How to Get a Job in Gran Canaria
87Gran Canaria is one of the Canary Islands and is situated off the coast of North Africa. With great weather all year round, Gran Canaria is a great tourist desination and somewhere you can work all year round if you are a member of the EC or have a visa to work in Europe.
What Type of Work is There?
If you are willing to accept a bar job or PR job, it isn't too hard but you do have to be on the island! The best thing to do is to get return flights, perhaps including accommodation for a week or two so you don't have to find an apartment immediately. Pick up a Spanish sim card for your phone and visit as many premises as possible, leaving your Spanish phone number. Come over with at least enough money for several months' rent - don't assume you are going to find work immediately!
Many people work in Gran Canaria as a PR, which means you will stand outside a bar, restaurant or similar and try to get people in. In Tenerife it is common to earn a certain amount per head but in Gran Canaria you usually get a fixed wage. It helps if you speak a few languages for this job (and any others) but you can come to Gran Canaria speaking only English and still find work.
Average Wages in Gran Canaria
The average wage for a bar, shop or restaurant job is 35 or 40 euros (50 to 60 US dollars) for a 9 hour shift without breaks. There are also commission only jobs and you can do well at these. I work on a fishing desk in Puerto Rico harbor and the commission for selling boat trips is 10% or 20% of the ticket prices, depending on the boat you are working for. I can do well in the summer and over Christmas but some months are extremely quiet!
You can also earn commission working for a timeshare company such as Anfi del Mar. The jobs ranging from standing on the street trying to get people to go along to a timeshare presentation to working in the offices at Anfi del Mar.
I worked for eighteen months as a DJ here and enjoyed that but I got fed up with working until seven in the morning and having to sleep all day!
Gran Canaria Tourist Areas
The biggest tourist areas (where you have the most chance of finding work) are Playa del Inglés and Puerto Rico. Amadores, Arguineguín, San Agustín and Mogán are other resort areas. Some tourists stay in the capital, Las Palmas, but you will need to speak Spanish if you want to live and work there.
Best Time to Come
The best time to come to Gran Canaria if you are looking for work is just before the summer season starts because that is when bars, restaurants and shops are taking on more staff. However, you can come at any time if you have enough money to sustain you for a while or until you find work.
Accommodation in Gran Canaria
Gran Canaria is a friendly island and you can take Spanish lessons when you arrive if you want to be able to chat to the locals. Property rental prices range from 400 euros (600 US dollars) for a small studio apartment to about 800 euros (1200 US dollars) for a larger one with several bedrooms. In Puerto Rico there are only apartments because the resort is built into the side of a mountain and space is at a premium but in the other resorts you can have a duplex, triplex or villa.
There are free schools here and if you are coming over with children, they usually pick up the local language very quickly and adapt well to the lifestyle.
Do some research before deciding to come to Gran Canaria. There are plenty of websites about it. It can get very hot in Gran Canaria in the summer - can you cope with that? There is no point in coming to Gran Canaria if you hate the heat!
As long as you are willing to accept any job to begin with, you should be fine. Once you know a few people, you will find out about other work and can take a better job. As long as you are friendly, honest and a hard worker, you will be fine and can live happily here and enjoy the climate.
Gran Canaria Photos
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Marketing at the tough end. Still what a life. Thanks for sharing this incite to Gran Canaria
P.S. I might have a wicked sense of humour, but you laughed. Thanks for your comments.
I meant "wicked" in the UK sense of the word, like "really good" LOL
Gran Canaria is just one big shopping centre made up of bars and restaurants; the streets are littered and dirty and you get heckled by people trying to force you into the said bars and restaurants.. I for one will most definately spend my money on a proper holiday-or stay at my local shopping mall for the summer and save myself a fortune!
You are obviously one of the tourists who remains in the resort rather than exploring the island properly if you think the whole island is like that. I don't expect you bothered with the lakes, pine forest, museums or out of the way places. There are a number of shopping centres on the island because people like to buy things but you don't have to spend your whole holiday in one unless you really can't think of anything else to do.
Stumbled accross this article and thought you may be able to be of some assistance. I'm currently living in the UK and am looking to relocate to Gran Canaria in the very near future until at least the end of this year as my Girlfriend works over there.
I'm vastly experienced in sales, and am currently a manager of a 25 strong insurance telesales team in the UK. I was up until recently a self employed sales consultant in the telecommunications industry.
In my spare time (not that i get too much) i also do a bit of bar work and i promote, run and DJ at my own club night.
I'm ideally looking for well paid sales roles and a job as a DJ and or doing some promo work either in Puerto Rico or Playa del Ingles. I was wondering if you have any specific advice or places that i could apply to.
