Hi everyone,

I am new to this forum and was wondering if anyone could help me or give me any advise. I am thinking on moving to Javea in Spain. I am well travelled and have worked in many countries but more in east Asia. I have never visited or been to Spain though.

I am looking for work within the catering and hospitality sector. I have managed a bistro in the south of the UK for the last 4 years as well as been a chef before that. I am not looking for a lot of money... More just some of that stuff we lack so much of in the UK called sun as well as a new challenge. I was wondering due to the state of the economy how hard it was to get work?

Unfortunately I don't speak Spanish but am very keen to learn the language. I'm gathering, rightly so, that this would effect my chances of getting work?

Also I gather you need to apply for a NIE number before gaining work. Is this a lengthy process? I have heard a lot of stories in regards to any process in general taking a long time? It can't be any worse then the UK!

Any advise would be greatly appreciated.

Many thanks.

Johnathan W.

Hi and a warm welcome to the Spanish forum on BE. I am the Concierge for the Spanish section and thought that you might find it helpful to know that the moderators for the Spanish forums are Fred James and Bevs, moderators are there to ensure that the site runs smoothly within the rules of BE.

Problems and complaints should always be addressed to a moderator who will look into the matter and deal with it efficiently and fairly. Our members who post in the Spain Forums are usually friendly and helpful with a wealth of knowledge of the issues of living in Spain. I hope that you enjoy your time participating in the forums.

Please let me know if you need any further help.

Rosemary

Hi Rosemary,

Many thanks for the welcome, advise and useful running of such websites.

Best Regards,

Johnathan W.

Taking your post apart and looking at one aspect I am very curious as to why Spain when you have never been here and also how did you decide on Javea? I am not surprised by your choice of town just being nosey really.

Rosemary

Work will be a problem, the industry you are looking at has a huge number of people wanting to work in it, so a vast number of the jobs are 'cash in hand' which means you will not qualify for any of the Spanish benefits, like healthcare, unemployment etc as you need to have a contracted job where the employer pays to the state. Also many of the jobs pay just about subsistance levels, less than €5 an hour is not unusual, which means that you would find it extremely difficult to pay rent etc. A lot of the Spanish will still be living with family, which is the only reason they can afford to live on such wages. Job security in these cases is pretty much nil, restaurants and cafes etc open and close within weeks, or they find another mug to buy the lease. Spain is a great place to live if you have money, or are earning your wages working on-line remotely. You really do have to have a niche skill and, preferably, speak fluent Spanish, to get a good job.

Hi Rosemary,

I already have friends working and living in Spain who kind of pulled me into the move with lots of stories and picture that I see. One of them is in Javea. All though I get a lot of advise from them I always like to get more information from impartial sources (such as these websites) as friends love to embellish their situations. Also I love new challenges and I've never been there.

Haha I never think of questions as nosey; more an inquisitive mind.

Best Regards,

Johnathan W.

Many thanks for the reply,

Yeah I did gather that! As when the economy went down over there I got a lot of applicants applying to me from Spanish people over here. Our trade is usually over run but I was hoping like the building trade in the UK it was recovering and picking up a little.

As for the money I am not really that bothered as this is more for a few years of a different experience and to learn a new language. As long as it could pay for a rented room, food and a bit of spending. Ideally some savings as well but I didn't bank on that as I would probably have to take on a lower position then I'm currently at. In my mere opinion you either pay for tuition or just immerse in a new culture and learn whilst doing. Just hoping I can learn enough Spanish before I go to make an impression.

Again many thanks for your detailed reply and insight as it is much appreciated. I will take all into account.

Best Regards,

Johnathan W.

You are so right about friends embellishing so very sensible to gain an insight from others too. If you do end up in Javea I can recommend a very good member of BE who teaches Spanish there. Javea has every nationality living there so a place with an excellent atmosphere. I have never lived there but I used to visit often and really liked it and think that if I moved from my little town I would probably put Javea at the top of the list of possibilities.

Rosemary

would that be me

yes, Jávea is wonderful, but work might be an issue - although, compared to the rest of the country unemployment is relatively low

that said, there are so many restaurants here, you could eat in a different one every day for a year & not eat in them all, I reckon, so you might be in luck!

(don't suppose you want to buy a restaurant Johnathan81? Friends of mine are selling a lovely one )



Rosemary - you must visit again soon - I still don't drive, so can't get to you

On my list of must try to do this year. Although I do drive I do not drive very far as it makes my shoulder ache.

Rosemary

it would be brilliant to see you again


sorry about your shoulder though

Must be almost six years since I was in Javea, has it changed much?

Rosemary

different owners of different shops etc, lots of improvements to roads & so on in the last 3 years - much cleaner than it was (think dogs )

no building though - so you'd certainly recognise everything

Thank you Lynnxa,

I hoping so but am thinking of coming out for a week or two first to come see if I can secure work then make the move after that Unless I can find something first online then that would reduce much cost. Don't suppose you know of anything going within that trade?

As for buying I would love to but to my knowledge with the amount of restaurants plus the highly seasonal trade I would have to work within the lower ranks eg. waiter, chef or ideally management first to get a gist of the market. Which would take at least a years worth of research to make it a viable investment.

I'll keep you in the books for Spanish lesson though

Best Regards,

Johnahthan W.

you'll just have to pound the streets when you get here - you hear of a job one day & it's gone the next!


Jávea isn't that seasonal really - none of the bars or restaurants close down for the winter, they just take on extra staff for the summer

god luck