Advice
 

Hi folks, just joined the forum. I’m hoping to be moving out to Spain at the end of Feb/ begining of March 2013 for a year initially and then hopefully will be able to make it permanent, I would be grateful if anyone could give me some advice and point me in the right direction of previous threads as I’m sure everone has asked the same questions hundreds of times. Costa del sol will be my most likely destination but possibly Madrid, obviously I need some advice around jobs and where to search for them, working legally and accomodation etc. I would imagine I will be looking for bar work etc for the first year as my Spanish still needs a good bit of work. There is so much information out there its hard to find genuine info. Any help would be much appreciated.

Thanks

Re: Advice
 

Haven't you heard? the world ends in December 2012.

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I know that may be a dry humoured joke and all that but why would you post that really ?

Probably scared the fella off from asking anymore questions now if he thinks he's going to get replies like that.

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Well, if that's all it takes to scare him off, then the answers might also.

Besides, so far I don't see anyone rushing to help the guy. Probably because this same thing is asked here every week, and the answers are always the same - and it inevitably ends up in a fight between those who tell the truth and those who blame them for being "negative". Perhaps most just want to avoid the argument.

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hi.......

as amideislas has just hinted - & has been said on many threads recently.........

if you have enough savings to keep you going for that year, or however long you're willing to give it before admitting defeat - then by all means come on over - it sounds like you're young, free & single, without dependants - so why not?

you might be one of the lucky few who beat the odds.....which are stacked against you

I read yesterday that unemployment in the UK is falling - it's still climbing here & is at least 3x that of the UK, at +/-25% - getting on for 6 million registered unemployed

also - when you register as resident, (which the Spanish govt. requires after 90 days) you will need to show proof of income & healthcare cover, so you'd need to consider that, too

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That´s a laugh register as resident.............I have been trying and can´t!

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must just be some offices............

one of the 3 we could use from here has stopped doing resident certs completely - too complicated.........


the others are issuing again though, and reading various forums it seems things are pretty much back to normal pretty much everywhere

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Are you being serious?

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Not in my town! Went yesterday and told they were still waiting for information.

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If the OP had followed the economic and political situation in Europe even a little over the past couple of years or so, surely he(?) would be able to go a long way toward answering the question himself.
The economic outlook in Europe is pretty dire and Spain has one of the worst unemployment rates in Europe.
And what's this 'Costa Del Sol' or 'Madrid'? Based upon what criteria? Bar work?
London, for example, is full of young people from around the world, including Greece & Spain, working in its bars. Why does he think this is?
My advice, come for a holiday, then get back to reality, get a proper job or a better education.

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Spot on! It follows the usual patter, jobs are almost impossible to come by, o no they're not, loads of well paid IT, TEFL jobs!

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I asked for advice not for someone to try to make a mug out of me I am fully aware of the situatuion in Spain. I am looking for Costa del Sol or Madrid because its 2 areas I like, when you want to move somewhere you tend to pick between places you like. If you read my question properly you would see I am looking for bar work to begin with as my language isnt up to scratch yet. I am not an idiot I have a good proper job, I am highly educated with a degree in mechanical engineering, I have counselling qualifications and I also have a trade. I want to live in Spain its a dream of mine. Why would you bother even replying to my post if thats your attitude. I have a goal and I will achieve it.

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OK - so the long term aim is to pursue the engineering or counselling here?

in that case you need to get the degree recognised here, which might mean doing extra studies, and contact the organisation you got the counselling quals from to see if they are recognised or transferable - the same with whatever your 'trade' is

honestly though - if you have a good proper job, the best advice anyone can give you is to stay put for now, make a lot of recces to areas you think you might chose to live in, study Spanish & find out about your quals as I said above

then if/when things improve here :fingerscrossed: you'll be well placed to move

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Thank you for your answer, a lot more helpful. :)

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OK Tyzer point taken. Just be realistic. There have been quite a few similar posts recently and it would be worthwhile having a look at them. Be realistic and be honest with yourself. If you are really determined give it a go, you never know you might be posting yourself that you made it. Then again you might not. I would suggest that you go for a holiday and have a look, talk to people, and see for yourself. If you know somebody who could put you up, it would be an advantage, and save you a lot of cash. In any case if you are that determined, then at the very least will you get a holiday out of it.
Pete

Pete

Re: Advice
 

I will say, and always have said, go for it and give it a try. As long as you're not hurting anyone back home, like abandoning people just so that you can escape to the sun.

Unfortunately, a lot of people do just that; this country is full of them, expat escapees running from reality to go on the piss in the sun.

I'm sure you're not one of those, and I don't mean to be offensive, but that is the reality.

The answers to your other questions are under the Search section of this forum, thousands of them.

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What happened to your plans to go to Mallorca in 2009, and Ibiza as a paramedic?

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That plan unfortunatly went out the window as the paramedics recruitment here is frozen due to cuts so there is no training opportunities plus after writing a few letters I was informed that these qualifications wouldn't transfer anyways. I have some info on the training out there, Also I was pretty ill from the end of 2009 and most of 2010/2011, pretty much put all things in life to a hault including moving. Trying to be more realistic now.

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You've got very little chance of getting a UK mechanical engineering degree recognised in Spain. Engineering degrees are 7 years here and known to be one of the hardest degrees. They'd probably say you have to go back to Spanish uni and take the last 4-5 years

As for getting a bar job if you dont speak Spanish. Very unlikely in Madrid. You'd be OK in an English bar on the Costa del sol but not sure why you'd want to. You may as well move to Blackpool

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Don't ask:rofl:

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Tyzer, I wish you all the luck in the world because if you go to Spain you will need any luck you can get. Unemployment is running at 35% on the Costas and 25% in the rest of Spain.

If you can come up with an idea why you will gain employment over the huge unemployed people, then you are away in a hack. But, if you cannot, you're fast on your way to being an unfortunate statistic.

Re: Advice
 

Hi Tyzer, I can understand your frustration with the tone of the replies you have received from some people but this is a thread which is very common and for some of us who have lived in Spain for many years we have seen it all before. Excuse our reactions but despite your obvious enthusiasm to live your dream there are practicalities to be considered. Your qualifications will mean nothing here and everyone and his brother is working a bar so come with some money..enjoy your time and see how things work out. Very often life depends on who you meet and how you behave..you never know till you try. Good luck and let us know how you get on...