Spain has been a dream destination for expats of all ages from around the world because of its lifestyle, standard of living, culture, weather and beauty. However, the cost of living in this country isn’t the lowest, and therefore it is essential that you consider your source of income carefully before moving. Many expats from the UK and other parts of Europe move to Spain only to return home after suffering financial difficulties.High unemployment rates (more than 25%) and language barriers have made it difficult for expats to find a job in this country. Many who do find jobs have to settle for low salaries and long working hours.
However, most of these problems are faced by expats who first move to Spain and then seek employment. It is therefore advisable to get a job before moving over there. Fortunately, there are several good and well-paying positions in engineering, customer service, information technology, finance, online marketing and language teaching, for which expats are sometimes given preference. Moreover, Spain also has a huge demand of skilled workers like plumbers, mechanics, welders and electricians, as long as they speak fluent Spanish. Barcelona and Madrid offer more opportunities compared to other cities.
Given below are a few tips that can help you find a job in Spain as an expat.
Get Online
Most foreign companies in Spain list their vacancies on their websites. As soon as you decide to move, look for positions available for your expertise and submit your application online. The vacancies on these sites are generally urgent and if you fit the bill, the company will get in touch with you immediately. It could take a few months for your paperwork and hiring formalities to be completed. Many third-party job sites like Info Jobs, Infoempleo, TusAnuncios, CompuTrabajo and Monster are also great platforms for bringing professionals and potential employers together. However, all the interviewing, screening and recruitment procedures are conducted by the employers and not the sites.
Contact A Recruitment Agency
Several placement agencies specialize in IT, Sales and Engineering jobs that require English-speaking workers. Some of the most common ones are Paginas Amarillas, Man Power and Allbecon. You could get in touch with them over the phone or online. Their recruitment procedure is quite complex. As well as filling out an application, many of them will ask you to go through additional tests, depending on the job that they are recruiting for. While some recruiters work on exclusivity (they will ask you avoid registering with other agencies or sites), it is best to contact at least two or three of them if this is not part of your contract, so that your application can be forwarded to as many companies as possible. It is customary for the agencies to charge the company and not the applicants.
Check The News
Like in most countries, the newspaper still remains one of the best ways to look for jobs available in Spain. The main challenge is that most of the listings are in Spanish. Subscribe to El Pais, ABC, La Razon or El Periodico to get regular updates on the types of professionals that are in demand in Spain. However, this source will only give you information about the job opening. You will need to get in touch with the company and send your application on your own.
While there is a high demand for English-speaking professionals, fluency in Spanish is a prerequisite for most jobs. It is therefore best for you to learn Spanish before you decide to settle down in this country.
One of the most important factors to consider is the work permit. Citizens of the EU/ EEA member states (except Croatians) and Switzerland can work freely in Spain, without a work visa. All other nationals require not just a work permit but also a residence visa to be able to live and work in Spain.
Many expats make a short trip to Spain for about 3 months or so, just to secure a job. It could be months or even years before you get the kind of job you are looking for. Many consultants and companies may take a long time to get back to you (and some may not even bother). Be patient and avoid taking any hasty steps.
Have you found work as an expat in Spain? Tell us your experiences in the comments.