Job Discussion Forums

[misslou]

A friend and I were also sucked into the bogus Lecel Int'l School Madrid, and now we feel as though we've been left high and dry with regards to jobs.

We're both EU nationals, coming from Canada and trying to find jobs, at the very least, in the same city. This would be our first time teaching, we both have Bachelor's degrees and TESL certificates.

Does anybody have any advice? Ideally, I'd like to leave around mid-October.

[bejarano]

My advice is to go to Korea and build some funds up to the tune of
about 15,000 dollars (US) then come to Spain with money.

Even though you are an EU citizen, you are not going to be eligible
for unemployment benefits while looking for work - unless it's changed
you need 2 years of paying into the system before you are eligible
for unemployment benefit.

If you have already got 15,000 dollars then thats going to pave your way into getting work. Work won't be a problem, set up costs are though and eats into money at an alarming rate.

Don't come sliding on your backside into Europe because it will end in tears.

[Moore]

There is a lot of work in Madrid right now, and October is by far and away the best possible time. The job offers will not be as good as the Lecel thing, but you can expect 1500 euros a month if you put in the hours (though holidays are generally not included so watch out for that).

Bejarano is right to urge you to bring money, but I'd possibly say a bit less. 2000 euros each "walking around money" will be fine for hostels/flat deposits/expenses at this time of year in Madrid (bear in mind that other cities such as Barcelona and anywhere else have a lot more teachers chasing a lot less jobs so I recommend starting off here).

[SirKirby]

A lot of work is currently available in Barcelona, too -- there are schools here desperate to find teachers. I've been here for 25 years and can't remember ever seeing so many jobs going -- certainly not since the 1980s, which was a huge boom time for language schools.

Note that definitely the best way to find work is to actually be here on the spot -- so you've got to run the risk of coming and then (possibly) not finding work.

[john_n_carolina]

[Moore]

"..isn't Spain starting to require people to pass "basic" level English to become residents?? for e.g., the Northern African immigrants, etc, or the other illegals floating around Spain?" ...that'd be a bit rich coming from a country where the vast majority of its own residents wouldn't pass such a test

[lit46]

I'm finishing my celta in early november and really would like a job in Barcelona. Where should I be looking whilst I'm still doing my CELTA (I'm doing it in England) and how would I go about finding work if I were just to up and go?

[john_n_carolina]

[spiral78]

When I lived in Nederlands, there was a DUTCH test I had to pass to gain citizenship, but not an ENGLISH one. That they would now require an English test as well seems kind of strange to me...

The Czech Rep also has a Czech test for would-be citizens, and are considering making it a requirement for permanent residency as well. Fair enough, I think.

[john_n_carolina]

....hi spiral, ooops....i meant Dutch test then in Spain's case, it would be Spanish.

[SirKirby]

Lit46 says "Where should I be looking whilst I'm still doing my CELTA (I'm doing it in England) and how would I go about finding work if I were just to up and go?"

I'd suggest that you forget looking while you're in the UK, and "just up and go".

See also the recent "Finding work in Barcelona" thread -- where you will find comments on how easy it might be to find work.

Up and go, take a good CV and cover letter, pref. with an A or B on Celta, look presentable and interview well. being prepared to go to a lot of schools if you don't already have contacts here.

"Contacts here" is one of the advantages of taking your CELTA in the country concerned. Take it at a centre in Spain, and they are your contacts -- local language schools will contact the centre, looking for teachers, always assuming the CELTA centre has a good local reputationone