Teaching Jobs in Spain

Your Job Search

1. Get these tools!

Here’s what you’ll need to get started on your getting a job in Spain:
Your passport.

• Your passport.
• Original university / college degrees.
• A teaching certificate.
• Copy of your birth certificate.
• Around 2,000 euros.
• An airline ticket to Madrid, Barcelona or Seville – anytime of year from September 1st to May 1st.
• Your resume / CV.



2. Go here and Do this!

Okay, you land, get off the plane and head to your booked accommodation. A hostal or pension will do. They’re like a bed and breakfast, without the breakfast. Most are safe, clean and the way to go in Spain. The next day, head out and make copies of your certificates and resume, etc.

If heading to Madrid, check out the El Pais education section in the Sunday edition and get a copy of In Madrid (monthly English newspaper) at any Irish pub. Chat with any foreigners in the pub while you’re there and see if they know of any work around. If heading to Barcelona, try La Vanguardia’s Sunday edition. You can also check out national English magazines like the Metropolitan or The Broad Sheet.

Notice boards at the British Council, backs of pubs and English shops (like Booksellers) also have teaching opportunities. An Internet search will turn up jobs in many Spanish cities. If you have enrolled in a certificate program, like the TEFL International one in Seville or Barcelona, they will have job guidance people and contacts to help set up interviews for you.

One of the best ways to get a job in Spain is the way of the Spanish “en chufe” – it’s who you know. Talking to other English speakers in pubs, on the street or outside cafes will often provide good leads for your job search. With so many English teachers in Spain, there is a good chance any native speaker is a teacher and they can tell you if their institute is looking for teachers.

You best bet is get all your documents copied and in order, put on some smart clothes (tie for guys, nice trousers or skirt for women), copy lists of addresses from the “pages Amarillo” (look under academy or escuela de idiomas), map them out on your city map and pound the pavement. With resume in hand, introduce yourself to school directors — most speak English as former English teachers themselves. Keep in mind that businesses are closed between 2 and 5 pm, but it’s a great time to practice the Spanish tradition of people-watching while chowing down on Spanish tortilla and a strong cup of coffee.