how about a job?

[pedro]

i have before me, an application from a 23 year old graduate from centro universitario de ciencias exactas e ingenieria. he had been working for a large multi-national hardware and software corp near guad.
i helped the chapala gov't set up arrangements to send workers to a manufacturing plant in alberta , canada under the cdn fed 2 yr foreign worker programme.
the pay there is $16.53/hr and after all expenses and keeping about $400/month for spending money,they can send home about $1500 to their families.
this young fellow wants to go there.
one of the workers that is there has a degree in marketing from a university in guad and has a wife and 3 children here. there are some couples who are clearing $3000/month plus who went up.
i know a lawyer who has been working as a waiter for a number of years and is fluent in english
i have seen several apps from uni grads and teachers from colleges that are prepared to go to work at this plant.

so what were you saying adrianr?

[verdeva]

Originally Posted by RVGRINGO

Very true. It isn't easy for anyone and the bureaucratic red tape and unexplained delays can be amazing. Then, there are the syndicates/unions with their demands for cash & more cash.

This reminds me of the very nice folks that started a Gringo style Hamburger Restaurant in the Jocotepec area. They didn't do all that well financially as their average priced meal was 3X that of Mexican style places and Joco has a rather small Gringo community, but they were eking it out.

One day while they were discussing when to go out of business a man wearing a white dress shirt, black tie and armed with a clipboard stopped by. "Where is your business license? Why is your beer license not in view?" Licenses? HUH? Was all they could respond.

The restaurant is no more. The Gringos are back in the U.S.

Research and prior planning will save you much grief.

All comments are valid (sort of), but I lean towards the "getting a job that pays enough to survive even close to a US/CAN/UK/EURO style is neither practical nor probable," and on top that one would need to have near perfect Spanish. Get on Google and search for "Job Placement Mexico"; prove me wrong. I live here. Of the suggestions I've seen the best is TeleCommute via the Internet and make sure you've got the money in the bank for your return ticket.

Verde-Va

[mexicachica]

I know its difficult for US citizens to get a job in Mexico. That is why my husband and I have spent the past 3 years figuring out a way to make a living there since we are nowhere near retirement age. So we decided to start a company in Mexico that will service US based companies. In turn we will hire Mexican talent to help us do the work.

So one way to do it is......CREATE jobs! Mexico loves to see foreign investment and will surely love to have expats that are creating jobs for Mexicans. This can be in any sector and any size business. You dont have to start a manufacturing plant but I've met several people that started graphic design services that catered to US clientele and conducted their business from the beach in the Yucatan.

Just an idea!

[Manzanilloblogger]

Originally Posted by mexicachica

I know its difficult for US citizens to get a job in Mexico. That is why my husband and I have spent the past 3 years figuring out a way to make a living there since we are nowhere near retirement age. So we decided to start a company in Mexico that will service US based companies. In turn we will hire Mexican talent to help us do the work.

So one way to do it is......CREATE jobs! Mexico loves to see foreign investment and will surely love to have expats that are creating jobs for Mexicans. This can be in any sector and any size business. You dont have to start a manufacturing plant but I've met several people that started graphic design services that catered to US clientele and conducted their business from the beach in the Yucatan.

Just an idea!

Great reply! I was just about to say the same thing myself. With the instability lately we have been seriously talking about what to do to make some money here. We live in the tourist town of Manzanillo and are pretty integrated with the community, so a lot of my friends would probably give me some work if I asked.

But seriously, the best way to insure you can get some work is to create a job. Open a lavaduria, start a teryaki stand. Seriously, in Manzanillo we have nothing but tacos, tacos and more tacos. The one chinese restaurant is overloaded with business because it is something different. If you can cook, open a small restaurant that offers something different from the normal fare in your area. Greek, Thai, Teryaki, Italian... any of these would clean up in Manzanillo right now. I'm sure the same is true elsewhere.

-Manzanilloblogger

[Rodrigo84]

My American cousin managed to live in Mexico for 6 years. It wasn't easy at first and he actually went through 3 jobs, but managed to have a good apartment and a half-way decent way of life while pulling in a bit under $50,000 USD a year equivalent with all benefits. Unless, you get some kind of expat benefit deal, you are going to have a hard time in Mexico living local and living well.

My cousin did have his connections when he came down here and even when he was in his last two jobs. I see that as really the key.

My cousin did have his issues with his work permit, but not when he first came down, but later on when he wanted to move up in his first company, Mexican immigration rejected him twice before finally he was put into a position that a Mexican really couldn't fill (and his company made sure of that).