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Why just visit Spain when you can live there?” proclaims the brochure advertising Don Quijote’s Spanish and Hotel Internship programme, which is one of the options for students interested in more than just language study in the country. There is a wide range of internship programmes available in Spain and a limited selection of paid work programmes, although as Erin Corcoran at Don Quijote points out, theirs “is definitely not a money-making experience, but a training experience”.
Programme participants on the hotel internship programme receive a “tiny stipend that offsets expenses”, she says – between e200 (US$312) and e400 (US$624) a month – and their accommodation is provided while they spend two months working in a hotel after an initial language course. “This is essentially an internship programme for students interested in the hospitality/tourism business as a long-term career,” says Corcoran. Open to students from the EU, Norway, Iceland, Switzerland, the USA, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and Japan, this option is, however, one of the few that enables participants to recoup some money spent on their overseas experience.
Another such programme is offered by Coined Spain, which offers students the chance to “self-finance” their stay in the country with jobs in and around Barcelona and Marbella in industries such as hospitality and catering. Only European nationals may apply for the course but they will be paid at least minimum wages while on the Work & Travel in Spain programme.
Mariela Ruth Tosas at Coined International says the programme has only been running this year. “It has been no problem so far” to find employer partners to work with, she recounts, adding, “We think the programme will grow significantly.”
Elsewhere, unpaid internship opportunities are generally the order of the day in Spain, with many providers pointing to growing interest in spending a few months in a Spanish business environment learning business and language skills after a targeted language programme. Jill Arcaro at Best Programs in Madrid reports, “We have been doing internship placements for over 10 years and we see the interest in practical learning increasing, as its importance is being recognised in official academic and government circles.”
Arcaro cites the European Community’s standardised university degree programme as having a mandatory one year internship within its five-year framework. “The greatly increasing popularity of the Spanish language, as well as culture, only seems to [help] the popularity of the programme and its usefulness to participants for their future endeavours,” she says.
At Centro Humboldt Barcelona, Director, Klaus Schumacher, says they have a wide range of companies – more than 140 – with which they can place clients, so all types of vocational interest can be accommodated. “Examples of popular placements are tourism, event management, marketing, advertising and design,” he says.
Schumacher lists a number of reasons for students to undertake an internship: to gain international work experience; improve future work opportunities; gain cross-cultural competence and improve language skills. “Last but not least, Barcelona is a special city,” he says.
At Enforex, Madrid has been the city of focus for internship opportunities for seven years, explains Caroline Norris, while Barcelona, Seville, Salamanca and Valencia were added as options three years ago.
Placements can be made in a range of industries, although Enforex counsels clients that opportunities are scarcer in July and August when many companies close or have less work. “We see a very good market for this sector due to many students wanting to have an experience within a Spanish company and the attractive destination,” says Norris.
To ensure students make the most of their experience, most operators expect a minimum stay on a preliminary language course before placement of four weeks, as is the case at Enforex.
European students are most likely to enrol for an internship, agree operators active in this sector, although Norris points to Brazil and the USA and Schumacher points to Russia as another notable source country.
In terms of recruiting students for work & study programmes, most operators point to the usual recruitment channels of agencies and the Internet. Arcaro adds, “We have a bulletin which we send to a mailing list of 10,000 and also advertise with magazines and some universities as well.” She reports programme participants from all over the world, “but the majority are from various English speaking countries since we [promote ourselves] on the Internet and there are more people using online search methods in these countries than in others.”
Tips on Spanish working culture
“Spanish business culture is, in general, more relaxed than in the USA or Northern Europe. With the exception of consulting and banking, the business atmosphere is collegial and work is seen as a way to make a living rather than something to invest all of one’s time in. People work hard, but they also rest hard. Lunch breaks are respected and interns are not expected to stay after hours. Workers often take a number of smoke or coffee breaks throughout the day, especially in the morning. Female students should be advised that Spanish males might be less reserved when giving compliments than men in their home countries. This should not be viewed as any kind of harassment.
Male and female colleagues who are friends often flirt with one another but this is never disrespectful. Sexual harassment or discrimination tends to be quite obvious and is not tolerated. Outside of the banking or consulting sector, where women are expected to dress in suits, workers have a varied dress code. Always dress business formal for job interviews and you should not accept any cigarettes, even if you are a smoker. You may have to take the initiative if asking for more or varied tasks. Most Spanish companies have little experience with foreigners and may not realise when you are bored/stressed/overwhelmed. Make clear your expectations, but don’t make demands.”
Source: Enforex
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