Job Discussion Forums

[BritishEnglish]

Hi
I'm relocating to Madrid in January on the 15th aand although things seem pretty easy for finding a job can anyone give me any advice on how to go about finding accomodation as I don't want to spend too long dishing out cash in hostels etc. Are there any websites anybody could recommend or places to go on my arrival? My Spanish is basic at best but would prefer a house share with Spaniards as want to boost my lingo but willing to take anything....decent. Anybody know where to start?
Cheers
BE

[Moore]

It's been said before, but this website... http://madrid.loquo.com/english/cat/302 ...is easily the best for finding a room/flat.

[BritishEnglish]

Cheers for the response Moore, You are the fountain of knowledge aren't you. Just a quick few questions I hope you can answer or point me in the right direction of answer.
I've looked at the website you recommended and looks as though 350 400 euros is the go. WHat can I expect for that? Will I be living in a box room? I'm looking for a shared apartment preferably with Spaniards as I really want to get decent at Spanish. Also I have got an Interview with IH and was wondering if you knew much about them? Also regarding your website the offers that come from schools will it usually be the offer of a few hours here or there or a full/part time contract offers?
Cheers
Not long til I get there! A month and a bit
Thanks
BE

[Moore]

Accommodation-wise it all depends on luck, but for 350-400 you can expect a reasonably sized room in a shared flat, relatively central. You will get a room with a bed and wardrobe etc., access to a shared kitchen and living room (some don't do living rooms: don't accept this), bills will cost you around 30 euros a month depending on how many people are there and how much they use the heating/air-conditioning, internet will be extra.

In terms of I.H., I really don't know anything about them, but internationally they have a good reputation and it won't do your TEFL c.v. any harm, if that's important to you.

What hours schools offer you depends largely on what they have available (sorry to state the blindingly obvious!): it's just a case of casting your net as wide as you can to see what's out there. With a bit of very polite and gentle probing when a company calls you, you can often find out what sort of money they are paying, how far away the classes will be, and how many hours they have on offer, and so save yourself a bit of legwork visiting schools, but in the end you will have to set aside at least a week to run around meeting people and getting the feel of their organisations.

Be wary of "full time" contracts here: find out exactly what people expect from you (people can end up working for 10 euros an hour all over the place): don't forget, there are almost no companies that will pay you over summer here, they often offer you 9-month contracts, which are really not that much use, except you get paid over Christmas, but since you're arriving after that anyway, that won't really help you. You will almost inevitably end up either doing summer camp here or going to the UK to teach over August, and quite possibly July too, so my advice to you would be to work by the hour for as much as you can get, get in as many hours as you possibly can until summer, and fill in any gaps you can with private classes.

Hope this helps, Moore

[BritishEnglish]

Cheers for the answers again Moore. In actual fact got an offer of a place using your website. Just a quick query what is Central in Madrid? What kind of metro stations should I look for. I have an offer of an apartment near Cruz del Rayo. Is that good?
Cheers
BE

[Moore]

Don't know the area of Cruz del Rayo in particular, but it's not too far from the business district (Santiago Bernabeu). It's not desperately near the centre of Madrid but not a million miles away: you'd pay about 8 or 9 euros to get a taxi home at night, on foot it would be about an hour's walk. It's on a bit of an awkward metro stop in terms of going to the centre, but that's not the end of the world.
To be honest though, I'd quite recommend staying in a hostel just for a week or so when you arrive: that way you can have a look around and check out the areas, rooms and the people you will be living with before you commit.

[BritishEnglish]

Thanks again yeah it was looking a little awkward on the train lines. Also it is just a short term deal. Til the end of February. However was thinking of the hostel for a while. Meet some peeps get some ideas. Also as well as the usual cost 400 euros or there abouts is there usually a deposit as well?

[Moore]

Usually flats have a one or two month deposit.

Just avoid any who ask for an "aval bancario" like the plague: this is basically ring-fencing 6 to 12 month's rent that you provide that you can't touch in a bank account as a huge deposit- really not worth it for foreigners.

[BritishEnglish]

Seein as the jobs do seem to dry up over the summer is it common to have shorter rent periods. If work is going to be thin on the ground I was going to return to the UK for the summer. I am planning on returning in October to study my DELTA course for 2 months. Are you tired into a minimum contract or just subject to a notice period?

[Moore]

It all depends on how long the other flatmates have been there: if they are students, then they are likely to have a contract running until July, but for workers it could be any time of the year. If you sign a new contract it's almost always for twelve months. As far as I know, a standard contract will ask you to send a letter saying you intend to leave by registered post two months before you leave.

The problem is, if the flat has a shared rent which is always payable, you'll be leaving your new flatmates with a big headache if you leave before the contract's up, as in summer it's virtually impossible to find someone (nice and normal) to replace yourself, so they'll risk ending up paying for your empty room.

[Nicky_McG]

With regards to work, it is easy to find a job in Madrid and you can work as much as you like. I worked for IH for 2 months but I quit because they have a stupid standby system where they pay you to be available for 3 hours and pay you for one. This is OK but when you work the 3 hours you still only get paid for one. If you�re coming in January the chances are they�ll give you pretty bad standby shifts that you may end up working a lot (i.e Friday night, Saturday morning and week mornings 8-9). This is General English by the way (but In Company should be avoided if they�re sending you all over Madrid on the roasting hot metro). You will probably have to work Saturday�s too (with no extra day off so a 6 day week) and consequently your Spanish may suffer as youy don�t have much time to use it. If learning Spanish is your main goal then work less and earn less money (I found the 1200 from IH was more than enough and I could get by on 2 or 3 hundred less easily).If not then IH are reasonably good to work for (though don�t sign on at the dole office like they got me to do because they get money from the government for employing you and you�re committign fraud)

Hope this helps.