Tavira-Dream

Good morning

I'm sorry if I seem to be plagueing you all with inane questions and questions you have probably been asked hundreds of times before but my mind is still in overdrive on how/which way would be the best route to get over to Portugual permantly.

So here's the question:

How difficult would it be for hubby to get a job with english speaking builders in the electrical trade? he is a highly skilled industrial electrician here at home for Southern Electric, he hates 'housebashing' as he calls it but if he knew he could get work in the future with a british construction company I'm positive he would consider that....mind you when we were on holiday he was appalled at how the portuguese run their cables all along the outside of the commercial buildings and did say he could never work like that.

Please dont worry if the advice you give seems a tad neg because I NEED to hear all side of the story from the 'babes mouth' so to speak. I have signed up with a few other expat sites but feel a bit too intimidated to participate on those forums yet

Cleri

I can only speak for where I live,Western Algarve near Aljezur.
Hundreds of builders here,all Portuguese or Brazilian,dont know of one english.
A guy who lives near me,moved over about 5 months ago,with wife and 2 kids,fully expecting to be able to find work,he is a plumber.
He cannot find anything at all,and they are probably going to go back to Uk as the money is running out.
One problem is there is so much new construction,and of course you get a builders guarantee,so any plumbing that needs doing,is rectified by the builders.We also have Romanians and Ukranians here that will work for 5 euros per hour,they are into everything,construction ,gardens,pools,tiling etc etc,and of course they all speak Portuguese.
Im sure there must be english building firms somewhere,I know Ive seen one on the expat portugal site,but he builds "up north"
Thats just my experience here,which is a tiny part of Portugal,so dont be disiilusioned!!!!
Cleri

Tavira-Dream

hi cleri, yes, I thought as much but thats no biggy if he doesnt do his trade out there. as you know I may have to come out first for a few years and him follow later by which time the finances should be ok for us not to worry about 'work' as such ....hopefully i'll have a small business up and running anyway....was just trying to gather as many options together as poss

thanks again for all your kind advice

kazzi xx

PS. what's the karma button for

Cleri

If you want to thank somebody for advice,or you totally agree with the post,ie think its making a good point etc you give whoever Karma points,it adds to their reputation and is signalled by the blue line under the name,the longer the line,the more karma they have been given,god that sounds as clear as mud
I would just add,that the successful people who live near me all work for themselves,quite a few make a good living,so its not all doom and gloom
Love Cleri x

Tavira-Dream

thanks for that cleri, have just given you some karma, hope I did it right

Tavira-Dream

oh I see I have a blue square under my name
do you get to know who sends you karma?

gedscottish

I have been using this site for months now and I had no idea what the "Karma" thing was!!

Regarding Tavira's husband..... "I think...so just my opinion"... that his best idea would be to swallow his pride and go house bashing for the expats and for expats resturants, bars etc etc Im sure he could get enough work this way to give him a wage. Anyone who knows anything about the difference between a British spark and a Portuguese one would be delighted to hire the British one!
Im not a spark but I was a electricians mate for the two years before I moved here which has given me some knowledge of the trade and judging by the electricians who are working on our new house im sure your husband has forgot more than they know!! Self employment is the way to go for him here as im sure he would not work for a Portuguese company for around 8 euros per hour?! I would have been glad to hire him for my house if he was already living here! Our electricains are getting sick of me being critical!!
I recently had to change all the wiring in my in-laws kitchen as the last so called electricians wired all the sockets with 1.5mm cable which has already caused two fires(socket for washing machine and other the microwave), just ask your husband whats wrong with using 1.5mm cable for sockets running heavy loads! :scared:

p.s electricians mate being a different name for electrical labourer!!

Cleri

Yep go to My profile (at the top of the page)
and you will see who has sent it,I sent you some so you could see how it works
Thanks for mine

Cleri

I agree Ged
The brits seem more comfortable using their own to do jobs.
TT had to teach me about the karma thing

Tavira-Dream

thanks ged I sent you and cleri some karma but i pasted the link of the thread instead of a little message ....ooops I also sent JDR some and did the same so now I think I must write a little note in the box in future lol what a bozo I am!

Ps. been spending far too much time looking at portugal gallery too, lol our section already has more pics than some of the others that have been there a while!

Nomad_H

What's this a bloody karma party??
I've told you about begging for karma Cleri!!

TD - I'm 6'12 and wear pink underpants with poker dots. Dont suppose that gets me karma eh!!

Cheers

The omnipotent Nomad

Cleri

Dont believe a word of it Tav,he is 3ft 2 and wears goth clothes complete with whip,come to think of it,thats more deserving of karma Ha!

jdr

Pink pants eh..... these ones ?

Nomad_H

No, mine are painted on!!

jdr

looks like hers are too