Tags

, , , , , , , ,

There are a lot of employment opportunities for expatriates in Barcelona, which is a truly international city. There is a lot of competition which means that the interview process can sometimes be long and hard.

Finding work in Barcelona is not so easy if you don’t speak Spanish. Also you can work using the Spanish language throughout Spain, but if you work in Catalonia, people will expect you to understand the basics of their Catalan language.

It is with this in mind that you should go about looking for work in Barcelona with a determination and patience so that will not be defeated by the search. Just don’t assume it is going to be easy because you’re qualified. There are many highly qualified Spanish people working in lower jobs they deserve.

Having said that, it is possible to find work in Barcelona, even with the current credit crunch affecting jobs here too. Here are some tips to start searching a job as an expatriate in Barcelona:

  1. If you are interested in a particular company, do not hesitate to contact them, either by phone, e-mail or in person. With your CV, good qualifications and positive attitude, you might have a chance to find a job this way too. The waiting game can be one of the most difficult parts in applying for a job. On average, companies will get back to you within 2-3 weeks after sending out your CV, depending on how much applications they receive. Many employers appreciate a call to ensure receipt of your CV as it shows that you are really interested in the position.
  2. Do not lose any occasion to network: 80% jobs are got on the basis of relationships and contacts.   Personal contacts, or networking, are the most important route to a job in Spain.  As with many other countries, often vacant positions not being advertised publicly, but are instead filled by people who have contacts within the company. Anyone will tell you, the most efficient way to find a job is through someone you know and the best way to do this is to meet as many people as you can. Take advantage of every possible contact that you have, from friends, colleagues, classmates, neighbors, etc.. Even the most casual acquaintances can sometimes point you towards a potential job lead. Persistence and confidence are vital ingredients to a successful job search.
  3. Ask for advice. The Spanish job centres have a good overview of all available jobs. Inspired by French “Cité des Métiers” in Paris, Porta22 is Barcelona Activa’s employment facility; offer a whole range of services and resources for your career development. A team of experts will help you define your professional strategy. There are daily workshops, seminars and courses to help you increase your professional potential and be more competitive in the market. The  high quality and up-dated  programme is about learning to plan your job hunting process, improving your CV, finding out the keys to a successful interview, developing your skills and getting the latest news and trends about your industry and Job Market.
  4. Browse the Web.  In Spain the Internet is increasing in importance as a medium to look for a job. Infojobs is hugely popular with Spanish employers and it is now the most successful job portal in Spain. Info Empleo is the second most used job website.  Monster is an international job portal. Its Spanish site is not as well-known as it is in other countries, but a strong contender nonetheless. English language magazines (Barcelona Connect, The Metropolitan Magazine), Spanish magazine “El País”,  as well as the websites Loquo,  also have new multilingual vacancies every day.
  5. Apply to Recruiting agencies specialized in International Profiles. They carry out the preliminary interview process for companies. Some recruitment agencies specialize in finding work for multilingual and non-Spanish speaking candidates.  Some of the most known by expat community in Barcelona are:  Approach People, Talent Search People, Catenon Worldwide Executive Search, Michael Page, Page Personnel, IOR Consulting, Randstad, Mapower, Adecco, Kelly Services, Secretary Plus, Unique, Redtalent, Robert Walters.

For more information about Spanish Law and regulation, you can read our article “All About The Money” It covers salaries per job and industry and other Spanish labour resources.

For more advice about  Job Hunting , you can have a look at these articles on our blog: