Spain
Job market
What are my chances of getting a job?
Finding graduate work in Spain is currently very difficult as unemployment is extremely high. In April 2010 it passed 20% giving the country the highest unemployment rate in the euro zone. You will be competing in a large market of Spanish graduates. Foreign graduates may find it easier to secure work in Spain’s consulting, industry and computer science sectors. These sectors are undergoing a huge process of globalisation, with Banco Santander being one example, and offer opportunities to graduates fluent in Spanish and English.
- Typical problems encountered: language requirements (see below); getting access to the ‘hidden job market’; the amount of experience required for graduate roles (usually two-three years); and legal restrictions for non-EU graduates.
- How to improve your chances: make as many contacts as possible. Do not underestimate the importance of networking. Enquiries to companies who work in your field are one way to make contacts. If you are looking for a professional level job, remember that it is a competitive market so your experience and skills must be impressive.
- Language requirements: if you do not have a working knowledge of Spanish (Castilian), job options are extremely limited except in areas such as tourism and teaching English. Multinational companies may sometimes offer jobs where Spanish is not essential and work for non-Spanish speakers is sometimes available within the ex-pat community. If you are seeking work in the Catalan, Basque, Galician or Valencian regions, you may be expected to speak the local language (all these languages are officially recognised by the Spanish government). Spanish courses are available from BBC Languages. Courses may also be offered by your university or local language institutes, and your local library may have Spanish learning resources. The Instituto Cervantes Leeds, Instituto Cervantes Manchester and Instituto Cervantes Londres offers courses in Spanish and cultural events. For courses in Spain, see Diplomas of Spanish as a Foreign Language (DELE). Or you could learn Spanish while doing work experience in Spain.
Where can I work?
- Major industries: retail/wholesale, manufacturing (especially chemicals, metals, food, motor vehicles), construction, real estate, transport, tourism.
- Recent growth areas: service sector, hotels and restaraunts, IT and hi-tech industries.
- Industries in decline: construction, real estate, agriculture.
- Shortage occupations: skilled trades, mechanics, restaurant/hotel staff, sales representatives.
- Major companies: Santander, Telefónica, Repsol YPF, BBVA, Endesa, ACS, Cepsa, Iberdrola, Ferrovial, FCC, Mapfre.
- Search for more companies: Kompass, Spanish Chamber of Commerce in Great Britain, Paginas Amarillas (Spanish Yellow Pages) and Global 500.
- Major cities: Madrid (capital), Barcelona, Valencia, Seville, Bilbao.
What’s it like working in Spain?
- Average working hours: average full-time hours are just over 40 hours per week. The working day varies between organisations, but is commonly 9am until 6 or 7pm with a long lunch break. Shift work is common.
- Holidays: usually one month per year plus various national holidays.
- Average graduate starting salary: Spain has some of the lowest graduate salaries in Europe with starting salaries at around €19,000 a year. Salaries vary widely depending on the subject of your degree, with technical graduates doing far better than social scientists, for example. Female graduates tend to earn significantly less than their male counterparts.
- Tax rates: the income tax rate is 15.66% - 27.13% depending on your level of earnings. If you intend to work in Spain, you should register with the national tax office Agencia Tributaria on your arrival. Non-residents are taxed on any income earned in Spain, but if you work in Spain for over 183 days, you will be classed as a resident for tax purposes and will be asked to declare all your income for that year.
- Working practices and customs: business dress and etiquette in Spain are usually quite formal, though you should take a lead from other staff members. For business purposes, a handshake is the accepted greeting, whilst amongst friends and family kissing on the cheeks is common. Use the ‘usted’ form of you when speaking formally and refer to males as Señor (Mr) and females as Señora (Mrs/Ma'am).
Applying for jobs
How do I apply for a job?
You can secure a job before travelling to Spain by using vacancy websites, recruitment agencies and existing contacts. However, to gain access to the hidden job market (jobs that are not openly advertised), you may have to travel to Spain, and in any case an employer will probably want to meet you in person before offering a job.
The usual method of applying for jobs in Spain is by CV and covering letter, although application forms are also used. Applications should always be written in Spanish unless otherwise requested and should be concise and professional in style. Many jobs are also found by personal recommendation or by speculative enquiries by phone or letter.
What kind of CV do I need?