I'll check back on here in a few days, otherwise you could e-mail me at Negrie@hotmail.co.uk
Thanks in advance for your help
Mark
Hi Mark, well things here are pretty quiet at the moment and you would really need to be on the island to find work (unless you are very lucky) because potential employers want to meet you face to face. I used to be a DJ here. There is also sales in timeshare (tends to be commission only) so it depends if you are good with people. You can make good money from it.
You can try the Canarian section of http://www.roundtownnews.co.uk/index.php or http://www.gran-canaria-info.com or http://www.canaryforum.com for advice from other people living here.
To be honest though it is best to come over with some savings and have a proper look around.
Good luck!
Victoria
hi im thinking of moving to gran canaria i have lived there before with my fiance but now we have a 13 month old little boy and was wondering what sort of education my son could have and medical services thanks richard
hi im thinking of moving to gran canaria i have lived there before with my fiance but now we have a 13 month old little boy and was wondering what sort of education my son could have and medical services thanks richard
Hi Victoria! :) My friend Renata - http://www.myspace.com/ladymetalmania - lives in Gran Canaria and sometimes plays my songs on her radio show. I live on Tenerife but still haven't visited the island but hope to some day.
At the moment, guys, it is EXTREMELY quiet over here and there are more people looking for work than there are open jobs. Unless you speak several languages or have a specialist skill it's not a good time to come over and work.
@Richard - you get medical cover if you have a job with a contract, else you will need to look at private healthcare. The education system has both state schools (personally I don't rate them at all and attending school is "optional" here too, which says a lot). Some of the private schools are very good but expensive.
@Bard of Ely.... GC is very similar to Tenerife although there is more of a Scandinavian presence (and German too) rather than the more Brit areas like in Tenerife.
You can check my blog at http://www.cunningcanary.com if you like. I also post about the current weather on there are whether it's busy or not.
Victoria
Hi victel :)
could you tell me if it's easy to find an IT job ? i cannot find website for IT jobs , everything is about pub, marketing....
Hi Mickael, do you speak Spanish? This is a Spanish speaking country so you will need to speak the lingo if you are going to work for a Canarian company. Check http://www.laprovincia.es/ which is the national newspaper here.
Alternatively you can work from home like I do. You might like to check http://www.getafreelancer.com/affiliates/Victel/ or http://www.guru.com or http://www.odesk.com. You can pick up jobs from there and work from home (like I do).
Victoria
Hola Victoria
I am looking at coming to Gran Canaria next year to find work for at least 6 months maybe longer, I have been to Gran Canaria 5 times now and love Taurito and Mogan. I have already registered with a job site and an estate agent but what do you think is my best bet for finding work? I have been a retail Manager for 8 years and also have 4 years waitress/ bar experience.
Would appreciate some info. Gracias!!!!!
Hi Alexandra,
Don't bother registering with job sites - just get yourself over here and start looking! You will need a Spanish mobile phone number (to leave with potential employers) and your best best seriously is going door to door asking what's available.
I assume you speak some Spanish?
Victoria
Thanks for getting back to me.
I wil be enrolling in beginners spanish lessons nxt month to help me.
Hopefully that will work a bit in my favor. I am quite an outgoing person and have made a few friends at the hotel I stay in, i will be viewing some rental properties nxt month on my hols and have already contacted some english estate agents over there who will show me around the area's i want to stay in.
Do you think its worth having a spanish cv?
I will come out with enough rental for 6 months anyway just in case but wnat to be prepared well in advance.
Alexandra
Hi Alexandra,
Learning Spanish before you come is a must. Just don't be under any illusions that finding work is going to be easy right now because it isn't. We are having the quietest year here in more than 10 years and there are people looking for work in every town.
Again, forget the English estate agents and get a package holiday. Find something long term once you are over. English estate agents charge a month "finder's fee", a month deposit plus 1 or 2 months rent. If you rent from a Canarian you don't have to pay more than 1 month rent (and usually a deposit) - why pay an estate agent 500 euros or more "finder's fee" if you don't have to? You can find rental properties once you are here via word of mouth, people who work here or in the local newspapers (some of which are in English).
It's not worth having a Spanish CV unless your Spanish is fluent, in which case go for it.
It's a good idea to bring 6 months rental money with you in case it takes you a while to find something.
I don't mean to be pessimistic, Alexandra, but arm yourself with all the best info before you come over and you'll be better prepared when you are here to find somewhere to live and somewhere to work.
First of all you should aim to pick up something like bar, restaurant or hotel work until you get to know the place. Then you can expand your circle of friends/acquaintances, get to know the area better and find something else to do workwise. Take whatever you can get first of all. Once you are working you can find something else. There are a lot of people here looking for work so obviously you don't want to be one of those.
I've worked here for 10 years and have never had a CV, Spanish or English.
