Finding a Job in GC

[Aniela26]

Hi all, :grin:

This is my first post, but I've been around for the past couple of weeks as I was preparing for my trip to GC...

I was recently in Las Palmas visiting my boyfriend, and I've decided that I want to take the next step. I'd like to start preparing to find a job and was wondering if you have any tips that could help me in my preparations. I'm American (I realize there aren't many of us around here...), and my spanish is minimal at best (although, I will continue to take classes to improve that). I have a year to prepare myself.

Do you have any tips as to what I can do to start preparing, and the best places to look for jobs while I'm still in the States?

Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks!!
Aniela

[shirley]

it depends what you do for a living? There is an american school in las Palmas, Maybe you could apply there. If you dont teach im sure there are other jobs there, like admin work. (I only know this) cos there is someone on the forum who is coming over to teach science at that school, so if you read the posts of this last week , you can maybe email him, to find out all about that school. To see if there is any work for you, Maybe there will be a vacancy coming up there in the next year?At least he can put you in touch there.

[Aniela26]

Thanks for your reply, Shirley.

Right now I work as a Project Manager in a Document Processing company. Basically I manage a bunch of people doing data entry work and make sure my clients are happy with the services we're providing.

Considering my minimal spanish, I figured that I'd most likely be looking at a job working in some sort of admin job.

I'll keep reading through the posts to see what I can find out.

[shirley]

Just found it for you, The forum member is ( bdub) the school is on
www.aslp.org (http://www.aslp.org) .

[Aniela26]

Thanks again, Shirley.

Most of the sites I've visited said that I should look for a job the next time I'm in GC, and then come back to the US to get my working visa. Not sure how well that will work for me, considering that there is usually a wait for working visas to be processed. I guess I have a little time to keep researching and figuring out what will work best.

I'm always open to tips/suggestions from anyone that has any to offer!

Thanks!
Aniela

[bdub]

Hi Aniela,

First off, I know what you are going through. I was in exactly your situation years ago when I wanted to move to the UK to be with my british girlfriend. After some searching, research, etc, I eventually found one. So hang in there and don't give up. It can be discouraging, but it can work too.

I currently am living in Ithaca NY, just finished my MS deg, and I am heading over to the Canaries in two weeks to teach at the American School of Las Palmas. (www.aslp.org (http://www.aslp.org) - posted by shirley too) Don't let the name fool you - a majority of the students are local, and there are abut 20+ nationalities represented. Much of the staff there are also from around the world.

Maybe contact the school and inquire about openings they may have that could suit you. At the very least they may be able to point you in the direction of other places you could apply to as well in Las Palmas that may need someone with managment experience.

Don't be discouraged by a deficiancy in spanish to begin with - my spanish is not great (yet). But the only way to learn it fast is to jump in the deep end.

It takes about 3 months to get a work visa for Spain. You need to be offered a job, and then take care of the paperwork while in the US. I would suggest doing some job hunting asap, and apply in person the next time you are out to see your boyfriend - bring some resumes and apply to as many places as possible - even ones you think you can't get (cause you never know unless you at least try)

Hope this helps. Good luck!

Brian

[Aniela26]

Thanks, Brian. That does help a lot. I think that I'm going to look around for the types of jobs that are available for a little while, and then do as you said...hunt around the next time I'm in GC and hand out my resume wherever I can. I won't be back over there until next year, so I think I'll wait a couple of months before I contact the school to see what I can find out.

Thanks again! If you happen to come across anything when you get over there, I hope you'll let me know!

Aniela