Finding work in Tanzania

Work climate for expats

As a foreigner, it is likely that you will have skills that are needed in the country. As outlined in our article on the labour market in Tanzania, some private sectors have seen rapid expansion in recent times, and thus there are many work opportunities for those with skills and experience in these certain areas. They are the following: information and communication (ICT), financial and insurance activities, as well as transport and storage. If you have skills in such fields, many companies are already searching for people like yourself.

Another great area to get work in Tanzania as an expat is teaching English. You will need to have at least a Bachelor's degree or equivalent (majoring in anything, it does not need to be in education) as well as a TEFL (Teach English as a Foreign Language) qualification. These can be obtained in 150h online courses by internationally acclaimed language schools, as well as done practically in person through an accredited language school in your current place of residence. It is advised that you complete this prior to arriving in the country.

Tip

Having a practical TEFL course, although it requires more planning and is more costly, is significantly preferred by employers as it proves that you have already demonstrated practical teaching capabilities.

Finding a job

When looking for a job in Tanzania, you should start your job search process before entering the country. This is advised as you will get a realistic idea of the positions available to you and will learn the salary you can expect to earn in the country. This will, in turn, inform other important decisions you make, such as purchasing/renting a house and so on.

Actually signing a contract before entering the country is a different matter. There are pros and cons both for signing beforehand, as well as to only signing once you have entered the country. If you sign beforehand, you know that your job is secured, and your employer will likely absolve you of the financial and many administrative duties surrounding the application for your visa. On the other hand, if you only take a job once you are physically in the country, you can ensure that your workplace is in a convenient enough and accessible location for you, you can meet and speak to local contacts who could help you find a job suitable to your needs, and you can have a better idea of what starting date will be convenient for yourself.

Either way, searching for work online is a good starting point. The internet classifieds market for jobs is not quite saturated yet, so you will only find a handful of sites that will be of use to you. When applying to vacancies, ensure that your CV is up to date, indicate your expected date you will be available to commence, and don't forget to indicate your levels of proficiency in both English and Swahili. Consider getting a free CV review at TopCV.

A word of caution: Be aware that there are online scams that ask applicants to pay for their CV/application to be pushed forward. Do not under any circumstances pay for these sorts of services, as they do not exist.

Useful links:

Zoom Tanzania job listings
Brighter Monday job listings
Careers in Africa
Blog post on finding work in Tanzania