Victoria
Thanks for the info it really helps!!!!
I just hope I can find a job nxt year so I can stay in Gran Canaria I love it on the island and feel more at home there than back here in England.
Thanks again. Alexandra
Can I just ask everyone sending me emails about whether I can find them a job (and there are quite a few of you!) the answer is NO.
I'm not a job agency.
If you want to work in Gran Canaria, get a return ticket, get a Spanish sim card, learn Spanish and bring enough money for 6 months rent.
That's how it is!
Victoria
How muxh is monthly rent in Gran Canaria?
Read the hub!
Thanks for a great hub, was very interesting to get an insight from someone who lives and works in Gran Canaria.
Zaheer :-)
Vic could you get me a job please, pretty pretyy please :-)
this is all very intresting and helpfull.want to move over aswell but wondering if anyone is thinking of moving over soon aswell would be helpfull to no someone
@Nettech - thanks!
@Paul - no! lol
@Tina - :-)
Hi All,
I have just returned from GC having just signed for m new apartment in Mogan. I intend to come out for good early April ( this year ), I am a qualified accounting technician and have worked in bars and restaurants along the way, currently I work in a pharmacy at the weekends also. I first came to GC 5 years ago and have been tackling my move ever since so to eventually make progress means the world to me. I have a 14yr old son but he will stay in Ireland with my parents. I have been studying spanish for 3 years also but it's important that I improve on this asap. I am just slightly concerned regarding the employment front as it will be essential that I source a job as I need to pay my mortgage.
I'm not asking to find me a job but any advice or guidance in the right direction would be greatly appreciated.
Muchas Gracias
Carmel,
What kind of work are you looking for? If it's accountancy you will need to speak perfect Spanish and, if so, you will probably want to search for work in Las Palmas or Telde, one of the most populated and busiest areas.
In one way you might want to do your research before coming over for good but also you should seek jobs online and apply. You never know.
If you worked in a pharmacy in GC I assume your Spanish is very good. Check out the ads in www.laprovincia.es for work, as well as other websites online. If you have some money saved, you could come over here and then just do the legwork and apply everywhere. Something will come up and if you have some savings it doesn't matter if it takes a while.
It's winter right now and low season. Things should start to pick up around late March/early April if you want to get another bar/restaurant job until you find something else.
Good luck with everything!!
Victoria :-)
You can drive from Mogan to Las Palmas or Telde in 45 minutes so the commute shouldn't be a problem if you have your driving licence.
Victel thanks for your hasty response. I can gather that I really need to attack the job front once I arrive, I work in a pharmacy here in Ireland, my spanish is very basic but I do hope to improve.
I think the best bet is possibly to get a bar / restaurant job until I get more established and then expand my my options.
I do have my driving licence and I do intend to get a car when I arrive.
I don't have savings but hopefully will have at least a few months mortgage payments upfront so I can be more flexible.
I really appreciate your advice and thanks for your good wishes.
Carmel
You're welcome Carmel. I can't stress enough that you DO need to have some savings when you come over. You can't rely on walking in to a job immediately.
If your Spanish is basic there are various courses you can do once you are over in GC, plus obviously chat to the locals - it helps!
I hope to have a bit, although it will be vital I get a job also!! Yeh, I was told of the language school and I intend to enrol there also.
Thanks again Victel, I am just sooo ecited about getting out there. :)
Very nice article! Wondering if you would be able to give me some advice. I'm currently living in US, lived here over 7 years, originally from Finland. Speak fluent English and little bit of Spanish (used to live in Seville). I work as a front office manager in a hotel. I have a college degree in hospitality management. How hard it is to get a hotel job in Canary Islands? Do you have any idea how much they pay? I'm just looking into relocating to Europe and I've always loved Spain. Visited Canary Island many times and like I said lived in Spain for little bit over a year. Thanks!
Hi, I´m student and I want summer job in Gran Canaria.I will want come in early june, is it possible now when world is in depression get job??Next I want hire flat or only room with another flatmates but I don´t know how much it can cost, Don´t you know?And don´t you have any contact for anybody who will rent flat or room not as hotel:)??
Excuse for my english i´m not native speaker:)
see you in Gran Canaria
Thank you and see you in Gran canaria
It is possible Michal but it won't be easy. You need either reasonably good English or good Spanish. You need to be in Gran Canaria before you begin looking. The cheapest apartment share might be 150 or 200 euros per person per month (maybe a 600 euro apartment between 3 people, for example). I don't know of any rooms available right now but you should book a week or two in a cheap hotel when you come, so you have time to find something else.
Do you know if there is a lifeguard job in Gran Canaria? I am from Bulgaria and have a certificate from here for lifeguard.
