Unsurprisingly, many expats work in the tourism industry in and around the Alicante area, as most other sectors will require a good level of Spanish. There are plenty of seasonal jobs in bars and restaurants in the tourist areas, as well as with tour companies that require in-resort representatives. As well as owning their own bars and restaurants, many expats set up their own businesses in Alicante that service the expat community such as plumbers, electricians, builders or hairdressers.

With a basic knowledge of Spanish, some expats can find work in real estate agents, as native English speakers are needed to cater for expats in the area, as well as visitors and tourists looking for a holiday home.

There is also plenty of work for English teachers. Most international schools will require a teaching qualification, however without official training, jobs can still be secured within private language schools, or as one to one English teachers. A TEFL qualification can be easily obtained to add extra weight to job applications.

Teaching jobs for foreigners in state schools are difficult to obtain, as are jobs in any state controlled occupation including the police or local government, as there is a strict procedure to follow which involves the sitting of the Oposiciones exam. Once passed, the authorities can place you in a job anywhere in the Valencian community, and not necessarily where you want to live and work.

Jobs for English speakers are advertised in the local English language newspapers, such as The Coast Rider, Costa Blanca News, The Leader or Round Town News. Jobs are also advertised in the main daily Alicante newspaper, Diario Informacion.

If Spanish is no problem, then for EU citizens, and those with a valid work permit, and an NIE number (numero de identificacion de extranjero – foreigners' identification number) you are free to apply for any job connected to your qualifications and experience. A good knowledge of English will always be an advantage when applying for a job in whatever sector.

The government run employment offices INEM has its province headquarters at Calle San Juan Bosco, 15. All job contracts will need to be confirmed through the local INEM office, a list of which can be found here. The site www.inem.es can also be read in English, and offers advice on finding work and claiming unemployment benefit for foreigners, as well as a list of job offers. A more comprehensive list of job offers can be obtained from the individual offices.

Some internationally recognised recruitment agency names can be found in Alicante, such as Manpower, at Avenida Maisonnave, 9, and Adecco at Calle Reyes Catolicos, 55 with specialised sections for seasonal work and jobs within the tourism sector.

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