Lanzarote Information

First let me give you the bad news: Getting a job in Lanzarote from abroad is pretty much impossible. You really need to be here to get work.

Now for the good news: There is work available here!

First, let's talk about the type of work available to you. Obviously the tourism sector is the largest employer on the island, and they offer all the jobs you would expect, from chamber maids to hotel managers and from bar and restaurant staff to tour reps and managers. Additionally there is the whole supporting infrastructure, which might see you working as a boat hand on a pleasure vessel, a scuba diving instructor or even an entertainer in a hotel or bar.

What many people forget is that, as with any economy, there are all the "normal" jobs as well, administrative roles, managerial roles, insurance and banking jobs and so on. But for many of these Spanish language skills are essential. However, there are many businesses on the island owned by English speakers, who will be happy to employ you as well. British owned businesses here include the obvious bars and estate agents, but also printers, pool companies, building firms and even accountants.

So how do you go about getting a job? The answer is by working hard at it! Many, many job vacancies here are filled by word of mouth. There is a sophisticated grapevine here amongst business owners, probably because there aren't job centres or employment agencies on the island. So the answer is to tap into that grapevine and tell everyone you meet that you're looking for work - sooner or later your phone will ring and someone will be asking you to pop in and see them. If you're looking for bar work for example, then call in to all the bars in your area and ask them if they have work available, if they don't, be sure to leave them your contact details.

There are more conventional methods. Check the local magazines like The Gazette and You Sell, have a look online at the key Lanzarote websites like www.lanzarote.com www.gazettelive.com and www.discoverlanzarote.com and maybe target certain local companies and send them an email with your CV. Another common way of getting work here is to place an advertisement of your own on the websites, in the magazines or even on the many noticeboards which are provided in public places like Deiland Shopping Centre, The English Cash and Carry, or in the larger petrol stations - it's not very sophisticated, but it works!

Over the next few days I will be adding posts about employment contracts information about being self employed or owning and running your own business on the island. Links will appear in this post, so either check back or click the RSS feed so we can keep you up to date. You can read about work contracts, taxation and social security here.

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Also check these out:

1/ Work contracts in Lanzarote

2/ Being self employed in Lanzarote

3/ Running a business in Lanzarote

4/ Jobs Update January 2009

5/ Local jobs at Lidl supermarkets