There are several ways of finding employment in Spain. First of all, there are different organisations and agencies, e.g. the National Employment Office (Instituto Nacional del Empleo, or INEM) and recruitment agencies, where jobseekers can sign on as looking for work.

The National Employment Office has a network of offices offering recruitment services to all types of workers seeking employment. To access these services, just enrol at your nearest INEM job centre. You won’t need a residence permit.

The documents you must submit are as follows:

• Identity card or passport
• Social Security card if you have previously worked in Spain
• Documentary evidence of professional or academic qualifications, where relevant.

In addition, to help people with higher educational qualifications find their first job, the National Employment Office has helped to set up careers advice services in several state-funded universities.

However, nowadays the most popular way of seeking employment is by personal contact, adverts in the specialised press and mainstream newspapers, particularly on Sundays, or else the Internet. Speculative applications to companies are also very popular.

The main thing to bear in mind is that the selection process is not regulated.

Further information:

• http://www.mtas.es/GuiaIngles/portada3.htm (choose “looking for work”)
• http://www.inem.es/ciudadano/p_empleo.html