What are the possibilities for full time employment around Madrid, anywhere may be acceptable, so long as their are sustainable wages. I am currently well paid in the states, but someone I know there does not want to leave Spain for life here, so late next summer I'll probably be moving over to Madrid, maybe for good, but not without a job already guarunteed. I am only now beginning to learn Spanish. I suppose to get into a better teaching position for English, English Lit., Is my Spanish grammar Qualifications going to require very extensive knowledge of Castillian language? I know it would of course be beneficial, but do not know how I could devote that kind of time to the extra training, is simply a comprehensive knowledge of communication skills probably good enough to to find decent employment? What IS the average wage scales for Americans there? Other forms of employment are acceptable. Also, where do I find out about taxes for someone seeking dual citizenship? Spanish Embassy, or is there a government site with such info. available, any help appreciated.

Hey LJ...

quote:

"...but someone I know there does not want to leave Spain for life here."

... sanity prevails!

Anyone will tell you that I am the first person who would be willing and ready to give the old "throw caution to the wind and come on over" advice, you know, leap before you look It is easy for me with a British and American passport so I must admit that my advice can be a bit hasty at times.

quote:

"I'll probably be moving over to Madrid, maybe for good, but not without a job already guaranteed".

Yikes! Sorry to say that this is next to impossible It is VERY, VERY, VERY, "MUY" hard to get a job over here while still abroad. Not impossible but pretty close.

Things are VERY difficult here for non EU nationals these days and are getting tougher every day

99.999999% of the people I know over here found their jobs AFTER they arrived, many had tried before coming but were frustrated by the search and the difficulty of it all.

Sure there is always that .0000001% who got the sweet job offer before they came or who were transferred here by there comapanies, God bless, more power to them but they are the super "afortunados" (fortunate) ones indeed

quote:

"I suppose to get into a better teaching position for English, English Lit., Is my Spanish grammar Qualifications going to require very extensive knowledge of Castillian language?"

Well, in my humble opinion, if you are going to teach English lit here it will probably have to be at a University so aside from the usual required Doctorate , you will definintely need good spoken Spanish (although perhaps not an in-depth knowledge of grammar). There are also private schools (high schools) that may also hire without a Doctorate but I am afraid they may require a high level of Spanish and you will have to be legal here.

Yes, you should start by asking your questions at the Spanish Embassy there. As far as dual citizenship goes, no agreement exists between the U.S.A. and Spain, it is one or the other. You need not think of dual citizenship just yet, that is a bit extreme to come over here, start by trying to get a job offer that will give you legal residency and working papers. See the many threads on getting a work visa and such on this work and residency in "espa�a" forum for more info.

I know loads of expats who live here and none of them have given up their American (or other) citizenship for Spanish citizenship, that is a VERY serious move.

Saludos & Suerte,
jer...

Jer,

That's great advice but everytime that I try to throw caution to the wind, something always F's up and that's why I can't trust luck to Spain.

Sure, for some people it works, but not for all, and I know personally that it will not work for me. I know that my target date to stop teaching is the end of January and I have alos applied to work on a Navy ship. I will get to see plenty of places that way.

I have been giving my move to Spain some serious thought and right now, I am not pressed to move just yet. Spain isn't getting up and moving anywhere, so that's why I am having patience. I know that something will work out for me in the end with all of this crap that I am puttting up with right now, so I will have to wait.

Notice that I did not say that I was waiting for a dream job, for they do not exist anywhere in the world. You may come close, but no such state as a dream job exists in my opinion.

I applaud people who can just throw caution to the wind and make things work. I have to have things planned out and that's my way of living life. Others are different and that's the beauty about the world. That other people live life differently.

Shawn

jer & redwood, thanks for the reply. I am very quickly realizing that. I'll have a few thousand or so put back by midsummer'03, and I suppose I'll just have to go & try it. At least I have a friend there who is a lifelong native of Madrid. by the way, great site. I've already learned a bit more about the place by visiting here. Keep it up. At least I think I located an affordable room through a link here, great.

No problem, my friend. I wish you all the luck in the world. I will get back sooner or later, but it's all good because life is good.

Have a great day,

Shawn

No further need to reply to this post. My questions have been answered. In full. unbelievable. I'll be in Madrid soon. looking forward to it.