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how easy is it to find work as an american in spain? any websites would be helpful.

I worked construction in Barcelona. I was lucky to get the job because I was just a laborer, I'm not trained in any of the skilled trades.I met several Americans that were working in bars and restaurants without papers, but they all seemed to get the job through some one they knew.

I have heard that you can get work picking fruit in Spain, but I don't know anyone who did it.

Are you able to get a work permit? What type of work are you looking for? What is your experience?

Sorry, I don't know any websites for you.

I've heard that it isn't easy to get a work visa there. The prospective employer has to apply for your work visa and prove that no member of the e.u. can do that job. Also, since the e.u., it is harder to get jobs illegally, but not impossible. I had a friend in barcelona that got a job washing dishes. But he knew a bunch of people that lived there and they helped him get the job.

But one idea might be to teach english. Check out http://www.eslcafe.com and http://www.esljobs.com. Sometimes they give you room and board and a little money.

you can go to gumtree.com and look under travel/overseas under the jobs and they have various jobs offered all over. I think there are a few other questions just like this with more answers if you search this question within this forum.

It is not easy to get a work visa here and an employer does have to sponsor you while you go back to your own country for three months to apply for the visa.

The other alternative is what i think all americans do, which is teach english. You can make average 1000-1200 euro a month which is enough to pay your expenses and barely travel around the country. If you are looking to live in Madrid its pretty easy to find work at the beginning of january and september. barcelona is much harder as its saturated.

will

Check out our traveler's networking site! It's free!

This is a good portal for casual work in Barcelona (as well as appartments):
www.loquo.com

Craigslist has some entries for Madrid and Barcelona:
http://barcelona.craigslist.org
http://madrid.craigslist.org

If you've got a relative (parent or grandparent) from anywhere in the EU it would be worth your while getting in touch with the relevant embassy. An EU passport will make it a lot easier but it's not impossible to work on the sly if you don't.