Turkey is a Eurasian country, meaning it is located in both Europe and Asia. The official language of Turkey is Turkish, and since most of the cities in the country are touristic, its people are also familiar with English. Working in Turkey generally depends on the level of education, expertise, and work
Turkey is a Eurasian country, meaning it is located in both Europe and Asia. The official language of Turkey is Turkish, and since most of the cities in the country are touristic, its people are also familiar with English. Working conditions in Türkiye generally depend on the level of education, expertise, and work experience of the individual, as well as his or her field of work. However, to work in Turkey, one must first obtain a work visa. For this purpose, one must receive a job offer from a Turkish company and submit the necessary documents along with the visa application.
However, it is not impossible to find a job in Türkiye, especially if you have skills that are in high demand.
According to ManpowerGroup, the world’s third-largest employee recruitment company, 66 percent of Turkish employers are having difficulty filling positions; the greatest needs are in engineering, accounting, and finance.
This article introduces a collection of resources for searching for job opportunities as a foreigner in Turkey. Of course, your job search will depend on where you want to work and the working conditions in Türkiye in your chosen field.
Working conditions in Türkiye for foreigners

To work in Turkey, foreign nationals need to obtain a work permit (Çalışma İzni). These permits are issued based on the type of job and the length of stay in Turkey. There are two main types of work permits: a temporary work permit, which is usually issued for one year and can be renewed, and a permanent work permit, which can be obtained after 8 years of continuous work in Türkiye.
Methods of obtaining a work permit in Türkiye
Hiring through an employer: If a Turkish employer offers you a job, this employer will be responsible for applying for a work permit for you. The employer must prove that there is no local labor available for this specific job and that they need to hire a foreigner.
Investment or Entrepreneurship: If you plan to start a business in Turkey or invest in a Turkish company, you can apply for a Turkish work and residence permit. In this case, you must show that your business will have a positive impact on the Turkish economy.
Benefits and challenges of working in Türkiye
Advantages:
- Job Variety: The Turkish labor market, especially in large cities, offers a wide range of job opportunities.
- Possibility of growth and advancement: Given Türkiye’s economic development, there are many opportunities for career growth and advancement.
- Receive competitive salaries: In some industries, the salaries and benefits offered in Türkiye can compete with international standards.
Challenges:
- Turkish: Fluency in Turkish is essential for many jobs. Although English is accepted in some international companies and specialized jobs, most Turkish employers expect foreign employees to be able to communicate in Turkish.
- Different work culture: The work culture in Turkey may be different from what you experienced in your home country. Adapting to this culture and management style may be a challenge for some people.
- Competition with local labor: Turkish employers are required to prioritize local labor first. This may make it more difficult for foreigners to compete for jobs.
With what capital can you start a business in Türkiye?

In Turkey, you can start a business with a variable amount of capital or invest in the Turkish stock market, but the costs and amount of capital required depend on the type of business, industry, geographical location, project size, and business strategy.
To work in Turkey, you need a work permit, or çalışma izni, unless you are in one of the exceptional circumstances. In Turkey, a work permit is usually issued by the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs, and you must go through certain steps to obtain this permit. To apply for a work permit in Turkey, you can go to the Immigration Police Center (Göç İdaresi) or complete the process online.
Working conditions and how to find a job in Türkiye
The Turkish labor market is a volatile one with large monthly changes, and the coronavirus outbreak has also had an impact on the market. The country’s average unemployment rate has increased over the past two months, rising from 12.8% in April to 12.9% in May.
The impact of the coronavirus cannot be ignored in this rate increase. However, the average monthly wage in Turkey is about 7830 TRY (Liras) equal to $1062 (Dollars). In addition, the average cost of living in Turkey is about $400 to $500 (Dollars), which shows the satisfactory level of living in Turkey.
But job seekers in Turkey, in addition to being familiar with the general working and living conditions in this country, must also be familiar with how to find a job and get hired in this country. Before starting a job search in Turkey, it is also necessary to first know the list of jobs needed in Türkiye.
A list that includes MDF workers, carpenters, welders, cooks, secretaries, shoemakers, repairmen, tailors, carpenters, painters, tile workers, salespeople, tour leaders, hairdressers, and electricians.
After reviewing the qualifications of the applicants through the above list, it is the turn of the applicant to prepare a strong resume or CV to prepare himself to find a job offer and apply for a work visa in Turkey. The conditions of the said visa are as follows:
Type of residence: Temporary
Maximum validity: one year
Extendable: Yes
Initial and main condition: job offer
Issuing a work permit in Türkiye: Required upon request from the employer to the Ministry of Labor (MLSS)
To search for work in Türkiye, consider the following points:

