Finding *Legal* Work in Spain

[memge]

I\\\'m making a 2 month visit to Madrid this summer, with the impossible dream of finding work.  I am a Spanish language major, I have 3 years of professional computer experience, and I am limiting myself to only taking legal work.

I\\\'ve been told it\\\'s very difficult to get a work visa or to get a company that will go through the hassle of sponsoring you, but I don\\\'t know any specifics.

My questions is, what is it like trying to find legal work teaching English, for example.  What must I go through to get a work visa or to get a company to sponsor me?  Is this as difficult as I have heard?

Thanks!
Matt

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[memge]

I\\\'m replying to my own message to say that I just found the section on this site about getting a work visa, so I\\\'ll start by making use of that.

Matt

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[Tracy]

Hi Matt...

Do I understand this right? You are only staying 2 months and you want to find legal work?? Hmmm...I do believe that\\\'ll be quite impossible. Noone will dare take the time (very lengthy and tedious process) to file your documentation if you cannot make a committment to them for longer than a year.

Unless of course you mean you are going to stay for 2 months and in that time, look for work. Then I say GREAT! That\\\'ll be much more productive. Let me know and I can help you further.

Again, if you are staying only 2 months and want legal work, think about doing cross-cultural volunteering with a program from the states (check [!-- BBCode u2 Start --][A HREF=\"http://www.counciltravel.com\" TARGET=\"_blank\"]Council Travel[/A][!-- BBCode u2 End --] ) They have some great short-term work abroad programs but the last time I checked, none were in SPain. That was a year ago. They may be able to refer you to someone else too.

Good Luck!

Tracy

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[jer]

Hi Matt, I totally agree with Tracy. Whoever is going to make you an offer of a legal work position here is making an investment in you so to speak. They are going to want a serious commitment.

Saludos,
jer...

madrid nut, webweaver of [!-- BBCode u2 Start --][A HREF=\"http://www.multimadrid.com\" TARGET=\"_blank\"]www.multimadrid.com[/A][!-- BBCode u2 End --] and keeper of the [!-- BBCode u2 Start --][A HREF=\"http://www.multimadrid.com\" TARGET=\"_blank\"]plazacam[/A][!-- BBCode u2 End --].

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[PR4552]

Matt,

What most people fail to realize is that in order to be taken seriously in the TEFL, you must have all of your ducks in a row.

Present yourself in such a way that the company feels that they need you and not the other way around.  Be serious and let the potential employer know that you are serious about what you do.

When I go on my interview in June, I will have a marketing package which will consist of my CV, articles published and seminars presented.  This will help people take notice of me and distinguish me from other potential candidates.

Good luck in your job search.

Shawn

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[jer]

Hey Matt, I forgot to tell you that I am also a Spanish Major and I did my master in Madrid through the Middlebury College Spanish school, our cases are very sililiar. I now work freelance and at home in the web design filed and am doing really well (knock wood) so it depends on what kind of \\\"computer professional\\\" you are.

You are going to be at a disadvantage if you take only legal work, you may have to take what comes your way to pay the bills, I did at first.

I am self tought in this web stuff but always have a good amount of cients (knock wood again) although I spend most of my time working on my website at [!-- BBCode u2 Start --][A HREF=\"http://www.multimadrid.com\" TARGET=\"_blank\"]multimadrid.com[/A][!-- BBCode u2 End --]

SRedw is right, the better you present yourself the more likely they are to take you seriously. And agian, heed Tracy\\\'s warning above, 2 months is not a commitment. When I came over it was initialy going to be for a year to try to make m y way teaching English and translating but I hated doing both so I picked up web and graphic design and made it my goal to live from that, which is what I do today.

Saludos,
jer...

hola all, for the ultimate virtual madrid site check out [!-- BBCode u2 Start --][A HREF=\"http://www.multimadrid.com\" TARGET=\"_blank\"]www.multimadrid.com[/A][!-- BBCode u2 End --] - videos, photos, screensavers, real streams, message board, chat and the 2 LIVE PLAZA MAYOR W****AMS!

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[Molly]

Hi Shawn are you still here?  Can you give us an update on how things went, if you are surviving here, etc.? New to site so just read your post   - Molly    [addsig]

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[PR4552]

Hi Molly,



I am still in the states.  I am moving to Madrid in June without any job or any place to stay.  I am doing it by faith.  I have had some interviews and sent out some CVs and that\'s all that I can do.  I am finding that many people in Spain aren\'t long term thinkers when it comes to teachers.  They are only concerned about teachers who are there now in the sense that they have positions filled.  Many academies worry about finding teachers when a shortage comes up.



I will knock on doors and look professional while leaving CVs and I know that all will work out with me.  I have planned and what\'s the worst that can happen, I have to return to VA after spending six months in the place that I love.  That\'s it.



I am saving all that I can with this pathetic paying job that I have.  I am putting my faith in the Creator that he has something planned for me.  I am doing my part by putting certain things in place.



That\'s it for me, but if you have more questions, feel free to Email me at



[!-- BBcode auto-mailto start --][a href=\"mailto:sredwood@jsr.vccs.edu\"]sredwood@jsr.vccs.edu[/a][!-- BBCode auto-mailto end --]



Have a blessed day,



Shawn[addsig]

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[sisterfox100]

hi shawn,

i am but a new kid on the block so you should probably disregard everything i say.  however, in these truly abject times where everyone´s a pundit, here´s my 2 cents worth.  



june is a bit of an awkward time to arrive according to those in the know.  the academic year is winding down then and schools won´t be thinking of hiring until september.  if you´re coming early to get set-up and lay some groundwork then kudos, otherwise...



in my humble and pitiful experience, you can may a have multimedia cv package designed by a leading public relations firm that includes an introduction and endorsement by a former head of state - it won´t carry much water.  the chaps and lassies from the UK, who may have a cv written in pencil on toliet paper, will be carrying something far more important:  a passport that brings with it trouble-free legal status and pain-free contracts for employers.  ay, there´s the rub...



don´t let that put you off.  there´s plenty of work for we not-so-legal folks to mop up.  and it´s about as close to the edge i´ve lived.  whoo-hoo

sisterf[addsig]

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[PR4552]

Sisterf,



Nothing that anyone says will put me off from going to Spain.  June is perfect timing for me, for I am not only looking to teach English.  I am looking at all avenues that will put money in my pocket.  If that means that I have to clean floors and toilets, so be it.



I am resourceful and have many tricks up my sleeve that only I know about and that give me the advantage over many people.  I am not too concerned about people that already have EU passports.  That doesn\'t make them more qualified that I am, just easier to deal with when it comes to the work visa.



I choose to focus on what I can do and what I have going for me, rather than entertaining the notion of what others are doing and what they have.  



Shawn[addsig]

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[sisterfox100]

go get ´em tiger.   have you ever entertained the notion of becoming a professional motivator?  big market there, no doubt.[addsig]

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