Working In Spain Without Speaking Spanish
You’ve landed a gig in Spain, but “¡Hola!” is the peak of your Spanish vocabulary.
Fear not, ambitious expat, Dive into the world of work in Spain, even if your Spanish is more “Dora the Explorer” than “Don Quixote.”
How Realistic Is It To Find English Speaking Jobs In Spain?
Many of the limited occupations that are available in English are centred in large cities. Companies in Spain also seek evidence that you can perform a job that locals are unable to.
As a result, there is fierce rivalry for these positions. But what if you were bilingual in Spanish as well as other languages? This will not only increase your attractiveness but also greatly increase your employment options in any place.
Plenty of job advertisements in English may be found on websites like LinkedIn or Indeed. The phrase “good Spanish and English language abilities required” can frequently be found when you carefully study the requirements.
To legally work in Spain, EU citizens just need to obtain an NIE (Number de Identidad de Extranjero, or Foreigner’s Identity Number).
On the other hand, you require a work visa if you are from a non-EU nation. A job contract with a Spanish employer is required for this, along with additional paperwork.
A work permit must be requested by your company, and if the government approves it—which will also contain your residence permit—you can then submit an application for a work visa.
This is crucial since individuals from outside the EU cannot lawfully work in Spain without a visa.
Work visas come in a variety of varieties. Among the most typical ones are:
- Seasonal
- Au Pair
- EU Long-Term
- Blue Card
You should be aware that if you are in Spain on a student visa and are from a non-EU nation, you are only permitted to work up to 20 hours a week.
Who Has The Highest Possibility Of Finding An English Speaking Job In Spain With Speaking Spanish?
Language Teacher
Working as a language instructor is one of the most common possibilities if you don’t know Spanish. The most popular is English, but French and German teachers are also in great demand.
The competition for these positions is fierce, particularly if you wish to teach English. Hence, if you want to increase your employment prospects, we advise earning a teaching certificate.
Freelancer
Nowadays, working as a freelancer is more and more frequent. Individuals want to be able to set their own hours and work from any location. The nicest aspect is that you can work for yourself no matter what your skills are.
The choices are endless, ranging from product manager positions to web development to design.
Even though it may be difficult to get clients at first, you can combine freelancing with a more secure job until your clients start paying you on a more consistent basis.
Hence, becoming a freelancer can be a great alternative for you if you appreciate the notion of having a flexible career.
Customer Service
One of the top careers for non-Spanish speakers in Spain is working in customer service.
Many worldwide firms are continuously looking for customer service positions in a variety of languages in major cities like Madrid, Barcelona, or Valencia.
This is a fascinating career option for you if you enjoy conversing with customers and speak a variety of languages.
Copywriter
Working as a copywriter or editor is an excellent choice if you enjoy writing. There are countless blogs and online publications that hire freelance copywriters to create material for their readers.
In addition to having writing abilities, having knowledge of SEO and a portfolio you can utilise to show off your work and land your initial clients both help.
Writing about your adventures or experiences that people can relate to is one of the finest methods to build a portfolio if you’re new to the copywriting industry.
Other jobs also include tour guides, au-pairs, club promoters and more.
Tips To Help You Find An English Speaking Job In Spain
Look For jobs In The Right Place
Make sure your LinkedIn profile is strong. Great organisations often list their job openings on LinkedIn, and you may apply directly for those positions.
I frequently receive job offers through LinkedIn as a software engineer.
Monster, StepStone, and Actually are additional websites that might be interesting to check out. To try to exclude all the positions that need you to speak English, you might use the word “English” in your search.
Search For Jobs At Startups Rather Than Big Organisations
Startups are more welcoming and open to new talent from outside the country. They frequently use English as their corporate language since they are more likely to welcome an international team.
Choose Bigger Cities
Working in bigger cities means that you have access to all sorts of odd jobs even if they are not relevant to your career you can still join in for the time being.
Other than that there is a variety of small and big corporations here that offer a lot of jobs that might suit you.
Look For Offers In The Digital Department
Most significant Spanish businesses have a digital division. Your best chance of landing an English–speaking employment is here.
The only language you’ll find job postings in is Spanish. Spanish is the company’s official language. How then did I land a position there? I did, however, join the digital division.
The digital division employs a variety of foreign nationals who do not speak Spanish. We all performed various tasks.
Product owners, agile practitioners, UX designers, user acceptability testers, software engineers, and business analysts were a few of the most well-liked ones.
Adapt Your Cover Letter And CV To Spanish Standards
The likelihood is that a Spaniard will review your application even though you are seeking for an English-speaking position.
For Spaniards to adore your CV, it’s crucial that you contain the following information:
- a picture
- birth date
- Zero fluff
- duties and accomplishments
- 2-page maximum
What if you are unable to work in Spain as an English speaker? You will then need to learn some Spanish, my friend.
Businesses typically demand that expats have a B2 language proficiency in order to take part in meetings and work in a non-customer-facing capacity.
Steps To Take After You Find An English Speaking Job In Spain
Congratulations to you if you have found an English speaking job here in Spain. You have checked off one of the most important steps if you are moving to Spain.
Bureaucratic Visits
You will need to register yourself as a resident so that you can get your tax ID issued for work. The next place is the immigration office which will give you the work permit.
Oddly, the majority of government employees won’t speak English with newcomers, and all forms are only available in Spanish.
Sign Up To Services Available In English
- Online bank account: We highly recommend N26. For more details, see our review of the N26. It is a German bank that operates in Spain, targeted at expats. Their signup process is speedy, and everything is in English.
- Health insurance: All residents in Spain need to have health insurance. In fact, you are required to provide proof of Spanish health insurance for your visa appointment.
- One of the most significant types of insurance you can have in Spain is personal liability insurance. 83% of Spaniards have it, demonstrating how seriously they take it.
- Dog liability and health insurance are options to think about if you intend to bring your four-legged buddy to Spain.
- Other insurance: Check out our section on insurance in Spain if you’re looking for coverage for your car, bicycle, or home’s belongings.
Sign Up To Other Important Services
Even if some fundamental services, including banking and insurance, are offered in English, some remain more conventional and may only be accessed by signing up in Spain.
But don’t be concerned. We conducted thorough research to identify the top service providers for you, allowing you to quickly determine which one best meets your needs.
Conculsion
Navigating the Spanish job market without fluent Spanish might sound like dancing flamenco in flip-flops.
Yet, with the right mindset and strategies, you can twirl your way to success. So, lace up your dancing shoes (or work boots) and embrace the rhythm of Spain’s diverse work culture.
“Bon voyage!”
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