If you are interested in working in Milan, it is important to check whether you have the legal right to work there.
The principle of free movement applies to citizens of all EU and EEA countries making it "free" for them to live and work in Milan without needing any special visa or authorization.
Work permit
But citizens from the US, or another non-EU country, will probably need a permit to work in the city. A good start is to visit the EU website on the conditions for working in the Union: ec.europa.eu.
Otherwise, this guide can be a good start to getting a work visa for Italy in general and Milan in particular. Italy uses a quota system for visas for most professions.
This means that if you are a national of a non-EU country, you can only be offered a working visa if you meet all the relevant criteria and if the quota has not already been reached when your application is processed.
A job offer is needed
You will need a job offer before you can apply for a visa, as the company you will be working for must start the process. Some professions with a shortage of employees are not subject to quotas.
If you also transfer to another activity within the same company for a short time, you may also be exempt from this quota.
Depending on the type of work you plan to do, you may want to apply for an EU Blue Card, which allows you to work in most EU countries.
To qualify, you must already have a job offer, be a non-EU national and 'highly qualified'.
As the application of this EU blue card system is quickly checked by local authorities, this can be a faster way to get your documents sorted if you qualify.
For example, if you are looking for a hotel job in Italy, you can find them by searching on websites such as Hosco: hosco.com or by applying directly to major hotels in the city.
There are often vacancies that can either be suitable for your studies or as a full-time job.
Before you travel, read up on the salaries and costs of housing in Milan.
If you have a specific company or professional role in mind, the website glassdoor.se/ can be a good way to get an insight into the company culture and the salary you receive.
For the cost of living in Milan compared to your current home, visit the website https://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/ where you can compare the cost of rent, groceries and so on.
Using the internet
When it comes to different types of work, it is best to use the internet. In addition to the most popular job sites like LinkedIn, Indeed and Monster, which cover more or less the whole world, there are also many local websites to choose from.
There is no reason not to apply for a job in Milan before you travel there. Just be clear in your application about your availability for an interview and for the work, and your visa status.
As a starting point, try these websites, which provide information specifically for jobs in Milan: Jobs in Milan - http://www.jobsinmilan.com/ or The Local - https://www.thelocal.it/.
If you are fluent in Italian (or if you have a friend who can help translate), iagora.com/ or injob.com/it provides information on several jobs in Milan.
You can also try to find a recruiter to help with your job search. Some of the larger and more popular job agents in Milan are: Stanton Chase - a large search firm working in Milan. It is worth visiting if you are looking for a professional job: stantonchase.com.
With a 40-year history, Amrop is established in Milan and offers recruitment advice and headhunting for many professional fields, including retail, technology, finance and professional services: amrop.com.
With a global presence, recruitment giants use the company Michael Page to deal with candidates and clients from all over the world. They cover many industries in Milan and can advise on the local market for newcomers from abroad: michaelpage.it.
It is important to check the details of the recruitment companies you choose to use. There are scammers online, so remember that you should not hand over money just to get in touch with a company that interests you.
However, some agents offer a range of add-ons for chargeable services such as helping you polish your CV, write a letter or obtain a visa.