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How To Get A Job In Spain

Finding Work in Spain
At present, the Spanish job market is robust, which makes working in Spain an achievable dream. The wages are generally lower than those in northern Europe, but the cost of living is lower and the overall lifestyle better. Most qualifications obtained elsewhere in the European Union are recognised in Spain with the workforce accepting foreigners into the community.

Obtaining a contract of at least 6 months from your employer will guarantee you the same rights as a Spanish employee. This contract should be read carefully, so getting it translated if you do not speak Spanish is a good idea. Temporary contracts are generally offered for 3/6/9 months. After this the contract expires, to keep you on, the employer has to offer you a long-term contract. This is because they are not allowed to keep offering short-term contracts.

Work hours in Spain include a siesta (which is a 2 - 3 hour break in the afternoon). Most business shut down at this time and re-open in the cooler hours of the evening.

Spanish workers are, like the lifestyle, quite laid back with no great rush to get things done. Their rights are heavily protected from exploitation with employee contracts strictly adhered to.

Should you be dismissed from your Spanish job, and do not agree to the reasons, you can give a demand for a conciliation within 20 days of receiving the dismissal. There is no presentation of evidence here, therefore an agreement being reached between the two parties. If one is not reached you may then place a suit in the labour court. (juzgado del lo Social). If your dismissal is found to be unjust you will receive 45 days compensation for every year worked.

For those from outside the European Union (Spanish work permits are more or less automatic for EU citizens), getting a work permit can be an ordeal. A Catch 22 can arise - many Spanish employers will not hire without an existing work permit, but work permits are difficult to get without guaranteed employment based on special needs for a non-Spaniard.

The job market
With unemployment at 8-9% in Spain, there is high competition for jobs. Many Spanish people find looking for work a frustrating and difficult task. Apart from those industries, a typical job search could easily last up to 6 months.
In addition, many hires are made through connections (enchufe), it is common to hear comments like, "s/he only got the job because her/his dad knows someone on the board." Salary distributions in companies are more unequal that in the most European countries or the US, with the bosses pay being relatively high, while the average worker gets less.

Being a foreigner is potentially a disadvantage in some industries and with some employers. There are also restrictive regulations regarding employing foreigners. If you do not have a working knowledge of Spanish, your employment possibilities are limited. If you are looking for work in retail, restaurants/bars or teaching foreign languages (particularly English), things are a bit easier and these jobs are everywhere.

A structurally high unemployment rate and currently difficult economic conditions mean that it is not easy for a foreigner to get a job in Spain. We don't wish to discourage anybody from looking for jobs in Spain, but just don't assume it is going to be easy. Good luck!

Salaries
The cost of living in Spain is well below the European average, in particular outside of Madrid and Barcelona. However, salaries are also quite low in comparison to their EU equivalents. Average salaries for workers range from €12,000 - €18,000/year. While a salary of €30,000 - €35,000 a year is subsistence level in cities like London, it would be well considered in Spain. If you come from Northern Europe or North America, be prepared for serious salary shock.

People normally discuss salaries as a monthly figure. This makes things complicated as the majority of companies compensate their employees on a yearly 14-payment system. This system means the normal monthly salary is doubled twice a year (by what are called extras) usually before summer and Christmas.

When it comes to holidays and vacations time, Spain is a wonderful place to work. By law, any employee under contract is entitled to a full month of vacation each year (usually taken in August) along with numerous national and regional holidays. When those holidays fall on a Tuesday or Thursday, employees are commonly allowed to take Monday or Friday off and make it into a long weekend called a "puente" (bridge).

How to find a job
It's not the easiest task for foreigners to get work in Spain. But there are jobs offered for people with high languange skills (English, German, French, etc.) on serveral portals on the internet and websites offering adverts or newspapers with job offers once a week. It definitely helps to do a Spanish course first ? also to understand the offers, translate your CV (at least make the job descriptions understandable for the recruiter!) and leave a good impression due an interview.

Conclusion
Our recommendation is to browse through the offers on StartEasyCareer.com including a wide range of job offers and short-term job vacancies especially for international students and graduates in Spain.

Good luck!

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