Spain is one of the favorite destinations for thousands of immigrants to start a new life and if you are also thinking of moving and working in Spain, this article is for you!
One of the first things we have to take into account when we emigrate to Spain is to find a job. This is one of the biggest problems we face when emigrating, but don’t worry! In this article we will explain all the steps to follow to find jobs in Spain for foreigners: where to look for them exactly, how to look for them, requirements, advice and many more. Reading this guide is the first step!
1. Requirements for working in Spain
If you are an immigrant looking for a job, the first thing you need to know is that in order to live and work in Spain you must apply for a residence and work permit. In addition, Spanish legislation limits the sectors in which such work permits are granted in Spain for foreigners. On the other hand, you should know that as a immigrant worker you will have the same labour rights as other national workers. Therefore, you will enjoy the same rights in terms of:
- Right to Work and Social Security.
- Freedom to join a trade union and to strike.
- Registration at employment offices.
Our recommendation is that you start the job search process from your home country! This will make everything much easier. Once you have a contract you can start the procedures to get the Spanish residence.
However, this is not the only option:
- If you are a citizen of the European Union, you will not need a residence and work permit because Spain is a member of this organisation.
- You will be able to travel to Spain with a tourist visa and live in Spain for 3 months to look for a job and do as many job interviews as you can. After these 3 months, Spanish legislation requires you to return to your home country and start the application from your home country.
If, on the other hand, you start working illegally – which we do not recommend – you must wait a minimum of 2 years to be able to regularize your work situation in Spain for the purpose of “employment” or “arraigo laboral”.
2. Labour market in Spain
The Spanish labour market is changing and there are no general parameters. However, the data indicate that there are certain sectors of economic activity in which there is a greater acceptance of foreigners. What does this mean? There are certain sectors in which it is more likely that foreigners will find jobs in Spain. The main ones are:
- Hospitality: Spain is a country whose economic activity is driven by tourism. Demand for employment in this sector in high seasons is a good option to start working in Spain. Furthermore, if you have another language you will have a great advantage over other job seekers.
- Teaching: Immigrants who speak a language other than Spanish find that language teaching is a good way to start working in Spain, whether as a teacher in a school, an academy or giving private classes. You should know that English is a highly valued language in this area!
- Agriculture: in this sector the number of active immigrants is higher than the number of nationals working in agriculture!
- Other sectors where immigrants are most active are fishing, mining, manufacturing and commerce.
- There are other jobs that the Spanish government calls difficult to fill, in other words, jobs for which there are no national or foreign workers with legal residence and which are therefore more difficult to fill. However, if you are interested in these positions, they can be a great opportunity to access the Spanish labour market! This is the catalogue of professions that are difficult to fill in the fourth quarter of 2019:
Occupations approved by agreement with the Secretary of State for Sport:
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- Professional sportsmen and women
- Sports coaches
Occupations approved, at the proposal of the General Administration of the State, in the merchant marine sector:
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- Ship’s refrigeration technician
- Merchant ship’s chief engineer
- Ship’s Engineers
- Coastal mechanics
- Naval mechanics
- Merchant ship pilots.
- Merchant navy radio-electronic officers.
- Ship’s chefs.
- Passenger ship assistants.
- Ship’s waiters.
- Ship’s butlers.
- Boilermakers
- Ship machine greasers.
- Specialised ship firemen.
- Boatswains on deck (except fishing)
- Sailors on deck (Except fishing)
- Deckhands.
3. How to look for jobs in Spain
Now that you know the necessary requirements to start working and the most favorable sectors of employment in Spain for foreigners, we share with you the different ways in which you can find jobs. Knowing where to look will be key in your search!
3.1 Networking
Statistics show that up to 70% of the available jobs are filled through networking, in other words, through our network of contacts. So if you’re looking for a job, it’s time to start thinking about those around you and even creating new connections – the bigger your network, the more possibilities you have!
How to do it? Very simple! Start with the people closest to you, share your work interests and your intention to start working in Spain. The network of people you know can surprise you! You can also use platforms such as Meetup, Guiribusiness and expatriate groups on Facebook or any other social network. Supporting an expatriate community in the country you are moving to will always have benefits for you, whether it is for work or social purposes!
3.2 Online platforms to find jobs in Spain
This is one of the great advances that the Internet has brought into our lives! If you want to take a step beyond your network, looking for a job online is a great alternative! Finding jobs in Spain for foreigners or immigrants through the internet will multiply your options, even more so if you search from your home country.
There are many ways you can start your search online:
It is the social network for professionals or workers par excellence, so if you are in the middle of your job search, creating an account in this network can help you! Which are the steps to follow?
- Register on Linkedin.
- Create your profile.
- Add your relatives or people of interest, in other words, create your network of contacts.
- Check new job offers daily.
We send you good vibes!
Online job websites
Fortunately, there are hundreds of websites to find jobs in Spain for immigrants, and at Moneytrans we have compiled a list of the main websites that will be of great help to you!