The style of the CV is similar to the formats in the UK. The CV should always start with your personal details, but the order of other sections can be changed to give appropriate emphasis.
A concise personal objective section can also be included at the start of the CV and a scanned photograph is usually included on the top right hand corner. Referees’ details are only required if the employer specifically asks for them.
When sending your CV, always include a covering letter (carta de presentacion).
For further guidance and examples of Spanish-style CVs (in Spanish), visit:
At the UK National Europass Centre (UK NEC) website, you can prepare an online CV suitable for use in European countries.
What will the interview process be like?
Interviews are generally quite formal in Spain and follow a similar structure to the UK. It is polite to shake hands with your interviewer(s) both on entering and on leaving the interview. Be prepared for questions about your personal life. Make sure you have researched the company and that you have examples ready to demonstrate your skills and ability to do the job.
For interview tips and examples of frequent interview questions (in Spanish), visit:
Will my qualifications be recognised?
To compare UK qualifications with their Spanish equivalents, go to ENIC-NARIC.
Do I still need to pay UK tax and National Insurance?
If you are planning to live and work in Spain check your UK tax and National Insurance position with HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) to ensure that you are not losing any UK pension rights.
Vacancy sources
Job websites
The following websites are in English:
The following websites are in Spanish:
General
Graduate jobs
Academic and teaching jobs
Jobs in IT
Recruitment agencies
Recruitment agencies in Spain mainly deal with temporary work opportunities and are called Empresas de Trabajo Temporal (ETT). A searchable database of recruitment agencies is available at Empresas de Trabajo Temporal (ETTs), or use the Paginas Amarillas (Spanish Yellow Pages). The professional associations for recruitment agencies in Spain are the Asociación Estatal de Trabajo Temporal (AETT) and the Asociación de Grandes Empresas de Trabajo Temporal (AGETT).
You can post your professional CV at CV Explorer to be looked at by Spanish headhunters and recruitment agencies.
Newspapers
- Costa Blanca News - English language weekly, small employment section for mainly temporary work.
- EL Gazette - teaching English.
- El Pais classifieds - national newspaper, jobs section searchable by region and you can upload your CV.
- La Razon classifieds - national newspaper vacancy site with details of courses and employment advice.
- La Vanguardia classifieds - the vacancy website for Barcelona-based newspaper La Vanguardia.
- Sur in English - English language weekly for southern Spain, good for jobs in the expatriate community and short-term opportunities.
- Search for newspapers in Spain at Kidon Media-Link.
Other sources
Hidden vacancies
Many vacancies are found by using contacts and networking. Contact any friends and family you have in Spain and tell them you are looking for work. Personal recommendations are extremely important.
Speculative applications to companies can be effective - use the resources listed under job market. You should always contact the manager of the company or department you would like to work for. Direct phone enquiries are not uncommon but make sure that your Spanish is up to it! Alternatively you can send a speculative letter or, if it is a smaller company, take your CV in person. For examples of speculative letters, visit Quiero un buen trabajo. Always follow up a letter with a phone call or email.
Work experience
Work placements and internships
Two main types of work experience are available in Spain:
- work experience available to undergraduate students during their studies (practicas);
- work experience or trainee contracts for recent graduates.
Details of work experience opportunities in Spain are available from:
You can try applying for a work placement with a British company in Spain. For contact details, see vacancy sources.
A number of placement schemes include language courses:
Exchange programmes
If you are on a undergraduate or postgraduate course in the UK you may be able to study abroad or do a work placement as part of the Erasmus scheme. Consult your university Erasmus coordinator for further details.
Teaching schemes
If you are thinking of Teaching English in Spain, try to get a TEFL qualification. Being a native English speaker may not be enough to secure a job. Training organisations with links in Spain such as Oxford TEFL, or you could find a TEFL programme in Spain such as TtMadrid. Teach Abroad is a useful resource for finding TEFL courses and teaching opportunities.
The Spanish Embassy UK produces a TEFL handout and may be able to provide you with a list of approved language teaching centres. You can search the Paginas Amarillas (Spanish Yellow Pages) for 'Academias de Idiomas'.
Volunteering
For volunteering opportunities in Spain, try:
Casual work
The use of temping agencies (ETTs) is widespread in Spain. They employ people to fill positions in different companies. These opportunities give you a chance to get valuable wok experience, show companies what you can do and establish good contacts, provide you with references or even lead to an offer of full-time employment. For a list of ETTs, go to vacancy sources.
