Job Discussion Forums

[asian sensation]

I was offered a job paying around 1050 euros a month for 15 hrs a week. I would have to register as an autonomo (freelancer) which cost around 220 euros a month. Would it be feasible to pick up enough privates to subsidize my income. I am not looking to stay in Madrid ( or spain) for long term, just a year or so. Is this worth it. Thank you in advance.

[SirKirby]

I've got my doubts... Apart from anything else, unless your private classes are in-company, and the company requires you to bill them, most private work is paid under the table anyway -- so there's no need to be autonomo (not that the government would accept that). If they are in-company, then -- obviously -- you can charge a lot more.

Can you pick up enough private classes to make it worth it? How many you pick up depends to a large extent on how many good contacts you have -- and it can take time to build them up.

You're not going to be here for long... ? I've got my doubts, as I say...

[asian sensation]

Thanks for the information, the job is in company and is offer 16 euros an hour and about 15 hrs a week but requires me to be an autonomo. I was getting dissuaded from the offer as I read through the forums.

[SirKirby]

Yes, but what you really want is to find MORE work, in another company, which you can then ALSO work for as an autonomo. Then it's probably worthwhile (though that sort of class can be hard to find without contacts).

If you're supplementing your income with private classes with private individuals (also requiring contacts), then it's probably unnecessary to be autonomo.

Note also that many people don't want the hassle (or the expense of being autonomo). As a result, if you are, then YOU can pick up other in-company jobs other people can't, as some firms will ONLY employ you if you are autonomo.

But I still think you want TWO in-company jobs to make it worth while, given that the first isn't paying you that much.

[tabbicat]

As an autonomo you should not be earning less that 20� an hour. If they only pay 16� and are asking you to become autonomo, forget it. I'm assuming this work is via a school or middleman; if with the company direct it should pay at least 30�/hr. By the way, is it 16�/hr before or after tax?

[Moore]

Also, depending on your level of Spanish, being an autonomo also opens up the possibility of billing for translation work, which, though utterly boring, is decent extra cash. Also, some autonomos can get lucky and get employed directly by the company they start off teaching via an academy, but this does require a lot of discretion!

Don't forget that depending on how much you pay every month as an autonomo your sick benefit varies: I recently managed to break both my cycling and found that my (230-ish) monthly contribution entitled me to a glorious 200� a month baja (sick leave) so taking time off was not an option: luckily being a business class teacher with a walking distance commute I have been ok to work, but other types of teaching with longer metro-type commutes would have been a serious financial problem.


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