Learn Spanish but if you are stuck for employment try teaching English as a foreign language.

Teaching English is a relatively easy way to get started as there are few opportunities for employment in Spain.

Employment in Spain

Many people come to Spain with the intention of finding employment when they arrive. Despite the fact that any person from any EU country has the right to work in Spain it is not as easy to find a job as some may think, particularly those people who are planning to live in the coastal resorts. It should be noted that non EU nationals have no rights to work in Spain and need to apply to the ministry of works (Ministerio de Trabajo) before arriving in the country.

Teach English It may be worth considering attending a "Teaching English as a Foreign Language" (TEFL)
course before coming to Spain. If you hold a TEFL certificate you will be well prepared to join one of the many language schools as a teacher of English to Spaniards. If you think you have the ability to teach there are now very good online courses where you can obtain a diploma which will stand you in good stead in any non English speaking country. Visit this website for more information. Teach English.

Learn Spanish Speaking Spanish fluently will certainly stand you in good stead if you want to find a good position; therefore it's prudent to start to learn the language before you arrive in the country. If you don't speak Spanish then the range of job opportunities becomes considerably less. Building work, bar work or working for an English run business are possible options which may be considered.

Expatriate business. There are a few successful business's who rely for their work entirely on the expatriate community. Since both the customers and the supplier of the service both speak the same language it really does not matter if neither speaks Spanish. This scenario is equally valid in the case of those who decide to become self employed. If you have the skills it's quite easy to work for yourself in the expatriate community, there seems to be a demand for English speaking builders, plumbers, painters and decorators, hairdressers, TV repairers, window cleaners, etc. Look through the ads in the local expatriate newspapers and you will see many services being offered which might spark and idea for your own business venture. Beware however of offering services which require a Spanish qualification, e.g. you may work as an electrician or a gas fitter in the UK but without the necessary paperwork you would not be allowed to carry out this activity legally in Spain.

Professionals are also subject to Spanish rules, codes and limitations. For example a doctor of medicine from the UK would need to have his or her qualifications recognized and accepted by the Province where the practice is intended to be established.  Furthermore references would be required from the General Medical Council to support the application.

Professional colleges cannot act in any way to obstruct the right of any lawyer, accountant, doctor, architect, etc from an EU state who wishes to practice his profession in Spain

To check to see if your qualifications will be acceptable in Spain or obtain information and addresses of Spanish professional bodies, you should contact the Spanish Embassy and ask for the National Academic Recognition Information Centre (NARIC) representative. Also if you are in the UK it may be worth contacting the Occupation Standards Branch, Comparability Coordinators office in Sheffield. Their telephone number is 01742 704 144

Employment laws in Spain are complex and should not be underestimated furthermore working illegally on the black economy is risky and the punishments (if caught) can be steep.