Job question.....

jim · 10-18-2002

Hi folks,

I visited Playa this past June and loved it. I am currently a well paid sales engineer in southern California who has had it. I'm 43 with no responsibilities and looking for a radical change in my life. I've dreamed of moving to Mexico and trying something new. Obviously, I'll need to work in a new field. So the question...What are the chances of someone like me scoring a decent job in the hospitality industry, ect. in or near Playa ? What is the cost of living for a local ? Am I dreaming ??? I realize that I will be making a major lifestyle change, but I don't care. I hate the yuppie world and would love to do something that I truly enjoy.

Any thoughts....

Critter · 10-19-2002

[b][i][color=red] [b]

mrosenfeldt · 10-24-2002

Hi!!

It is so true that Playa is full of energy and it makes so alive to stay there. I am also interested of starting to work there.

Does anyone know anything of that? Like emailaddress and name to contact? There are a lot of places to visit on the net but I just found one emailaddress. :lol:
I would absolutely love it if someone responds to this one!

Also where not to work?

Besos

Morgana

**Anna** · 10-25-2002

To work legally in Mexico you need a work visa, called an FM3. It's job and employer specific, so you need a job to get a visa, and if you change your job or your employer you have to change to visa (for a fee, of course). Most jobs are in the tourist and service sector, naturally. Pay is typically low and many rely on tips. An employer can not hire an unlimited number of foreigners - there's a ratio Mexican/foreigner employees that has to be fulfilled. If you have a special skill or if you know more than the basic languages (English and Spanish), it's easier to find a job. Most people work six days a week.

Finding a job involves a lot of legwork, luck, timing, and probably most importantly, an out-going and fun personality. Be prepared for at least a month with no income (and a lot of expenses) before you get settled. Rents are pretty high here and many live with room mates.

Living and working here is fun and it certainly is a lifestyle change from the 'city career' life many of us here left behind. It's a different pace and Playa has a very active social scene, which is fun. You'll most probably give things up, like social security, possesions, access to many of the goods, comforts and services of the 'first world'. Some find it refreshing and exciting, others freak out and return home. I say, give it a try! If you don't try new things in this life... Just don't burn all your ships on a whim.

**ryberg** · 10-25-2002

Higher education is exploding in this region, and engineering programs are featured at many universities. I used to be at the new public university in Cancún, La Universidad del Caribe (http://www.unicaribe.edu.mx/), and they have an industrial engineering program, for example.

Without trying to sound too pejorative, I would say that many of the teachers in these institutions are people with less in the way of qualifications than you would find in people in equivalent positions in U.S. universities. Turn that around and that means that you may be relatively very well qualified, at least from the professional standpoint (don't know about teaching experience). Assuming that you have some ability in Spanish (although many schools also want people to teach in English, at least in some subjects), you may want to investigate this kind of career step. Even if not full-time, it could provide part-time, ongoing work that was rewarding both psychologically and financially.

Steve Rybeg, Manager (but a teacher at heart!)
Hotel Playa Maya
http://www.playa-maya.com/[/url]

mrosenfeldt · 10-25-2002

Hi Anna the top babe!

Thanks for you respond! Have you been working there or in other similar places?

I have been working in Spain for a summer and in Norway and I found it really nice. I already have a place to stay in Playa. I have also working experience with people since 10 years. Today I am 27 and I grow as a person!
I am Swedish, so I know the Scandinavians languages as well as English and a little bit of Spanish. As you know, when you are in the country, you learn the language pretty fast.

I have Bachelor of Business and Administration and Bachelor of science of politics. Thank you for the respond of the public University in Cancún. I will absolutely contact the University.

THANK YOU FOR EVERY RESPOND!!! :P

Morgana

**Anna** · 10-25-2002

I live here in Playa del Carmen - I'm one of the people behind this site - and I've been here for about five years now. I'm also from Sweden, but haven't lived there for seven years. Although the job market for professionals have grown here the last few years, it's still not easy to get a job corresponding your education (my degree is also Political Science). However, there's of course a need for people of different levels in the service sector too, like PR etc. Knowing Spanish is crucial, I'd say. Or at least curtious, since we are guests here and should respect our host country.

mrosenfeldt · 10-25-2002

To know the language "goes without saying". I have gotten good information from several people through this site and my email.

The information you gave me about FM3 was useful!

I have worked with economics and have Bach of Business and Administration and special area is corporate finance. That might be useful including science of politics.

