When Spain entered the European Community in January 1986 its economy was boosted. This enabled areas in the country like Madrid, Catalunya, Valencia, Pais Basc and Nararra, to improve the infrastructure and to conform to the EU guidelines. The result was an increased GDP growth, a reduction of the public 'debt to GDP' ratio, a drop in unemployment from 23 percent to 15 percent in three years, and a lowering of inflation to less than three percent.
However, recent economic downturns have affected the Spanish economy growth, especially for the past three years, with growing unemployment rates and difficulties to create employment in an economy heavily based in real estate investment. Unemployment, in 2011, had reached over 25 percent and 45 percent amongst the youth.
Spain still faces some challenges - including reducing the public sector deficit, further decreasing unemployment, reforming labour laws and investment regulations, further lowering inflation, and raising per capita GDP - but the country is moving surely up the ranks in Europe's economic 'hit parade'.
The labour laws inherited from Franco's time together with what was defined by sociologist Gosta Sping Andersen as "the Mediterranean" welfare type, where the family network has been historically important to provide welfare (like Italy and Greece), helps explain some characteristics of the Spanish economy. (For example, labour market "outsiders" (young and women) in a market where unions defend interests of the traditional "male bread winner".)
The Spanish graduate marketplace
With a history of high unemployment, the current Spanish market still isn't an easy one, but it does offer opportunities. In particular, you should be able to find good candidates for starting positions, hiring managers and overall recruitment.
The first generation after the baby boomers has had the chance to receive a graduate education. And although knowledge of foreign languages is still a minus among Spanish society, the younger generations are more prepared and willing to work in the global marketplace.
According to the Spanish government, the sectors that have the largest growth perspectives are energy, biotechnology, information technology and the environmental sector. Spain's financial hub, Madrid, is also increasing in importance.
Energy and the renewable energy sectors (with companies like Vestas) are still growing since receiving governmental and European funds. Other economic sectors diversify with risk, and some invest in foreign markets such as Asia. (Companies have a need for more educated employees with an international background and multi lingual skills to help them manage these projects.)
Due to several factors - political influences during the era of dictator Francisco Franco, which resulted in Spain becoming rather inward-looking, significant migration in the 1970s and high unemployment in the 1990s - qualified managers in Spain have been thin on the ground. But following Spain's rapid economic modernisation, this trend is slowly but surely phasing out.
The organisational culture
The organisational culture used to be very hierarchical and bureaucratic, but it is changing due to the influence of American management theories, a growing number of young managers educated abroad and changes in Spanish society itself.
However, some things still haven't changed, for instance detailed job descriptions are rarely used, and assessment of staff is uncommon. Personal contacts are seen as the most effective route into a job, depending on the importance of the personal network.
Decisions are still taken at senior management level, often by the senior executive alone. To ask subordinates for their opinion about certain actions is seen as a weakness and will bring more uncertainty than enthusiasm in your team. Likewise, a 'compliant' employee is more appreciated than somebody who would like to instigate change.
Although times are changing, at work people still prefer to have roles clearly differentiated, such as who the decision-maker and who the boss is. Another important aspect to take into account is Spain's lack of rooted culture in planning and agendas, or no strict sense of punctuality unlike Northern European culture.
Spanish applications
When recruiting in a foreign market, it is important to understand how local recruitment habits work. In Spain, for instance, personal contacts are seen as the most effective route into a job.
The internet is increasingly becoming an important job-hunting tool, and Spanish employers usually have very attractive job sites. Online job boards continues to be the first source of recruitment (the most important being Infojobs.net ). However, advertisements in newspapers are widely used by recruitment agencies.
Depending, the 'money question' is often never tackled in the first job interview, and several interviews, up to seven, are not unusual. The most common number of interviews hovers at about three to four.
At a time, passport or ID numbers were included in CVs under the heading 'personal details', however this is becoming less common. Employers might expect certified qualifications and diplomas once you join the company or the offer has been made, but usually not before. On a CV, all former employers are listed, including tasks performed and responsibilities held. Big companies, not to much the smaller ones, request references and testimonials from former employers.
Updated 2011 / Xavier Martinez / Expatica
Xavier Martinez is a Barcelona native and human resources expert living in the Netherlands.
2006 author Nannette Ripmeester is the managing director and founder of Expertise in Labour Mobility
This article was first published by the British Association of Graduate Recruiters in their magazine Graduate Recruiter.
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Spain's economy entered the global marketplace thanks to the EU, but what does it mean as a job market? Our experts look at what you can expect when recruiting staff from this dynamic European economy.
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