After 2 years away I finally look forward to returning to Madrid!!! This time with an actual job!!. Sorry for not participating in posts but I promise and look forward to giving my 2 eurocents worth of advice to those looking to come to Madrid.

Mike

Mike,

Congratulations. I look forward to seeing you again. I, too will be returning, with a job in a public school teaching English to little kids. I'm looking forward to that change in my life and doing something different.

Hope the job that you have is everything that you hope for.

Abrazos,

Shawn

Well if your returnign to Madrid you'll be happy to know that house prices are finally coming down but the bad news is rents are going up. Alot! Which is a double whammy becuase house prices are still unafordable (defined to me as a mortgage payment equal to what you'd pay in rent or about 1000 euros a month). Rents on the other hand seemed to have taken a big jump. A year ago an apartment suitable for a familyh 2-3 bedrooms 80+ aq mtrs has gone from 900 to 1200 a month.

rob

Hey, Mike. Congratulations on being able to return to Madrid and with a job. Just curious - how were you able to find a job while living outside of Madrid? And are you an EU person or other? I am hoping to move to Madrid and to find a job (I am a US citizen). Thanks.


Renee77

Mike,

Don't worry about rent prices because you already know your budget and how much you can afford to pay. Just return safely and get ready to live the life that you've always dreamed of.

Shawn

Hi all,

Thanks for your support. I am still familiar with the cost of living and lived fairly well on a student budget 2 years ago. This time, I will have an income So I think I will be able to deal.

Renee,

I am a US citizen and did my MBA in Spain 2 years ago. I returned to the US and have been working for a global company for the past 2 years. I have been offered an open position in Madrid and will transfer over to the Spanish office under a local contract. If you want any more details just send me a message

Mike

Speaking of cost of living did you find Spain to be more expensive than the US. I've talked to a few Americans who've complained that Spain is way more expensive to live than the States. I came from Germany and outside of rents and a few odds and ends it was much cheaper.

Mike,

It seems that we are two examples of leaving Madrid and separating ourselves from the place that we love, to return to a much BETTER situation. I am psyched this time to have a real income too.

Shawn

hey Tim Hortons Man...

quote:

I've talked to a few Americans who've complained that Spain is way more expensive to live than the States.

this is VERY subjective.

i had a client last week who told me madrid was much more expensive than where he was from in the u.s.a.

i asked him where that was.

omaha nebraska!

you CANNOT compare madrid to omaha nebraska

i also had another client say the same thing, he was from a town in west virginia with 20,000 people living in it. not sure why he expected madrid and barcelona (the 2 cities he felt were more expensive) to be less costly than back home. hicks!!!

saludos,
jer...

quote:

I have been offered an open position in Madrid and will transfer over to the Spanish office under a local contract.

Mike,

It's my hope that you don't get trapped into working long hours like most employees working in multinational companies in Spain.

Shawn

Hi guys,

I would agree with Jer that you really must compare like to like when comparing US cities (or for that matter any city) to Madrid or Barcelona. Comparing NYC to Madrid, Madrid was much cheaper. My general 'basket of goods' (consumables like food, clothing, paper goods, etc..) was much cheaper in Madrid than NYC. However, real estate prices did seem incongruently high compared with the cheapness of Madrid's basket of goods. But it's also expensive in NYC..so it was not a shock. That's real estate and subject to a set of other cost affecting factors.

If you are really interested in getting an objective average understanding of how far your money can go in other countries I would suggest you check out the PPI (Purchasing Parity Index). It's a neat publication put out by the UN that shows how far your currency can go in other countries.

I don't mind putting in the long hours. I put them in here and if that's somethign I have to do to live in Spain then I'm all for it. As of today, I have officially been received and offer and accepted it. I am waiting for word from HR on when they begin the work visa application process...

quote:

I don't mind putting in the long hours. I put them in here and if that's somethign I have to do to live in Spain then I'm all for it.

Thanks for bringing me back to the real world, Mike. I forgot that even here in the US, if people in the business world don't put in long hours at the office, they do have to take work home. You have the right attitude by doing what it takes to live out a dream.

Stay positive my brotha.

Shawn

Hi Shawn,

Glad to hear that you're returning to Madrid with a job it sounds like you'll love. I was wondering if you minded sharing your experience looking for and finding a job at a bilingual school. I'm not myself looking for a job, but I know many who are.

Thanks.
Jamie

Hi Jamie,

I actually got the job through the Spanish government. Here is the link.
GRANTS FOR NORTH AMERICAN LANGUAGE AND CULTURE ASSISTANTS IN SPAIN

Check it out.

Suerte,

Shawn

I have to say that the multimadrid site is awesome! I just joined but have stalked the forum for the last few months. I am happy to report that I am moving to Madrid next week, after a 2 year absense from spain. (Acutally, I'm moving as soon as my student visa is approved, its been 6 weeks and they assure me it will be ready on Monday, haha, we'll see) Anyhow, I'll be working on an MBA in Madrid for the next 2 years.

I also wanted to congratulate Fordhammike on the new job, it sounds like an awesome opportunity. Hopefully when I finish my MBA, I'll be able to get a job with a multinational.

Cheers!