Gap year
For gap year opportunities, visit:
Postgraduate study
Featured course providers
How does the higher education system work?
Full details of the higher education system in Spain are available from the Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación
The higher education system was reformed in 2007 to fall in line with the Bologna Process and the rest of the European Union (EU).
Undergraduate degrees (grados) may take three years (diploma) or five years (licenciatura). They are based both on theory and practice and a dissertation is required as part of the assessment.
The majority of Spanish universities are public, though some are private or religiously funded.
Courses are mostly taught in Spanish, though some may use other official regional languages (e.g. Catalan, Basque). A small number of Masters programmes are taught in English.
What courses are available?
Options are largely similar to the UK with a choice of Masters courses or Doctorates.
- Masters (Máster): You need an approved first degree. The programme of study usually takes one to two years (60-120 credits) and may be research based or professional training. Assessment includes a dissertation and oral presentation.
- Doctorate (Doctorado): You need an approved first degree or equivalent (a minimum of 240 European credits or equivalent). A doctorate takes at least two years of research and you must complete a thesis and defend it in a viva. The approved thesis is published online in the database of theses on the Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación
Where can I study?
A full list of universities is available from the Ministero de Education and you can find university rankings at Webometrics.
You can find Masters courses at Buscador Colon
, where you can search by the language of instruction, including English. For information on MBA programmes, visit Todo MBA.
There is an annual postgraduate study fair for Spanish universities. See Feria Internacional de Estudios de Postgrado.
What are the entry requirements for postgraduate study?
Students from European Union educational systems are applying for postgraduate studies in Spain will face entry requirements equivalent to those in their own educational system.
Contact the UK National Recognition Information Centre (NARIC) to find out how qualifications will be recognised in Spain.
When do I apply?
You should check with individual institutions. Courses usually start in September or October, but some begin in December.
How do I apply?
All the applications are made direct to individual universities, either in person, by registered post, or sometimes online.
Application forms and procedures vary. For some postgraduate courses, you only need to provide your personal details, a CV and a certificate of your previous studies.
How much will it cost?
The average cost is €3,000-€9,000 per year, but some specialist courses cost as much as €60,000.
Are any scholarships available?
You may secure EU funding from the European Commission. Official scholarships are available from the Agencia Espanola de Cooperacion Internacional para el Desarrollo (AECID)
(website in Spanish).
Are there any exchange programmes?
Visit the European Commission's education and training pages for details of the range of European study programmes available to EU nationals. These include the Erasmus and Erasmus Mundus (advanced integrated courses by at least three universities from different European countries) exchange programmes.
Will my qualification be recognised in the UK?
As part of the Bologna Process, a Spanish postgraduate course is directly comparable to the UK equivalent. Full details on comparing international qualifications are available from the UK National Recognition Information Centre (NARIC)
Visa and immigration
Do I need a visa or work permit?
If you an EU national, you will not require a visa or work permit, but if you intend to stay in Spain for more than three months, you must apply for a residence certificate (see below).
If you are from a non-EU country, you may need a visa and/or work permit.
How do I apply for a visa?
If you are an EU national, you will not need a visa.
If you are from a non-EU country, please check with your nearest Spanish embassy about regulations for entry to and working in Spain. You can find contact details for the Spanish embassy in the country where you are at Embassies Worldwide.
How do I apply for permanent residency?
You must apply for a residence certificate if you intend to stay in Spain for more than three months. You must register in person by bringing your passport to the Foreigners Office or designated police station in the province you intend to live. You will then be given a certificate of registration including an NIE number (foreigner ID number). A full list of designated offices is available from the Ministerio del Interior (go to Información sobre Trámites).
Help and advice abroad
Public employment services
Contact details of EURES Careers Advisers, listed by region and language spoken, as well as information on looking for work in Spain and job vacancies, are available from EURES - European Job Mobility Portal. You can also post your CV online and you can contact a EURES adviser for personal advice.
The Spanish employment agency is called Red Trabaja. You can find details of local employment offices, as well as search for jobs, at Sistema Nacional de Empleo.
Higher education careers support
University careers services are less common than in the UK and usually provide services only to students and graduates of their own university. However, it may still be a good idea to check with the local universities if you move to Spain, as they may have resources you can use. A list of Spanish universities is available from the Ministero de Education.
