Getting a job in spain?

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Flicka

I live in Spain and am always getting asked to teach English by people who donÂ´t even know that I am TEFL qualified. I used to teach privately and although things are tough in Spain at the moment, there are plenty of jobs teaching English. Even more if you can speak a little Spanish.
Spain is putting in place plans to teach all school age children English with the aim of being fluent by the time they leave school. They understand the economic need to learn English.

Sue C

Learn Spanish, learn Spanish, learn Spanish. Even if you are both more than adequately qualified in the things you both want to do, how are you going to ask for an interview, read the advertisements, talk to the local education authority, etc. I do know of someone English working as an English language assistant in a local school here but she speaks good Spanish. How could you go for an interview with the Head Teacher (for example) if s/he doesn't speak English ... only the English teachers might speak English.

Whatever certificates you may have you should get translated into Spanish and officially recognised before you leave. Contact the Spanish consulate in London about it.

Also, before you leave (cannot stress this enough), sort out all your reciprocal national insurance/medical forms, The Spanish do this properly, it's not just a question of turning up at the health centre and registering, you have to prove you're entitled to the treatment.

Best thing you can do TODAY to move your plan forward is to enrol on a Spanish course.

knitknackers

What ever nationally you are it is not a good time to come to Spain.
You perhaps would have been better coming in the summer months when there is more chance of getting work.
Spain like most other countries is going through a bad time at the moment.

So I would try another country.

Carousel

I think you are from the UK.
This is not the time to be looking for work in Spain. There is massive unemployment here. Any jobs will go to the Spanish people. Not knowing any Spanish will not help.

dart

As an English teacher, you should be able to find work, because, no matter what the rest of the economic climate, they ALWAYS want natives to teach English...As for the scuba diving...most of the places where they dive are huge tourist resorts...if you want to learn the language, you are going to want to live AWAY from the tourists...this can be done by living inland a bit, or just off the beaten track from the tourists, so that you can truly immerse yourselves.

Not sure what the job availability is in that field, or if they need native ENGLISH speakers for that business, I suppose, if they are catering to an English speaking clientele, they would want someone who speaks English...I'd suggest staying away from the main touristy areas of Costa del Sol, in any case, but especially if you want to learn Spanish. I hear it's kind of more an English/German population than Spanish.

Jess Moleman

I cannot talk for Spain in general, but as a EFL/ESL teacher it's no problem getting a job in Madrid or Barcelona. All good academies are looking for people right now. PADI instructor in Madrid will be difficult due to the complete lack of water:)

Nevertheless, although Spain's economy is pretty bad right now, it's no problem finding a job. I'm living in Madrid and get job offers all the time, without looking for them. The trick? Speaking English. There's as always a huge demand.

The paperwork (even for someone from the UK) can be a hassle, but that'll work out eventually.

Good luck!

manthebraces

Why is it that, when you people ask these questions about living and working in a foreign country, you NEVER SAY WHAT YOUR NATIONALITY IS? The is the FIRST thing you need to tell us because the answer to what your NATIONALITY is... is VERY IMPORTANT.

I am going to guess you are AmeriKans because they always seem to think they can move to a foreign country as if they were moving to Iowa.

To immigrate to Spain LEGALLY you need to contact the Spanish Consulate in WASHINGTON D.C. and get their very good and informative IMMIGRATION PACKAGE. You will need to PROVE that you have a INDEPENDENT INCOME of about $1,500 PER MONTH.. because YOU CAN'T WORK IN SPAIN.. but you CAN live there... if you have a good enough income.

I don't know how your chances for teaching ENGLISH (AmeriKans always want to teach ENGLISH so they don't have anything to learn) in a country like Spain where English is TAUGHT IN THE SCHOOLS.

As for the PADI scuba diving course.. he needs to go far enough to get an INSTRUCTOR'S LICENSE... merely having a PADI scuba license is NOTHING. I have a NAUI Open water 1 but I can't teach scuba diving because I don't have a INSTRUCTOR'S rating.

If I was young again and looking for a place to work in a dive shop around Spain, I would look at Palma de Mallorca... it's upscale and there are a lot of tourists there.

OH... BTW... I LIVED in Spain for a couple of years, in Blanes... and I currently own a condo in Valencia and I am also fluent in Spanish... so I do know a little about living and working in Spain.

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