Making A Move: How to Navigate the Spanish Job Market as a Foreigner?
Spain is among the most charming nations that pull you in with ubiquitous wine and delicious ham., insane tomato fights, and the “no pasa nada” attitude, which loosely translates to don’t worry about it or nothing happened. If you have visited the country, chances are you wish to relocate there. And you are not alone on this.
To relocate to Spain, you must find a job to survive. Currently, there are 3.3 million expatriates working in Spain, and they take up 20.83% of the job market. In 2021, more than 2.3 million of these expatriates came outside Europe for jobs for English speakers.
While different residence permits and visas will allow you to start living in Spain, the best bet is the work permit. However, the permit is quite hard to get, as the government in Spain tends to favor locals when it comes to looking for a job. Therefore, as a newcomer, you must ensure that the job you are applying for is part of the shortage occupation list. The good thing is that many options are available, so you will not have difficulty finding the perfect fit. This piece explores how you can navigate the job market with ease.
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- Create Your Profile
Expatriates searching for jobs in Spain for foreigners must build their profile. This is because you will be among many people seeking a position, and the competition will be stiff. You will be surrounded by many other candidates from all corners of the world, and they will have brilliant profiles. So, it would help if you pushed hard and crafted a fantastic CV.
You must run the extra mile despite having a university degree and other qualifications. This means you must be proactive and take the initiative to participate in activities that will boost your career. A profile will go a long way in giving you the upper hand, and this is how you can build one:
- Taking online courses
- Becoming a club member or an association
- Read widely to open up your mind
- Take part in sports – Sports achievements will add value to your CV and profile
- Learn Spanish
Finding work in Spain without knowing how to communicate in Spanish is possible. However, you will have fewer options to choose from because few spots require you to know English, and also, those necessitate a minimum of Spanish. Consequently, it would be best to start taking Spanish lessons, even just the basics. Doing so will give you more options and help you navigate the job market and everyday life more easily. You can learn Spanish in many ways: one way is by memorizing as many words as you can, downloading the right apps, reading Spanish, watching Spanish movies and series, holding conversations with Spanish speakers, and enrolling in programs that teach the language.
- Have an Astounding CV
As mentioned before, many job seekers will compete against you when you go job hunting in Spain. As such, your influence is what truly matters. Typically, a recruiter receives numerous job applications and must choose a few out of them. So, you will need an excellent CV to capture their attention.
Make sure that your CV is not generic and leave behind the typical black-and-white design, which tends to be boring. You can settle for a simplistic but sophisticated layout that easily communicates your core competencies and experiences.
There are platforms such as Canva which allow you to create incredible designs. On top of great design, ensure that you define your primary skills and focus on them. However, do not oversell yourself. Also, ensure that you include a motivation letter that needs to be personalized to the company you send it to.
- Apply from Your Country
Since your academic background is excellent and you have crafted a nice CV, you can start seeking jobs in Spain. The caveat is that you begin the job-seeking processing from where you are, preferably in your country of origin. To get a work permit, you will have to search for a job first. After finding an employer who wants to work with you, then you can start the necessary procedure of getting a Spanish residency. All these processes should be done in your home country.
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- Ensure Your Documents are Prepared
As the saying goes, failure to prepare yourself is preparing for failure. So, to ensure that all your plans fall into place, have all the required documents before traveling to Spain. The most basic legal paper you require is the NIE document. The office in charge of immigrants might process the document slowly, taking up to one month to produce the document. So, make sure you correctly fill out the necessary forms and have a copy of your passport to have everything for your next meeting.
- Acquire the Work Permit
After getting an organization that is ready to work with you, you must start acquiring a visa. This applies to those who are outside the EU. From there, you will easily settle in Spain and start working there.
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Closure
It is without a doubt that Spain is a beautiful country offering a lot culturally, socially, and economically. Settling there will be one of the best decisions you can ever make. However, you will need a lot of resilience since the process might be challenging. But it will be worth it since the quality of life there is incomparable. So, if you have been considering relocating, Spain should be on top of your list.