Working in Seville

If you are an expat wanting a job in Seville, there is good news. The City Council of Seville has adopted Strategic Plan 2030, by which it hopes to make the Andalusian capital a more dynamic, open, sustainable, and innovative place. One of the six objectives is to generate employment and economic development.

Seville's economy

Seville is Andalusia's largest city and, as Spain's only inland port, is an important trade center. Among its principal exports are fruit, wines, olives, corks and minerals. Imports include oil and coal. The city's primary industries are aircraft parts, porcelain, tobacco, chemical products, and agricultural machinery. Other important sectors are services and tourism.

Seville´s labor market

Seville is experiencing a slight increase in job opportunities, particularly in tourism, hospitality, technology and construction industries. The growth in tourism has created jobs in hotels, restaurants, and other related services. Additionally, the rise of startups and tech companies in Seville has contributed to a surge in demand for skilled professionals in the technology sector. There has also been a drop in the number of unemployed people.

The most promising fields for expats in Seville

Anyone who comes to Seville or any part of Spain and doesn't speak the language will find it difficult to find regular work. One option open to expats with trade experience, such as plumbers and carpenters, is to provide their services to other expats. However, if the community were to dwindle as it did during the 2008 economic crisis, so would the sources of employment.

Teaching English is one of the most popular jobs for expats in Seville, but this type of work is only possible to come by if you have experience and qualifications. One way to start your journey in this profession is by taking a TEFL (teaching English as a foreign language) course.

There are plenty of job opportunities in the tourism sector, with bars and restaurants always looking for waiting staff, chefs, and kitchen helpers. But here again, expats will struggle without a good knowledge of Spanish.

Read also The job market in Seville

Finding a job in Seville

While the classified ads sections of local newspapers are a rich source of job opportunities in Seville, you will probably spend most of your time searching the Internet. Among the most popular online job websites are: 

• Milanuncious 
• Glassdoor
• Jooble
• Craigslist
• Xpatjobs
• Indeed.es
• LinkedIn
• Go Abroad
• Info Empleo

Read also The labor market in Spain

UK citizens working in Seville after Brexit

To work in Spain, British citizens must hold a valid Spanish work visa obtained from a national embassy or consulate before arriving in the country. Before receiving it, you must have secured a job in the country.

If you are a UK citizen, you can still work in Spain following the UK's departure from the European Union. However, the rules are stricter. When the UK was part of the EU, UK citizens enjoyed the right to freedom of movement. This meant they could live and work in any member state (including Spain) with minimal paperwork. Since Brexit, UK citizens are classed as third-country nationals and no longer have an automatic right to work in Spain or anywhere else in the EU. However, that doesn't mean that securing a job in Spain post-Brexit is impossible.

UK citizens are now in the same situation as Americans, Australians and people from other non-EU countries if they want to work in the country. The only way to land a permanent position with a Spanish company is by winning a role on Spain's shortage occupation list. This is a regularly updated list of professionals in short supply in Spain.

If your prospective employer really wants you to work for them, they have to satisfy several requirements. They must demonstrate that you have the right qualifications and that your skills are in short supply in Spain. Then they must be able to provide evidence that other Spanish or EU candidates couldn't fill the post.

Your employer should then work on your visa application simultaneously with your own application.

Note that the rules are more straightforward for UK citizens who were legal residents in Spain before 2021. You have the right to work in the country provided you remain legally resident.

Important:

Your qualifications must be recognized to set up in a regulated profession (such as a lawyer, doctor or engineer). They need to be the equivalent of those required in Spain.

Read also Visas for Spain

Applying for a job in Seville

To apply for a job in Seville, you may need to provide the following documents:

• A criminal records certificate from your home country
• A Spanish criminal records certificate (Certificado de Antecedentes Penale)
• A certificate from the Spanish sex offenders registry (Certificado de Delitos de Naturaleza Sexual) to work with children

Salaries in Seville

What sort of salary can you earn if you are successful and find a job in Seville? The average salary in Seville is 15,166€ a year.

Typical monthly salaries, according to the CostodoVida website, are:

• Translator 1,410.65€
• Engineer 2,305.99€
• Plumber 1,067.11€
• Lawyer 2,968.15€
• Mechanical engineer 2,096.84€
• Waiter 969.21€

CV and Interview tips for Seville

CV

First impressions count. You may have a stellar work history and be fluent in Spanish, but if you have quickly scribbled your resume on a piece of rough paper, you won't have a chance of landing a job interview.

Unless told otherwise, write your CV and cover letter in Spanish, flawless Spanish. This also includes online and email applications. So, if you are not entirely confident in your language ability, get a native Spanish speaker to read through what you have written.

