22 Nov Some tips to get a job in Malta
Finding a job in Malta can be a real life improvement for some, particularly for people in privileged job categories, but for other categories it could be actually rather penalising, so to start with, I’d like to help you understand if your job is compatible with the main needs of this country or if, instead, you may run the risk of finding yourself in work sectors where wages are low on average, or there is excessive competition.
First of all, consider the fact that Malta is quite a small island and that every year many workers from many European countries come to the territory to look for jobs in various sectors, this means that in some non-specialised areas of work you may find greater (if not ruthless) competition.
Here’s a brief set of guidelines to help you consider all the points you should consider to find a job in Malta, some are generic pieces of advice, others are more obvious, but most of these considerations could be, overall, very useful to you.
First rule: knowing English
To work in Malta, you need to know English. No matter how many Italians there are on the island, it doesn’t matter if your employer is Italian or understands Italian, it doesn’t matter if you think you can learn it quickly on the spot, the first obstacle you’ll encounter will be determined by how your interview goes.
If you’re unable to hold an interview in English, you will most likely be discarded.
Second rule: being on the spot
To look for work in Malta you must be physically present in Malta. Very rarely you will be taken into consideration if you send your CV remotely.
How do Maltese companies recognise whether or not you’re on the island? Generally, the inclusion of a foreign telephone number as the main address is not considered a “positive sign”, and, of course, also specifying a foreign location as your home address will contribute to conveying to the human resources managers the idea that you haven’t moved to Malta as yet. Remember, if your professional profile corresponds to the actual requirements of the companies to which you have submitted your CV, you could be contacted for a job interview and you will have to be ready to jump on the first plane to Malta as soon as possible, because a job vacancy in Malta can last as little as a few hours, and missing an interview means losing a precious opportunity (in which case, it will be rather unlilely that the same company would offer you a second chance).
Third rule: an excellent presentation
Regardless of your level of English, put all your focus on your best qualities: during the interview, try to offer your potential employers the best possible impression of yourself, be enthusiastic about the opportunity they are offering you, be on time, actually, even better, arrive at the interview at least 10 minutes ahead of schedule.