Help in an emergency
The British Embassy Spain can provide various kinds of help for UK citizens in an emergency. The website lists the kinds of help available and tells you what to do if, for example, you are a victim of crime, need a doctor, or lose your passport.
The Emergency Services telephone number is 112.
Country overview
Geography
- Full country name: Kingdom of Spain
- Population: approximately 45,500,000
- Border countries: Portugal to the west and, France to the north-east. Spanish territory also includes the Balearic Islands in the Mediterranean, and the Canary Islands in the Atlantic.
- Climate: the northern Atlantic coast has mild summers, relatively cold winters and large amounts of rainfall. Inland areas have a continental climate, and the Mediterranean coastal areas to the east and south are hotter in both summer and winter.
- Terrain: mainland Spain is generally made up of plateaus but has large mountainous regions such as Sierra Nevada and the Pyrenees.
- Natural hazards: droughts are common.
Living in Spain
- Cost of living: the cost of living is slightly lower than in the UK, though the gap is narrowing, and the average wage is considerably lower. Housing costs and utility bills are particularly high. The cost of eating and drinking out is relatively low, except in tourist areas.
- Utilities: water shortages are common in Southern Spain and restrictions on usage are sometimes imposed. Gas supply may not be mains fed, and you may have to purchase and use a canister, even in larger cities.
- Internet domain: .es (or .cat in Catalonia)
- Health: Spain has a national health service with relatively high standard of health care, though the system is decentralised and standards vary. For details of how to access health care in Spain, go to NHS: Healthcare abroad and follow the country by country guide. You should obtain a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) before you go. No vaccinations are required.
- Laws and customs: under-18s are considered minors in Spain. Smoking is banned in public places and it is illegal to drink alcohol in the street in Madrid, the Balearic Islands and the Canary Islands. Drug possession is a serious criminal offence. If asked to identify yourself by the police, you are required to show your passport or identity card. Gay rights have improved drastically in recent years; gay marriage is recognised in law and same sex couples are allowed to adopt children.
Economy and finance
- Currency: Euro €
- Type of economy: Western capitalist
- Health of economy: In 2008, Spain entered the recession and has suffered the highest unemployment in the euro zone. In April 2010, the country’s credit rating was downgraded by one credit rating agency who predicted that the country’s longer than expected period of low growth would make it hard for the government to cut their budget deficit. Spain's Socialist government (PSOE) has promised to cut its budget deficit from 11.2 percent of GDP to the EU limit of 3 percent by 2013. Extreme measures will be necessary, including a rise in VAT and a freeze on civil servants' pay.
- Unemployment rate: 20%
- Main exports: machinery, motor vehicles, food, mineral fuels and oils, consumer goods.
Culture
- People: 90% of the population are Spanish. Ethnic minority groups include: Moroccans, Romanians, Ecuadorians and Colombians. There are substantial ex-pat communities, notably British.
- Major religion: Christianity (Roman Catholicism)
- History: Spain has a rich and diverse cultural history. Part of the Roman Empire, it was later largely conquered and ruled by the Moors for over 700 years, both empires leaving an indelible mark on the architecture and culture. Spain was a leading European power in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, with colonies in Southern, Central and Northern America and territories throughout Europe. In the twentieth century, the country was torn apart by the Civil War (1936-1939), fought between socialist republicans and nationalists. After the nationalist victory, General Franco ruled the country as dictator for over 35 years until his death in 1975, following which democracy was restored. For an outline of Spanish history, see BBC Timeline: Spain.
- Local etiquette: it is usual to pay for drinks as you leave a café or bar, not when you order. The main meal of the day is usually lunch, which may include several courses and be interspersed with hearty conversation. Food and drink are an important part of the Spanish lifestyle and a meal is often a time to spend with family and friends. Family, friends and new acquaintances are greeted with a kiss on each cheek, starting on your left. Generally, men greet women this way, but not other men. Spanish people are normally quite direct in their speech and it is common for them to interrupt each other if they have something to say.
Politics
- Type of government: parliamentary democracy
- Major political parties: PSOE (Partido Socialista ), PP (Partido Popular)
Travel advice
Travel advice and a general checklist for travellers are available from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO).
Contacts and resources
Jobs and work
Study
Embassies
Government websites
News
Reference
AGCAS
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