
So you officially took that leap of faith and moved to sunny ol´ Spain as an International Student!
On top of that, you managed to survive all the nerve-wrecking papeleo (paperwork) amid Spain's perplexing bureaucracy!
I join Simon Cowell in congratulating you for a job well done! You've conquered one of the greatest challenges in your Spanish International Student journey! I promise, it's gonna be more smooth-sailing from hereon!
Now that you're settled - más o menos, you might be pondering on how to dip your toes into the Spanish workforce. After all, what better way to boost your professional development, meet new friends, gain some extra cash and learn Español better than to do internships, right?
Before diving into the fun world of internships - in the land of churros and paella - I just want to confirm the rumors: IT'S TRUE, finding prácticas (internship) can be a bit overwhelming and all-in-all time-consuming BUTTTT with a clear understanding of what the requirements are and where to find possible internships, the process can be navigated easier. So if you're ready as I am, ¡Vamos a hablar de prácticas! ¡Vamos!
Nota bene: Majority of internships in Spain are either unpaid or only offer a minimal salary of just a few hundred euros per month, with some covering only transportation expenses. Therefore, if you're seeking a well-paid internship, you'll need to brush up your CV to distinguish yourself to hiring managers + know where to find these paid opportunities.
In this post, I'll outline ways and resources to help you find just that!
#1 - Network, Network, Network!
I can't stress this enough but please LEVERAGE your network BIG TIME! Talk to your friends, classmates, professors, flatmates, and even people you meet at social gatherings and tell them you're looking for internships. They may know someone (or that someone may know someone) who can offer you an interview opportunity at their company. My Masters friend once helped me land an interview with their awesome company and although I did not get in due to visa conflict, I will always be grateful for the opportunity to be interviewed by one of the top start-ups in Europe. Moreover, I also helped one of my Masters classmates land an internship with the company that I was working in and we've worked together for a total of 1 year and became lifelong friends after that.
Try NETWORKING. You will be surprised at how helpful people can be.
#2 - University partnerships
Typically, universities and business schools in Spain organize job fairs where companies visit the campus to connect with students and potentially hire them on the spot! So make sure that you save the date for this job fair as this is a great chance to land your first job in Spain! You can also approach the Job & Internships Department of your school at any time to inquire about internship opportunities available through their partner companies. They'll be likely to provide more information and to set you up for intros.
#3 - Apply directly to companies of your choice
Another effective way to find internships is to apply directly to companies. Start by compiling a list of your preferred companies. Go to their website and conduct thorough research to understand their operations. Visit platforms like Glassdoor to gain insight into their work culture (after all, you don't want to find yourself working for a horrible boss, yes?) Utilize LinkedIn to find their HR/Talent Acquisition Officer. Lastly, send them a direct e-mail expressing your interest for an internship in their company. This way, your email not only reaches the company's general inbox but also lands directly in the inbox of the hiring manager.
#4 - Use Social Media & Online Websites to the fullest!
And here's my personal favourite of all (or maybe I´m just biased since I found my 2 internships and 2 full-time jobs from this??)
Anyhooo, use these sites ASAP:
LinkedIn - the site where I found my internship and 2 full-time jobs in both Barcelona and Madrid! I always tell my friends to come here when they're in search for a new internship opportunity or a job as it has been proven and tested by me.
Facebook Expat Groups - surprise surprise but not all posts here are scams! Some employees actually write job vacancies in this platform especially when they're looking for international candidates. I know because my previous HR manager asked me about all the Facebook expat groups I know so she can post a job vacancy that was hard to fill.
InfoJobs - a popular job-searching site in Spain. I honestly have not used this a lot but a lot of my friends found their internships and full-time jobs from this site so I 100% recommend!
Indeed - another popular job-searching site in Spain that I haven´t leveraged to the fullest yet but I've heard a lot of good reviews.
Spain Internship - a go-to platform that facilitates internships in Spain. It connects students, recent graduates, and young professionals with companies offering internships across various fields and industries in Spain.
There's still a lot more sites to choose from, of course, but these 5 are the ones that I'm most familiar with and I've used hence I highly-recommend them to you.
In conclusion, navigating the world of internships in Spain can be both exhilarating and exciting. Just like dating, finding the right internship requires patience, persistence, and a willingness to explore. I hope while you're at it, you get to embrace this exciting journey for yourself. Put yourself out there. Don't be scared to mess it up. Heck, everyone messes up! And do not feel defeated when you don't get calls and replies right away. Trust that in due time, the perfect opportunity will come to you, as they always do.
All of this for now!
Buena suerte and I wish you all the best in finding the best internship for you!
Salud!
Yes totally right finding internship in Spain is little hard