You’re in Madrid and you’re loving it. Your family is delighted because they are proud to say how good a student you are and how responsible you are. And you are even more delighted because you are living one of the best experiences of your life.

It is true that you have to work hard, there is a lot to study and a lot to do, but you have freedom, you make friends and Madrid offers you everything you can imagine, and much more.

The capital of Spain is an amazing place to visit, just imagine to live in. There is only one small ‘but’. As a good student, you don’t have a penny to your name. Day in and day out you are measuring every euro you spend.

This is a life lesson, but what can you do to earn some extra income or enjoy life in Madrid a little more? Here are some tips and job options to get you started in your working life.

Jobs for students in Madrid

You can’t just go crazy throwing CVs around, entering every place you see and sending your CV to every job offer you find on the internet. Stop for a moment. Before that, you need to have a couple of clear ideas.

Important aspects of your student job

The first important aspect of finding a job is, what experience do you have, what do you know how to do, what do you want the job for?

The answer to the first question will help you find a job more quickly or not. Of course, it all depends on where you want to work. Maybe you have experience in something but you want to change sector. Maybe more focused on what you are studying.

The second question, although it may seem the same as the first, is far from it. You may never have worked in a coffee shop but at home you drink coffee every day, you like it and you may even be a gourmet. It all helps.

The third question is very important. Because depending on the purpose of the job, so should be the time you spend on it. If you want to start gaining experience in your field of study, then you may have to find hours where there are none.

You will have to do your best to learn as much as you can while advancing in your studies. On the other hand, if you just want a temporary job to earn some money, you have to be very clear about your limits and time.

That last aspect, time, is essential. If you are clear that it is only a temporary job, a one-off job or a job during the high season, don’t let it take up more of your time than necessary. Remember that right now your priority is not the job, that is secondary. The first thing, right now, is the first thing, your books.

Another important aspect is distance. We agree that you will already be a total machine moving around the metro. For that reason you also have to take into account the time you spend on transport, you don’t want to take a job that makes you travel longer than essential.

Best jobs for university students in Madrid

Here are the jobs that tend to be the most common among students, that give the best results and where you will find the most opportunities.

Working at one’s own university

This seems obvious, but sometimes the simplest thing is right in front of us, and we don’t see it. Go to your university office and find out about student employment. Some universities have a student job bank, and many of these options are very interesting for your future career, as they collaborate with large companies.

Internship

If you are looking to earn some money, but also to take your first steps in the sector in which you are training, being an intern is a great idea. There are as many types of interns as there are types of companies. Find the best one that suits you and start working as a paid intern.

Private Lessons

This is a great classic. Remember that there is always someone who is in a lower grade than you. From previous years in your grade, to boys and girls in high schools, or even as school support.

Nowadays there are numerous websites dedicated to connecting potential students with teachers, although traditional word-of-mouth and poster-pasting will always get results.

Waiter

The world of the waiter is very wide, and you have to be careful when choosing. It is not the same to be a waiter in a café that serves breakfast, a café that serves snacks, tapas bars, restaurants or late-night bars.

The type of establishment will determine not only your pay, but also the number of hours and the shift you will work. Think carefully about where and when to take a job as a waiter.

Delivery driver

This job is one of the strongest on the labour market. It does not usually require experience, it is relatively easy and the time flies by. However, you should not forget some very important aspects.

Be careful if you are offered the means of transport or if you have to provide it yourself; electric scooter or bicycle, you must know the city streets very well, be a good driver and clearly delimit how far you want to go in your deliveries.

Shop assistant

Another big name in the world of university jobs is working in front of the public in a shop or any other establishment that offers a service or product; from supermarkets to receptionists.

The great thing about this job is that you usually get to choose your shift, but again, be careful how many hours you put in.