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13 -
Climate
The climate is mild and pleasant.
It is a Mediterranean type of climate with the
temperatures going between 18° and 30° in
summer.
The sea temperature varies from 15° in April
to 25° in August and 21° in October.
The monthly average is above 10°C. Summer is
hot and sunny.
14 - Insects & animals
There are no particular insects or animals on the
islands.
If you bring
in a household pet you need to have its certificate
of vaccination anti-rabies and a veterinary
certificate of good health.
15 - Working in the country
Before leaving
You should take Spanish lessons, or improve
your level. The quality of job you would like to
have may depend on how well you speak the
language.
For information contact:
Ministério de Educacion
Secretaria General Tecnica
Paseo del Prado 28 - 28071 Madrid
Telefono : (91) 420.17.84/420.37.27
With a French or international company
If your employer is a French or international
company you don't have to worry about formalities.
Usually the administrative services deal with all
the formalities concerning the expatriate staff.
Unless you are the only representative of your
company in the country (sales representative, or in
charge of a liaising office ...), in this case you
will have to deal with the formalities
yourself.
Preparing
for your departure and looking for a job :
You can start searching for information by writing
to French associations established in the country,
economic expansion services, commercial services of
foreign banks in France and French banks
abroad.
The French
consulate usually has a service dealing with jobs
and training, student grants and reinsertion in
France, and they can put you in touch with local
enterprises who are willing to accept French
personnel.
(See
also in the Practical Guide for the
Expatriate).
The French Chamber of Commerce also offers
information about the job market, the most dynamic
sectors of the economy, and edits a bulletin for
French companies and local members. You could
publish a job application in this
bulletin.
The Trade
Commission in Spain, or the CFCE in Paris can
furnish you with a list of French companies
established in Spain.
Documents
about the country are usually available in the
cultural service of the Spanish Embassy in
Paris.
You can
however prepare your trip in a more precise manner
by making a personal appointment with the
Franco-Spanish Chamber of Commerce in order to
complete your information and get professional
advice.
While you are
hunting for information you could contact companies
directly by sending a spontaneous candidacy
proposing your services.
The
international departments of the Chambers of
Commerce and Industry often have information about
the country available. Directories and useful
dossiers from the country can be helpful in getting
information on sectors of activity and the local
economic life.
Where to find job offers :
In the French press (Le Monde, Le France Soir,
Figaro, Moniteur du Bâtiment,...) for French
companies sending people abroad.
In the
international press, in nearly all the bigger
dailies there exists a page or a selection of job
offers (The European, The Guardian, Vacature,
Coriere della Sera, The Geneva Tribunal
..)
Leading
recruitment bureaus in Europe, and interim
companies sometimes offer international
jobs.
There are
several data banks specializing in job offers
abroad on Internet which are easily accessible.
Writing your CV and covering letter :
Your dossier is a determining element towards being
recruited, it is the first step towards obtaining
an interview.
The CV should
be very clear, typewritten, detailled, preferably
written in English and it should be accompanied by
a handwritten covering letter. Certain countries do
not accord much importance to handwriting, but it
is advisable to write the letter by hand whichever
country it is addressed to.
If the
company is French or the subsidiary of a French
company, the CV and the covering letter should
still be written in the language of the
country.
Don't forget
to attach a recent photo, preferably one where you
are smiling.
Your
CV should be detailled, and have the addresses
and phone numbers of ex-employers on it so that the
company can easily verify the main points of your
candidacy. This can save you from sending a pile of
photocopies and documents with it. You can always
present these documents later during an interview
if necessary.
If you are
thinking of sending a false CV, you should know
that a study from the Florian Mantione Institute
shows that 45% of the employers check up on CVs,
that 34% of the candidates are eliminated during
this verification and that 60% of the verifications
are made with the previous employer.
Whatever your reasons for 'adapting' your CV to
suit the ad, be warned that it won't help you
during the interview and could even cause you
prejudice.
The
questions to ask yourself before an expatriation
:
What exactly is the job?
What is the length of the contract?
Is it for the whole family or with bachelor
conditions?
What kind of life will you have locally?
Have you thought about when you get back, how you
will manage financially to fit in again?
Do you have the necessaries qualities to be an
expatriate?
