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Finding Jobs and Working in Mexico
Job hunting in Mexico is a challenge, especially for foreign nationals. Every year, thousands of foreigners come to Mexico seeking work: desired jobs range from informal and part-time work to qualified, sponsored professionals and executives arriving in Mexico to share their expertise in a pre-defined field.
For a quick Q&A Guide to the most frequently asked questions about working in Mexico see: Q&A: Working in Mexico
Also See: Self Employment in Mexico
Mexican Economy: An Overview for Job Seekers
Mexico has a thriving, diverse economy which is heavily dependent upon oil, tourism and foreign-currency remissions from Mexicans working in the USA. Read our facts and figures page to find key economic indicators for Mexico.
Mexico's over-dependence upon oil revenue goes back decades. Up until the early 1990's, Mexico operated a de facto protectionist economy; it was difficult to invest, start a business or take profits without a Mexican partner or associate and, even then, you could only hold a minority share of the equity if your were a foreigner.
In the early 1980's, the administration led by president Miguel de la Madrid began to open up certain parts of the economy although it was not until the administration headed by the next president, Carlos Salinas, leading a cabinet made up principally of Harvard-educated technocrats, which began to make significant moves towards opening up Mexico's economy to foreign investment. Salinas' administration signed the NAFTA (wiki) agreement and, despite a severe economic crisis in the mid 90's, the next president, Ernesto Zedillo, continued with macro-economic reforms which led Mexico and its economy further away from its protectionist past.
As Mexico's proven oil reserves begin to dwindle (PEMEX, the nationalized oil giant, has declared that its known oil reserves will last until around 2016 at current production levels) Mexico's current administration, led by Felipe Calderon, is launching a series of programs and initiatives to wean Mexico's prosperity away from so much oil dependency
Programs include the modernization of key infrastructure (communications, transport, energy, electricity and banking among others) and an increased investment in industries that are known money-makers for Mexico: for example, developing tourism further is a now a top priority.
The opening-up of Mexico's economy is creating a demand for knowledge and experience especially in engineering, communication and technical fields. Companies who are investing in Mexico need talent —hired locally and from overseas—to enable them to grow and expand their operations.
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Foreigners Working in Mexico
Notwithstanding Mexico's need for specific talents, the country continues to be a challenging place for foreigners to find work (especially well-paid work) and particularly if you are not highly experienced in a specialist field and have a sponsor (company) in Mexico offering you a contract.
Networking and contacts are still very important here: who you know can lead to work sooner than what you know; although it is also fair to say that what you can deliver in terms of real value is becoming increasingly important. Some companies only hire new people on an independent basis now, to gauge the person's capabilities, before committing to a payroll contract if the signs are positive after a few months.
Many foreigners who come to Mexico seeking to live and work here do so for lifestyle or personal reasons instead of the move being part of a professional career plan. As a result, they are content accepting lower pay and less favorable conditions in comparison to those offered in their home country.
For example, some people gain a TEFL (wiki) qualification and come to Mexico on a sabbatical, teaching English as a means to support themselves for a year or two. Others, like qualified teachers, come to Mexico for a year or more to gain international experience teaching at one of the country's private schools.
Foreign professionals, with formal qualifications and years of experience in their chosen field, find job-hunting in Mexico much easier than those looking for less prestigious work, even if they are qualified in some discipline. Oftentimes, professionals agree contracts ahead of their arrival in Mexico, making the process of acquiring a Mexican work visa much easier.
Some people arrive in Mexico, fall in love, and end up staying. If you visit or live in Mexico and begin networking in some of the social communities, you'll see that this scenario is much more common than you might think!
Also See: Getting Married in Mexico
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Using Your Qualifications in Mexico
Having a professional qualification in Mexico is very important. Because of the way in which the socioeconomic model of the country is structured, having a professional diploma and being bi-lingual (Spanish and English) are essential qualities if you want to progress in the modern Mexican workplace.
