Guest Blogger Katie: Four Steps to Finding a Job in Italy

Posted on: Feb 6, 2010

I’ve been doing a lot of thinking lately about expats in Italy-about what motivates us to move to this country, what encourages us to stay and even more about what it takes to make a life in the bel paese.

And I plan to write more about this soon.

But today, guest blogger, Katie Greenaway, comes to us from the rolling hills of Tuscany with tips on how to make it. Katie fell in love with Italy in 2002 and her love affair has carried her back and forth between her home in the US and Renaissance Florence for most of the last decade.

Today, Katie is sharing four steps to finding a job in Italy.

So, give her a warm welcome, my friends …

expats in italy how to find a job in italy Guest Blogger Katie: Four Steps to Finding a Job in Italy

Living in Italy isn’t always la dolce vita, especially when you are trying to find a stable job. I was struggling to find just that this past fall. I sent my resume/CV to every language school in Florence and to every announcement on Anglo-Info and in The Florentine.

I was desperate for anyone to give me a shot as an English teacher. Here are some tips I can offer my fellow expats in Italy in finding a job.

1. Network

I asked people when I would be out with friends in the center. If they knew of a good language school to apply to and if they were looking for new teachers. I then would go to the school and with my CV translated in Italian and explain what experience I had. If I didn’t network like I did, I wouldn’t have found some schools that I didn’t even know existed in Florence. It pays to just ask. You can’t lose when you ask.

2. Be Persistent

If you are persistent in Italy, you will eventually get what you want or need. For example, I had an argument with a woman in one language school here in Florence who kept telling me that she couldn’t take my CV because I didn’t have a Permesso di Soggiorno. I had to explain to her that the law had changed for EU citizens and being a dual American/UK citizen, there was no reason I needed a PdiS to apply for this job.

After 10 minutes, I finally convinced her to take my CV to give to her boss because I am legally able to work in Italy. Be bold and confident, like everything else in life, when you are confident you exude power and confidence.

3. Classifieds

I found my job in one of the classified sections like in Anglo-Info and The Florentine. These are your links to the jobs that out there. You can’t just wait for the job to fall into your lap. There are many other sites on the Internet that can assist you in finding a job. Have a friend or use Twitter to find someone to translate your CV into Italian. Send an email with your CV attached, in Italian and English and think positive. Good things are a-coming.

4. Don’t Give Up

It is a difficult when you an expat, away from family, trying to find a job. The support system is non-existent unless you have friends. You must know that it will always work out for the better. If you keep finding the negative in each situation, from each response from each job you apply for. This will kill your spirit when you want to keep yourself grounded and strong. Keep your eye on the prize. Whether it is finding a teaching job, a university job or working for a tourist agency, something will give and you will be happy when it does. Keep your hopes soaring high and you will soon receive the job you were dreaming of.

I try to be positive in all aspects of my life, but I know how hard it can be when you are without a job in a place you wish to be your home. I live by these words from the late Randy Pausch, hope this helps!

“Brick walls are there for a reason: they let us prove how badly we want things.”

What about you? Do you have other tips for expats-or would-be expats-for finding a job?

PS – In other news, the Blogging from the Boot Winners have been announced! Head over to AffordableCallingCards.net to congratulate the winners!

Pico Rivera bans new fast food restaurants temporarily

Whittier Daily News May 15, 2010 | Bethania Palma Markus PICO RIVERA – Citing a high volume of fast food restaurants on the city’s north side, officials unanimously voted Tuesday for a temporary halt to new ones in the area.

The city will freeze new fast food and drive-through restaurant permits for 45 days near Beverly and Rosemead boulevards while staffers review environmental and health impacts, said Monica Gutierrez, city spokeswoman. fastfoodrestaurantsnow.net fast food restaurants

“We want to ensure a healthy lifestyle of residents in that area and take a look at health and environmental issues. There’s such a large number of them already there,” Gutierrez said.

The moratorium was recommended because Carl’s Jr. expressed interest in opening a restaurant in the city, said Assistant City Manager Jeff Prang.

About 80 percent of eating establishments in the north of the city serve fast food, according to a city staff report.

“The moratorium doesn’t close down those that exist, just restricts new ones. We’ll then work with the business community and staff will look at how other cities have dealt with these types of issues,” Prang said.

After 45 days, officials can choose to extend the moratorium by 10 months or end it, he said.

Pico Rivera is just one of many communities considering the use of legislation to combat what many health experts have called an obesity epidemic in the United States.

In 2008, the Los Angeles City Council passed an ordinance banning new fast food restaurants in certain low-income neighborhoods. fastfoodrestaurantsnow.net fast food restaurants

This year Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed into law a statewide ban on trans fat-containing cooking oils.

The city staff report cites studies by health and community activist groups “documenting the negative health and environmental impacts” associated with high volume of fast food restaurants.

But industry representatives said banning fast food is more easy and politically popular than addressing broader issues leading to obesity.

“If we’re going to take it seriously, we need to address it seriously – these piecemeal responses in terms of real impact on society or obesity rates, the politics are there but the science isn’t there,” said Daniel Conway, spokesman for California Restaurant Association.

“When it comes to these things it’s easier for politicians to point a finger than confront their constituents about broader trends and lifestyle choices,” Conway said.

Mayor Gregory Salcido said it’s an overall quality of life issue.

“As the city continues to develop, we need to see how that sort of business fits in with our overall vision,” he said. “If research and analysis clearly indicates a negative effect on our community, various code changes may be considered enabling the council to better manage future development.” bethania.palma@sgvn.com 562-698-0955, ext. 3028 Bethania Palma Markus

Becoming Italian: Who is This Expat in the Mirror?

