Job Discussion Forums

carmo85 · Joined: 15 Nov 2009 Posts: 45 Location: Ireland

I'm a bit worried by that. Surely, I can do something in that week? Money is a factor.Maybe I can stay on.

mozzar · Joined: 16 May 2009 Posts: 339 Location: France

If you arrive Monday, spend that day getting a mobile and sorting out other bits and bops (accommodation, getting your bearings). Tuesday you hand out your CV, Wednesday/Thursday they ask you to come in for an interview on Friday. Friday you go. Then it's the weekend. It could be the next Tuesday they get back to you to offer you hours. Even if the market is good it still takes time for stuff to happen.

What were you plans?

carmo85 · Joined: 15 Nov 2009 Posts: 45 Location: Ireland

Yeah you are 100% right. I'm trying to see if I can find contacts (friends of friends etc) where I can stay maybe and keep the cost down. I might have to couch surf but that sounds lke a good experience too. I am arriving on Thursday the 14th but at 9pm. So I will have Friday for phone and general organisation. I hope to have most of my organisation done before I land so I can hit the search asap. Are the schools not open Saturday? Then I will go home the next Saturday morning. Its 7 full days and 6 work days.If I feel it is the right thing I can always stay a little longer but the issue is my funds.

MisterB · Joined: 11 Nov 2008 Posts: 16

Hey Carmo, I have never taught in Spain, so take whatever I say with a pinch of salt.

Considering your financial situation, the dire job markets in both Spain and Ireland, would you not be better off searching for a job in Asia? A place such as Korea - have your flights and accom paid, low risk, get some actual teaching experience and then maybe go to the middle east, Spain/South America after?

Although Spain would always be my first choice of places to live, I doubt it would be much fun being broke. And with no experience, the market flooded with teachers, and the timeframe you have designed, it mightn't be such a great idea.

How old are you, 23/24? Get money and experience in Asia for a year, then head to Spain/South America and enjoy yourself. Do a year in both, aim to start your masters in 2011/12. You can even use your time in Asia to learn Spanish if thats what you want.

I'm Irish too, quit my job earlier this year when the recession hit and went to Japan. Hopefully will move to Spain in the future, but only when viable. Buena Suerte

SirKirby · Joined: 03 Oct 2007 Posts: 261 Location: Barcelona, Spain

"Madrid is the best place to find a job..." ?????

Can someone actually provide any evidence for that statement? I think that's poor advice, to say the least. I fail to see why somewhere like Barcelona or Valencia might not be an equally good choice. I can't speak personally for Valencia, but the ELT jobs market in Barcelona seems fairly healthy to me.

In fact, however, in the case of the original poster, without a CELTA or Trinity qualification, I'd give serious consideration to NOT going to Madrid, Barcelona or Valencia, but to somewhere smaller and less popular, where they get far fewer candidates vying for jobs.

I can think of lots of schools which will reject you out of hand if you don't have a "proper" qualification -- it's Celta or Trinity, or an MA, or no job; smaller schools in smaller places have to be much less choosey.

mozzar · Joined: 16 May 2009 Posts: 339 Location: France

SirKirby · Joined: 03 Oct 2007 Posts: 261 Location: Barcelona, Spain

Er... actually Barcelona and Valencia are quite big cities too, and you can find work there as well.

That Madrid is the best place to find work remains totally unproven.

mozzar · Joined: 16 May 2009 Posts: 339 Location: France

True, Barcelona and Valencia are big but Madrid is still much bigger. It's almost twice as big as Barcelona and almost four times as big as Valencia. Not only that but I've been told that the emphasis in Barcelona is on the local language Catalan (sp?).

carmo85 · Joined: 15 Nov 2009 Posts: 45 Location: Ireland

So if Madrid is unproven then it is unproven. It's is unproven that I have a chance there aswell, is it not? I will have to just go and see as many schools as possible.If it fails, I come home and go to Estonia or somewhere remote for work.

I appreciate all input but I have heard that I can find work and the opposite, so I just have to find out for myself.

Paul

SirKirby · Joined: 03 Oct 2007 Posts: 261 Location: Barcelona, Spain

carmo85 · Joined: 15 Nov 2009 Posts: 45 Location: Ireland

There's a girl on this forum and she is moving from Barcelona to Madrid because she cannot find any work? Maybe, there's more entry level positions in Madrid?

SirKirby · Joined: 03 Oct 2007 Posts: 261 Location: Barcelona, Spain

Can't answer for Madrid, but there is definitely work to be had in Barcelona -- though now is not the best time to be looking in either city.

Did the person get interviews and get rejected? If so, chances are the same thing will happen elsewhere...

Or did they not get interviewed at all...?

mozzar · Joined: 16 May 2009 Posts: 339 Location: France

I believe they were American but I'm not sure if this is the overriding reason or not.

strictly_nicky · Joined: 14 Apr 2009 Posts: 25

SirKirby · Joined: 03 Oct 2007 Posts: 261 Location: Barcelona, Spain

For someone without an EU passport it has become increasingly difficult to get work at all. Non-EU people used to find work in places that just didn't bother with the papers, but I know of schools that did that but that are now not doing so.

I can't see why it's going to be any easier in such a case to find work in Madrid than it is in Barcelona.