This section contains information that should give you a fuller picture of the country that might help you and websites that you might find useful. It is divided into the following areas
Don't forget you can find out about current job vacancies, working overseas or in the UK, on the Careers & Employability Service website.
Recommended websites from past year abroad students
Students
and graduates wishing to gain experience of working
in Spain may find teaching English, or employment
in the tourism sector, most readily available.
Spain has more private language schools than any
other European country and English is the language
in greatest demand. Spain is a popular destination
for English language teachers so this creates great
competition for jobs. Most TEFL teachers work for
independent language institutes and/or give private
tuition to individual fee-paying students. The British
Council has language centres throughout Spain
and you can search the Spanish
yellow pages to find addresses in the region
you want to teach. Make sure you are prepared before
you contact a language school/institute. Have copies
of relevant documentation e.g. CV, exam certificates,
references etc.
For placements more closely related to your studies
or future career plans, you will need to make speculative
applications and use any personal contacts. Prospects,
Hobsons
and the
EURES
website has extensive information on working, living
and studying in Spain.
Speculative applications are widely used in Spain.
Networking is another important way to obtain a
job in Spain. So approach anyone who could help
(colleagues, relatives, etc.) - it is estimated
that only 15% of the available jobs in Spain are
actually advertised.
At graduate level, recruitment is carried out all year round. Job adverts can normally be found in the main daily and weekend editions of Spanish newspapers. Some popular sources for vacancies include Hispavista, ABC Madrid, El Pais, El Periodico, SUR written in English covering Southern Spain - useful for casual & tourism related jobs and La Vanguardia.
The European Employment Service (EURES) network of advisers can also be a useful source of vacancies.
Instituto
Nacional de Empleo (INEM), the national employment
service, provides information for jobseekers and
employers wanting to recruit. This is also the only
employment and recruitment agency in Spain to be
allowed to deal with permanent employment.
The
Institito de la Juventud (Servicio Voluntario Internacional
de España) organises voluntary work placements
in conservation, archaeology and in workcamps. Most
placements last two or three weeks during the summer.
Food and accommodation are usually provided. You
should apply through either Concordia
or the United
Nations Association. International
Voluntary Service in the UK will link you with
Service
Civil International which organises workcamps
in Catalunya and in Madrid. Camps last two to four
weeks and food/accommodation is provided.
CVs (Carta de Presentacin) consist of a one-page
A4 summary with factual information covering the
usual areas (personal details, education, employment
history and extra-curricular activities). Both chronological
and functional CVs are welcomed by recruiters. Examples
of Spanish
CVs can be found on this web site.
Key resources include: