Smart Job Searching In Spain: Part Two.

Open-Mind
In the previous edition of ALIS we looked at the current state of the job market in Spain and explored ways of finding employment, whether you are planning to relocate or already here. As a result of such a huge response and multitude of questions from our readers, we have chosen to revisit this subject in more detail, focusing on work ethics and employment law. As mentioned previously, the most important thing to remember when searching for employment in Spain is to maintain an open mind, and be prepared to apply for things that you may not have considered in the past. The Spanish employment sector is very different to that in other European countries, and features mainly temporary or part time contracts, a lower salary and working hours which fit nicely either side of the mandatory siesta as opposed to the nine to five shift which you may have been accustomed to in your previous position.

Hours of Work
The average full time working week is just over 40 hours, which is often spread from 09:00 to as late as 20:00, with a long lunch break between 14:00 and 16:00 in between. Spaniards rarely ever strike a blow before having a strong cup of coffee and chat, and lunchtime means exactly that- there is no such thing as a working lunch or snacking at your computer here, as everyone downs tools and shuts the doors, taking the opportunity to relax and socialize with colleagues. Those who live close to their place of work will usually go home for their family meal and a snooze at this time of day before returning for the afternoon shift. This disjointed working day can be very difficult to get used to, and many Brits are not keen, preferring to get it all over and done with and finish for the day at a reasonable hour. However, this is Spain, and this is how things are done here, so unless you are fortunate enough to find a job with a modern, forward thinking company which does not respect the siesta, then you will have to learn to adapt to it! Alternatively, if you really cannot cope with Spanish employment practice, you might consider starting your own business or becoming self-employed, enabling you to plan your own work schedule. Again, it is worth considering that certain types of small business which might have been successful in the UK, may not do so well in Spain, so make sure you do plenty of market research before investing any money into your project.

Working Relationships
Most companies will still have some form of hierarchical structure, with decisions being taken at the top then relayed down to the workforce. However, in smaller companies in particular you may find that there is more discussion involved, with everybody from the Management staff to the cleaners being invited to have their say. In fact, you will probably notice a higher level of internal communication overall, rather than exchanges being limited to only employees of the same department as is often the case in the UK. This is further reflection of the Spanish culture, where there is always time for a chat with your friend, business colleague or neighbour. For this reason you should expect people who you work with to take the time to get to know you when you first meet, weighing up your personal qualities and trying to establish a degree of trust. Contrary to other European work ethics, as a general rule individualism is emphasized over teamwork, whilst modesty is more appreciated than assertiveness in employees.

Wages
In relation to salaries in Spain, do not expect to make a million, as even if you do land a really good job, your pay will not be on a par with that of the same position in other countries. As the saying goes, people in Spain work to live, rather than live to work, making sufficient money to pay their bills and enjoy a moderate quality of life. Around 2010, when the economic crisis really began to grasp the nation, salaries contracted even more across almost every sector, with the public sector feeling it the most. However, the economy is recently showing positive signs of growth, particularly in the private sector and in e-commerce, tourism, engineering, procurement and construction. Therefore, job searching in any of these sectors could prove more fruitful than in those that are still struggling to recover. Incidentally, during 2016, the “Ministerio de Empleo y Seguridad Social” or “Employment and Social Security Ministry” raised the minimum wage “salario mínimo interprofesional” (SMI) to 655,20€ per month or 21,84€ per day.

Work Permits
Citizens of EU and European Economic Area (EEA – EU plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway) member states and Switzerland can come to Spain and work freely, without the need for a work permit. This regulation currently includes those from Great Britain, but is subject to change at some point during the next two years depending on the outcome of the Brexit negotiations. At present, anyone from outside of the EU/EEA states and Switzerland requires a residence visa along with a valid Spanish work permit before they can undergo any type of paid employment, so one can only imagine that British expats will eventually fall into this category as well, unless alternative arrangements are made for them. British residents who are already working in Spain may be exempt, but these details have yet to be agreed. Either way, you will require a “Número de identidad de extranjero” (NIE) which can be obtained from your nearest National Police Station that has a foreigners department; and will also need to register with the national tax office, “Agencia Tributaria”, once you get a job.

Applying For A Job
Although English is widely spoken in Spain, employers do prefer to converse with their staff in Spanish, or that they have at least a basic understanding of the language. Therefore, one of the most important steps towards getting a job is studying the lingo to some extent, even if that just means sitting at home with a CD and Spanish course book, which is what I did! However, if you do not speak Spanish you may still find opportunities working for a multinational company, or in tourism, real estate, teaching English and other services aimed at expats. If you are uncertain as to whether your qualifications will be recognized in Spain, you can find out by contacting the Ministry for Education, Culture and Sports. This is a particularly important step if you wish to enter professional fields such as Teaching, Law or Medicine. You can also find out whether your profession is regulated in Spain (i.e. requiring specific qualifications for you to be able to practice it here), by checking on the European Commission’s database. Your CV, any professional references which you hold and covering letter should ideally be translated into Spanish, and adapted to the Spanish job market, as this will demonstrate enthusiasm and conscientiousness to the Employer. It is also worth reading up on how to conduct yourself at a job interview with a Spanish company, in order to avoid any cultural mishaps and create the right impression. Finally, it will stand you in good stead if you obtain a Europass prior to relocating, which puts your personal details, qualifications and skills into a standard format. For further information about the benefits of these please consult the website http://europass.cedefop.europa.eu/

Work In Progress
ALIS has complied a few “Office Etiquette” tips that will help you settle into your new job.

·Lunch is not to be skipped or taken at your desk, and anyone who refuses to observe this obligatory break time is more likely to be regarded as anti-social than diligent, even in the eyes of the boss! So put your computer on standby, grab a bocadillo and enjoy some idle chitchat with the rest of the team.
·Coffee breaks are essential, and every non-smoker’s perfect excuse to head to the kitchen for a natter and chance to catch up on any company news or gossip. Plus, if you are talking shop your employer probably won’t see cause to complain about you being away from your desk for any length of time.
·Getting to know your work mates and meeting for a few beers after work is perfectly normal, and not just on a Friday! Social relationships at work are far more important in Spain than they are in the UK, and as you have to spend a large percentage of each day with these people then it makes sense to try to get along.
·Spaniards complain about just about everything in their workplace, and are not shy about telling colleagues, and even employers, about their grievances. It is perfectly acceptable to moan about things which you are unhappy with and generally taken as constructive criticism further up the tree. The longer someone remains with a certain company, the more likely they are to moan about practice and essentially instigate change.
·There is very little emphasis on political correctness in the Spanish workplace, and something which you may wish to report as sexual harassment for example will probably be laughed at if taken to the top. Your best bet in this scenario is just to ignore any comments which you might find offensive, or better still have a few remarks in the bag to hurl back. You will probably be left alone in future.
·Yelling during meetings is not only acceptable, but encouraged in most cases. Therefore if someone yells at you following one of your suggestions take the opportunity to earn some brownie points and yell right back.
·Work does not commence at 09:00 and finish at 17:00. In certain professions it is customary to stay behind until the day’s work is completed even if that means doing several hours of unpaid overtime. You are likely to be frowned upon by co-workers if you decide to down tools and do one half way through a job just because it is officially “home time”. Unfortunately no one pays a blind bit of attention if you arrive on the job early, so promptness is not particularly advantageous.
·Expect meetings to start late and go on long after intended, or necessary. Also, it is quite common for members of staff to drift in randomly, and leave when they feel that they have heard enough. Please note that may even include the person chairing the proceedings!