Sincerely
M

10-18-2002	#1 (permalink)
jim very sparkly Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Los Angeles, California Posts: 25	Job question..... Hi folks, I visited Playa this past June and loved it. I am currently a well paid sales engineer in southern California who has had it. I'm 43 with no responsibilities and looking for a radical change in my life. I've dreamed of moving to Mexico and trying something new. Obviously, I'll need to work in a new field. So the question...What are the chances of someone like me scoring a decent job in the hospitality industry, ect. in or near Playa ? What is the cost of living for a local ? Am I dreaming ??? I realize that I will be making a major lifestyle change, but I don't care. I hate the yuppie world and would love to do something that I truly enjoy. Any thoughts....

10-25-2002	#5 (permalink)
ryberg playa maya guy Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: real America (reality-based community) Posts: 27,964	you may not have to change fields Higher education is exploding in this region, and engineering programs are featured at many universities. I used to be at the new public university in Cancún, La Universidad del Caribe (http://www.unicaribe.edu.mx/), and they have an industrial engineering program, for example. Without trying to sound too pejorative, I would say that many of the teachers in these institutions are people with less in the way of qualifications than you would find in people in equivalent positions in U.S. universities. Turn that around and that means that you may be relatively very well qualified, at least from the professional standpoint (don't know about teaching experience). Assuming that you have some ability in Spanish (although many schools also want people to teach in English, at least in some subjects), you may want to investigate this kind of career step. Even if not full-time, it could provide part-time, ongoing work that was rewarding both psychologically and financially. Steve Rybeg, Manager (but a teacher at heart!) Hotel Playa Maya http://www.playa-maya.com/[/url]

10-19-2002	#2 (permalink)
Critter añejo Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Cerca de Washington DC Posts: 3,343	[b][i][color=red] [b]

10-24-2002	#3 (permalink)
mrosenfeldt sandflea Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 3	Hi!! It is so true that Playa is full of energy and it makes so alive to stay there. I am also interested of starting to work there. Does anyone know anything of that? Like emailaddress and name to contact? There are a lot of places to visit on the net but I just found one emailaddress. :lol: I would absolutely love it if someone responds to this one! Also where not to work? Besos Morgana

10-25-2002	#4 (permalink)
Anna top babe admin Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: after 10 wonderful years in Playa, now back in Sweden Posts: 3,717	To work legally in Mexico you need a work visa, called an FM3. It's job and employer specific, so you need a job to get a visa, and if you change your job or your employer you have to change to visa (for a fee, of course). Most jobs are in the tourist and service sector, naturally. Pay is typically low and many rely on tips. An employer can not hire an unlimited number of foreigners - there's a ratio Mexican/foreigner employees that has to be fulfilled. If you have a special skill or if you know more than the basic languages (English and Spanish), it's easier to find a job. Most people work six days a week. Finding a job involves a lot of legwork, luck, timing, and probably most importantly, an out-going and fun personality. Be prepared for at least a month with no income (and a lot of expenses) before you get settled. Rents are pretty high here and many live with room mates. Living and working here is fun and it certainly is a lifestyle change from the 'city career' life many of us here left behind. It's a different pace and Playa has a very active social scene, which is fun. You'll most probably give things up, like social security, possesions, access to many of the goods, comforts and services of the 'first world'. Some find it refreshing and exciting, others freak out and return home. I say, give it a try! If you don't try new things in this life... Just don't burn all your ships on a whim.

10-25-2002	#6 (permalink)
mrosenfeldt sandflea Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 3	Hi Anna the top babe! Thanks for you respond! Have you been working there or in other similar places? I have been working in Spain for a summer and in Norway and I found it really nice. I already have a place to stay in Playa. I have also working experience with people since 10 years. Today I am 27 and I grow as a person! I am Swedish, so I know the Scandinavians languages as well as English and a little bit of Spanish. As you know, when you are in the country, you learn the language pretty fast. I have Bachelor of Business and Administration and Bachelor of science of politics. Thank you for the respond of the public University in Cancún. I will absolutely contact the University. THANK YOU FOR EVERY RESPOND!!! :P Morgana

10-25-2002	#7 (permalink)
Anna top babe admin Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: after 10 wonderful years in Playa, now back in Sweden Posts: 3,717	I live here in Playa del Carmen - I'm one of the people behind this site - and I've been here for about five years now. I'm also from Sweden, but haven't lived there for seven years. Although the job market for professionals have grown here the last few years, it's still not easy to get a job corresponding your education (my degree is also Political Science). However, there's of course a need for people of different levels in the service sector too, like PR etc. Knowing Spanish is crucial, I'd say. Or at least curtious, since we are guests here and should respect our host country.

10-25-2002	#8 (permalink)
mrosenfeldt sandflea Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 3	To know the language "goes without saying". I have gotten good information from several people through this site and my email. The information you gave me about FM3 was useful! I have worked with economics and have Bach of Business and Administration and special area is corporate finance. That might be useful including science of politics. Sincerely M

register to remove these adverts