Could you help me to apple for a job in the island? Thanks
There are pools and plenty of sea so, yes, there are also lifeguard jobs. You will, of course, need to speak Spanish to work in Gran Canaria, since it is a Spanish island and your employers will be Spanish.
Of course, there are options to get into property sales. The property market here is shortly to emmerge from a trough. This will create many career openings. People with a relavant background stand a better chance.
Please, is better looking for job(barman,waiter,cook) in Las Palmas or Playa del Ingles or Mogan or Puerto Rico?How does public traffic looks? Are there any bus lines? And how much is cost for example from Las Palmas to Playa del Ingles??Because I don´t know where will be better looking for flat.
Michal, you won't get anything in Las Palmas unless you speak Spanish. Playa del Ingles or Puerto Rico are other options. Are you a qualified cook/chef? There is a bus from Las Palmas to the resorts in the south of Gran Canaria which takes about 45 minutes (about 5 euros each way I think) or from Vecindario to the south (30 minutes and about 3 euros each way). Alternatively you can live in the resort where you work. You have to live there before finding work and you will need a Spanish mobile phone number and enough money to live on for a few weeks in case you don't find work immediately.
hey i got back from puerto rico a week ago.we was there for 3 and a half weeks due to the volcano and i loved every minute of it.im hoping to go over to work there next year as i made many friends who work there and after chatting to them they have convinced me to give it a go.what time of the year do you suggest i try going out to find work and accomadation????x
Hey Victel, i was hoping you could answer a few questions for me :), i live in Cyprus at the moment but am becoming fed up here as the cypriot people on a whole are very rude and have no concern for anybody else, i have been here over 4 yrs but have decided to leave now as there are also extensive road works going on and prices are climbing all over the island, the way the roads are put back together are idealy suited for 4x4 motors so as you can emagine are very poor, i have decided to move to the canarys as i have always wanted to live in a spanish inviroment so want to move to the Canarys woo hoo :), my questions are, 1- i am a painter and decorator so is there alot of work out there like that but i am preparred to work any job but a job to be more like shop keeping or gardning, maybe helping out in the kitchen of a restaurant although i don't have too much experience, so basicly is there a fair amount of work at the minuet there if one isn't choosy, my second question is out of all the Canary islands which one would you say is the safest to move to for work and accomodation and which parts, any help on this would be most appriciated, actualy i do have a third question, what are the prices like there for buying things like music sterios, tv's etc, thanks for any help :). Dan
@Sara: Just before the summer season, so April or very early May
@Daniel: I wouldn't say there is a "lot" of work as such, but if you're prepared to take anything for now including shop or barwork you might find something. The summer season is fast approaching though so get yourself over fast. You don't need to speak Spanish if you're planning to live in one of the resorts (although of course it helps). I've lived in Gran Canaria and visited Fuerteventura (quieter) and Tenerife (busier). I'd say either GC or Tenerife for work and living in general. Electronics are a bit cheaper than in the UK but not that different. Oh - and yes prices are climbing in the Canaries, it isn't just Cyprus. The drivers are lunatics too!
Thankyou for your advise, will write again if i can think of anything else :)
Hi Vic. I`m living currently in Spain (Costa Brava) and I`m looking foward to move to GC. I`m working here at disco (floor staff or doorman). Can You PLEASE tell me what`s the best time to come to GC (I know that You write before summer but right now because of crisis it`s hard to tell - even in my city season should start one month ago and now it`s still quiet). Thanks & Regards.
HI vic,living in England but want to sell up and relocate to Gran Canaria,my husband is 50 and works for electricity company as a cable joiner and i am an learning support assistant in a school is there any work out there like that,or my husband could do gardening or a handyman doing odd jobs in a hotel,we dont speak spanish but would be willing to learn if and when we get out there
@Matt: Usually just before the summer season starts, which would be mid-April. Then just trawl around all the bars and clubs, asking and leaving your phone number. Obviously nothing is guaranteed. Also you can find work at other tiems of the year too, you just need to be lucky.
http://www.cunningcanary.com/889/do-you-need-to-sp
@Sharon: There are a lot of people for not so many jobs throughout Spain and the Canaries right now and it might be hard. I'm not saying it would be impossible but not speaking Spanish wouldn't work in your favour.
http://www.cunningcanary.com/480/can-you-live-perm
You would need to take enough money with you to survive on until you find work and the wages for unskilled work (that covers most jobs where you don't speak the language) are pretty low. There are schools but again, speaking spanish would be really useful.
hi is there many carpentry jobs over there ????
Hey!
My name is Dorota and I come from Poland. I would like to know if it's possible to find any waitressing jobs in Gran Canaria at the moment? I speak fluent English and Russian but just a little Spanish. I have about 1-year experience in waitressing and I'm thinking about going to Gran Canaria in 1-2 weeks. I'll be grateful for any guidelines!
