Job Discussion Forums

[vanwest3]

Does anyone know what the current job market for American citizens is like in Spain's major cities? I know that most of the jobs available are to be found in the country, not online; so how are things looking on the ground? Is freelancing still an option for non EU passport holding citizens?

I a recently graduated from a California State University with a double BA in Linguistics and German, as well as a TESOL certificate. My cumulative GPA was 3.4. I also studied at the University of Heidelberg, and I am a fluent speaker of German and intermediate speaker of Spanish. I have one year of teaching experience as a university level academic English writing coach, and I am interested in finding work as an English teacher in August.

From the posts I have seen in this forum, my linguistic and academic background seem pretty good. I'll be backpacking in Europe from June to August, so I'm sure I'll be able see what it's like myself.

[Glenlivet]

Your qualification seem impeccable, unfortunately your nationality is less so. You will have extreme problems trying to get work in Spain without an EU passport. Even countries which traditionally welcome non EU citizens like Poland and Czech Republic are clamping down on non EU applicants. There are a huge number of threads on these boards on this topic - suggest you search around a bit. Also, be aware that you have 90 days in the Schengen zone on a tourist visa. If you found a school willing to sponsor you, you would have to start the visa process pretty soon after arriving in Europe, not at the end of your 3 months backpacking.

[spiral78]

I don't want to be rude or negative, but I suspect the possibility of a troll here...

if this is genuine, please forgive, but the OP does demonstrate a pretty comprehensive lack of knowledge about Europe and visiting/working there - it's unusual to be starting so very much from the beginning...

Glenlivet's provided the best advice - read some of the current threads about the job market and regs for non-EU citizens. He's also usefully summarized the current situation.

[vanwest3]

[spiral78]

No, no - I'm not slamming your qualifications - sorry!

But the situation for non-EU citizens working in Spain (and in most of western Europe) is very different than you seem to think, I'm afraid.

I'll recap the info you can find on many threads on this and other European forums briefly:

Important Point 1)
In January 2009, new laws went into effect that essentially limit the stay of a non-EU member citizen to 90 days inside the Schengen zone. This includes:

Austria Belgium Czech Republic Denmark Estonia Finland France Germany Greece Hungary Iceland Italy Latvia Lithuania Luxembourg Malta Netherlands Norway Poland Portugal Slovakia Slovenia Spain Sweden

After you have been here for 90 days, you must EXIT THE ZONE AND STAY OUT FOR 90 DAYS.

Important Point 2) Non-EU member citizens are not generally eligible in most cases for work visas in most of the 'old' EU member countries.

Spain's notable exception is people there on student visas. If you'll read through a few recent threads, you'll find the pros and cons of this approach. Germany is a bit more open, though the economy doesn't support much these days.

This is why you do not find lots of job adverts offering to sponsor visas for non-EU member citizen teachers - it's very difficult in most western European countries to get visas, and the job market is heavily in favor of job providers this year - there are lots of qualified UK teachers on the ground, and schools just don't need to jump through any legal hoops to get North Americans in legally.

Important Point 3) Most jobs in Western Europe are not found from abroad. Employers generally want to see you standing in front of them, CV in hand, looking professional and responsible before they will give you a hearing.

Important Point 4) I will bump up current threads that will be relevant to you on Spain and General Europe forums.

I promise, this isn't just my personal take on the situation.

I'm a US citizen who has been living and working in Europe for 12+ years now. I'm actually based in a country where US citizens technically have near-zero chance of getting legal work permits (Netherlands). But I have the great luck to have had local contacts, and specialist qualifications. No - it's not impossible to land jobs in Western Europe as a non-EU citizen - but it's NOT COMMON OR EASY....

I don't think this is necessarily fair, but it's honestly the reality here on the ground.

[spiral78]

I have bumped up three posts for you, and can I also please refer you again to Glenlivet's answer to you on this one?

[vanwest3]

Thanks for the post recaps.

I am actually waiting on a reply from the Spanish government, in terms of a "cultural assistant" grant I applied for. My goal was to travel around for 90 days, then start working in Spain legally. If that falls through, still want to try my luck in Europe.

I'm leaving for Barcelona on June 16th and I'll be traveling through Ireland, Germany, Norway, Holland and Luxembourg. I'm staying with friends and family in all of these countries, so hopefully I might get a heads up on anything available.

If it doesn't work out, at least I got to see a nice chunk of the world.

[spiral78]

Yeah - if you can find a way in through a grant or something, that's sometimes a legal option.

Back in 2001 when I lived there, US citizens could still get work permits for Luxembourg, and there is a bit of work there. You might check this out while you're there.

Ditto Belgium so far as possible work permits (though this may have changed) but there is very little work around and pay is abysmal. This is current news - I am interviewing candidates for an opening we have here from Belgium just now, and they are desperate to relocate -

Holland - very little chance for a US citizen, unless a university wants you for your specialist quals - and yours are not as yet quite specialised enough, I don't think. Again, I'm interviewing at this time...
Our single one-day ad generated near 100 CVs, many from holders of MAs in the field with vast experience....

truly not the best time to be job hunting in general!

But check out the US Embassy website for Luxembourg - unless they've tightened up, I expect this might be your most viable legal option.

Remember you'll need to file for legal papers (meaning you must first land a job contract) within 90 days after you arrive in the zone...

It will be interesting to hear what you find when you're here. Come back and let us know!!

[spiral78]

Sorry for the multiple posts - I'm a bit tired and not thinking as clearly as I'd like.

I should point out that US citizens CAN still get legal work permits in most of the 'new' EU member countries. Czech Rep, Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, etc. are all viable options. It's a hassle, but do-able. There's work around, though it's generally just enough pay to live and enjoy - but not to save up or pay off debts back home. But that's true of newbie level ESL work throughout Europe in general.

[vanwest3]

I have been researching a little bit about the new EU Eastern states, as they are an attractive option to me. If worse comes to worse, I might apply for a job on a military base in Germany. There seems to be plenty of those available right now.

Czech republic, Slovenia, Poland and Croatia are sort of my 'last resort' preferences if it doesn't work out in Germany or Spain.

Holland would be great because I have family there and speak a little bit of Dutch, but knowing how expensive it is and reading about the lack of chances for BA holding Yankees sort of knocks that one out.

[spiral78]

Yeah, unless you get those Dutch relative to adopt you, you're most likely not in the ballpark for jobs in Holland:)

The military posts are good if you can get them. I'd grab that if possible.

[Glenlivet]