The National Statistics Institute in Spain has just released the details of a survey which shows that an enchufe is the most popular method of finding a job. Nearly half of all Spanish employees find work through contacts, which shows how important contacts are. For foreign people working in Spain, the percentage is even higher at 61.4%, although the number of jobs is far fewer.
In contrast, during the last five years, only 22.2% have found work by applying directly to a company and 6.9% through answering advertisements. Agency numbers are even lower, with only 2.5% of people finding a job through the state employment service and 3.6% via private agencies.
Spain still has a very high unemployment rate, at about 23%, so when a job becomes available there's a flood of applicants. Spanish employers prefer to take on Spaniards for a job in Spain and that's quite natural. Culture and language do make a difference which explains why foreigners attract their own nationals too. Understanding the way people work and to be able to communicate well are obvious advantages. Foreign labour has lost out, especially in more menial work, as the Spanish are now prepared to do jobs that they previously shunned. For example, cheap, foreign labour was used for fruit picking and, as it's been replaced by Spaniards, many of the foreigners without work have had to leave the country. The benefit system is far from generous.
The lesson from the statistics, therefore, is to know as many people as possible if you're looking for a job and to tell them all that you want to work. There's nothing clever about that, it has happened for years. What has changed during the economic downturn is the increased number of applicants for each job, so the chance of using your own qualifications and skills to be noticed by a potential employer has diminished. Being able to complete an application form isn't enough as a job may not even be advertised. If it is, you can be one of hundreds. Bypassing that because a friend or relative knows the boss is a huge advantage.
My first job, during school holidays, was for my uncle. Since then, there has been no string pulling and I've had to rely on interviews; but I have been instrumental in helping others and was pleased to do so. Matching an efficient potential employee with a good job makes everyone content. Knowing people and using contacts is a type of networking. Some choose to do that in an organised way to advance; others do it without realising. Telling friends and family that you want a job can be very successful. Someone knows someone who knows someone and ........ you're offered a job. The enchufe works and the connection is made.