The advantages of working on the Spanish island are obvious – the weather’s a dream, there’s miles of beach close at hand and the nightlife is legendary.
Salary and perks can vary wildly, however. We’ve taken a look at the top jobs in the Med, and found out how you could land them.
Best for… a good salary
Holiday reps are the elite in Ibiza when it comes to salary. Employees earn roughly £400 per week to start, and housing and meals are often included.
However, the work isn’t easy, and the hours can often be long.“People often think that reps go out and party all the time, but they have to work really hard,” says Sarah Anderson, spokeswoman for travel company Thomas Cook.
“Honestly, our reps have to be on hand 24/7.”
Still, the job comes with lots of perks that make it worthwhile – namely, it’s a good career booster, and it comes with a ready-made social sphere of other travel-savvy twentysomethings.
For holiday rep jobs, the time to apply is now (many agencies stop accepting applications after March). Previous experience in the customer service industry is helpful.
Anderson says that applicants must have a minimum of five GSCE grades A to C or equivalent. Visit Thomas Cook’s recruitment site, areyouthomascook.net, for more information.
Best for… seeing gigs
Though they often pay enough to get by (about £300 per week), bar and club jobs make up for the modest salaries with free drinks and club passes.
These jobs are among the most competitive, however, and timing is essential. Nathan Viva, the owner of Viva Ibiza Hotel and Bar (nathanviva.com), says the best way to find bar work is to hit Ibiza in the first week of May, find a local and start chatting up the staff.
“If someone comes into my bar, starts chatting with me and gets a rapport going, it’s more likely I’m going to give them a job,” Viva admits.
“If you just walk in and give me a CV and walk out, it’s going to go straight in the waste basket. It’s a waste of paper and a waste of time.”
Surprisingly, Viva notes anyone coming out late in the season can walk into a bartending job.“Come mid-August, there will be openings in almost every bar in town,” he says.
“Most people come out for May or June to get a job, spend all their money, and go home, or are students and have to go back. Just before the season ends, there’s a mass exodus.
Come August every bar in town will have a ‘help wanted’ sign.”
Gemma Charters, the events and brand manager for beach club Ocean Beach Ibiza, tips that workers’ hangouts are great places to find openings.“Lots of employees hang out at the Ship Inn,” she says.
Best for… good salesmen
PR is the easiest work to find in Ibiza, say our experts.
It often involves handing out flyers or selling tickets for clubs and bars.
The pay can be terrible, or brilliant – it all depends on the sales skills of the person doing it.
“A good PR can earn £800 a week – that’s not normal, but it’s certainly possible,” says Viva, adding that it’s not a job for the overly sensitive.
“You really have to have the gift of the gab and be thick-skinned to be good at it. If you can’t close the deal, and don’t like being told to fuck off 20 times a day; if you’re just average, I’d say don’t even bother.”
For anyone thinking of staying on in Ibiza, PR can also be a great way to network.
Charters got her break flyering for local events. She explains: “The pay was pretty poor, but it was a great way to meet people. With a little hard work and determination, I was able to move up.”
PR work is also the best bet for those who aren’t from countries in the European Union.
Some jobs require employees to get an NIE, or tax ID number, which is only available for citizens in the EU.
Landing a job
The interview: The application process in Ibiza is, if anything, more competitive than in the UK.
As a result, it’s important to approach an interview with the same level of professionalism.
Do research on the company before you show up.
The attitude: Employers in Ibiza are accustomed to slackers who think they can party their way through a job. Demonstrate that you’re serious and hard-working, and you’ll be ahead of the game.
Make friends: Buddy up with a worker and you can get the inside track on openings.
Like anywhere, networking works a treat in Ibiza
This article is taken from the TNT Archives
Photos: Getty
