expat_26

hey,

i'm a young guy looking for chef work in spain. I'm fully qualified and have 5 years experience. looking for something preferably the costa blanca area but i am keeping an open mind about it. i'll be there on my british passport and speak english, unfortunately no spanish just yet.

can anyone advise on anything they might know of?

thanks

Hillybilly

You've picked the toughest time to be looking for work but good luck

Xabiero

To be honest, it's the wrong time of year to look on the Costa Blanca. The summer season begins to wind down in a couple of weeks and restaurants and bars will begin to cut their staffing levels. That said, Benidorm might be a better bet than some of the smaller resorts although jobs are a little bit scarce for everyone at the moment wherever you are. And not speaking any Spanish will put you way down the list I'm afraid. Good luck anyway!

John C

steviedeluxe

Pity you don't speak Spanish. Madrid would be the natural place to seek work - and it'd be busy in winter, especially leading up to December. In fact August would be the one month you didn't work, as a lot of establishments close down at this time. If you do learn the language look out for the hospitality and food courses - it'll make it easier to be accepted for a job even though you already have the experience gained in another country.
One strange thing about Madrid - and it surprised even myself, one of the biggest champions of the city - it's the one place in Spain where tourism actually increased this year:
http://www.usatoday.com/travel/desti...-decline_N.htm

missile

There are many ex pat establishments on the CDS where even the owners do not speak spanish. I have a friend who is a chef, he has been here many years but speaks very little spanish.

However, employment prospects are not too good for any trade and most jobs go by word of mouth. You could look out for ads in the Costa Del Sol News, subscribe here> http://www.costa-news.com/

spain

a chef friend of ours moved to Spain but was unable to find any work in the kitchens, he didnt speak Spanish and ended up labouring and pool cleaning before returning to UK


Not a great time to be going over to find work, sounds negative I know but its tough out there even for the Spanish due to the global "crisis"

good luck though, have a look in the free beer section, there are quite a few recruitment sites so you might just get lucky

missile

If i were looking for work then I would not turn my nose up at anything and pool cleaning can be very lucrative. I know of one guy who charges 90 € per month. He cleans 40 pools twice a week and has to turn away new business, as he works mornings only. You can do the maths

cymruambyth

Restaurant just near us, has to close all day, only open now in the evenings, due to Chef walking out and not being able to get a replacement! Job advert in the Coasta Blanca News

jojojojojojojojojojojojo

I know a few owners that dont speak spanish, but they tend to try to employ people that do to make up for it. So theres usually someone within an establishment that can speak spanish - it is an advantage!

Jo xx

jojojojojojojojojojojojo

This pool cleaning lark is a real con if you ask me, I've just moved to a new house and the pool was green and had broken skimmers, once those were fixed, it took me about an hour a day over the course of a week and about 15€ in "jollop" to get it sparkling clean! My last pool took about half an hour a week to hoover and throw some chlorine tabs in??
I'd take it up as a profession if it wasnt for the fact that so many people I know who were doing it have no work

Jo xx

missile

I totally agree, but my point was no spannish would not prevent him finding work. A chef would have less need to speak spanish than for example a waiter.

I would add, that I do not understand why anyone would live in any foreign country and not make an effort to learn the language.

missile

For sure it is easy, a bit like window cleaning, gardening, car maintenance. Why keep a dog and bark? I have yet to try DIY gynaecology

There are many who do not live in spain all year round and for them a good pool cleaner is well worth the money. Like any other job, competition is fierce, but the pool company I use, seems to be doing very well.

jojojojojojojojojojojojo

I may start doing it professionally, but I've gotta be honest, I dont think they'd be enough work around here to be able to retire on LOL, theres simply too many companies and not enough people who find they cant clean their own, but I may ask around the people I know

Jo xxx

painterhombre

Good luck mate, and many people will warn you though, its very tough, no, i'll rephrase that, MEGA tough to get any work at all in your line of work, but that doesnt mean to say its impossible. I mean, do you have a good reputation? I.e., do lots of people know about your food, could you get a very good reference to prove your good? As much bargaining power as possible may see you by, but i also agree with other posters, you may have to take any work at all, before you find your dream job but thats the same the world over.

Its a tricky time to do what you want to do just now, but best of luck, seriously.

The Pope

Come to Ayamonte... there are a few resturants that can do with a decent chef