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Are you considering studying abroad in Spain? Madrid and Barcelona top the charts for being two highly international cities with vibrant economies from business and information technologies to fashion and tourism; there is no better professional environment you could choose to balance your studies with work opportunities. Leading companies like Santander Bank, Hosco, British Airways, Glovo, Freixenet, Microsoft and many others scout out our students for internships and employment openings.
It may seem like a big commitment at first, juggling your education with your professional endeavors, but it will have a huge pay off. Take advantage of your time studying abroad and invest in working in Spain. Getting international work experience will be a huge defining factor that can give you the leading edge over your peers and competitors.
Want to know more? Here are five benefits of combining study and work:
1. Develop a new set of skills
Take the knowledge you gain from your studies and put it to practical use. Combining study and work will play an important role in your personal and professional development. Don’t let what you learned in the classroom fade into a distant memory; assert yourself in an environment that challenges you to tap into the newly acquired information and tests your ability to be successful in its execution. You will likely improve in managing your time, leading people, setting and meeting goals, keeping a positive, forward moving attitude and working harder with more direction.
2. Don’t stress the tuition fees
Landing a good job is a great way to deter debt and focus on long-term plans. With a fixed salary, you are able to pay the tuition fees and maybe even save some extra cash for the future.
3. Gain invaluable work experience
Add value to your CV. Let the international work experience stand out to your future employer. Showcasing your ability to work in a highly diverse, fast-paced global environment demonstrates your flexibility, open-mindedness, ability to be culturally sensitive and lead effectively. Working in Spain may pave the way to better job opportunities and more advanced study programs that require extensive work experience, such as an MBA (Master of Business Administration).
4. Work and study at the same time
Courses at GBSB Global Business School are scheduled in a way that allots students the freedom and flexibility of gaining full or part time employment. Many students who study full time during the day take on internships or employment opportunities in the afternoon or evening. With the Spanish work schedule, hours are more flexible than that of other countries in Europe and allow students a greater variety of employment options.
5. You are not the only one
Recently, it has become increasingly popular to choose to work and study. This means that universities like GBSB Global Business School have adapted their courses to be more flexible, offering part-time and online study options. Here is a list of the programs offered at GBSB Global.
Consider your options
College studies and full-time work might seem daunting but there are a number of options to consider. Let’s put things into perspective and see what works for you.
Student visa
As a non-European citizen, students are allowed to work up to 20 hours per week in Spain under a student visa. Any GBSB Global student with a student visa can work up to 4 hours per day by obtaining a special work permit. This permit is not difficult to acquire, but it does often happen that companies prefer to hire individuals that can work full-time. The student visa is useful if someone wants to earn additional money by working as a barkeep or server, for example. The work permit that allows students to engage in employment on a full-time basis, up to 3 months, is only valid when there are no classes. This means students will only be able to work outside the regularly scheduled academic year, during the summer break. This path is preferred when the job cannot be deemed an internship, and it does not relate to the student’s studies.
Part-time work or part-time study
Taking some of the pressure off either from work or study reduces stress and improves overall general performance. Find the program that is right for you.
What field do you want to study and when are the classes offered? Work with one of our GBSB Global career advisors who are here to offer support in finding professional activities that fit your agenda.
Online study
Distance-learning options are increasing in attractiveness due to a high demand of flexible study programs. Studying online is a great way to save time and money and keep in contact with a diverse student body and professional faculty with years of real-life business experience through modern technologies. Here is a list of GBSB Global’s online course offerings.
Internships
Even though some internships might not offer a salary, they are an invaluable source of business experience, networking opportunities and free training and development. Finding a good internship at a respectable company could pave the way for the future. In most cases, internships have led to full time employment opportunities after graduation. Normally, internships are not as demanding and are more easily juggled with a full course load.
Whatever you decide, taking the time to gain hands-on experience working in Spain during your study abroad program will be extremely beneficial in the long run. Not only will you have earned a highly recognized degree from GBSB Global Business School, but you will feel more confident and well prepared to meet the demands of the international marketplace with competitive experience. Invest in your career and make the commitment, balancing your work and studies in Spain will have a huge payoff.
Want to hear from our students? Click here to read some of our GBSB Global Business School alumni’s testaments.
