Looking For Work In Spain

If you are looking for work in Spain There are a few things to know and after living here in Almeria in the southern part of Spain for more than 15 years, I will show you the top things I have discovered that will greatly improve your chances of finding a lasting job in Spain.

After living and working here in Spain for many years now I see many Brits fail here because they do not follow these simple tips…

Unemployment in Spain is still one of the highest in Europe and there are around one in five people without work , although Spain is also one of the European Union’s (EU) fastest recovering economies and the fourth largest.

Unemployment is now decreasing as the country slowly recovers from economic downturn. Personally i have seen many large new building projects started all over Spain and banks are now starting to offer better mortgage rates to help generate more jobs in the building industry and we all know thats how things start to grow more jobs for all. Property prices are starting to rise so things are getting better at long last.

Some sectors have even reported increased recruitment in past few years, and there are more opportunities than before the crisis for personal care workers, construction workers and building trades people, chefs and mechanics.

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For English-speaking jobs in Spain, seasonal work in the tourist trade and teaching English in Spain are both popular sources of employment for foreigners, as are services catering to the large expat populations along Spain’s coastal regions and in major cities, such as Madrid, Barcelona Almeria and Malaga.

Many British expats are finding work in these local bars but remember if you dont speak Spanish then you will be limiting yourself to getting a better job here. Self employed is a great way to go if your Spanish is not up to par, this way you can work for yourself doing what ever you like. This is what i did many years ago but once i learned Spanish i could also work for the Spanish people so opened up my earnings capabilities.

Large companies with a strong international presence tend to be in sectors related to tourism, renewable energy, banking, insurance, textiles, healthcare, agriculture and the automotive industry.

Start your search here..Jobs on offer in Spain

Admin jobs in Spain

In the current job market, it’s important not to rule out getting a temporary job or taking on a lower salary at first until you can find something more permanent. In the current environment. Brits who do not speak Spanish will find it hard to get work here unless you like bar work or cleaning jobs.

Looking For Work In Spain

When I first moved here to Almeria in Spain more than 15 years ago now, there was plenty of work for everyone, with so many English bars and restaurants opening in all the touristy areas, there was always someone looking for workers full and part time.

Then when the crisis hit the world a few years back Spain was hit hard with small businesses closing down almost every week, the people who spoke little or no Spanish then would find that their boss let them go in favor of the staff that did speak Spanish. It was not just that they could speak Spanish though, you see the British people as a whole, are not use to working the long hours that the Spanish are. For example:

When Looking For Work In Spain.

Normal working hours in Spain are from 7:30 -2pm with about 2 hours for lunch and then from 4pm until 8 or even 9pm. For the British a working day is from 9-5 with a few short breaks thrown in along the way but most finish at 5pm or 6pm at the latest.

The money also here is much lower than that of the UK so it takes some getting use to when you first start working here.

As i mentioned above it is a good idea to take even a part time job a few hours a week to get you in the door. Several years ago when i was looking for work here as a carpenter i offered to work for a small company here for FREE 2 days a week to learn how they work. They later offered me a regular paid work that helped me go self employed. Most companies will give you a try if you say you will work for free for a few weeks as they have nothing to lose. this may not be for you but it did work for me and is just an idea to get your foot in the door.

3 Things To Do First When Looking For Work In Spain.

Learn Spanish...The most important thing To Do When Looking For Work In Spain, above all in my mind, is to learn some Spanish, even before you come and live here. So many people don’t even bother to learn the basics and that is what really holds them back. OK there are many Spanish people who now speak English but you will have a greater chance of finding a job if you just learn some Spanish.

If you dont speak Spanish then your chances of finding work here are very limited unless you like cleaning jobs or bar work in British bars.

Almost every day i see people on my pages or groups that ask about finding work in Spain and do they really need to speak Spanish.

Its like this…If you went to China and needed to find a job there what sort of work could you get and how easy would it be to get a job there if you Did NOT speak Chinese? well its no different here in Spain.

Yes there are jobs here that you can do without speaking Spanish but they will be low paid mostly and even then there will be times when you need to speak to Spanish people or read Spanish paperwork or answer the phone. Look at London where there are thousands of immigrants who cant speak English and what jobs are they doing there.

You will also be competing with local Spanish people for work so you NEED to speak Spanish and theres not really any way around it. …Cold and hard but sorry its the truth.

2. Research..This is where most fail before they even start…Even before you decide on moving to Spain, do your research on the area first, as many areas in Spain tend to shut down for the winter months and there are fewer jobs in these areas that are all year round, plus even if you get a job in that area, you may have to reapply again the following season for the same job as many jobs are for short term contracts.

The larger cities and towns where there are more Brits may give you a better chance of finding work if your Spanish is not that great.

3. Prepare your CV..Your CV needs to be in English and Spanish as even if your new employer speaks English, his partners may not and companies always keep a copy of your CV on file so making it easy for others to read is important, also a great idea that I have used in the past is this, if you see a company or place that you think that you would like to work for, even if they are not advertising for staff, send them a copy of your CV and follow it up a few days later with a visit or call.

Personally i had best luck when i went in to meet the boss face to face. just ask for 2 mins of their time and pitch your skills to them they will be happy that you made the effort and may keep you on file as one company did for me. They called me 8 months after i went into see them about a job but i had by then found something else.

If you lay out in your CV just what you could do for that company and your past skills that would benefit them, you will be surprised at how many calls I got for an interview.

Remember that moving to Spain is great and sitting on the beach all day at the weekends with a cold drink is nice but when you come here and are looking for work here you need to change the way you are thinking and it is possible to enjoy the sunny warm days and nights here as well as living a better way of life but just by following my 3 Things To Do When Looking For Work In Spain, you will stand a better chance of finding that perfect job and living the life you want in this amazing part of the world.