@Dave Young: if you speak Spanish there will be considerably more. If not, you might find something but it will be hard.
@Dorota: It's the middle of the summer season so most places already have their staff. However you might be lucky. Again, it helps to speak Spanish or another language in addition to English (and Polish) so the fact that you speak a few languages will help.
Hi Victel,I'm thinking to move in G.C and I would like to know do you think it could be a good moment to invest some money there, to open somethingh? I'm always worked in tourism and as director of Gym center clubs. Now, tired of winter, I'm looking to move opening a bed and breakfast with some outdoor's activity included (but I'm also available to better ideas) with another person who is really interested and have some money (50% with me,I don't want to invest more than 80.0000,00 euros )I think it could be right time because the economy is low and to invest should be easier. I'm Italian, speak a very good Spanish, English (good level) and of course, Italian, looking for a partner who speaks fluently English, German and if possible Russian.
Roberto, your capital and languages obviously work in your favour, as does your experience. Proceed with caution because things are still quite low right now. However, if you do your research properly and choose a good opportunity there's no reason why you shouldn't be successful. You do need a Canarian (or Spanish) partner if you want to open a business in the Canary Islands but he (or she) doesn't have to control a certain percentage of the business. Good luck with whatever you do!
hey great to find a page that has so many answeres about the questions that comes to my mind... :) im a bit curious as well. i want to go out, my dad is going in october 20th =) im just going along for some adventure im scandavian"from iceland" and i anderstand and speak english perfectly, icelandic as well, danish and norweigan and föregan as well. and iw'e studied spanish but it aint perfect , know the basics... i am 17 going 18 years old.. i was thinking.. what is the avarage age in there for like waitresses and bartenderts ;) iwe worked in iceland since i was growing to my 13 year in stores resturants as supermarkets KFC fridays pizzaplaces , car engeneering ... i have very much experience in almost everything. im polite and everything imployers"thejob it self" wants from employers
iwe been in school for one year learning mechanist . and i hace drivers license for motorbike up to 35HP and cars up to 3500 KG=) here in iceland we start working very young id like answere about how they take young people to jobs if you know that, does age matter or just maturity ;) ? cause im really mature
Hi Berglind,
I'm glad you like the thread. Staff in the Canaries start around 16 years old I guess, although they don't tend to check up on things like that so maturity is a definite plus, as is appearing to be over 16.
Sounds like you have a good work attitude. You're coming over right in the middle of Scandi season too. Those are always good languages to have when looking for work in Gran Canaria. I have to ask - what on earth is Foregan?!
Victoria
hehe faroeislands :D maby i didnt write it correctly. its færeyska - faroesk .. on icelandic ;) its the faroe - island langues :D http://www.google.is/images?q=faroe%20island&oe=ut this is the country :) its like old icelandic that langues . almost the same =) small island in scandavia
Hi,
i've seen quite a lot of comments about working for the summer only; are there still jobs arounnd for winter? i thought GC was busy at that time of year, i was hoping to come out in October time to start looking for work.
thanks
GC is busy in the winter too but with Scandies not British or Irish mainly.
Hi, My girlfriend and I are planning on moving to GC soon, I remember that there was a block of cheap studio apartments in San Fernando would you know what the name of them is.
I have a medium level of spanish and german, and my girlfriend speaks only english at the moment, but we will both learn spanish while there, any ideas of jobs that we would be suited for. no need to be together.
SAMDREW
There are lots of cheap apartments in the San Fernando area. The first one I lived in was called Habitat but that's a real dump! Your Spanish and German will be handy and San Fernando is 5 or 10 minutes walk from Playa del Ingles... should be bar jobs, restaurant jobs etc there.
thanks,
Any ideas on whether it is possible to get jobs at the resorts like Anfi or some of the big ones in Maspalomas, and if so where to look?
Samdrew
Anything is possible but you must present yourself in person and take along a CV. Do some research online first.
Hi there, im looking into moving over to Gran Canaria (either Playa del Ingles or Puerto Rico) this November, i have exstensive bar experience and also chef experience from my time workin in the french alps....do you think there will be much work around from November onwards or is it better to save more cash and come out spring time ready for next summer? how many months rent do you have to put down as a bond? thanks in advance....feel free to email me at funk05@hotmai.co.uk
Hi, I am hardware debugger (IT) but i wish to work as a clown. I work as an animator for kids parties five years. Do you think I could find some jobs in the field entertainment? I think twisted baloons is as an attraction even for adults. My band website is www.petreceri-fermecate.ro. I recently started learning Spanish. With friendship, Emilian
My wife and i would like to start a bed and breakfast or a small shop we are open to any suggestions any ideas thanks
@Ashley - If you speak any Scandinavian languages, November might be lucky, else I'd say save up and wait longer. For rentals, you usually pay one month rent plus one month deposit. If you use an agency they usually want 2 weeks or one month "finder's fee" too so try to get something private from the newspaper or website so you don't have to fork out an extra few hundred
@Emilian - There are animation jobs for some of the bigger hotels, so you might want to update your CV. You'll need the Spanish. Being a clown won't pay as much as a hardware debugger of course!
