The majority of jobs on Crete and the surrounding islands are seasonal or part time and are known to have long hours on occasions. It is difficult to support a family all year round without a back up plan; many people will have one job in the summer and another job in the winter. Opportunities to find employment on the islands can be tiresome but there are four main areas where it seems to be highly favourable and welcoming for people speaking English, the hours and wage are favourable too. These are detailed below:
Tourism
Holiday companies generally as a rule take on overseas staff so they can promote their home country to locals on the islands. You will normally need to apply in October for seasonal positions for the following summer. However, some jobs are all year round, a prime example being transfer reps; they will often pick people up from the airport and transfer them to the location where they are staying.
There are also an abundance of jobs in the hotels, cafes, tavernas and shops across the whole of the islands. One of the best ways to see these jobs is to buy the local newspaper, Haniotika Nea or Patris, these often have job advertisements in English.
Bar Work
Many of the bars dotted across the island are always looking for people to join them. There are many popular resorts where the bar owners will welcome English speaking people with open arms. This is due to the islands having a vast number of English tourists visiting them. The same applies once again to bar work in the local cafes. One of the best areas for this type of employment seems to be around Chania harbour.
Estate Agents
There are now a number of offices that have been developed on the islands promoting different properties. The majority of these are owned by the British, hence the reason there are plenty of employment opportunities within this sector. They employ people to sell land and property, mostly to other Britons who are already on the island. This is usually on a commission basis but can prove to be very lucrative.
Teaching English
There is a considerable demand for the teaching of English as a foreign language and there are positions available for regular and part time employment. In Crete there are literally hundreds of "frontistria" or private language schools and the majority of Greek school children attend one after school hours. Many native English people who have moved to the island are doing this right now. You do not have to be qualified as some schools will take you on as long as you speak English but a university degree or a TEFL certificate will almost certainly ensure you find employment.