Hello everyone im new here. My dad and i are thinking of living in Spain, i have no ties,etc. its just a bit worrying, would like to hear your stories etc??
Spain is what you want to make of it. The folks are nice and friendly and in the most will help you with the language, IF YOU TRY, the weather is hot in summer, but it does rain.
Lots of folk go out with blinkered vision, the pace of life is much slower and tomorrow will do, I think, or it may be the day after. Do not expect things to be done quickly, they just do not do it that way because you only get stressed rushing around in the heat, when you settle into the way of life you will think, why did I rush around like a fool.
If you need to work, then you will find it hard, so learn the language and you may have a chance, the money will not be great, but in most cases, it will do to live on, provided you do not have great expectations.
Research is the thing and plenty of it and then even more research to ensure you are in the right place to live and work.
I guess that after reading Damatt?s reply you?re thinking ?Well it?s OK for you mate you?re already over there?. Well, that?s why you should heed his advice. Everything he?s said has certainly been my experience as well. I would go one step further. Having researched the area that you?d like to consider, visit the place and get talking to those that know the area. Have a list of pertinent questions (?what ifs?) and try and get documentary evidence to support what people tell you.
Well it depends where you want to settle down. There are just over 2 000 000 people unemployed in Spain according to those who generate these statistics. To a large extent I guess that jobs are more likely to be offered to the Spanish and those that can speak the language rather than to ?guiris?.
Spain just doesn?t have the job opportunities that are available, for example, in the UK. Also the Spanish are very into their ?official? training courses. They tend to employ those that have spent 300 hours studying Microsoft Word and those that have official Spanish accreditation, academic or otherwise. One of the biggest problems with foreign qualifications is that you?ll need to have them validated and this is a skill in its own right. For certain jobs, in particular in Public Administration, you need to sit a set of exams called ?oposiciones?. This is rather stressful and involves competing for a limited number of posts with several hundred other individuals.
A lot of jobs go to those that know the right people, even at the level of Public Administration. There are also a lot of family-run businesses that like to keep the business within the family.
Obviously there are still possibilities like, for example, working for yourself, working for an international company that has offices in Spain or taking a look at Gib.
I?m just watching the news on TVE1 and they?ve just said that one of the best methods in Spain to look for a job is on the Internet. But they also said that 70% of the people that are using this method have studied at University.
Is it not amazing just what you can assume from using the internet. Don Carlos thinks I am in Spain, no, I am in South Wales. I deal with Spain a lot and have a property in the Costa Blanca and having gone through the task of buying in Spain, I now help others to do the same.
If I was to put a list together, then to learn the language would be No 1, as without it, you have very little chance of getting a job, put yourself in the employers position, say in the UK, would you employ someone who did not speak or understand English in your office or to meet your customers. Just because the employer is Spanish, then it will be the same process.
Do you know where you want to live as Spain is a large place.
Have you got a wish list for the property you want?
Do you have a budget, dont forget to add about 12% onto the purchase price to cover legal costs.
If you have children, have you considered the schools, Spanish or International, plus the costs.
Do you drive, if not, then as the public transport is poor, then you may be stuck at home during the day.
These are just a few of the many questions we ask people who are thinking of moving to Spain. There are many others.
Europe seems to have been in a kind of a recessi0on since 2004 at least, and this is probably a good reason why jobs are difficult to come by too - but lack of Spanish would preclude anyone from getting work for a Spanish company I would imagine.
I do wish you the very best of luck Bassbob, you and your dad - how lovely that you’re going to move to Spain together - great! Have fun lads!
Maureen, that’s not really true. Its not easy to find a job without Spanish but definitely possible, depending on the industry. Also, Spains economy and Europes in general have not been in recession, probably the opposite.
Yes, the GDP growth rates over the last few years speak for themselves. Independently of the definition of recession that you?d like to use, there?s not one here.
People need to accept that Spain currently lags behind some of the other EU states in terms of growth per capita and all that sort of stuff but it still has one of the largest economies in the world and in Europe:
To add to what has already been said, obviously the location is also very important in deciding where to settle down unless, of course, you already have employment.
It really comes down to what you able or perhaps more importantly what you are prepared to do! For instance if you are a tradesman (tradesperson?) ie a plumber you can work for the English and make a good living. If you are prepared to clean, cook, or sell you have a choice of jobs (in this area - Costa Blanca)
If you are a white collar worker you will obviously have problems without the language and qualifications which are acceptable in Spain.
If you have entrepenural skills and some finance then you can set up a business.
Yes, I completely agree lads - sorry about the previous remark - I had only gotten the information from a friend in France as she had spent time in Madrid in 2004-2005 and found things difficult - I was in France for a few months then too and it was impossible! Hope I didn’t cause too much angst and fury 😉
im at the moment doing security,14 years experience now,, and have all the necessary licence’s etc
I have some experience of cooking as i used to be a chef, but that was many moons ago.
I would suggest that you start with the two things you have, the licence for security, check to see if that licence would be valid in Spain or if you need to do something extra. As a chef, you need to check if what you have will allow you to work in Spain, are the qualifications still valid, is the food hygene certificate still valid.
Have you started to learn Spanish yet? if not start now!
