How To Find A Job In Spain

So, your dream is to visit Spain; or maybe to live there permanently! Despite how exciting that sounds, things are not always rainbows and sunshine. As a responsible adult that you are, you reckon that you should plan ahead and take into account a number of ways you could finance yourself abroad. If you are dead serious about moving forward with your plan (read: finding a job in Spain as well as living and working there), of course!

We trust that you have already thought of finding a job or internship in Spain, which is probably what prompted you to go online and look up how to find a job in Spain in the first place. That’s a BIG green flag. Don’t get discouraged. You took initiative, you did great. Leave the rest to us because this comprehensive guide will be taking you through everything you need to know about how to find a job in Spain.

Without further ado, we are starting off our complete guide on how to find a job in Spain with essential steps you need to take that will guarantee you a job in Spain.

Steps To Get A Job In Spain

Finding a job in Spain demands a lot of preparation especially when the future of your career advancement and livelihood depends on it— quite literally, since you are planning on living and working there. Your first job in a foreign land sets the mood and tone of how your life abroad will pan out. It is during this introductory phase that you will meet with authentic Spanish work culture and people whom you will be spending almost half your (work) life with.

Follow these six foolproof steps of how to find a job in Spain to fill yourself in on all the essential things you need to know to successfully get a job in Spain. And hopefully, you would be so glad to have read this guide on how to find a job in Spain!

1. Build Your Profile

First impressions could get you a job; they could destroy the chances of you getting one completely. This is precisely why you should put in the time and effort in creating and building your profile which is to be included in your CV since they are the very first thing that you will be evaluated on. And if you have a scope of what you would like to do, have a good read of their job description and see if you meet their requirements. (Even if you don’t, give it a try!)

Let’s backtrack for a bit and go back to before you even thought of working in Spain. Think of as many reasons as you can to the following questions: What makes you the best candidate for the role that you would like to apply for? What inspired you to pursue that role? What are some of your strengths? If you for instance were not able to answer any of these questions, you know what to do to get a job in Spain! Work on cultivating your best profile. Attend an online course! Volunteer!

1. Polish Your CV

To stand out from the crowd, pass on to the deeper interview rounds, and eventually secure the position, you obviously need an impressive CV. What constitutes a good CV, you ask? A personal summary (or a personal statement) portraying your strong points, skills, and industry experiences.

For you to be able to effectively present your strong points, you are recommended to keep your descriptions succinct and to the point. This applies to everything from the very first word on your CV to the last. The way in which you format your CV should not be overlooked either..! Other than following the standard chronological arrangement, you are encouraged to draw on relevant skills and exclude the rest.

1. Study Spanish Skills

Speaking of relevant skills, it is always, always a good idea to learn additional languages. Granted, it would be so amazing if you are as fluent in Spanish as you are in your mother tongue but that is not always the case, and most of the time, not a requirement for your job application. You should learn the Spanish language for a number of different reasons...

Your Spanish skills will come in handy when you are communicating with people outside of work; in your daily life. Though this may not directly help you find a job in Spain, your knowledge of the local language could increase your chances of building professional relationships in or outside of your working environment. This also leaves you with more career opportunities to choose from and gives you the power to choose where you would like to work!

1. Find The Right Mindset

The importance of our attitude towards applying for a job cannot be stressed enough, especially when you are planning on getting a job abroad. We get it, having to sit in front of your computer for hours, sending out hundreds of applications is not the most enjoyable thing to do. But it has to be done! This is how to increase your chances of getting a job in Spain!

The most challenging (and probably the most heartbreaking) part of it all is that your application might not be reviewed at all with thousands of people from all over the globe applying for the same position!! Don’t let it bring you down. Keep your head high and your hopes up. You can always learn from your mistakes and strive to do better! And with that optimistic mindset of yours, you hold the ability to transform your own fate.

1. Start Your Application Process

Once you are in the right headspace and have perfected your CV, you can move onto the next step of finding a job in Spain that is to begin your application process right away. Apply when you are still in your home country!! The processes of applying and getting a job in Spain require you to follow everything step-by-step. Or else you could risk sabotaging your chances of working there entirely.

LinkedIn is one of the best sources for finding job openings due to its extensive user base of employers. By using an email finder tool to contact prospective employers directly, it increases your chances of getting noticed when applying for roles overseas too.

The first thing that you need to get sorted is what kind of job you want to do in Spain. Go online and do the research. Look into what kind of qualifications they would ask from you and adjust your CV accordingly. After that is taken care of, you can get started on the legal processes, preparing VISA applications (if needed) and browse for flights and accommodation. Remember that these procedures take time!

1. File For Your Work Permit

Suppose that you’ve done the hard work. You succeeded in finding a job in Spain whilst being in your home country. After you have decided on which position and/ or company you want to work for in Spain, your employer would proceed onto the next step and apply for your work permit, meaning that the responsibilities are now in their hands. The type of work permit that they will be issuing you is ‘Work Permit As An Employee’ or trabajador por cuenta ajena, a work contract that enables you to work in Spain for one year.

