Does your ideal summer involve waking up at noon, spending the day sipping cocktails by the beach and partying/working until the sun comes up?
If yes, then working a season on a Greek party island like Ios, could be the perfect job for you!
I’ve been lucky enough to spend the last 2 summers living and working in Ios Greece and this is exactly how you can too.
1. Getting a work visa or having an EU passport
The first step to getting a job in Greece is getting a visa or having a passport that will allow you to live and work in the country. For Aussies, this is the Greek Working Holiday Visa.
(If you’re one of the lucky people with an EU passport and the right to work in Greece, skip ahead to number 2).
For more detailed information on getting the Greek Working Holiday Visa, check out the Working Holiday’s for Aussies page or jump onto the Greek Embassy website.
On the Greek Embassy website, there is a list of requirements to get the visa and documents you need to bring along to your appointment.
In typical Greek fashion, it wasn’t the easiest process to get the visa but well worth it. To make your appointment you have to ring the Embassy closest to you and go in with all of the documents listed. I had to come back a second time because I didn’t have everything they wanted – so be aware of this too!
After successfully submitting all your documents, you leave your passport with the embassy and pick it up again with your visa in around a month.
What if I’m not from Australia or the EU?
If you don’t have an EU passport or Working Holiday Visa you can still likely find a job in Ios. It will just probably mean you will be working on the door or floor rather than behind the bar (see below for more details on jobs).
And you will also have to abide by the Schengen 90-day rule to be in the Schengen area.
2. How to find a job in Ios Greece
There are two main ways to find a job in Ios Greece:
1. Contact the bars, clubs or restaurants before the season starts (ideally before April)
Getting in contact early is the easiest way to get a job in Ios Greece. The businesses start looking for staff around January or February each year.
They often have staff pull out or change plans at the last minute so it’s always worth sending a message even if it’s later on in the year.
For a list of all the bars on the island check out my article here.
2. Otherwise turn up early in the season (middle of May)
Word of mouth on small islands like Ios is still widely used and a lot of bar and restaurant owners prefer to meet potential staff face-to-face first.
If you are planning to turn up early, I recommend booking 2 weeks in a hostel or hotel to give yourself some time to find a job and a place to live.
Then once you get to the island spend your two weeks meeting people and asking around! You’ll be surprised what a friendly attitude and willingness to work can get you.
3. What kind of jobs can you get in Ios Greece and who are they looking for?
If you want to work a season in the bars (as the majority of summer workers do) there are a number of different jobs you can get:
1. “On the door”
Working on the door is one of the easiest jobs you can get in Ios. You don’t really need any experience, just the ability to talk to anyone and everyone!
If you work on the door you will spend your nights chatting to customers on the street and convincing them to come in. If you love meeting new people and talking to anyone this is a perfect summer job for you.
2. “On the floor”
Working on the floor has similar requirements to working on the door, you’ll need the ability to talk to anyone and everyone! Being on the floor will require you to chat to customers, keep them entertained and also try and upsell them on drinks or 7-shot challenges. You may also help out with collecting and washing glasses.
Again, if you love talking and meeting new people this is a great job for you.
3. Bartender
If you’ve got some experience or willingness to learn, every bar and restaurant on the island needs bartenders.
To be behind the bar you will likely need a working holiday visa or EU passport. Working behind the bar means you’ll be busy but you also get to have some fun (and drinks) while you work.
4. Security
Many of the busier venues have security at the door managing lines or inside watching the dancefloor. Many people working as security also help out on the door or floor as needed.
5. DJ
If you’ve got some DJ’ing experience, Ios is an awesome place to spend the summer! There are heaps of opportunities for up-and-coming DJ’s who are willing to work 6-7 nights a week.
You might even be lucky enough to score a set at Far Out Beach Club during the season.
6. Social media manager
As of 2023 most of the bars in Ios have started hiring people to get content in the bar at night and post on socials during the day.
Most will require some level of social media experience and some bars also get their social media workers to help out on the floor too.
Getting a job in Ios as a day worker
All of the cafes and restaurants in Ios also hire a bunch of day workers for the season. This is great if you’d prefer to work during the day and have your nights free.
Or if you’ve got a love for watersports or driving boats
There are a number of watersports and boat tour companies hiring on the island every year. If you’ve got some boat driving or reception experience check out Meltemi Watersports or Mylopotas Watersports.
4. How much do you get paid working in Ios Greece?
Let me just say, you don’t work a summer in Ios Greece for the money. In 2023 some door and floor workers were making 30 to 40 euros per night.
Generally, bartenders and restaurant workers make more money than door or floor, but not by much.
I recommend saving as much money as you can before your summer season! That way you can live your best life and do some travel as well.
5. What is life like working a season in Ios Greece?
Working a summer in Ios Greece is not for the faint-hearted. In most jobs, you’ll be working 6-7 nights a week from around 10 pm to 3 am (while having a few pre-drinks at work).
Then most workers head out to party after work until around 6 am. More often than not you’ll be nursing a hangover with your friends by the beach in the day, then head back home for a nap before working again at night.
6. How to find somewhere to live in Ios Greece?
Finding somewhere to live is hands down the hardest part of working a summer in Ios. The best way to find somewhere to live is through your job.
Unfortunately during COVID a lot of the accommodation was turned into Airbnb so it’s getting harder and harder every year to find workers’ accommodation.
@jetsetting_jacki Hey MTV welcome to my stunning crib 😂 Workers accomodation here is definitely not luxury, but a room to yourself like this is hard to come by! Finding any accom this year has been crazy, so if you’re thinking of doing a season pleeaaaassee plan ahead - Even most hotels are sold out in July #traveltipsandhacks #traveltips #iosislandgreece #iosgreece #seasonalworker #greekislands ♬ original sound - Jetsetting Jacki | 🌎📍✈️
In most cases, you’ll be living in small rooms with 2-3 beds in each. And air conditioning is a luxury that many workers don’t get.
If you can’t find accommodation through your job you can try some local Ios Facebook groups. Or again, word of mouth is still widely used, so arrive early in the season and ask around.
6. When should you arrive?
Most workers tend to arrive between the middle of May and the middle of June. If you haven’t secured a job or accommodation I recommend arriving as early as you can.
Some workers do tend to burn out or leave towards the end of July/start of August, so you could also try and arrive then for the second half of the season.
8. What about other Greek party islands?
From what I’ve heard, getting jobs on other Greek party islands like Zante, Corfu and Crete is pretty similar to Ios.
But because other islands like Zante are much bigger than Ios, it can be easier as there are more options available for jobs and accommodation.
So, are you ready for the craziest summer of your life?
Although finding a job and a place to live in Ios isn’t easy, if you’ve got your heart set on a summer in Greece don’t let this stop you.
Living and working in Ios is the best decision I’ve ever made… there’s a reason I’m going back for a third year in a row!