Working in Spain as a foreigner, or in any Spanish-speaking country, is not easy but not impossible. The first major difficulty in finding a job, if you are a foreigner, will be the time it takes to regularise your situation. If you are a foreigner who is looking for work abroad, like in Spain, the first thing you will need is to get your foreigner’s identification number in order to register with the social security. In other Spanish-speaking countries, the requirements are very different. Be aware that the process can be long and tedious in some cases.

There are many Spanish companies looking for foreign workers, so if you wonder ‘what are the challenges of finding a job abroad?’, we’ll tell you the main challenges of finding a job in a Spanish-speaking country. Take note of these tips from iScribo to plan your adventure in the best possible way.

Main Barriers

If you are wondering about the integration of foreign workers into the labour market in Spain or any other Spanish-speaking country, we can tell you it works exactly the same as in any other country. Social barriers are the most difficult taboo to overcome wherever you go.

If Spanish is not your mother tongue, language will continue to be a major handicap. It’s all right because there are companies hiring foreign workers as they don’t mind you not having a native accent. Bear in mind that there are many Spanish speakers who face the same problem: an accent from Chile is not the same as an accent from Western Sahara, for example.

Labour inclusion, equal opportunities and decent employment are other issues to be taken into account. Many foreigners with a postgraduate education and extensive experience are forced to start out in low-paid, basic jobs, which can lead to frustration.

Other Difficulties

Integration is synonym of cultural adaptation. Integration into a different culture takes time and is sometimes not achieved even if you have been in the target country for many years. It’s not easy, but learning and practising a foreign culture will increase your job opportunities. Think that you will also be contributing to your personal growth. Knowledge does not take up space. If it is too difficult for you, you may have to seek the help of a native speaker to explain to you the key aspects of the culture and teach you how to understand it.

Racial discrimination is no less important. This is a problem in many countries and, although there are laws and measures in place to try to eradicate it, there is still quite a lot to improve. We cannot guarantee you will not experience a negative situation because of this, but we can tell you that not everyone is the same and that, just as you might be rejected, you may be welcomed with open arms. You’d be surprised how many people are there to help you in times of difficulty.

What Can We Do?

We can also do our bit with good and healthy practice. It is up to all of us to create a better world to share.

Promoting diversity and welcoming new cultures enriches society. Campaigns to raise awareness and sensitivity to labour integration have positive effects and gradually improve the outlook for all foreigners who want to work in Spain.

Let us fight the lack of a support network for all newcomers. It’s hard enough to move to another country without having to deal with social and employment problems, isn’t it?

Before moving to a Spanish-speaking country, find out about the documentation you need and about the recognition of qualifications if you have higher or postgraduate education. The more you prepare, the fewer nasty surprises you will encounter.

And above all, respect all cultures you meet, not just the culture of the country you are in. Applying moral values opens many doors – not only in the workplace.

iScribo Breaks Down Unnecessary Barriers

iScribo aims to put an end to the difficulty of working in Spain as a foreigner. Writing correct Spanish doesn’t have to be a difficulty in finding a job – there are already too many of them! Focus on the cultural aspects, your education and your desire to learn. Let our spelling and grammar checker do the rest. Have you moved to a Spanish-speaking country? What barriers have you faced and how have you overcome them (or are you overcoming them)? Tell us in the comments so that we can learn and reduce today’s employment barriers.