– Pay attention to online job advertisements and newspapers. – Consider registering with employment consulting companies. – Apply directly to institutions and organizations. – Registering with the Turkish Labor Organization (İŞKUR) can be an effective way to increase your chances of finding a job.
What services does the Turkish Labor Organization (İŞKUR) provide?
What services does the Turkish Labor Organization (İŞKUR) provide?
Part-time work in Turkey
Part-time work, especially in the tourism industry, is readily available throughout Turkey; to maximize your chances of finding work, aim for March or April; this will give you time to find the job you want before the tourist season begins.
To work in Türkiye in a big city, it is best to check out the city’s cafes, restaurants, hotels and clubs.
An owner may not have advertised for a foreign worker in every location where they need help, but they may be willing to hire you when they see you.
You won’t get paid extra for this type of work, so this is the best option for young people who are on their first job and aren’t looking to save money.
For example, if you work in a cafe in Türkiye, you may earn enough to cover your rent and not be able to pay the rest of your expenses from your salary.
Also note that many part-time jobs in Türkiye are paid in cash and employers do not support work visas for foreign employees.
Full-time jobs in Turkey

It is more difficult to know the laws and then immigrate to Turkey and find full-time jobs. If you are planning to work as a nanny or nurse, online portals such as Anglo-Nannies.com can help you find a place and job opportunities.
Babysitters’ salaries are very high compared to other jobs such as restaurant workers and are often employed by Turkish families, however, their working hours are long and the employer’s experience may vary.
Joblink is a great place to find jobs online in Turkey, and this includes business and technology positions. Finally, you may want to look in the classified sections of dispatch magazines like Land of Lights, which are usually placed in a local community.
Job search websites in Türkiye
By using the following websites to find jobs in Turkey, you can expect a response rate of 10% from the companies you apply to. You can communicate via email or simple apps and find out about the jobs Turkey has for expatriates.
Kariyer.net: Currently the largest job search website in Turkey is Kariyer. You definitely need to have some knowledge of Turkish to be successful on this website as this is the website that locals use.
Eleman.net: This website is not as popular as Kariyer, but it is definitely worth checking out. Be sure to use Google Translate if you are not familiar with Turkish.
Indeed: This large US-based job website has many opportunities in Türkiye, especially in the city of Istanbul.
Learn 4 Good: This site is geared towards teaching-related jobs, but you’ll also find a variety of jobs in other categories.
Yenibiris: The Yenibiris website covers very professional and high-quality jobs and this is where you start the real job search in Türkiye.
Craigslist: Craigslist is the most popular classified site among job websites.
Employment and English language teaching institutions in Türkiye
Teaching English may be a significant career option and one of the best jobs in Türkiye for expats.
Search for any English teaching job opportunity in any of the Turkish employment agencies;
Before that, be sure to check out this interesting table from the International TEFL Academy that shows how much teachers can expect to earn in different countries around the world.
All of the sites below are pretty similar and have a large number of English teaching job options.
ESL Employment: The interface isn’t pretty but it’s functional, but who needs a pretty website when there are so many English teaching job options.
Total ESL: This website also has a very busy interface, but a large number of job postings for teaching jobs abroad in Turkey.
ESL Cafe: This website does a great job in compiling some of the best job opportunities from around the world.
Tesall: In a real sense, this website offers a large pool of teaching jobs.
Job portals in Türkiye
Overseas Jobs: There is often a significant discrepancy between postings on this site and other sites; however, this site is for fixed-term jobs.
Go Abroad: GoAbroad has always had a lot of fans; in fact, in the visa information section, you’ll find a link to a list of their global embassies, which can also be a good job portal.
Linkedin: This massive professional social network is a great resource for building contacts in your career fields and locations of interest.
Conclusion
Working in Turkey can be a rewarding and rewarding experience, but it requires careful preparation, research, and planning. Being aware of the labor laws and regulations, work conditions and culture, and available job opportunities will help you make the best decision for your future career. For more information, be sure to consult with a Turkish legal attorney and immigration lawyer in Turkey at 4kGroup.