What you need to know about living and working in Greece

Greece is beautiful sandy beaches, whitewashed houses and enchanting mountain landscapes. Many of the things and concepts that are fundamental to our way of life today come from classical Greece. Just think how many words in our own vocabulary have their origins in the Greek language – words like democracy, politics and philosophy. Ancient Greece has left clear traces in contemporary architecture, sports and many other places. In short, it is difficult to imagine what the world would have looked like today without the great influence of ancient Greece.

Greece is the perfect destination for you who want to combine a job in Greece with experiencing the classical culture up close, dreaming of living and working under the southern sun and can see yourself becoming part of the friendly and welcoming people, as the Greeks are.

Here you can read more about living conditions in Greece, job opportunities and much more.

Greece: The basic facts

There live approx. 11 mio. people in Greece and the country has an area of ​​132,000 km2. Perhaps most impressive – and also some of what Greece is best known for – is the number of islands. In the Greek archipelago there are more than 2,000 islands, of which only a few hundred are inhabited. Some of the islands are both well-known and beloved holiday islands, such as Crete, Rhodes, Kos and Corfu. The many small islands also give you the opportunity for absolutely fantastic island hopping to small islands, where only very few or no people live, and where you can enjoy the magnificent and unspoiled nature in peace and quiet.

Greece borders Albania, Macedonia, Turkey and Bulgaria. In total, the country has a coastline of almost 14,000 km, where the land meets the Mediterranean. The capital Athens is today home to about 3.8 million people. people, and the Greek capital has more years behind it than most European cities – it has been inhabited for 3,000 years. If you are interested in history and culture, Athens is an inexhaustible source of new knowledge and cultural discoveries. You will simply never finish exploring the city and expanding your knowledge of Greek culture and history.

Cultural experiences in a class of their own

Have you ever received a postcard from a holiday in Greece? Then there is a good chance that the motif has been a whitewashed church adorned with a blue dome. For many, this very image is the epitome of Greece, and it is indeed typical of the archipelago called the Cyclades – but certainly not for the whole of Greece.

Both the landscape and the culture of Greece vary depending on where you are geographically located. There is no doubt that island life is a big part of Greek culture, but Greece also offers big cities like Athens, Thessaloniki and Patras. The fascinating thing is that modern city life in Greece always takes place with memories of ancient Greece as a backdrop – in Athens you will find, for example, the Parthenon temple located on the Acropolis, which today is one of the world’s most visited tourist attractions.

Explore Greek cuisine

Can you think of Greece without thinking of feta, olives and ouzo? Greece is world famous for its culinary traditions, which are characterized by the amazing ingredients available. The Mediterranean is a true treasure trove of seafood, which in Greece is enjoyed in great style, and with the many islands and the long coastline, it is no wonder that the Greeks are experts in cooking just these.

This is how it is to work in Greece

In Greek workplaces, relationships are important. Greeks want to work and trade with people they know, and therefore building relationships – and perhaps even friendships – in professional contexts is a big part of Greek work culture. It can take a long time and require many dinners and meetings to reach an agreement. On the other hand, agreements are binding and must be respected once they have been entered into, and this applies to both written and oral agreements.

The Greek working hours are reminiscent of the Danish, and you typically work about 40 hours a week. Roughly speaking, the cost of living in Greece is approx. ⅔ of the Danes – it is not the cheapest country to live in, but you will still be able to feel the difference in relation to the Danish price level. If you want to know more about livingcost in Greece, look at our article about Livingcost in Athens.

Work in Athens

Although the economy in Greece is passing for difficult times, the tourism industry is part of the 20% of the GDP and you may find job offers in multinational companies of this area, such like customer support agents, travel agents and more related to multilingual speaking jobs. In recent times there’s a growing need in Athens and Crete for people who not only speaks English but also manage other languages like Danish, Norwegian, Finnish, German and more. In JobSquad you will find plenty of offers for multiple languages available, Check them out!

How to find jobs and housing in Greece

When you need to find a job in Greece, it is a good idea to ally yourself with an international recruitment agency. At Job Squad, we have helped a large number of candidates find their dream job abroad – you can read their stories here. With a recruitment agency behind you, you get help finding the right positions, just as the agency typically has contact with a number of companies that may need candidates like you.

After the financial crisis, Greece has struggled with high unemployment, but there may be jobs to be found in Danish companies with branches in Greece. Tourism is also still a large and important profession in Greece, and here too there may be jobs for English-speaking graduates.

Start your housing search online on local Greek housing portals and ask around in your network. It could also be that your employer abroad has apartments available or knows some good places to apply. In any case, it is smart to start the search well in advance so that you do not stand without a roof over your head the first time.

Taxes in Greece

If you have a job in Greece, you must contact the local tax office to get a tax number, you can find where are the offices here in English. Here they can also help you figure out what documents you need to pay Greek tax. If you still reside in Denmark, you must also clarify with the Danish tax authorities before your departure in which country you will be liable to pay tax. In Greece, you are taxed on your global income and the rate is between 9% and 44%. You must pay the highest tax rate if your income exceeds 40,000 euros per year.

Where to Learn greek?

There are always benefits when learning another language, you have the possibility to blend in a new culture and greeks are famous for their hospitality and help you, even more, when they realize you’re learning the language. You can check HERE for greek courses with immersive experience for you to learn the actual culture behind the language

Why should you live and work in Greece?

To sum up: Greece is the perfect destination for you who like sun, classical culture, history and a work environment with trust and personal relationships in the forefront. With a job in Greece, you can combine work with island hopping, mountain hiking and fantastic culinary experiences – all with a touch of ancient Greece as a backdrop.