@Graham - That's a very broad question!! Do some research about Gran Canaria and check this - http://www.cunningcanary.com/735/relocating-to-gra - and the linked posts underneath it.
Victoria
Thank you for your comments Victoria. I need two saleswomen for working in our next sex boutique in Playa del Inglés. We are not a sex shop. Visit our website to www.toysandlove.com
If you met people who speaks spanish, english and german please say them I need people to work.
My email is laspalmas@toysandlove.com
We are going to open this week.
Best regards.
Alex.
Thanks Victoria, but you can name some big hotel...if you know?
There are hundreds!!! Try doing a Google search.
Hi Vic, was very impressed with this site. I was wondering are there any web sites or links advertising apartment sharing in Puerto Rico. So far the cheapest rent I have found is with Cardenas but this only advertises an entire apartmet/duplex. Is this one of the agencies you are talking about which charge a finders fee etc.? Any help is greatly appreciated.
Leah if you're in Gran Canaria you can pick up a copy of Tips & Info or Round Town News and browse the classifieds. Look for something private because Cardenas is an agency adn therefore charges a half (or a whole, I'm not sure) month's rent as "finder's fee". If you're not yet in GC, you should book a 2 week package holiday and spend the 2 weeks while you're there looking for something else. You can try www.canaryforum.com and www.gran-canaria-info.com for apartment sharing. Good luck!
hi victel,
me and my friend want to look for a full time job, we are willing to do any job role there is available apart from comission based jobs. if you have any details to sent me via email on cheryl_rolo@hotmail.co.uk please do so. as we are looking to move asap, thank you..cheryl :)
hiii im just wondering is it gonna be hard to find a job for the winter season? iv worked away 4 seasons in diffrent countries im a qualified life gaurd and im experienced in workin in animation. but would mind doind any job PR or bar work anything thats available if any 1 could help me im willing to come out next week please contact me on foxyroxy_834@hotmail.com thanks :)
Hola Guapa
A well written article and above all, honest and to the point. After following the comments I have to admit that I began to feel sorry for you as you were rapidly transformed into a consultant, job agency, tour guide, insurance broker. Have I missed anything out lol.
hiya im looking to move out in the new year time, but i only have a week to find some where to live do u think thats possible? thanks :D
It is not IMpossible I suppose but it will be difficult! Can you extend the trip by another week if you need to? If not, I would be more concerned about running out of money before you find a job.
Hi Victoria!
I am happy to see it's possible to find such a helpful person like u are!Me and my bfriend decided we also want to try in GC,and for your advise we picked(i read twice your description)Puerto Rico.My question is,if we want to stay there at first as a vacation for 2-3 weeks,and try to find job,do u know any cheap accomodation to stay!?Of course both of us searching on the net,but if u know some by name,would be easier for us.Is that possible to keep in touch with u by my personal e-mail adress?mihalyalexandra@gmail.com.I would have some more questions if u don't mind.Thank u for your answer ahead!Alex
Hi Alex, thanks for the compliments! I have lived in the Netherlands for a while no so I'm not sure about the current status of work/accommodation in GC. If you were going to Playa del Ingles I know of a cheap place to stay called Nilo (everyone there knows it). It's basic but maybe a good starting point. There are cheap apartment complexes in Puerto Rico too. The best thing is to book minimum a 2 week package and then start looking for somewhere. When I moved to Puerto Rico from Playa del Ingles I just drove around until I saw signs on the outside of buildings (there are lots of them) and called the numbers to ask the rent. If you don't speak Spanish you can use an agency. They charge half a month rent as "finder's fee" but at least they speak English and will always have a good selection of properties. These are easy to find in PR. Make sure you save up enough money to keep you going for a few MONTHS in case you don't find work immediately.
Best of luck!
Victoria
Hi Vic!
Thank you for the answer!U know we are planning to go next year so we want to prepair ourselves for it.I would have some more to ask,if u don't mind.
So I think u mentioned before, i just want to make sure,the best time to go is around march!?
My boyfriend speaks fluently english and german but he is a sound technician and now he also works as a photographer and graphic designer(in my country,Hungary u need to have more job...)We are wondering if it's possible for him to get this kind of job,or we should think at first in hospitality!?I read from u also this PR job..which place is the easiest to get that?Playa del Inglés is also for example?
