Post-Grad Life: Finding a job in Italy

[@designerboy420]

Hey, everybody. Are you struggling to find a job after graduation, are you an expat who finished uni, or do you just feel stuck looking for a job? Leave a comment below. :)

[@ElenaLuchetti]

ciao I know that Bending Spoons S.p.A. is looking for product designers, I do not know if it is in the sector you are interested in since it deals with digital

[@radicalatheist6798]

Hey man, not sure if you'll recognize me, but I really appreciate your insights now and back a couple months ago. Sometimes I do question my decision to not come to Milan, as I would have loved it to live in and explore Italy, but after seeing the job market, and now your new video, I can be pretty sure that I made the right decision. Thank you so much for doing this.

[@designerboy420]

Hi! I remember you! Yes, it's so difficult to find a job. There is such a difference between visiting and living somewhere which was a big wake-up for me. Now that I have completed school, I've had to take time to think about what is next in my life. I'm going to keep trying to look for a job while my visa is still active. But I wish the Italian government made it easier for immigrants. They will have to especially because of the birth rates and the brain drain. You should come on vacation to Italy, it's still a great place to see. Plus some of the best art in the world. (If you care for stuff like that lol)

[@designerboy420]

Thanks for watching. :)

[@alanespitia4196]

Hope u do good , your Chanel was very helpful and inspiring I my process moving to Milan .

[@designerboy420]

🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌

[@sofiaarianabrankovicparent6388]

Good luck! Ur a great guy, everything is gonna work out

[@designerboy420]

Thank you. That’s so kind 🥹🫶🏾

[@cle.mentine]

Good luck with everything Zach! Hope to see you soon in Milan or Paris :)

[@designerboy420]

Thank you!!! 🇫🇷🇫🇷🇫🇷🇫🇷🇫🇷🇫🇷 Hope to see you soon too

[@AndrewLyne-xn6dx]

nice to see you uploading again Zach!

[@designerboy420]

🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾 Thanks Andrew :)

[@dianakim6240]

I am about to move there for study, I will have a scholarship (8k€ per year) But now I’m not sure. Just for applying process I am about to spend 2500€ + 500€ for tickets. Idk about rents yet. I’m scared now

[@designerboy420]

Congrats on the scholarship! That will help a lot. But you need to calculate your rent I would estimate around €700 for a shared accommodation to €1k for your apartment without utilities. Getting a job during school is really difficult with the schedule so really calculate a budget

[@onyedikachioli4095]

Please how did you get the scholarship

[@anna_lis]

Nice :) a bit worried about entering this phase XD

[@designerboy420]

Yeah, it can be concerning but it has really taught me how to go with the flow. I hope to continue putting out updates and tips that I learn throughout this process. #Begging the universe for some positive energy. lol

[@esxun1358]

love your content

[@designerboy420]

❤️

[@solahumada9822]

Hi Zach! im also in the same process of finding a job, I studied 1 year at marangoni and now im doing pattern making programs at another school in Milan. Its been though and confusing, searching for jobs that are from the field.Where to start? Any websites or places to look for internships?

[@designerboy420]

Hello! Good for you for taking pattern-making classes. Those will be so helpful. If I could give advice, the best thing is to go out to a party, club, or even an event. (This was hard for me because I would get in a bad mood and not want to talk to anyone.) But I am always delightfully surprised. Networking is key, and I would also find freelance clients in these environments. Make an amazing portfolio and show it to everyone, and this will lead to jobs.

[@solahumada9822]

​@@designerboy420 Thats also true! im the same after an year im closing a bit socially but u gotta put yourself out there. Any fav spots in the city to do so?

[@designerboy420]

@@solahumada9822 My favorite areas are Isola, Porta Venzia and Nolo ❤

[@lostinmilan]

9:15 no, there is a misunderstanding. In Italy you can't pay someone as much as you want, because each job has a CCNL (collective national contract). Companies that are not part of a "associazione di categoria" don't have to offer a CCNL, but by the law they can only offer contracts that are better than the CCNL in that field. What you've heard is that there isn't a "minimum wage per hour". Something that exists in many other countries. It's something that says you can't be paid per hour less than a certain amount whatever is your job. But all the CCNL say the minimum you have to be paid, how many hours you have to work, when you'll get an increase, what you can do and can't do. Unfortunately the CCNL are around 1000. So they are very hard to explain in a generic way. If you are a freelance and you make less than 85k you can have the Regime Forfettario which is very convenient and it has a very low taxation. 5% for the first five years and then 15%. But you can't deduct or detract anything, meaning you cannot subtract expenses from your income when calculating taxes. So it is convenient only if you don't have many expenses to run your business.

[@designerboy420]

Thank you for your insight. However, I wanted to add that the situation for workers in Italy can be quite challenging. Typically, true freelancers manage multiple clients, which allows them to diversify their income and potentially negotiate better rates. However, in many cases, companies in Italy hire freelancers in a way that resembles full-time employment but without providing the stability or benefits of a full-time contract. These freelancers end up working full-time hours for a single company but are still classified as independent contractors. This arrangement often results in lower overall compensation than one might expect for similar work in other parts of the EU.

[@MrMRKRT]

curious to see what's next for you!

[@SarahLingane]

I had a question. I often hear about the high level of racism in Italy. I was wondering if you felt that way in your studies? AND are there black people in architecture? mm if I know that you design :)

[@designerboy420]

Ciao Sarah! This was a concern of mine too. Tbh, I didn't experience anything crazy or maybe I really don't pay attention to people's microaggressions. I did experience the difference in how people treated me differently as an American versus someone who was from Africa. They seem to hold Black Americans in a different perspective which doesn't make sense but okay. However, I felt like racism was the worst in America. People in America are taught to be hateful but in Italy which could be the same case I feel as though there is more ignorance due to there being small percentages of black people and smaller diversity compared to other EU countries.

[@MuhammadKashif-x3s]

Sir please jod bar bar