geordielad

hi there. im looking to move over to the costa's pretty soon once ive my accomodation sorted in torremolinos. im viewing a place the end of next week and im hoping to sort some work out. im a bricklayer by trade but can pretty much do anything. does anyone have any idea's or suggestions?? ive been told i'd be better off as a waiter with the tips and wages compared to site work. but anyone that has tasted my brews would disagree!! any help is appreciated folks.

spain

think long and hard about whether it makes sense financially before you come especially if you have a family to support

rent first and have enough money to see you through at least 6-12 months

good luck with the move

Dee_dee

At the risk of sounding sarcastic, if you really want my opinion, then retrain and pretty darn quick. Builders?...ten thousand a penny!! The eastern europeans have that sewn up, and with the ability to work for as little as 3 or 4 euros an hour, being as many of them live a dozen to a 2 bed house so minimal outlay for them towards the cost of living, they can afford to work for so little.

Rosemary

Spanish builders are being laid off so the market for newbies is low I would have thought. Sorry not to be more positive for you but it is very difficult for people to find work here.

Rosemary

Pugsy

Hi. What I gather from the things I've read on here and seen around me in Spain, is that there's not enough work for people in trades like yours and that when there is the wages are terrible. (The word saturated comes to mind.) I have heard that spanish builders are taking work in other countries to make ends meet. In fact a British friend here, who moved out a few years ago and built his family a home, now has to commute back to London for building work and see's his family twice a month if he is lucky. They would prefer to go back as a family, but have been unable to sell the family home that they built in Spain.

spain

this is quite common, not ideal and not part of the dream of living in Spain Im sure but if there is no work here........

geordielad

cheers folks. i thought as much as ive kept up to date as much as i can with things when ive been away. things are pretty tight back in the uk up north and down to midlands. i had to lay old jeeves the butler off last week. poor jeeves has been with the family years!!! ha ha. seriously the eastern lads have the olympic village sewn up. so its either go get myself a basin hair cut, some purple jeans and talk in a foreign accent or go out and buy myself a tea towel and improve my brew making skills then eh???

Dee_dee

lol, I love a sense of humour keep hold of it geordie you'll need it here in Espania at times . Good luck with the move!

geordielad

no worries. keep the advice coming i appreciate it all. im off to whitley bay in the sun to keep my morale high today and i'll catch up with you all later. thanks again everyone every bit of help and advice is appreciated.

rugbymatt

Why don't you look into switching from brick/blockwork to hard landscaping, there seems to be a bit of work in Spain along those lines and its not too much of a stretch to switch from one to the other.

there are few brickies who cant lay a decent patio floor or flagstone path.

Fredbargate

You could always get some practice in by rebuilding Spanish City

geordielad

Thanks for the advice. I thought just about all trowel's could hard landscape, obviuosly not! Its certainly something i do alot of here back in the UK so I'll look into it next week when Im over. Again thanks alot for the advice. Appreciate it.

geordielad

Jesus Spanish City!!!!!! Im good but not that good lol

rugbymatt

I am a soft landscaper looking to moving over in August time, if I have any contacts or bits that may help I will send them to you, don't leave the forum just yet or anything OK.

geordielad

Good man im grateful for that mate. Im more than happy to work/travel all up and down the costa's so any foot in the door so to say would be greatly appreciated. Cheers.