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looking for work in Spain

 
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Mekyn



Joined: 16 Jan 2009
Posts: 30
Location: Cuernavaca
PostPosted: Sun Jan 18, 2009 5:48 pm    Post subject: looking for work in Spain Reply with quote
Hi I am just finishing up with my masters in TESOL and I am looking to work in Spain. I found a company advertising positions there but they want $25 to put out 200 resumes. They also charge a $40 lifetime membership fee. I have been in contact with them and they say that they should be able to place me in Spain. The company is called TEACHERMEXCONNECT. Does anyone know anything about them? Are they a legitiamate and reputable company? I appreciate any help.
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jonniboy



Joined: 18 Jun 2006
Posts: 751
Location: Panama City, Panama
PostPosted: Sun Jan 18, 2009 6:16 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
I don't know about that company but there are several points that you should bear in mind.

1) In 99% of cases it is impossible for someone without EU citizenship to get a legal job in Spain.

2) In 99% of cases schools in Spain don't give jobs to someone unseen from abroad. There are ample teachers already available on the ground so why should they take a risk giving a job to someone who may not turn up?

3) There are numerous academies in every Spanish city so it's really not necessary to use a CV sending service.

4) The global recession has reduced the number of openings available as companies and government institutions cut back their training budgets.

5) Outside the big cities there will be very few hours available at the moment. September will be the next big hiring period.
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Maria Kirby



Joined: 26 May 2004
Posts: 56
PostPosted: Mon Jan 19, 2009 10:07 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
Quote:
1) In 99% of cases it is impossible for someone without EU citizenship to get a legal job in Spain.


You can if you get a student visa. Other than that, I agree with what jonniboy has said.

There's still demand for teachers in Spain despite the crisis. The worst sector affected is construction, not a sector that requires the majority of its workforce (laborers) to speak English. Other sectors have been hit but there's still quite a lot of work available if you've got a degree and a TEFL Cert. The schools I work for are now insisting that all teachers they hire are certified. If other schools are doing the same now, it effectively lowers chances for the untrained, backpacker teacher to get work.
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spiral78



Joined: 05 Apr 2004
Posts: 11534
Location: On a Short Leash
PostPosted: Mon Jan 19, 2009 1:30 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Third jonniboy's input. Unless you're eligible for student visas, even your MA won't make you legal in Spain, or most of the 'old' EU member countries.

Further, he's correct that it's incredibly rare to actually land a job in Europe from abroad. You generally need to be here, on the ground, with local language skills and a local reputation, to land anything reputable.
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sheikh radlinrol



Joined: 30 Jan 2007
Posts: 1222
Location: Spain
PostPosted: Mon Jan 19, 2009 9:53 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
spiral78 wrote:
Third jonniboy's input. Unless you're eligible for student visas, even your MA won't make you legal in Spain, or most of the 'old' EU member countries.

Further, he's correct that it's incredibly rare to actually land a job in Europe from abroad. You generally need to be here, on the ground, with local language skills and a local reputation, to land anything reputable.

Spiral
I doubt that having a student visa entitles you to work here. One poster seems to think so. What do you think?
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DMcK



Joined: 12 Jun 2008
Posts: 111
Location: Madrid
PostPosted: Mon Jan 19, 2009 11:30 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
I'm not condoning illegal working but in my short time in Madrid I've met numerous workers that are not legally entitled to teach here but are able t make a good amount of money from some decent gigs.
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spiral78



Joined: 05 Apr 2004
Posts: 11534
Location: On a Short Leash
PostPosted: Tue Jan 20, 2009 8:59 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
I didn't want to argue with Maria, and I haven't done the check to find out if student visas actually allow one to work legally in Spain these days.

But, yes, I'm highly doubtful that this is the case.

As to those 'successful' illegal teachers, they're extremely likely to get caught by some border check these days and then it's 10 years out of the EU with the big red stamp in their passports.

It's just no longer the days of carefree illegal work in the EU.
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Phil_b



Joined: 14 Oct 2003
Posts: 239
Location: Back in London
PostPosted: Tue Jan 20, 2009 9:14 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
Quote:
Make photocopies of the documents you present at the Consulate before applying. The Consulate does not return the original documents, nor makes photocopies of your documents. The Consular Administration has authority to evaluate and request additional documents�the submission of which does not guarantee the issuance of a visa�as well as to request a personal interview. On the visa, note the order of dates in Europe: day/month/year. As a general rule, a student visa does not allow the student to work.


http://www.consulate-spain-chicago.com/
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DMcK



Joined: 12 Jun 2008
Posts: 111
Location: Madrid
PostPosted: Tue Jan 20, 2009 11:40 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
spiral78 wrote:
I didn't want to argue with Maria, and I haven't done the check to find out if student visas actually allow one to work legally in Spain these days.

But, yes, I'm highly doubtful that this is the case.

As to those 'successful' illegal teachers, they're extremely likely to get caught by some border check these days and then it's 10 years out of the EU with the big red stamp in their passports.

It's just no longer the days of carefree illegal work in the EU.


As I say, I don't condone illegal working so I'm not looking to get into an argument about this but, from what I can see, it doesn't seem to make too much difference and I disagree they are extremely likely to be caught by border control. I've met teachers who have already been teaching for a few years in Spain without the required status; they haven't encountered any problems and I know at least one of them that works with a pretty well known company.
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Maria Kirby



Joined: 26 May 2004
Posts: 56
PostPosted: Tue Jan 20, 2009 2:50 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote