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9. Working in Turkey

Turkey at a Glance

Working in Turkey

Before you start working in Turkey, take care of your finances first.

Unfortunately, Turkey’s present unemployment rate is rather high, at around 10%. Expats who plan on working in Turkey should be aware that job opportunities are not that easy to find. However, it is not impossible as there is also a lack of qualified employees working in Turkey.

The Turkish business world is shaped by a strong emphasis on the importance of personal relationships. While working in Turkey, you will quickly find out that business is often conducted slowly. Unlike in some other countries, pressure will not get you far. Instead, patience and a talent for personal interactions are the key to successfully working in Turkey.

Working in Turkey: Jobs for Expats

Despite the high rate of unemployment, there are quite a few opportunities for working in Turkey if you have the right qualifications. If you are not sent to Turkey as a diplomat or on an intra-company transfer, you may be able to find employment in the following fields:

• Management
• Translation services
• Hotel and restaurant management in the tourism sector
• Technical engineering and programming in electronics and control technology or computer software
• Healthcare and medical professions

Working in Turkey: Looking for a Job

When you arrive with nothing but your plans of working in Turkey, the job search may seem complicated at first. However, local offices of the Turkish employment agency may help you find a placement with a company. Their offices are located in every larger city in all 81 provinces. However, they usually only cater to job seekers with good Turkish skills, so be sure to have a decent command of the language before working in Turkey.

Online searches and daily newspapers are a great source as well. The weekend editions of Hürriyet, Milliyet and Sabah are especially interesting.

Networking also has a big effect in Turkey, as business relationships are largely based on personal trust. Contact other expats and see if they have some suggestions for how you can go about working in Turkey. The InterNations Communities in Istanbul, Ankara, and Bodrum are great places to start.

Working in Turkey: Private Employment Agencies

Employment agencies are an alternative to the traditional job search. Most private agencies are specialized on middle management or executive positions for people working in Turkey. You can find the contact information of these agencies in the classifieds sections of local newspapers. Make sure to inquire about costs and the agency’s approach before you sign up.

Alternatively, you can start your job search before you get on a plane. Turkish employment agencies may also show job listings in newspapers in your country of residence. These may provide you with additional information on being employed in Turkey.