Upon your successful renewal of this type of work permit, you will receive a work permit extension or an additional two years to work under an employee and/or company in Spain. Without this piece of legal document, your attempt to find a job in Spain would be futile. Since this type of work permit requires at least one month from the submission date to be processed and issued, we strongly advise you to take into consideration your official starting date.

Job Opportunities In Spain

Now that you have an idea of the steps you need to take in order to get your foot in the door, let’s take a look at where you can search for your dream job in Spain!

• Networking

Most of the time, vacant job positions are filled up fast in Spain due to word of mouth. Then, how exactly do you find a job in Spain, you ask? One way is to start networking with people who work at the companies in which you would like to work for. You may want to look into online networking sites like LinkedIn and Jobcase!

We strongly suggest that you join an online group and grow connections with the people who share similar interests as you. In doing so, you can start building new professional relationships with people who work different roles whether they be entry-level positions or executive managerial ones. (Note: It is only once your connections have been established that you mention future job opportunities!)

• Job Sites

Another useful resource that can help you find a job in Spain is to browse online job sites like Indeed or Glassdoor. Instead of putting yourself in direct contact with current employees, this method allows you to select job positions that match your career goal. When looking up job vacancies, you should also pay extra attention to job requirements as well as job description for the best outcome and if the role is a good fit for you.

One of the greatest benefits of searching for job openings online is that your application process will take significantly less time than other approaches. You can use this time to explore their websites more thoroughly. Who knows, you may stumble upon some pretty insightful tips and tricks that help you secure a job in Spain..!

• Job Fairs

Although, generally speaking, domestic job fairs are not as popular as they were before, they are one of the better options for finding a job in Spain. Consider job fairs as your practice ground for future interviews. Typically, job fairs open up the opportunity for you to meet up with prospective employers where you will be introducing yourself to them to get a chance at receiving a full-time offer.

Job fairs are often hosted, and held, by universities. So, if you are not seeing brochures and flyers around your campus. We recommend that you contact your university career service centers or put out the word to your professors. We are confident that they will be more than happy to offer you help!

• Recruitment Agency

You are saying that you have tried out all of the above and still could not find something that resonates with you? We know that this can be frustrating at times but that is to be expected (keep on reading to discover why). This is when we turn to our last resort: the recruitment agencies; and make use of their amazing services!

Aside from keeping you up to date with the latest trends and what are some things that you should expect or look out for when pursuing a career in your industry of choice, recruitment agencies will, more often than not, assist you in salary negotiations and provide you with future career advice. And the best part about these services? They are free…!

Labor Laws And Labor Rights In Spain

One of the things that you should take into consideration when thinking about getting a job in Spain is their labor laws and employee rights. The absence of this information could lead to exploitation and unfair labor practices. Therefore, you may find this section of our guide on How To Find A Job In Spain particularly useful!

The number one thing that you should know before finding a job in Spain is how working hours are being regulated. Spanish labor laws clearly state that between the end of one working day and the next, there should be a 12-hours difference. This means that regardless of when their days begin or end, there should be a 12-hours gap and they must not exceed 40 hours per week altogether.

It is also worth knowing that before you start booking your flight tickets to Spain, all non-European citizens must have signed work contracts on them. Your work contracts are proof that your position is in a shortage and that they cannot be filled by locals— which are essential when applying for your work permit.

Types Of Jobs For Foreigners In Spain

We hope that you have fully grasped the general idea of how and where to find a job in Spain. By now, you are probably familiar with the fact that in Spain, some jobs are rarely carried out by locals. This underlines the fact that there are plenty of opportunities for foreigners and expats to find a job in Spain!

Curious to find out what those jobs are? Let’s find out!

• Jobs In The Service Sector

Since these industries are often in direct contact with foreigners, native English speakers or those with advanced English proficiency are in high demand. Generally speaking, English proficiency is considered to be fairly low in Spain.

If English is your first or primary language and enjoy helping others, you may be the ideal candidate to work in the Spanish service sector. With options ranging from tourism; hospitality; arts & design; education and healthcare, there are several high-paying job opportunities for you to search for in Spain— you could earn up to €48k yearly with the right skills and experience!

• Jobs That Require Highly Specialized Skills

A career in the service sector is not your life calling? You may want to consider working as a specialist and live comfortably in Spain. This is to say that you either have an exceptional set of skills or years of experience under your belt and hold a university degree in your preferred technical field! Don’t forget that although you are competing with a smaller crowd, you still have to stand out to get a job in Spain!

Some of the jobs that are available to foreigners in Spain include scientists, engineers, managers and language specialists; along with personal care workers. Often working in multinational organizations, you can expect pay for these jobs to be extremely high. They could range anywhere from €23k to €58k a year.

Final Words

You have made it to the end of our complete guide on How To Find A Job In Spain!!

We genuinely hope that you find the information provided useful and gain a couple of helpful tips in helping you find a job in Spain.

To end our guide on How To Find A Job In Spain, we wish you all the best in your future whether they be in terms of career advancement or personal pursuits!

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