newsman

Now I get the nerves, (two weeks before)

I have a job offer (taken it up) about to start in two weeks just outside Madrid (torrejon de ardoz, Madrid).

Does anybody have any idea how to get there without a taxi. I can't find any stations on google maps.

Also what is the best offer currently going on internet (considering my job is for six months only), tv and phone? (or what companies offer these services).

What is the IT working culture in Spain.


Sorry about lots of question as an intro thread... Any other british/english people in/around Madrid?

steviedeluxe

Congratulations, newman ! If your time there is half as good as when I worked there, you'll love it.
I think we have a poster here called Madridboy, who should be able to help you on many parts of your post.
So far as I know you'll be on the main commuter line coming into Madrid from Alcala de Henares. If there's no station there, Coslada will be down the road. I'm sure your work colleagues can tell you the best option. Just a guess (and it depends on the zones)but a monthly travel card will be in the region of 55 Euros (including central Madrid). There have been a lot of extensions of underground lines in recent years, but I don't know if it extends out as far as Torrejon de Ardoz.
Here are some links you may find useful:
http://www.madridinsider.com/

http://aviewofmadrid.blogspot.com/

As for the IT working culture, I think it's very similar to the UK. A lot of IT companies are US multinationals like Accenture, Microsoft , IBM, Sun etc. so things will seem very similar. Except perhaps for the way people pronounce words like "Oracle"..
There are loads of English speakers in Madrid. You may get a surprise at how many Aussies and (especially) Americans you overhear. If you want to meet up socially just pop along to the Irish pubs near Tribunal metro station ( Moores and Triskel) at the weekend.
Best of British to you!

PS let us know if you hear of other vacancies going there!

EDIT: Looks indeed like the main commuter line from Alcala de Henares passes through Torrejon de Ardoz

http://www.ctm-madrid.es/servlet/Red...is&esquema.x=1

paintermujer

Cant help with any of your questions but the very best of luck-youll have the time of your life.

steviedeluxe

Don't think you'll be escaping the snow though! It can get really cold in Madrid in winter (because of the surrounding mountains) so keep your warm clothing with you!

newsman

I got this through http://www.rtc.co.uk/ (if you are interested) but wage for me is a graduate wage (because I am graduate with only 10 months experience).

Thanks for the information, I am feeling much calmer already.. I was thinking today I will miss the snow because I am from Bradford but I not going to miss the rain or wind (and it is windy up here).

Apparently I am here only for six/nine months then i have to move back to UK (thus the hiring of UK people for this position). I really do hope I make a good impression and manage to fit my personality into a good IT working ethic in the company. (and enjoy the sun and everything else while I am here).

newsman

thanks for the info... I feel calmer already...

Now for the next thing I can't live without (internet) and everything will be sorted.

On with learning spanish in a fortnight (and then forgetting it all when I land).

Madridboy

steviedeluxe is right it can be very cold here in winter and you can expect temperatures over 40 in the summer.
As for how to get to work.....this will depend on where you are going to be living, if you can give me a rough idea of where your house will be I'll find you several ways of getting to work.
As for phone & internet just go with Telefonica, technicaly I think it's supposed to be a 12 month contract but if you cancel early what are they going to do, hunt you donw over it? They have some good deals at the moment, free wifi, 6m adsl and free fixed calls for 30+ Euros a month.

agoreira

Crickey, you were only telling us a few weeks ago there were "thousands" of jobs there for "ingleses". Try that link you gave us, only have to put in "inglés" and there are loads of jobs there apparently.
Madridman is another well established site on Madrid.

steviedeluxe

Oh dear, another sneer from Agoreira. Flawed logic to the extreme though. There are 1000s of jobs advertised in the UK on sites such as monster.co.uk or reed.co.uk but it hasn't stopped UK unemployment rising by half a million this year. And no, you're 100% wrong (again) agoreira. I never said that there were "thousands" of jobs there for "ingleses", only that 1000s of jobs there have exposure to the language as one of the requirements. Of course there are lots of jobs that require some knowledge of English in Spain, and of course many of them can be fillled by locals who've learnt the language. But it's an obvious start for anyone from the UK who's trying to find work (but only a start). If you have a specific skill and you're looking for work in Spain it may be an advantage for English-speakers. Even so the best help is actually having a contact in the company that's hiring, which is why I asked for the company name.
I'll continue to post links and advice to anyone who's trying to find work, despite your obvious bitterness.

steviedeluxe

Thanks for the link. The agency looks like it advertises genuine vacancies (unlike some agencies I know) so I'll keep browsing it, although (fingers crossed for the interviews) I should be back in work in the UK this month after 8 months. Once again congratulations on landing your role; I'm sure it will be a great springboard for your career.

agoreira

What you said was,
So you didn't really mean jobs for English people, you meant jobs for Spanish people that can speak English. Your link will be useful for Spanish people, but no good whatsoever for English people. Useful link!

steviedeluxe

Ha-ha You've just proven my point!

newsman

I think I will have to think about that contract (but as I am deprived of internet, I am pretty sure, i will sign a contract soon rather than later).

luckily I have found a house (hopefully no disaster befalling) the street next to my work in Torrejon de Ardoz. So as long as I get there from the airport, i should be able to find my way around madrid. i have i think two days + weekend to explore madrid.

steviedeluxe

If you do a search on this forum, you'll find info on different options to get internet access, for example wifi and/or dongles. If you're currently with BT in the UK you can sign up for BTFon (if you want) and get free Wi-fi coverage during your stay in Spain. I suspect also places like Starbucks and Irish pubs offer wi-fi access. Plus there are always internet cafes - loads of locuterias (telephone cabins) also have internet. So it may not be worth the hassle to get a contract. Up to you obviously, and it'll depend on how long you intend staying in your flat.

http://www.btfon.com/

newsman

what is the cost of living in madrid ?

(food + electricity + water + gas bills) per month....

Three days left before the move... and i am only allowed 20kg (grrr easyjet)

(still undecided about internet.. maybe i will see if i can pick up some wireless network)...