021 according to current projections. The primary obstacles are a low participation rate of women in the labor force, a lack of skills, and strict employment rules that prevent key roles from being filled by qualified overseas workers.
At 12.1%, the country's unemployment rate is still significantly high despite the fact that it has 84.34 million inhabitants (August 2021). On the other hand, Turkey's construction and agricultural sectors have been showing signs of employment expansion.
Vehicles and vehicle parts accounted for approximately 15.4 billion pounds of the country's total export revenue in 2020.
Ankara, the nation's capital, and Istanbul, the country's employment and international relations hub, are the two cities that stand out as the most important for Turkey's commercial sector.
POPULAR GRADUATE JOBS
- Engineering
- Finance
- IT
- Sales
- Supply chain management
Because of the government's restrictions on recruitment, it will be difficult for you to begin certain careers in Turkey if you are a foreign worker. For example, the fields of law, medicine, and mining are all off-limits to international applicants.
It looks like you're in luck if you want to work in the tourism industry or as an English teacher abroad; both of these fields are always looking for native English speakers to fill open positions. To be successful in your work, you will need to have at least a solid grasp of the Turkish language, even though you won't be required to speak the language at a native level.
In spite of the fact that the cost of living in Turkey is generally quite a bit lower than in the UK, the majority of graduate position salaries only cover the most essential aspects of daily life.
Turkey's position as the land bridge that connects Europe and Asia makes it an alluring gateway destination for British workers who are interested in gaining a more international perspective on business. Large companies based in the United Kingdom, such as Marks Spencer, HSBC, Vodafone, and BP, may be able to help recent graduates find employment in Turkey.
How to Obtain Employment in Turkey
Your search for employment in Turkey should start as soon as you step foot in the country's borders, as you'll need to provide evidence that you have a job offer in order to obtain a work permit. You can find employment through any one of the following websites:
Summer jobs
Those individuals who are interested in getting a feel for Turkish culture during the summer months while also having the opportunity to make some money can find plenty of employment opportunities, particularly in the tourism sector.
Visit the following website if you are interested in openings in general or if you have a specific Turkish city in mind:
Alternatively, you can sign up to a temping agency, such as Adecco Turkey, and receive updates on short-term positions tailored to your preferences.
Teaching jobs
There is a growing demand for teachers who are qualified in Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) in all regions of Turkey and for students of all ages. This is because Turkey is continuing to build connections with economies that speak English. The demand is especially high in key cities such as Istanbul, Ankara, and Izmir.
Once you've obtained a Bachelor's degree, a 170-hour TEFL course certificate and some hands-on classroom experience, you'll be a prime candidate for TEFL work in Turkey.
Begin your search for TEFL jobs in Turkey using the following sites:
- Go Overseas - Teach English in Turkey
- i-to-i
- International TEFL Academy
- Teach Away
- TEFL.com - Job Seeker
Internships
You will have the best chance of finding work in Istanbul, as this is where the Turkish headquarters of many multinational corporations are located, including Google, Red Bull, Vodafone, and Colgate-Palmolive.
See the following for work placements ranging from the temporary to the permanent:
- GoAbroad.com - Internships abroad in Turkey
- Go Overseas - Internships in Turkey
- Graduateland - Internships in Turkey
IAESTE is another organization that gives students who are majoring in scientific or technical fields the opportunity to gain work experience through internships.
To begin an internship in Turkey, you will be required to have a work permit, which you can get from the Turkish consulate in the country in which you currently reside.
The majority of internships are unpaid; however, some employers will provide free housing in Turkish university halls as well as a monthly allowance, which is typically in the region of 1,485 Turkish Lira (roughly £120).
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Turkish visas
If you are a citizen of the United Kingdom and plan to visit Turkey for tourism or business, you are exempt from the requirement to obtain a visa for stays of up to ninety days within any period of one hundred and eighty days. If you intend to stay in Turkey for longer than 90 days, you should either apply for a visa that will allow you to stay there for a longer period of time before you travel to Turkey or obtain a residence permit from the Turkish government before the end of your initial 90-day stay there.
Before entering the country, British citizens who are interested in working in Turkey for an extended period of time will be required to obtain a work permit.
There are several distinct work permits available, each of which is tailored to a particular line of labor.
Permission for foreign workers to work in the country is granted by businesses for particular positions. These permits are valid for an initial period of six months, but they can be extended for a total of six years.
You will first need to submit a pre-application for a visa in order to be eligible to apply for a work permit in the United Kingdom. In order to complete this step, you will need to upload copies of your documents so that they can be pre-processed. After that, you will need to bring the originals of your documents to the in-person application appointment at your local Turkish consulate or embassy, such as the Turkish Embassy in London.
These documents consist of the following:
- an official letter detailing your prospective job offer
- valid health insurance
- a passport valid for an additional 60 days after the term of employment
- a passport-sized photo.
Your employer will submit your visa application to the Turkish Ministry of Labour and Social Security within ten business days after you have attended this appointment and handed over your documents.
In order to obtain the necessary residence permit for your stay in Turkey, you will need to register with the local Turkish police department you will be staying in within one month of your arrival.
For more guidance, see the Republic of Turkey Ministry of Foreign Affairs' visa information for foreigners.
If you're ready to apply, you can begin the visa process by filling out your online pre-application at Republic of Turkey Consular Procedures.
Language requirements
Only about 17 percent of people in Turkey are able to communicate in English, making it one of the countries with the lowest English proficiency scores.
Even though English is used for business communication in larger cities like Ankara and Istanbul, it will be difficult for you to get by without knowing at least some Turkish. English is a reasonably common form of business communication in these cities.
Even though there is not a standardized language test that must be passed before entering the country, having a working knowledge of Turkish will improve your career prospects and ensure that your work is of a high standard.
If you want to work as a TEFL instructor, you need to have a strong command of English but only a basic understanding of Turkish. On the other hand, the more Turkish you know, the less difficult day-to-day life will be for you.
Visit the website BBC Languages - A Guide to Turkish in order to acquire some fundamental Turkish phrases.
How to describe your experience and skills to potential employers
Because Turkish higher education providers are required to adhere to the National Qualifications Framework for Higher Education in Turkey, you shouldn't have any trouble bringing your qualifications from the United Kingdom to potential employers in Turkey.
Visit the ENIC-NARIC - Turkey website for further details on how to get your credentials evaluated in an official capacity.
What it's like to work in Turkey
According to statistics provided by the Turkish government, approximately 99 percent of the country's population identifies as Muslim, making the observance of religious holidays a priority.
Along with Turkey's seven official holidays, two Islamic celebrations also take place: a feast honoring the end of Ramadan that lasts for three days and the Feast of Sacrifice that lasts for four days.
The number of hours workers are required to put in each week cannot go above 45, and those hours are typically spread out evenly across six days. In a strict sense, there is no such thing as a standard working week; however, the majority of businesses are open from 8:30 in the morning until 5:30 in the evening, with earlier start and end times during the summer months.
After completing one year of service in any given position, an employee is eligible to receive paid annual leave, beginning with 14 days after one year of service and progressing up to 26 days after 15 years of service or more.
In 2021, a worker earning the minimum wage in Turkey will bring home just TRY 3,578 (approximately £292) per month (before taxes), which is a significant difference from the minimum wage in the UK. Workers who are married and have three children receive a monthly salary of 3,013.70 Turkish Lira (approximately £246).
On the other hand, the cost of living in Turkey is lower than it is in the UK by more than half (54%), with rent prices sitting at three-quarters of the level that they are there (76%). Visit Numbeo for more in-depth statistical analysis.
Find out more
- Discover what it's like to study in Turkey.
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