Posted on: Nov 6, 2009

3795248902 e819eac5c4 Becoming Italian: Who is This Expat in the Mirror?photo credit: Leandro Martinez

I’ve been an expat in Italy for more than three years and I’ve experienced more than my share of crazy Calabrian moments. Yes, like the time I marketed our B&B at the GYN or the time my husband’s uncle tried to cut his son from a tree or when I was offered fruit from my own garden.

Oh yes, being an expat in Italy is interesting, but somewhere along the way, between the three-hour lunches, homemade pistachio liquor and short, but stout, coffee shots, I became one of them.

Almost.

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BALTIMORE HEALTH DEPARTMENT KICKS OFF FLU IMMUNIZATION SEASON

US Fed News Service, Including US State News October 10, 2007 The city of Baltimore issued the following press release:

With the supply of flu vaccine at an all-time high in the United States this year, the Baltimore City Health Department is kicking off the flu immunization season with a press conference at 11 a.m. at Lexington Market today. see here maryland general hospital

Vaccination is the best way to fight influenza, which can cause severe illness, hospitalization and death. Vaccination is especially recommended for those at increased risk of flu-related complications (children aged 6-59 months, pregnant women, 5-49 year olds with chronic medical conditions, and people 50 and above) and their close contacts (household contacts and health care workers). In addition, children between 6 months and 9 years who have never received a flu shot need 2 doses. Anyone who wants to reduce his/her chance of illness due to flu is advised to be vaccinated.

City residents with questions should contact their doctor or the Health Department to find out whether the flu vaccine is right for them.

Flu vaccine is available at four locations this year:

1. Your doctor’s office – call to find out about appointments.

2. Your employee health office – many offices offer flu vaccine, especially in the health care fields.

3. Pharmacies and other public businesses – talk to your neighborhood pharmacist or go online to findaflushot.com.

4. Health Department clinics – the first flu vaccine clinic is today at Lexington Market (400 W. Lexington Street, 2nd Floor, Lexington Room) from 10 am to 2 pm. The clinic is being offered in conjunction with the annual Good Health and Nutrition Day, sponsored by Lexington Market, University of Maryland Medical Center, and Maryland General Hospital. go to web site maryland general hospital

Everyone can help prevent the spread of germs and illness, including influenza, by following three important tips:

* Wash your hands frequently and thoroughly * Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue or your sleeve, not your hand * Stay home when you are sick “Start thinking about the flu vaccine now to prevent illness and complications later,” said Dr. Joshua M. Sharfstein, Commissioner of Health. “Because flu will take a toll all through the winter, many city residents can still benefit from a flu vaccination into January and February.” Rianna Brown, 443/984-3606, Rianna.Brown@baltimorecity.gov.

Who Says Choices are Overrated?

Posted on: Oct 16, 2009

Last week Emily of Don’t Call Me Gringa wrote about the overwhelming choices expat women face. No, not choices about where to live, which new cave to explore or which new food item to devour, but rather the overwhelming selections that welcome us back home.

3347854390 8fe46de5e1 Who Says Choices are Overrated?
photo credit: TheTruthAbout…

Maybe it is a gradual thing, like expat’s Stockholm, but I think we get used to the choices, or in many cases, lack of choices in our adopted countries, so much so that we don’t even realize what we are missing.

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RTM! (read the manual).(OPERATIONS: MACHINERY MATTERS)

Food & Drug Packaging October 1, 2007 | Henry, John I never pay attention to instruction manuals and it drives my wife nuts. Using a manual to dope out how to install a dishwasher or set up a DVD player just feels like cheating to me. (I’m also not good at asking directions when lost. It’s probably a guy thing.) This may be OK for household appliances but not for packaging machinery. Unfortunately, too many equipment manufacturers build great machines and then fail to provide equally great operating, maintenance and set-up manuals. go to website how to install a dishwasher

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] There are several reasons for this:

* Many packaging machines are customized for each application. Sometimes this means modification of a standard machine. Other times it means a customized machine from the ground up. Customized machines require customized manuals which are time consuming to write. An inverse law of documentation is in play: The more customized the machine is, the harder the manual is to write.

* The manufacturer, and especially the writer, may not understand how the machine will be used in operation. More importantly, they may not match the level and style of the manual to the person who will be using it.

* Some machine builders use engineers to write the manual. Engineers are great at many things; technical writing is not always one of them. Other builders will use in-house or outside technical writers who may not completely understand the machine.

* It’s hard to write a manual before a machine is completed and tested. Once it is completed and tested, the customer usually wants it shipped immediately.

* Then there’s money. Customers often buy machines on the basis of initial price rather than overall cost. When they don’t, builders think they do. Good manuals cost and builders are reluctant to charge for them.

Bad manuals cost even more. These costs accrue over the life of the machine in poor set-ups, improper operation and inadequate maintenance. Unfortunately, the machine cost is visible, the lifetime costs are hidden. in our site how to install a dishwasher

All of these problems are compounded in imported machinery by translations. It’s easy, but wrong, to blame machine builders for these problems. Customers share a lot of the blame by not insisting on good manuals (and being willing to pay for them!). Builders must also do their part by showing the customer the value of a good manual.

The Packaging Machinery Manufacturers Institute (www.pmmi.org) publishes an excellent Technical Documentation & Style Guide. Buyers should insist that machine builders use this as a guideline for their manuals.

A final thought: Machine manuals need to be profusely illustrated with pictures, diagrams, drawings and charts. One picture is worth a thousand words.

A good manual, by itself, is not enough. People need to use it. But that’s another column.

John Henry, Certified Packaging Professional (CPP), is renowned as the Changeover Wizard. His company, Changeover.com, specializes in improving line efficiencies for packagers by reducing downtime. Contact John at johnhenry@changeover.com or 787-550-9650.

Henry, John