Are you one of those who settled in Portugal for its rich culture and diverse historical landscape? Has it hit you just now that How to Find a Job in Portugal For Foreigners? Well, there is no need to panic because we have got you covered.
In this article, you will explore multiple job options that will turn out to be your stepping stone to success in finding a job in Portugal.
The Job Market in Portugal
The job market in Portugal dances to diverse tunes, ranging from tourism to textiles, automotive, electronics, and footwear. However, the job market in Portugal has recently survived an employment jolt. In 2016, Portugal faced the highest unemployment rate in the country. Recently, unemployment has been controlled, but some youngsters are still looking for an income source.
Like its culture, the job market in Portugal is also diverse and covers a wide range of industries. While staying in Portugal, you can make your place in multiple industries like hospitality, tourism, textile, footwear, automotive, construction, electronics and transportation industry.
The tourism industry has remained the cornerstone of Portugal’s economy, attracting millions of tourists every year. This industry has a plethora of jobs to offer to the foreigners as well as the locals. For instance, there are jobs related to hospitality, customer service roles, and tourism management.
Furthermore, Portugal has recently emerged as a hotspot for innovation and technology, which has attracted business startups and entrepreneurs. The tech industry covers fields like software engineering, IT services, digital marketing, and fintech.
Job Vacancies in Portugal
If you are wondering How to Find a Job in Portugal For Foreigners, you should start by searching for job vacancies in Portugal. There are various jobs in a particular field that you can go for as a foreigner. For example, the tourism industry covers jobs like hospitality and management in hotels and resorts, event management, and customer services.
Furthermore, in recent years, Portugal has also witnessed a surge in the call center industry.
Call center jobs offer a great deal of opportunities for those wondering how to find a job in Portugal for foreigners who are multilingual.
Fortunately, the yielding industries like the automotive trade and repair and construction sector have also been open opportunities for the youth seeking jobs. In addition to this, with Portugal’s commitment to sustainability, the renewable energy source sector has also been a go-to industry for the unemployed youth, especially for foreigners.
Here are some of the industries that offer job vacancies in Portugal:
- Healthcare
- Communication
- IT
- Tourism and Hospitality
- Agriculture.
How to Find a Job in Portugal For Foreigners
You don’t need to worry about the job searching and application process in Portugal because we will explore the whole procedure here. If you are trying hard to get employment in Portugal, read this guide carefully because it would be a very interesting and informative session for you.
This process involves several steps:
Research Visa Requirements:
First of all, you need to do thorough research about the visa requirements for working in Portugal. If you are not a citizen of Europe, you should have a visa. You are not authorized to do a job in any European state without it. Contact a professional consultant in Portugal or the embassy for recent updates.
Language Skills:
Having fluency in Portuguese is necessary for a person who wants to get a job in Portugal. However, there are some positions that may require English, and if you understand Portuguese at a basic level, there are many chances for your selection.
For English language requirements, you need certifications showing proof of your proficiency in English. If you have passed the tests of Oxford, IELTS, and TOEFL, you can easily get a job in organizations where the English language is preferred.
Job Search Platforms:
You can visit websites where all the updates regarding jobs are available. Some of the websites to find job listings are Indeed, FRS Portugal, LinkedIn, and local platforms like Expresso Emprego.
Networking:
If you are socially active and have a professional relationship with a large number of people, you can get updates regarding employment more easily. You can also benefit from the experiences of other people. So, always keep your network wide. To increase the size of your network, you should attend networking events, conferences, and professional gatherings. It is necessary to have connections with professionals to get a chance at employment in Portugal.
Social Media Presence:
Social media has proved to be a solution to many modern-day problems. It has come a long way from just being an entertainment space to more recruitment sites. For instance, you can join LinkedIn, which is dedicated to building a network between employees and recruiters. You can add your skills, and there you go, you get an opportunity in the relevant field.
If you were wondering how foreigners could find a job in Portugal, you should stop stressing because it is quite similar to what it was in your own homeland. Hence, you can go online looking for jobs, and who knows, you might end up landing a job opportunity.
Expatica jobs in Portugal
If you are new in Portugal and looking for job opportunities, try investing your time in Expatica Jobs. You will definitely find it a useful medium for the job hunt. On their job page, you can find jobs from multiple industries. All you have to do is to go find your desired job and apply for it.
EURES
If you are from Europe or EFTA and wondering how to find a job in Portugal for foreigners, you should go check the jobs at EURES which is a European Job Mobility portal. This portal is controlled and managed by the European Commission and is dedicated to the European incomers in Portugal to find a relevant job for them. Here, you can upload your CV and get some expert advice regarding your job hunt in your new country.
Job Sites
Apart from all other international job sites, there are some public join sites that are functional in Portugal. You can visit these sites, add filters related to your skills, and upload your CV there once you find a relevant job that meets your needs and requirements.
Here are some of the Job sites that you can rely on while finding a job:
English-Speaking Jobs
If you are fluent in English speaking, count yourself lucky. We say so because, with your English speaking skills, you can find a job much easier and earlier than you expect. There are some websites that are dedicated to jobs related to English-speaking skills. These sites include:
Recruitment agencies
When looking for ways How to find a job in Portugal for foreigners, recruitment agencies should be your first go-to place. Such agencies will guide you and advise you about your job sector and will help you explore employment options in Portugal. You can look into the Portuguese Business Directory and find the relevant jobs.
Foreign language teaching
If you want to be a teacher in a school in Portugal, you must have a qualification till graduation at least. To teach the subject of your choice, you have to show your eligibility. The same is the case with language courses. The foreigners who have cleared the English Proficiency Tests are eligible to apply for teaching English at the school level at least. In most cases, the certification of TOEFL is preferred over hiring a teacher.
We recommend you apply your CVs for teaching from September to June because vacancies are mostly open in these months. In contracts begin in September and end in late June.
You will get more opportunities of getting jobs in schools as a language teacher in the following cities.
- Lisbon
- Porto
- Coimbra
- Braga
These sites will be helpful for you to apply:
- British Council
- TEFL-associated websites: APPI or ESL Base.
Also, read about, Finding a Job in Portugal: Easy Step and Tips>>
Wrapping Up
Finding a job in Portugal can be a hectic task, but with several job sites and agencies offering job consultations, you can find one for you. There are multiple industries that can yield you enough salary in Portugal, ranging from the tourism industry to the agriculture industry. So stop wondering “How to Find a Job in Portugal for Foreigners?”
You can join multiple sites like Net Empregos, SAPO Emprego, and Empregos Online for the job hunt. Furthermore, there are some sites dedicated to the ones looking for jobs related to English speaking skills. All in all, there are multiple sites that you can visit to find a relevant job in Portugal.
