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The importance of learning Spanish to work in Spain
Learning the lingo will help secure a better paid, more highly-skilled position in Spain
If you’re considering a more permanent move to sunny Spain and are under retirement age, chances are you’re going to need to work. The job market in Spain is complicated, as is the bureaucracy and paperwork that come with being employed, so it’s a huge benefit if you know the lingo.
Given that it’s such a popular destination for English-speaking expats, many newcomers make the mistake of believing that they’ll get by on the native language, easily stepping into a highly paid job if they are skilled and experienced enough.
The reality though is that, at 12.6%, Spain had the highest unemployment rate in the entire European Union as of July this year, and its figures were double the average.
Expats who don’t speak Spanish can usually find work in hospitality, particularly in the more touristy areas along the coast, but these jobs tend to be badly paid and generally peter out in the winter months.
This is why employment experts WorkinSpain recommend that anyone looking for more lucrative work in a skilled profession make an effort to learn Spanish, even if it’s just the basics to begin with.
Key benefits to speaking Spanish for the job market
1. It gives you a competitive edge
Looking for work can be daunting and when you first arrive, it may seem that there are an awful lot of job-seekers for a very limited number of jobs. Speaking Spanish will allow you to cast the net a whole lot wider than the usual, poorly compensated expat reliables like bar work or teaching English, and will open doors for you at reputable national companies where many of your compatriots wouldn’t get a look-in.
2. It takes some of the pain out of paperwork
Quite aside from the laborious and complicated process of securing a visa, depending on where you hail from, once you arrive in Spain the paper pushing fun is just beginning. Anyone living here will have to pay their taxes, negotiate rental agreements or mortgages, sign up with electricity and water companies… These tedious but necessary chores are part and parcel of moving to any new countries, but the bureaucracy in Spain can be a minefield and you may find yourself way in over your head if you don’t speak the language.
3. It helps to build relationships
Spanish is the second most spoken native language in the world, but it’s also true that a large number of Spaniards, particularly the younger generations, speak excellent English too. Having said this, Spanish people are generally friendly and welcoming and always seem genuinely pleased when foreigners at least make an attempt to communicate in their language. Being able to speak to co-workers in their native tongue will help you forge stronger relationships and increase the reach of your professional network.
Language is a fundamental element of any country, and the little linguistic nuances can tell a lot about a nation’s culture, history and general vibe. No only will learning Spanish boost your professional prospects and better equip you in you career, but it will also enrich your journey as you navigate through your new life in Spain.
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Murcia and Alicante company WorkinSpain connects employers and candidates
WorkinSpain was established as a platform to make it easy for employers and jobseekers to connect and find the right fit for them, whether they’re looking for a new job or need the perfect candidate to work in their company.
Founded by Heniam & Associates, WorkinSpain has recognised that there is a definite need to assist employers in finding the perfect employee.
Although WorkinSpain is newly established they have been amazed by the number of enquiries received from both employers and employees. Many employers simply do not have the time to search for the perfect employee and people looking for a job are often overwhelmed the job market… this is where WorkinSpain can help.
For employers
With a wide range of candidates to suit all roles, they can help you find that perfect fit for your business. Depending on your company’s requirements, WorkinSpain can either introduce possible candidates to you or, if required, can also include interviews, reference checks, police checks, employment contracts and work visas via their business partner Heniam & Associates.By sourcing the finest people for the role you need to fill and taking all the stress out of finding the right candidate, WorkinSpain lets you get on with what you do best – running your company.
WorkinSpain listens to all your needs and makes sure they find you exactly what you need for your team. With their wide database of dedicated professionals looking for work, WorkinSpain pride themselves on taking time to match the right candidates with the right jobs.
For candidates
Each day, more and more people are turning to WorkinSpain to help them find their dream job. WorkinSpain works hard every day to search for roles to suit the candidates that walk through their door.
What sets WorkinSpain apart is that if they don’t have a suitable vacancy for you straight away, they will actively source jobs to suit the skills and needs of candidates that approach them. You can rest assured in the knowledge that, once we have your CV, we will continually look to find a role that is suitable for you.
Contact
We are always happy to meet our candidates and our clients. Pop in and see us in our office in La Manga Club to discuss things further.
Contact Spanish News Today: Editorial 966 260 896 /
Office 968 018 268
