working abroad
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- Josh202
im looking to leave ol blighty and would love to work in spain..ideally madrid...how the hell do i go about it??
any ex pats out there looking to hire a designer??? or anyone know any good agencies???
- lowimpakt0
can you speak spanish?
- Josh2020
its rusty...
- ********0
i would work on that first then.
- ********0
and don't expect to get paid much.
- lowimpakt0
i would also say work on the oul lingo. You'll be competing with spanish speaking designers.
- ********0
When you figure it out let me know. I went to Spain in april and it was awesome. I asked around and getting a work visa sounds difficult.
- yeah, might be for americans, we europeans can work anywhere within the EU without a visa though.********
- yeah, might be for americans, we europeans can work anywhere within the EU without a visa though.
- lowimpakt0
i just remembered I'm getting the train to Barcelona from London tomorrow. deadly.
- Josh2020
i reckon it wont be too hard...EU n that...i was trying US at one point but thats impossible.
- Josh2020
yeah ive got nearly 5 yrs commercial exp, i do both print n web...but prefer web design
- PSYKHO0
Well, I have been to Madrid and Barcelona numerous times and I have to say Barcelona is the nuts best place for design. You also got some fantastic agencies there as well. I think if you get your Spanish level up and can speak it then it will be easy for you. Sure they speak Catalan in Barcelona but if you speak Spanish it's just a matter for learning some extra grammar and words.
- Josh2020
im gonna start looking at some agencies and improve my spanish...cheers.
- anairn0
If you have an ex-pat network to latch on to and are going to one of the southern/eastern coasts, you can 'get away' with not speaking Spanish for a while - heck, if you know the right people, you could probably make a good wage, if you're capable enough and willing to put the hours in.
If you don't, or are heading toward the more central, metropolitan areas, you will NEED to speak good Spanish and will have to accept a pay cut (and Madrid isn't exactly cheap) and will be competing with every talented Spaniard (many of whom escape to London, etc, don't forget - think about why they do that).
Choosing to work in Spain, for the wrong reasons, is a bad idea. It all sounds great - but think about the realities of working in a hot country, in summertime, stuck in front of a computer and dealing with a culture that is, in work terms, quite markedly different from Britain (think 'loose' deadlines and old-boy networks).
- nath2020
Are we long lost brothers...
- Josh2020
any info tho from anybody regarding the above would be great
- anairn0
I know - that's why I don't live there any more :)
It's great if you have a car and are happy to commute up and down the coast each day - but it would drive me potty to have to live in Gib itself for any amount of time. I'm curious to know whether you're independent or are working for one of the big finance/betting companies? There seems to be a lack of good quality independent design serving the Gib/Campo market - but I'm hesitant to go back any time soon ... though would consider it when the time is right.
Gosh, you're the first person in all my years on QBN who's had anything to do with Gib - you've made my day!
- rafalski0
Spain is a socialist anti-entrepreneurial state these days. Being registered as a sole trader there costs €3000 in social tax per year, payable monthly, as opposed to about £100 per year in the UK.
- jimzyk0
ahhh anaim is happy. isnt it cute...
- PSYKHO0
@anairn: Ha, did not know that you used to live in Gib! LOL. Well I have lived in Spain for over 9 years and worked for some huge companies but the paid could have been a hell of a better (as you know) so when the opportunity came to move to Gib I took it. I wanted to work for a Casino but a friend of mind told me it's not all that and the work environment is too stressful so now I work for a dating company and work on my own projects so all is good.
But as you know this place is way to small, I mean you can fart and someone down the road can smell it!
Still can't believe you used to live here anairn ... Small world! :)
- Still, you have Tarifa and the campo in spitting distance, so it has its perks. I love Spain, and will go back one day.anairn
- How do you get on with the social side of things there? Do you have many Gib'n friends?anairn
- Yhea a few, but I go back to Spain in the weekends (much better nightlife) so that's plus!PSYKHO