General websites:
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- Infojobs
- Jobtoday
- Indeed
- Infoempleo
- Laboris
- Trabajamos.net
Websites for students:
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- Studentjob
- Recruitingerasmus
- Primerempleo
Websites for immigrants:
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- Glasdoor
- Europelanguagejobs
- Eures
- Xpatjobs
- ThinkSpain
Websites for the disabled:
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- www.once.es
- www.cocemfe.es
- www.mercadis.com
- www.fundacionafim.org
Websites for freelancers:
If you want to start working in Spain on your own as a freelancer, there are also websites that will help you get your work known. These are the main ones!
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- Freelancer
- Soyfreelancer
- Upwork
- Twago
- Fiverr
- Workana
3.3 Public employment services
In Spain, there is a national platform for employment supply and demand by the Spanish Government. This platform is called Empléate and you can carry out the following actions on it:
- Search, consult and register in the available job offers.
- Upload your curriculum vitae.
- Advertise yourself as a job seeker. Companies will find you more easily!
- Activate alerts of job offers by email and/or SMS.
On the other hand, the website of the State Employment Service (SEPE) will be very useful to inform you about everything related to the work activity in Spain: current situation, changes in legislation, training courses and the publication of new vacancies.
Another option you can take advantage of if you come from a European country is the EURES Network, the official European professional mobility portal, where you will also find job offers in Spain! The aim of European Employment Services (EURES) is to provide information, advice and job search or recruitment services, and if you are looking for jobs in Spain for immigrants, this website will keep you informed of new vacancies!
4. Covering letter
Without a doubt, a good cover letter will be your great ally when looking for a job in Spain! A good writing of your CV can open more doors than you think. That is why today we are sharing with you 5 tips to create or improve your CV and help you in your search for jobs in Spain for foreigners:
- Be brief and direct: it is important that the information you include is useful for the person who is thinking of hiring you. Therefore, it is essential that you are direct and that your CV does not exceed two pages.
- Talk about your professional experience: It is essential that you value your professional experience, whether it is short or long, and always from a positive point of view. This will give the employer an overview of your training or qualities. You can also add interesting information such as collaborations with NGOs or participation in events.
- Highlight your skills: this is precisely the second point. You may not have extensive experience, but you may have qualities or skills that make you a good candidate – highlight them!
- Do you speak more than one language?: this is one of the advantages of many immigrants. So if your status as a foreigner means that you can speak another language, highlight it! In Spain, having a second language in addition to Spanish is highly valued by many companies, and you will make a difference to other job seekers.
- Don’t lie: it’s a common fact in cover letters, however, it never works out. Be honest and if you don’t have the necessary experience, express your motivation and desire to learn what you don’t know yet. Honesty will be your best ally!
If your cover letter has achieved its goal, you can apply for an interview! Here are the 5 tips to survive a successful job interview:
- Stay informed: Read the job advertisement carefully before going to the interview, analyse the key points and the needs of the employer. Also, find out about the company, its history, its products and other interesting information. This will give you more knowledge about the company and make a good impression on the person who interviews you because it shows your interest.
- Prepare your questions: you don’t need to memorize anything, but simply practising the frequently asked questions in an interview will help you feel more confident in the interview and have more control. And if the interview is not in your mother language, this will be a great help!
- Watch your body language: Watch your entrance! The interview doesn’t start when you start talking, it starts from the moment you walk in the door. So enter determinedly and don’t forget that a smile is your best introduction!
- Focus on the positive: It is essential that you focus your efforts on highlighting the positive aspects of each job or experience, showing that even from professional failures you have learned!
- Be yourself: Without a doubt, being natural is one of the factors that generates the most confidence and connection between people. It will be your best ally!
5. Entrepreneurship
There is another way to find jobs in Spain for immigrants: by creating them yourself! If you want to work on your own and be your own boss: the entrepreneurship is for you!
In Spain, the culture of entrepreneurship is becoming more and more widespread. There are hundreds of websites that provide information, advice and help:
- ATA
- UATAE
- AJE
- UPTA
- Moneytrans
At Moneytrans we offer you a simple way to entrepreneurship and increase your income by becoming a Moneytrans agent! This is one of the professional options that many immigrants choose when they arrive in a new country: remittances. Currently in Spain, we have more than 5,000 agents in our network. What’s the reason? The agents enjoy in their agencies a service with an excellent quality-price for their customers, but also a system that allows our agents to generate generous commissions on their job.
There are many advantages of joining the Moneytrans agent network!:
- Moneytrans is an important source of income thanks to our services and reputation. Agents earn an average of 500€ which can be increased by generating more remittances through Moneytrans.
- Personalised advice, we will solve all your doubts.
- Constant training.
- No initial costs or previous payments, the only thing you need is to install our system on your computer.
- Bonus system for goals achieved.
- Permanent support, our Customer Service team will support you 363 days a year!
- Do you want us to advise you? Call us on 951 91 55 91 or fill in this simple form and an advisor will contact you with all the information you need and with no obligations!
Good luck!