Qualities
you need to succeed :
emotional stability (so you can react quickly
in any situation)
autonomy (you can make decisions on your own in any
circumstance)
being mobile and being available for your job,
being able to relocate quickly
being good at meeting people (don't forget that the
expatriate is also an ambassador for his country
whether in his professional or his social life.
being adaptable (you can easily adapt to different
cultures, climates and life styles. )
being able to accept and understand different
cultures and cultural differences
tolerance and respect of other people's way of life
and way of living should be a natural part of your
character.
Your
family and recruiting :
Your partner should have the same ambitions as
you. It is often an important factor in choosing an
expatriate.
In fact some recruitment bureaus or big firms when
they are recruiting, specially for long term
projects, insist on having an interview with the
wife to check that there are no problems in the
couple which could get worse abroad and maybe
disturb the mission.
Companies often propose that the whole family goes
together so that a good family balance is
kept.
During the
recruiting :
Punctuality and precision are appreciated
everywhere. Be on time for your
appointments.
Be well
dressed for your interview, whatever kind of job
you are trying for. Your appearance will weigh with
the interviewer.
First
interviews are often very short but can last
several hours if your candidacy is interesting,
depending on the post offered, and if you have to
do any psychotechnical (graphological analysis) or
aptitude tests.
Be careful
not to appear pretentious about your know-how and
don't exaggerate your professional
competence.
Don't forget
that nowadays the job market is a chronic problem
nearly all over the world, so take an interview
appointment seriously, jobs are not easy to come
by.
Emphasize
your real competence, your ease of adaption, your
mobility, your ability to work in a team, your
readiness to pool your experience.
The
company and the expatriate :
A lot of countries abroad like to have, and to
show that they have, expatriates on their
staff.
International personnel often bring in experience
and knowledge which can be very advantageous for a
company.
Salaries -
Salary requirements :
If the candidate doesn't know the prospective
country, it isn't always easy to negotiate a
salary, especially if the amount has already been
mentionned on the ad.
However, there is nothing to stop you from showing
your previous salary and from discussing the salary
offered. The recruiting agent or the employer may
appreciate knowing what for you is the minimum.
The standard of living that you find abroad is not
always similar to the one you know in your own
country and sometimes if the salary is much higher
you will find that the cost of living is also.
This is one of the reasons, and there are several,
including social security conditions, why it is
better to go abroad with a French company.
French companies sending people overseas budget for
differences in the cost of living. They can
reassure the expatriate that his purchasing power
will at least be the same as in France.
The 'basic French salary' can be paid either in
France or abroad, it is usually a choice, and an
allowance is paid for living expenses
(accomodation, food,...) This compensation is based
on the cost of living in the country.
Taxes
(see the page in the expatriate guide)
If you are employed locally you will have to pay
taxes in the country.
If you have an international contract your salary
can be negotiated free of taxes.
In some countries income tax is deducted at source
by the company.
Accomodation
- company car - other fringe benefits :
It is nearly impossible to negotiate for a company
house if you are employed locally. Getting a car
depends on your job and your level in the
company.
In a local company it will be very difficult to
negotiate a paid return ticket to France every
year.
There again, if you are an expatriate working for a
French company you will get fringe benefits, a
house, car, travel allowance, return flights to
France ...
Usually international contracts give 15 days leave
in France every 3 months.
Working
conditions :
These are the local ones with all the attenuating
advantages and disadvantages if you are working for
a local company.
The expatriate is often considered as an immigrant
and has to deal himself with the local
formalities.
On the
administrative side the expatriate does not have to
worry about the formalities concerning the police,
customs, immigration, income tax, visa or consular
declaration. French or European companies abroad
always have an administrative department which
completes all the formalities for its personnel and
deals with any problems which could
arise.
Foreign
companies remain subject to the laws of the country
in which they are working.
16 - Formalities
Members of the European Union only need a valid
identity card. The regulations are the same as for
Spain.
Other
visitors will need a passport and eventually also a
visa, and in certain cases will have to show that
they have a return ticket.
It is
forbidden to import firearms and ammunition without
authorization.
Customs
: There are no longer duties between the European
countries. You are free to import or to export all
the money and merchadise that you want to (with a
limit for alcohol and tobacco).
17 - Health
No vaccination is obligatory.
Insurance
: It is advisable to take out a medical
insurance with a health repatriation guarantee, in
case it should be necessary. Take an E111 form with
you from your health and welfare office.
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