I received a great question from a reader a couple weeks ago, and thought it’d be good to answer it here. I hope my answer isn’t too discouraging.
I was just wondering if you think Adana Turkey is a good place for an American to move for employment. Are there many opportunities for Americans or otherwise English speakers? Whether it be for employment or partnerships? I used to live on Incirlik Air Base. I miss Turkey a great deal and would love to have a business in or with Adana, Turkey. That way I can go visit often but have a purpose as well. Anyways, thanks for your time and opinion. 
LLT
Dear LLT,
Thanks so much for reading A Foreign Perspective, and thanks for your great question. You ask a question that you’ll have a hard time getting a straight answer for. The reason is that many folks who have relocated to Adana really struggle to find sustaining, legal employment. My observation is that people who come to Adana to work, don’t stick around long unless they have a powerful reason to stay (like a Turkish significant other or a strong sense of calling to Adana.)
Turkish hospitality is in amazing thing, but sadly the ministry of labor is much less than hospitable. From everything I hear, they are very reluctant to grant work permits to foreigners, unless they are either A.) Teaching English at a very professional institution or B.) Creating a significant number of jobs for locals.
Turkish Labor Ministry... don't expect a red carpet
Teaching English in Adana
If you have a four-year university degree, you could very likely find a job teaching English at a private primary or high school or university. If you’re actually a trained teacher, there are very professional teaching positions in all subjects at an American High School in Tarsus. Other than these, there are opportunities to find cash jobs teaching English, which are risky/illegal, and it’s an unstable income.
Teaching Opportunities Do Exist in Adana and beyond
My Advice
Here’s my advice. If you have the skills or connections, try to find an “Office Job” in the United States that can be done from home, or start a freelance business doing something from your computer. This would allow you to live in Adana without depending on finding a job from the Turkish economy. This has worked great for me. I’m an American, working from home for an American company in America. I just happen to spend most of the year “traveling.” I make my money in America and spend it in Turkey and live here as a Tourist. I think this is the most bullet-proof method of living in Turkey and still being gainfully employed. As former military, you also may be able to find civilian work at Incirlik (although few who seek it actually find it… jobs at Incirlik, that is.) I’d recommend picking up The Four Hour Workweek as well and seeing if it helps you to generate a good idea for a home based business that you could do from Adana.
I hope this helps!
Check out the “Turkish Travel Blog” for another sober article about working as a foreigner in Turkey.
I hope this helps. If you’re a foreigner in Turkey, I’d love to hear your thoughts on this issue.
