Servicio Andaluz de Empleo: My personal experience and everything you need to know

I have always said that life is full of ironies. For years, I thought my career was going smoothly, without the need to go to any employment office. But the twists and turns of life led me, on several occasions, to run head-on into the Andalusian Employment Service (SAE). Today, I can tell you that the SAE is more than just an office where "queuing" to renew your job application. Here goes my experience, without filters.

What is the Andalusian Employment Service (SAE)

The SAE, as you have probably heard, is the official body in Andalusia in charge of managing employment and offering training to improve employability. Its mission is to connect unemployed people with job opportunities, but the reality goes much further than you might imagine.

The SAE offers personalized itineraries, something that many are unaware of. These programs are not just "wet paper", but real roadmaps designed to guide you from unemployment to job placement. I know this because I have lived it.

In my years of contact with the SAE, I went from being a mere spectator to watching the machinery get up and running. The key is knowing how to take advantage of its services: training, personalized advice, recruitment aids, and more. It's not just a matter of dropping off your resume and waiting. The SAE works best when you get actively involved.

Registration with the SAE: The first step

The first thing you should do if you are looking for a job in Andalusia is register as a job seeker. It is not complicated at all, but I warn you: do not leave it to the last day! Registration can be done both in the physical office and through its electronic window. Yes, you read that right. You can do it online, from the comfort of your home.

Once registered, you will have access to a series of services that will come in handy if, like me, you are looking for a change or job improvements. From here you can manage everything related to your demand: renew, modify or even re-register if at some point you unsubscribe.

SAE services: Much more than you can imagine

I remember the first time I went to an SAE office, I thought they only published job offers on a board. How wrong I was! The SAE is like a Swiss army knife of resources. Here are some of the ones that surprised me the most:

• Training courses: One of the great successes of the SAE is its training offer. It doesn't matter if you are unemployed or working, they have courses to improve your skills in virtually any sector. I myself took a couple of courses in digital marketing that opened doors I didn't even know existed.
• Youth programs: If you are young, the SAE has specific programs for you, such as the Youth Guarantee Program, which facilitates the incorporation of people under 30 into the labor market.
• Internships in companies: No experience? Don't worry. The SAE also manages paid internships so you can gain experience without the need to have worked before. I know more than one person who got their first job thanks to these internships.
• Hiring aids: If you are an employer, the SAE is also of interest to you. They offer a series of aids to encourage the hiring of unemployed people.

Renewing the employment application: Don't miss it

This is another critical point that usually gives many headaches: the renewal of the employment application. I'm not saying this to scare you, but if you miss the deadline, you can lose benefits. Fortunately, nowadays you can renew your claim from the web or even from the AppSAE. Yes, it seems that everything is designed so that you have no excuses.

The active job search: It's not magic, it's strategy

One of the big mistakes that many of us make is to think that, just by being registered in the SAE, we will receive offers. Mistake. The SAE is a tool, but you are the one who has to take advantage of it. Use its guidance advisors. In my case, I was lucky enough to have a guidance counselor who helped me polish my resume and gave me advice for interviews.

If you are looking for a job, I recommend you use all the resources at your disposal. Sign up for job workshops and, above all, be consistent. If I learned anything in this process is that the active job search is a long-distance race. You have to be attentive to offers, renew your demand in time, and train yourself continuously.

What future do I see for the SAE?

Many people complain that public institutions do not work, but in my experience, the SAE is changing and continuously improving. They are digitizing, which greatly facilitates the formalities, and they are betting on alliances with private companies so that job offers are increasingly varied and adjusted to what the market demands(.

In conclusion, if you are in Andalusia and it is your turn to go through the SAE, don't underestimate it. Take advantage of every course, every advice and every opportunity they offer you. As I always say, in the end, success depends on you, but it never hurts to have a good team behind you. And SAE, with all its resources, is one.