When you are compiling your CV, it should include your personal details such as your full name, date and place of birth, current address and your NIE (foreigner's ID number).

While a photo is not obligatory, it is a common expectation nowadays. This should be a headshot with a neutral background, not a picture of you sipping cocktails in a loud shirt in a chiringuito. Then fill out the rest of the CV as you would typically, with details of your work experience, history, education, skills, interests, and references.

Job interviews

If your CV or application impresses and you are invited for an interview, dress appropriately. You will be expected to dress formally if it is a corporate job. For all other types of work, smart casual is suitable. As with any interview, prepare for it thoroughly by researching the company and its industry, and make sure you have some excellent questions to ask the interviewer at the end.

In-person interview tips

Here are a few interview tips to get you off to a good start:

• Shake hands with your interviewer when greeting him or her. Don't lean in for the customary cheek kissing.
• Even if the interviewer speaks English during the interview, you should answer in Spanish to show you are comfortable with the language.
• Use the formal 'usted' rather than the informal 'tu' when speaking.
• Be punctual.
• Avoid slang or colloquial expressions.
• Research every aspect of the company. Your interviewer may ask you about its history, operations and successes. If you are unable to answer, you will leave an unfavorable impression.
• Be concise with your answers. Like everybody else, your interviewer will get bored if you drone on.

Remote interviews

One legacy of the pandemic is the increased use of videoconferencing platforms like Skype and Zoom to conduct online job interviews.

A remote interview is a very different experience, but many of the same rules apply. Remember, it is a formal interview. You may be sitting in your living room or study room, but you should still dress appropriately. Wear the same sort of clothes as you would if the interview were in somebody's office.

There are also some other factors to consider with this format.

• Before the interview, ensure your laptop or computer works perfectly, especially the camera and microphone.
• Have your CV and cover letter beside you for reference and a pen and paper to take notes.
• Maintain a good posture throughout the interview and speak clearly. Also, use non-verbal cues such as nodding and smiling, as in any other interview or conversation. This signals that you are attentively listening to the other person.
• Practice with the technology. If you are unfamiliar with Zoom, Skype or whichever platform your interviewer is using, get accustomed to its features before the interview.
• Look into the camera while speaking. During an in-person interview, you would maintain eye contact with your interviewer. It is a sign of confidence and respect. This is a lot more challenging to do when being interviewed remotely. However, looking into the camera (not the screen) gives the illusion that you are making eye contact with the other person.
• Choose a professional-looking background. When setting up your computer, select a tidy space free of clutter, for example, in front of a blank wall. 
• Your interviewer needs to see you, so pick a brightly lit space for the interview. Near a window is a good option because of the abundance of natural light. However, don't sit with the window behind you as it can cast a shadow. 
• If your interview space doesn't have an electrical socket, make sure you fully charge your laptop before the interview.
• If anyone else is in your household, let them know when and where you'll be interviewed. Ask them to keep quiet and not interrupt you.
• Silence your mobile phone. One of the last things you want is your entertaining ringtone interrupting proceedings.
• Use the mute button. If your interview is via Zoom, use the mute button when your interviewer is speaking. This handy feature means you can block out any household noises, such as a dog barking.

Working as a freelancer in Seville

Non-EU citizens wanting to set up their own business or work as self-employed will need to secure a work visa, a visado de cuenta propia. There are several requirements:

1. A comprehensive business plan that includes details of how you plan to finance your start-up. Note that the business must be profitable within three years.
2. Proof of financial backing/evidence that you have sufficient finances to support yourself.
3. Expected returns once the business is up and running.
4. Proof you have the skills and experience to do the work.
5. Any contracts or commissions from companies.
6. If applicable, an estimate of the number of jobs you're planning to create.

Read also Starting a business in Spain

Remote working in Seville

One of the most obvious impacts of COVID-19 on the labor force in many countries is the rise in the number of people working remotely. With videoconference facilities and internet technologies, many jobs can be performed remotely without ever having to sit in an office.

You won't have to rely on the local job market if you have a job where you can work from home. You can find work on an array of freelance websites, such as Upwork, People Per Hour and Guru.com.

Types of remote jobs include:

• Writer
• Virtual assistant
• Graphic designer
• Data entry clerk
• Transcriber
• Translator
• Tutor
• Web designer
• Social media manager
• Accountant
• Data analyst
• Software engineer

When you are self-employed in Seville, you will have to register as an 'autonomo,' which is the Spanish word for a freelancer or self-employed person.

Buena suerte!