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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 their 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. Not only will learning Spanish boost your professional prospects and better equip you in your career, but it will also enrich your journey as you navigate through your new life in Spain.
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