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27 | Focus on Spain
testimonials section of a website is a good place Most businesses split their opening hours into
to start. two distinct blocks, with a 2 to 3 hour break in
Be a Star: If you’re feeling a little more the middle. Dinner is also served later than the
flamboyant, check out the forums on property majority of places in Europe – around 10pm - Taxes in
websites, TV companies will often post which for the revellers of you out there will
advertisements looking for house-hunting influence what time you head out to Spain’s
contributors. nightlife as many clubs don’t even begin to open
Spain are of
Mortgages: You must ensure that if you need a their doors until midnight.
mortgage you have secured approval before you Spaniards are fervent about football – they call
make any offers on a property: otherwise you it 'Deporte Rey' or 'King of Sports.' The country
course as
risk losing your deposit. Banco Halifax Hispania, literally grinds to a halt when an important
provides a range of mortgages and bank match is being played.
accounts designed for people who want to buy a
inevitable
property in Spain. The bank offers an Employment
Agreement in Principle service, offering In February, the British minister for consular
customers the assurance of knowing how much affairs in Spain intimated that expatriate
and
they can borrow before they look for a property. unemployment rates in mainland Spain are
All dealings with its customers can be carried out rising. This is worrying news for existing expats
in English and there is also a UK based, specialist and for anyone contemplating a move. Akin to
unavoidable
customer service team for those customers that the UK, the job market is tough, particularly
wish to sort out their finances before they leave outside the major cities. Coastal areas have
as they are
the UK. The team can be contacted on 0845 600 suffered tremendously owing to the drop in
3603. tourists.
As with all mortgage products, it is important For an expat, landing a job in Spain can also
in the UK
to choose a deal which is right for you, taking seem like finding a needle in a haystack.
into account any fees, rates and conditions. Also, Advertised job vacancies represent about 15
make sure your provider can supply all your percent of the actual employment possibilities, as
forms in English as you should never sign only a very small portion of the jobs available are might want to compare your median hourly rate
anything in a language you are not fully fluent in. publicised through newspaper advertisements, by job, which indicates that Registered Nurses or
It’s certainly not all doom and gloom though. teachers could earn around ?23 per hour,
Culture & Lifestyle There are services and skills that are in demand electricians ?11 per hour and waitresses ?8 per
If you’re a fan of big cities, nothing beats Madrid in Spain including IT, nurses and teachers for hour. It is also possible to research skill sets the
and Barcelona, with their exuberant nightlife, example. Also, the Cabinet has fixed the Spanish deem important and average commute
stunning art and architecture, and mouth Minimum Wage at ?624 (?20.80 per day), which times
watering cuisine. If the quieter life is more your represents an increase of 4% compared to ?600 Self Employment/Freelance – Spanish rules
scene however, Spain has an abundance of in 2008. governing emergency days off are known to be
precious small villages steeped in history, where Here are a few tips and websites to consider: quite inflexible. Being self-employed can allow
you can enjoy the warm and friendly hospitality Learn the language – for anyone who needs a you the freedom to travel back and forth to the
of this country. job to maintain their lifestyle a good grasp of UK at the drop of a hat. There are many
In the rush to start a new life in Spain many Spanish is a must, especially for well paid jobs freelance jobs that can be done on-line – being a
expats can overlook fundamental differences in Have a firm job offer prior to leaving the UK translator for example – as well as lots more
local lifestyle. It may be a cliché but if you want Think outside of the traditional ‘expat job’ box businesses that can be set up and run over the
to settle in Spain, then getting to grips with the – look for services and skills that are in demand Internet. If you’re thinking about starting your
term ‘Manyana’ will go a long way. Be prepared in Spain own business in Spain,
for a much slower lifestyle where things take a Strong networking skills, personal contacts http://www.spainexpat.com/ provides some
little longer to get done than they do in the UK. and persistence are valuable qualities in a useful articles ranging from starting a bar
Daily life can be unsettling at first, but in Spanish job hunt - instead of publicly advertising through to business etiquette.
today’s society where people have become their staffing needs, many Spanish firms fill
increasingly isolated from their neighbours it is vacancies through direct personal references or Conclusion
refreshing to find that Spain is still very internal promotion. This "hidden market," The prospect of moving to Spain may seem
community-minded: every single city, town and making up 85 percent of actual employment daunting, but can be highly rewarding given
village, no matter how small, has its own special positions, can therefore make it very difficult for proper research and planning. Being realistic is
day of celebration – a fiesta - when most foreigners to access also crucial in today’s climate. Accepting that you
residents will take to the streets and socialise with Gain a TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign may incur some unanticipated uphill struggles is
their neighbours, each one a unique mix of Language) qualification. English language part and parcel of changing cultures. Taking
spectacle, music, dance, parade, drama, food, teachers are in huge demand in Spain, where professional advice on as many topics as possible
fireworks and costumes. Almost all fiestas mark learning English has become a national obsession as well as talking to those who already live, or
dates in the Catholic Church calendar, and are in the last decade have lived, in Spain will give you the greatest
closely connected with religious beliefs. Www.Payscale.com is a useful resource, chance of success.
Bullfighting is a contentious and emotive particularly for forward planning. So comparing There are a vast number of expat blogs,
subject but it is still a part of mainstream the median salary per City, you can discover that website and forums out there, where you can
Spanish culture. Not every Spaniard is an you are more likely to earn a higher salary find a wealth of on-the-ground information that
enthusiast and you need never see a bullfight working in Madrid (?36,699) than Alicante will ensure that you come as close as possible to
while living in Spain if you choose not to. (?22,364) or Malaga (?19,726). Or perhaps you ensuring that the reality lives up to the ideal.
November 2009 Investment International www.investmentinternational.com
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