Job Discussion Forums

[plato986]

I'm an american, but I can get over to spain legally and plan to get my CELTA certification in Barcelona. I'll graduate mid may, and probably leave the US early June 2010, do my 4 week course which will put be right near the ''September'' sweet spot everyone here talks about.

Now, having said all that...and being a charming american, with an undergrad degree, and CELTA certificate, in the midst of September, in country, looking professional, with resume in hand...

There are jobs out there, no?

I don't see many on the job board, but I also understand that's a small fraction of what is out there.

Any Barcelonaians care to chime in?

[spiral78]

Reputable schools don't usually advertise from abroad, so the lack of offers on the internet doesn't indicate that there are few jobs available. It's just that employers want to see you standing in front of them, looking professional and responsible, before they'll take you seriously at all.

The market is in favor of employers - no need to take the risks of recruiting from abroad.

You should be able to find something

[strictly_nicky]

Well, I have the impression that things here aren't what they used to be...I think there are a lot fewer opportunities available to teachers without work permit etc. than there were, say, five years ago.

Seems like 90% of the jobs ads I'm seeing now specify that they're looking for someone with papers.

I think the reason is that with the economic situation a lot of training budgets have kind of dried up and there's less company hours to go around for the teachers who are here. So, teachers who maybe would have moved from one academy to another looking for their ideal job are now a bit wary and are staying put, hence the decrease in new job openings.

But as Kevin Garnett said Anything is possiblllllleeeee....

[plato986]

Since I've last posted this, the Spainsh economy has gone waaaaay downhill.

I'm talking like 20% unemployment rate. But I'm sure you all know this...


So consider this a bump, and an update. Asking the same question really...

Thanks!

[kathym]

Hello,

I am also looking into working in Spain for a short time. Does anyone know how obtaining a visa without a job works in Spain for Americans?

Thanks,
Kathy.

[spiral78]

It doesn't work, Kathy.
Legal options for non-EU citizens in Spain are extremely few.
Possible student visas...

You mention 'short time' - you get a 90 day limit in the Schengen zone (google the zone for a list of member countries) -why not just plan to visit for 90 days? You might also happen to pick up a bit of under-the-table teaching while you're there, but expect serious competition from well-qualified, legal British teachers, who will not be happy that you are poaching on their territory at a time when jobs are getting thinner and thinnner on the ground.

There are many threads about just this issue on the forum. I will bump some up for you.

[kathym]