Adam Graham

Finding a Job in Spain

Have you ever considered what life would be like as a teacher living abroad in Spain? 

Undoubtedly, one of the most popular jobs for expats is that of an English teacher. Why? The most basic jobs available only require you to be a native English speaker! Easy!

Unless you have another plan, and/or are fluent in Spanish, becoming an English teacher is a secure way to find work to sustain a living, without necessarily needing to know the lingo. 

If, like me, your ticket to a new country is that of an ESL teacher, you will probably have pondered the following questions: How do you find a job? Am I qualified? What are the conditions like? 

Let me help answer some of those queries from my own personal experience...

Can I work in Spain as a teacher?

Are you a native English speaker? If you answered 'yes', then you've passed the first major challenge. Most academies and schools love to boast about how they have NATIVE English teachers.

Without getting into too much detail, you'll need a NIE number to gain a social security number to be allowed to work in Spain. Once you've been to the police station and gotten it, you can start looking for jobs. 

Do I need any qualifications?

No. The most basic, lower earning jobs do not require any type of degree or certificate. You can go online and find someone who is looking for a native speaker to practice conversation with them. Earnings could range from 5 - 15 euros an hour. Visit www.clasesparticulares.com and you'll see what I mean. 

However, bigger academies and private schools will ask for either a CELTA/TEFL certificate, or a University degree. 

Where can I find work?

The above link is lots of ESL teachers first port of call. A few hours a week going to peoples apartments, meeting for conversations in a bar, or doing online classes are easy to comeby. 

Academies and schools are regularly hiring and will advertise on www.linkedin.com or www.infojobs.es or you can simply go old-school and visit in person with a copy of your CV. 

What's the pay like?

It really depends on where you work and, quite obviously, how many hours you rack up. Most academies pay by the hour, and it will range between 8-12 euros an hour. Don't expect much more. A school is more likely to offer you a contract, but full-time work isn't always the case. Lots of after school clubs need English teachers. So you may need to work in a few different places to earn your desired wage. Earning a good living is very possible!

Other things to consider!

There are aspects to Spanish life/work that are worth noting:

- The cost of living in Spain is quite cheap, so expect a lower income.
- Lunch breaks can be 4 hours, it's not unusual to work until 9 or 10 pm.
- Public schools have an extremely complicated system of hiring, so you're better off looking at private schools, of which there are many. 
- Summer camps are a popular place to find work if the academic year has ended and you're lacking income. 
- 6 month/1 year contracts are cheaper for companies, so there may be a high turnover of staff. Don't expect an automatic extension. 

I hope this helps! Please feel free to ask any questions in the comment section. And if you're are looking for work, buena suerte! (That's good luck in Español)