Tenerife Jobs - a look at finding employment in Tenerife

For a start, it is a distinct advantage to be able to speak fluent Spanish.

If you have skills such as computing, accounting, banking, estate agency, secretarial or tourism, you might stand a chance, especially in the south of the island.

Skilled manual jobs are another possibility - car mechanic, plumbing, carpentry, electrics...even pest control!

At the bottom end of the scale, there are always opportunities in bar/restaurant work, timeshare and PR reps (those people who stop tourists in the street and try to get them to enter a bar).

Let's not forget the entertainment industry, too. If you're a singer or a speciality act like comedian or dancer, you could possibly find work, but there's no guarantee it'll be regular.

As is often the case in these sort of situations, is can boil down to "who you know", or "being in the right place at the right time".

It is possible to browse for jobs in Tenerife online, but, if you're still in your home country doing this, bear in mind that, if you see one, there'll be many people already in Tenerife who might be applying for it - and, naturally, being on the island, they'll have the advantage.

Websites Advertising Jobs

Oasis FM, one of the main English language radio stations on the island, has a daily updated page on its website for jobs.

Oasis FM Jobs Page

Other Job Websites

Job Centre Tenerife

Tenerife Marketing

Jobs In Tenerife

Tenerife Jobs: Contracts

People doing PR and bar work are usually employed on a "cash in hand" basis. They're not legal, however and, even though they can probably get away with not paying tax or social security, they cannot enjoy such benefits as free health care and unemployment benefit. There's also the major downside that, if you're caught working illegally, there'll be a hefty fine! Tenerife has so-called "work inspectors", who may turn up, unannounced, at a random venue and, if there are any members of staff (entertainers, waiters or kitchen staff) working there without a contract, the fines will fly!

For employees wishing to work legally, it is necessary to pay tax. To this purpose, an employer may initially offer a three month contract, which will then be renewed for a further three months, and so on, up to 12 months. Thereafter, the law states that a fixed, full contract must be given, which means extra benefits for the employee. Naturally, that's not acceptable for many employers, who want to get round this law in some way. They, therefore, just before the 12 months, lay off the employee for, say, six weeks, then rehire him to start again from scratch with a new temporary contract. A bit of a penny-pinching way of doing things, but at least the employee can claim unemployment benefit while he's laid off.

Information on buying or starting your own Tenerife business

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