Thank u for your patience!...:-)
Alex
March or April - just before the busy season starts. Hospitality is always a good place to start and your boyfriend needs to learn Spanish if he wants to work with Spanish people. PR or Playa del Ingles are good places to begin.
Thank u so much one more time!
I will write if we have more question,but i think it's enough to start,we just need to collect some money...
Take care!
Alex
Hi we are looking to move to gran can early next year, we have been comming to the island for the past 10 years, my hubby is a qualified carpenter, we have 2 children which i teach from home and we have been learning spanish for over 2 years my hubby cant speak much but myself and the kids are quite fluent. before i took them out of school i was a legal sec and a medical trials researcher prior to that i was a beautician, mainly specialising in nails. what are the job prospects like at the mo? could my hubby find work as a maintainence man. we have a time share with anfi, what would you suggest, i guess your pretty bored of being asked this
we have just started to rent out our property in england and are about 3 months away from having £3000 to start us off on our move, is that enough do you think?? we are coming over for 2 weeks in jan, part for a hol and part to start looking, any tips??
we are desperate to make this work and having 2 children aged 10 and 6 makes it alot more of a responsibility please advise,
regards
chewykk
Having the kids obviously means it's more of a challenge but yes, it's possible. I don't know of any jobs going anywhere right now but you should be on the island to look. I came over with a few thousand and that kept me going (as a single person, at the time) for a few months. There are English-speaking beauticians in the south so you might be lucky. A maintenance man would need to have fluent Spanish so the owners of the property could communicate with him. January is pretty quiet except for Scandinavians but it'll give you a good chance to have a look around and see what's available.
Good luck with everything,
Victoria
Hola Victoria,
You having a great article for people who never been to this place.I have been living here more than 3 years.This month is January 2011 the weather here a little more cooler than last year.It's also this time the number of tourist come to Playa del Ingles less than before.I went to beach yesterday there were very small group of the tourists.It's may be of the CRISIS! and a lot problem with many flights delay in many countries in Europe.
I'm still enjoying traveling in Playa del Ingles and enjoying taking the beautiful pictures around the Maspalomas beach.It's Amazing!
Hola,
Glad you're enjoying yourself. I'm living in the Netherlands now and it's 2 degrees C! I expect it's quiet with the crisis. I lived in GC for 11 years and every year was quieter and quieter.
Have fun with the photos. There are some beautiful things to get pictures of.
Victoria
Hola!
Great information Vic, very helpful indeed. I am moving in a few weeks with my friend we have booked flights and two weeks into a hotel we have £1000 do you think we will have enough with this to find somewhere to live/rent? And is it a good time to search for work?
Thankyou!
1000 euros is only one month's rent plus the deposit! So let's hope you're lucky. Also January and february are usually very quiet. But good luck, hope you find something. Do you have a return flight in case not?
Hello what months would you say are best to move out to puerto rico to look for work, i obviously do not want to go over too soon where it is very hard work to find work but i went in july last year and they already had theyre staff so i dont want to come when all jobs have been taken. and how much is an ideal amount of money to bring over when you want to move??
Amy there are no hard and fixed rules but my advice would be to come in March, April or early May, just before the beginning of the summer season. I moved out in May and it was still quiet but coming in June is cutting it fine. Bring several months rent with you - at least 2000 pounds. Just in case.
Hi victel,
I am a dj from the uk and i am looking at moving abroad but not sure where how hard is it to get dj work out in gc i play mainly house music.
Sam
I worked in GC as a DJ for a few years. If you're good you ought to be able to find work but a lot of the bars like DJs who don't mind talking a bit on the mike etc. You'd be better coming over for a 1 or 2 week holiday and trying to visit all the bars/clubs when you're over to ask about jobs.
Hi Victel,
Me and my friend have booked our flight to GC for early May, We will be staying and looking for work in playa del ingles we have booked apartment for 1st month while there to look for work and accommodation and we have £1500 to keep us going till we find work. is this enough? and is it possible to find work if you do not speak spanish, not fussy at all about what we will be doing whether it be in a bar hotel or whatever? We intend just to be there for summer season so just want summer job! cheers, great site btw very helpful!
Hi Luke, that's enough for 2 months' rent plus food so it ought to be OK if you find something. Just do what I suggested before and go around EVERY hotel, bar and restaurant, leaving your Spanish number (buy a Spanish sim card there) until you find work. There IS work if you aren't fussy about what you do. May is a good time to go out.
Best of luck!
Hi Victel,
I was thinking of moving to grand canaria to do some summer work and I was wondering if you know many people who work remotely doing IT. Is the internet fast enough to do that there?
Thanks,
James
You can get speeds up to 3 Mbps or at least that was the max when I lived in the south of the island.
