Mel_C

Hi there

I'm looking at moving to Portugal at some point over the next 1-2 years as I'm completely in love with the country. I ventured away from the Algarve for the first time last year and found Tomar and Batalha to be completely adorable.

From the little research I've done, it would seem that property in the Tomar area is cheap enough to buy or rent. What concerns me is the availability of work. My partner is a gardener by trade and I am an office bound account manager with a passion for cooking.

Can anyone tell me what kind of jobs are available and what kind of industries/business sectors there are in this area of the country? Do you think I would be better off venturing further north towards Porto?

We were considering learning trades before moving out there, like plastering, painting, brick laying, tiling etc but I don't know if this is a good idea?

Thanks for any advice you offer.

Melanie

gedscottish

I think like anywhere jobs will be pretty scarce in most area's of business and another thing you would have to consider is would/could work for crap wages,do you speak Portuguese? Self employment has to be the best way to go.... just need the right idea. I think a gardener could get work but perhaps would be better off in the Algarve looking for British clients(though a differnt world from the likes on Tomar) Porto would depend again on if you speak Portuguese or what you were looking to do

Totally forget trades like, brick laying,plastering,painting etc as here 1 man does all(no specialists...if you working in the "obras" your expected to do all)

Its one thing retiring to Portugal and another living & working here! But although I have maybe been slightly negative with this post...its up to you to make it work if you do come...fortunatly for me it has(though my other half is Portuguese so friends/family were eager to help & make it work for me) but it shows...if a malandro like me can do it...there is hope for you!

Ged

omostra06

As has been said above, working for yourself could be the way forward.

what we have a shortage of here in Tomar, that would suit an English speaker.
gardeners, painter and decorators that dont charge an arm and a leg, pool cleaning and villa maintenance people.

someone that can do any of the above could make a living here. we are constantly being asked for english speaking people to do this type of work.

On a different note, if you speak Portuguese we still need more sales people for our Estate Agency

good luck with your plans

gedscottish

Tomar has also been ruined? Sorry, I mean.... Tomar also has many British/English speaking expats?

mshlgw

Certainly nowhere near as many as the Algarve and consequently we don't live in each others pockets!