Finding a Job as an English-Speaker in Buenos Aires

Welcome to Buenos Aires, the Paris of South America. The city is a bustling metropolis that combines modern skyscrapers and high-rise apartment buildings with charming old buildings and tree-lined streets. With close to 15 million residents, Buenos Aires is one of the largest cities in South America, and is rapidly becoming a center for international business and pleasure. In 2001, the peso, previously tied to the U.S. dollar, was devalued, and since then, foreigners have streamed into the now-affordable country. The allure of the city often persuades many visitors to stay for longer periods of time, which generally requires some income. And now, to find a job in Buenos Aires as an English-speaker.

For the English-speaker, Buenos Aires offers a myriad of job options, from teaching English, to working in tourism agencies, to working as a writer for various travel guides. Jobs are even available in restaurants for those who also speak Spanish. But, the Argentine job search has some peculiarities that are difficult to navigate at first for English-speakers. So, the following tips are from my experiences and those of my friends, on how to successfully find an interesting job as an English-speaker in Buenos Aires.

Resume Tips & Tricks
Resumes in Buenos Aires are a little different from what English-speakers are used to. For example, when I first arrived in Buenos Aires and began applying for jobs, I noticed that postings often requested applicants of a certain age or sex. Because this is illegal in the United States, I assumed it was also illegal in Buenos Aires, and avoided applying for those jobs. Then an Argentine friend explained that specifying age, sex, and even requesting photographs with a resume is normal in Buenos Aires. So, I added a photograph next to my career objective, and included a personal section with my age, nationality, and any languages spoken, read, or written. After making my resume (or CV as they call them in Buenos Aires) more Argentine, I immediately got calls for job interviews.

Works Visa Tips & Tricks
Actually, this section should be called tips & tricks to working without a visa. For many of the jobs you'll be able to find as and English-speaker in Buenos Aires, a work visa won't be required. Don't mention the visa, and if you're lucky, your boss won't mention it either. Of course, some businesses do require work visas; in that case, hopefully your employer will sponsor you as a freelance contributor or help you obtain a full-time work visa. Whatever happens, don't panic about not having a work visa before you arrive in Buenos Aires to work.

Working as an English Teacher
Working as an English teacher in Buenos Aires is one of the easiest jobs a native English-speaker can find. You're qualified simply because you can speak, read and write English. Check out the website http://www.seaweb.org.ar/empresas2.htm for a list of various English Institutes in the city. The list includes the names of contacts and email addresses. I wrote an identical cover letter for each institute. I then sent an email, with CV and cover letter attached, to every email address, with the subject heading ATTN: (name of contact person). Within one day I had a job interview, and within a week I had four interviews and several classes to teach. English teachers make between $15-$25 pesos per hour, and institutes provide lesson plans and classroom materials. Generally, classes are conversation-focused, so a typical 1 1/2 class will include discussing an article from the New York Times, for example. Most classes occur early in the morning (before work), in the afternoon (during lunch), or in the evening (after work).

Working in the Tourism Industry
Not everyone wants to teach English, though, especially since teaching enough classes to make a decent salary can be exhausting. So, contact tourism agencies in the city, or look on http://buenosaires.craigslist.org for job postings. Tourism-focused businesses often need English speakers to assist with foreign clients or international branches of the company. Various city tours provide versions in English, and working as a tour guide is a possibility. A friend found a job as the publicity coordinator and liaison with American universities for Expanish, a Spanish immersion program in Buenos Aires. Through craigslist, I found a job writing for Q-VIP, a VIP concierge service that is expanding its client-base internationally. And, I have seen countless job postings on craigslist for more jobs with tourism agencies who need English speakers.

Working as a Writer
Jobs writing in Buenos Aires can be difficult to find, but they exist. Contact magazines and newspapers, particularly the English-language Buenos Aires Herald for opportunities. Also check craigslist, and subscribe to the YESBA bulletin at www.yesba.org for weekly e-bulletins with job postings. It's also useful to contact foreign magazines, websites (Associated Content, for example), or travel guides to pitch your intimate knowledge of the city. Being paid in dollars goes a long way in Buenos Aires.