Hi
I lived in PR 3 years ago and i am getting sick of England now but would like a better job than in a bar, do you know of any child care establishments (nursery,nanny, babysitting, creche, children's clubs) that would be willing to take on someone english?
Anyone thinking of moving in the summer please contact me, im female 26 from manchester.
hallie3@live.co.uk
I have no idea but I expect such establishments would want their staff to speak Spanish. What about applying to a travel agency? I know plenty of reps (Thomas Cook, First Choice, Thomson etc) who work in GC, some in the children's clubs and others doing other things.
Hi vic! Just to say great website has helped alot,
I'm from Scotland and me and my partner is looking for hospitality jobs, I'm a chef and
my partner has several management experience and bar work, but my questions are what part would you think would be best to move too? We were thinking gc or Malaga! But we would think that staying in the resort areas would be best! We know the basics of Spanish but will be taking classes and buying
learning books, we are going to
go in February next year for a week and have a look and hand in cvs and get spanish sim card, but we are finding appartment finding a bit difficult as we don't know where exactly to go if it's a good or bad area as we have no idea, thanks Sarah
I've never been to Malaga so can't tell you anything about it. As far as GC goes, if you already speak a bit of Spanish and you work in catering/hospitality, you have a good chance of finding something. February is very quiet. You might want to leave it until late March or even April, unless you can afford not to work for a month or so (or you might be lucky and find something before).
Re the apartments, why don't you book a 2 week package, then you have 2 weeks in a hotel and you can look at apartments yourself when you're over? Most people do that.
Here's a job in Gran Canaria beginning August 1, 2011. Might suit any chefs:
how easy would it be to move out to gran canaria and find work (anything) and live comfortably . are there lots of jobs availble
hi, im looking to come over between the end of march and april time for 2weeks, to look for a job , will be booking a return flight holiday. do you think that is the right time to come over?
thank you
Hi
I'm coming over next week with my girlfriend to look for work. we've both got bundles of experience in bars- I've been a supervisor in a very popular bar in Ibiza for 4 summers. We've got a bit of money for an apartment but we will need to work soon. My girlfriend is italian with good English and Spanish, I'm English and my Spanish is only basic.
Do you think we'll be able to find something for the winter with a view to staying the summer or are we just plain loco?
Cheers
Myles
Hey Victel,
nice hub here and all you said, is right.
I stay in the wintertime at Gran Canaria for 13 years now. I would suggest to everybody,who want to start here, to save enough money for one year.
In my case, it`s 1000.-€/month. You can get a small appartment for 600.-€ and with 100.-€/week you can live.
Put half of the money on your bank account in your home country and don`t touch it.
Take the other 6.000.-€, get a flight ticket, and come over here. If you don`t have to share a appartment, it`s easy to find a nice small holiday appartment for 600.-€.
You will enjoy the first few weeks, without having stress to find a job. You can look around and check your options. Be prepaired to work more for less money, than in your home country.
98% of the people who come to GC, will fail. Thats a fact. Clever people have saved a couple of thousands on their bank account. It will be much easier to restart, when you went back.
The island will change the look, when you have to make money here.
I never needed a job here and that is a good thing, because the only jobs i take, are good jobs and well paid. If you need a job, to pay the rent and your food, you have to do any crap. And most of the jobs are crap.
I understand, that everybody want`s to stay in the sun, but do it the right way.
Good luck to all of you.
Mike
I have been looking at websites like grancanariaguru.com and grancanariajob.com to find a job in Gran Canaria. There are a few different type of jobs to apply on. I don't think all of the jobs are crap, but of course, we are many people that want to move to Gran Canaria so the best jobs are hard to get.
I applied to a job on http://grancanariajob.com waiting for response. Hiking guide, I would love to get that!
I will advise everyone without lots of money to get a job before movong.
my husband and i are moving to mas palomas by end of this month(MAY),i am a filipina and i only speak english,do you think i can find a work there easily?i need some advice from you,thanks..
would that be easy to go and find a job just for the summer if i went in july? i am spanish and I speak psnaish, english and some italian
Useful Websites
- Cunning Canary
A blog about everything to do with the island of Gran Canaria - Gran Canaria Info
A website about the island of Gran Canaria, full of tips and useful advise about visiting or living in Gran Canaria - Gran Canaria & The Canary Islands
All the holiday information you need about Gran canaria and the resorts of Puerto Rico, Playa del Ingles and Maspalomas, accommodation, weather, beaches, maps.... from someone living there! - Tales from Gran Canaria
Some stories from my time on the island.
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Val 3 years ago
Very interesting, well written and anyone reading it would definitely want to visit Gran Canaria - I would imagine you could run a Welcome to Gran Can Company and make everyone feel wanted whether a holidaymaker or possible worker. Well done.