Help a newbie out please
#1
Just Joined
Thread Starter
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 1
Help a newbie out please
My partner and I are in the early stages of researching a move to Spain. We haven’t settled on an area yet as we would like to see what may be available for us. I work in admin in an office and my partner works as a 360 excavator. We will both be looking to work but have very limited Spanish at the moment but of course we intended to learn the language eventually. So one of my questions is would we be able to find work with limited Spanish knowledge? Also is there work in construction that will be available to my partner as an excavator operator? As stated I work in admin which I feel could be an issue but not being the main bread winner I could always settle into something else that doesn’t require as much language knowledge. Any information would be greatly appreciated as we have no idea where to start with regards to looking for work etc
#2
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 5,588
Re: Help a newbie out please
I suggest searching through the threads on the forum as your question has been asked and answered many times. Coming to Spain hoping to find work to support yourselves will be very difficult made harder if you have little or no Spanish. Sorry to be a pessimist but I am afraid that is the way it is. Spain is starting to make headway since the crunch but very slowly.
#3
Re: Help a newbie out please
My partner and I are in the early stages of researching a move to Spain. We haven’t settled on an area yet as we would like to see what may be available for us. I work in admin in an office and my partner works as a 360 excavator. We will both be looking to work but have very limited Spanish at the moment but of course we intended to learn the language eventually. So one of my questions is would we be able to find work with limited Spanish knowledge? Also is there work in construction that will be available to my partner as an excavator operator? As stated I work in admin which I feel could be an issue but not being the main bread winner I could always settle into something else that doesn’t require as much language knowledge. Any information would be greatly appreciated as we have no idea where to start with regards to looking for work etc
Problems and complaints should always be addressed to a moderator who will look into the matter and deal with it efficiently and fairly. Our members who post in the Spain Forums are usually friendly and helpful with a wealth of knowledge about the issues of living in Spain. I hope that you enjoy your time participating in the forums.
Please let me know if you need any further help.
#4
Re: Help a newbie out please
Sorry to have to tell you that the construction industry still has more operatives than positions for people fluent in Spanish so although it may not be impossible for your partner to find a job it will be extremely difficult.
Without sufficient Spanish it will be very much the same for you. Hate being negative but would not want to give you false hope either. As suggested have a thorough search on the forum and you will gain a good understanding of the work situation here.
Rosemary
Without sufficient Spanish it will be very much the same for you. Hate being negative but would not want to give you false hope either. As suggested have a thorough search on the forum and you will gain a good understanding of the work situation here.
Rosemary
#5
Re: Help a newbie out please
My partner and I are in the early stages of researching a move to Spain. We haven’t settled on an area yet as we would like to see what may be available for us. I work in admin in an office and my partner works as a 360 excavator. We will both be looking to work but have very limited Spanish at the moment but of course we intended to learn the language eventually. So one of my questions is would we be able to find work with limited Spanish knowledge? Also is there work in construction that will be available to my partner as an excavator operator? As stated I work in admin which I feel could be an issue but not being the main bread winner I could always settle into something else that doesn’t require as much language knowledge. Any information would be greatly appreciated as we have no idea where to start with regards to looking for work etc
Do you have your own excavator?
As a rule, finding work here is often a question of knocking on doors, confronting people face to face rather than an impersonal approach on paper.
Best of luck.
#6
Re: Help a newbie out please
Finding work in Spain with little Spanish would have similar opportunities as a Spaniard with little English finding work in your home town.
#7
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Aug 2012
Location: Granada Province
Posts: 549
Re: Help a newbie out please
Is it just the two of you? Is there any way you could afford to live over here for say, 6 months if NEITHER of you worked here? Not being nosey, its relevant to your situation.
#8
Re: Help a newbie out please
My partner and I are in the early stages of researching a move to Spain. We haven’t settled on an area yet as we would like to see what may be available for us. I work in admin in an office and my partner works as a 360 excavator. We will both be looking to work but have very limited Spanish at the moment but of course we intended to learn the language eventually. So one of my questions is would we be able to find work with limited Spanish knowledge? Also is there work in construction that will be available to my partner as an excavator operator? As stated I work in admin which I feel could be an issue but not being the main bread winner I could always settle into something else that doesn’t require as much language knowledge. Any information would be greatly appreciated as we have no idea where to start with regards to looking for work etc
Whatever you decide as others have said it will be tough and there are certain basic requirements - health insurance, a minimum income and so on which must be met if you want to settle.
#9
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 6,148
Re: Help a newbie out please
My partner and I are in the early stages of researching a move to Spain. We haven’t settled on an area yet as we would like to see what may be available for us. I work in admin in an office and my partner works as a 360 excavator. We will both be looking to work but have very limited Spanish at the moment but of course we intended to learn the language eventually. So one of my questions is would we be able to find work with limited Spanish knowledge? Also is there work in construction that will be available to my partner as an excavator operator? As stated I work in admin which I feel could be an issue but not being the main bread winner I could always settle into something else that doesn’t require as much language knowledge. Any information would be greatly appreciated as we have no idea where to start with regards to looking for work etc
It's also a question what you would be giving up back home.
#10
Just Joined
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 17
Re: Help a newbie out please
My partner and I both found admin jobs in Barcelona without hardly any Spanish - but it was *tough*. Get the job before you come or it will be almost impossible (finding apt to let will not happen without work for eg).
I found mine through company called teleperformance, but even though it was English speaking position, the staff almost all spoke spanish to each other anyway (incl Germans, Swedish, Dutch workers) etc. Being the only one in the room not speaking decent level of ES is a pain at the least.
If I had to do it all again, I'd learn Spanish for at least a couple of years before coming to really get a choice of jobs (I recommend Michel Thomas CDs, Duolingo app and this guy https://www.youtube.com/user/gringoespanol).
Manual work like construction is going to be the hardest to find, the Eng speaking jobs are typically those in international workplaces.
English teaching jobs were also tough to get as so many do it.
I used this service to find acc Moving to Barcelona | Living and Working in Barcelona which really saved the day.
I can imagine other parts of Spain are even harder than Barcelona as it's a very international hub
I found mine through company called teleperformance, but even though it was English speaking position, the staff almost all spoke spanish to each other anyway (incl Germans, Swedish, Dutch workers) etc. Being the only one in the room not speaking decent level of ES is a pain at the least.
If I had to do it all again, I'd learn Spanish for at least a couple of years before coming to really get a choice of jobs (I recommend Michel Thomas CDs, Duolingo app and this guy https://www.youtube.com/user/gringoespanol).
Manual work like construction is going to be the hardest to find, the Eng speaking jobs are typically those in international workplaces.
English teaching jobs were also tough to get as so many do it.
I used this service to find acc Moving to Barcelona | Living and Working in Barcelona which really saved the day.
I can imagine other parts of Spain are even harder than Barcelona as it's a very international hub