Additionally, in some circumstances, you will need to prove your professional qualifications when you are applying for a work permit in Mexico. Some work permits, particularly those which state that you are a technician or scientist, may require you to produce the relevant documentation in relation to your professional qualification. It's not always the case, and in some circumstances a letter of reference from the company that is sponsoring (employing) you in Mexico will suffice.
Use of Professional Titles in Mexico
Titles are also a very important part of Mexico's cultural fabric in the workplace, and when you are professionally qualified it's common (and in some circles, expected) that others refer to you by your professional qualification; for example, as Licenciado/a, Ingeniero/a, Doctor/a etc. Refer to our guide about Business Etiquette in Mexico for more information about using titles and Mexican business etiquette in general.
Related Blog: This Title is Better than No Title
Authentication of Your Professional Qualifications
If you are bringing proof of professional qualifications from overseas, be sure to have the certificates authenticated by the local Mexican Consulate in your home country before you arrive in Mexico. Without this authentication process, they will not be accepted by the authorities in Mexico; for example, by the immigration office if they are for a visa application or a school where you plan to work and the Secretary of Education requires the school to prove its teacher's qualifications.
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Recruitment Agencies in Mexico
Recruitment is big business in Mexico, just as it is in most industrialized countries. Many companies are now "contracting out" the process of hiring the right people for their company, and not just for executive or other high-ranking positions.
Some global recruitment agencies have already set up operations in Mexico including ManPower and Adecco.
There are also an increasing number of internet-based recruitment agencies actively operating in Mexico. They include OCC (part of Monster.com.mx), Contratacion, Monografias, and Empleos Maquila.
You may either browse jobs on the agency's web site and/or register with them so that they may contact you when an appropriate position, commensurate with your expertise and qualifications, becomes available.
Registering with a recruitment agency may be an ideal route for you to find work in Mexico. You don't need to be in-country to register, so you could browse for potential jobs in Mexico while living in your home country.
Recruitment agencies you register with will require you to have a work permit (or know that the company you may work for will sponsor you to acquire one) and be properly qualified for the appointments that you are seeking. They will all require you to submit a CV in a standard format—note that most CV's requests in Mexico insist on the inclusion of a recent front-of-face profile photo.
Recruitment agencies earn their money by charging employers fees for advertising jobs, sifting through applications, and providing a short-list of potential candidates for the employer to choose from. Some agencies also handle the interviewing process, although usually it's the company's own managers who do the final selection. In addition to the fees, the agencies usually earn a percentage of the annual salary you are paid upon your successful appointment to the job.
Because Mexican employment law makes it quite difficult for a company to hire and fire people as swiftly as may be done, for example, in the USA, companies are increasingly hiring people as independent contractors or through recruitment agencies, to give them additional workforce flexibility. Where a recruitment agency contract is used, you actually work for the recruitment agency, and not the company directly. The agency will pay you an agreed rate, and charge your time out to the company at a higher rate. The process of hiring someone through an agency or an independent basis is sometimes used as a route to test out a candidate's suitability for a job before a formal, direct-hire appointment is made at a later date.
Some recruitment agencies offer general recruitment services across a wide range of jobs and industry types; others focus specifically on a particular industry, e.g. medical, education, marketing; and some focus solely upon the recruitment for specific jobs, e.g. executives.
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Seasonal and Casual Work in Mexico
Although you may see non-Mexicans working at tourist establishments, such as bars, restaurants and tourist attractions, it's likely that the person has a story that goes beyond 'I came to Mexico and got a casual job'. Although 'informal' jobs do exist in Mexico (like everywhere else) you need a work permit to get a job in Mexico legally and FM-3's (the most common work visa) are not handed out to people seeking bar work.
Seasonal work is sometimes gained by students who are studying in a particular field (e.g. marine biology, environmental studies) and want some summer work experience related to that field (e.g. working at a dolphin center, turtle sanctuary or nature reserve). These posts are usually sought direct with the company and the employer may choose to sponsor the individual(s) and organize their work permits.
You can find out more about visas and work permits for Mexico on our immigration page.
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Teaching and Translating Work in Mexico
Teaching in Mexico
Teaching, especially teaching English, is a common, albeit saturated, money-earning pursuit by foreigners in Mexico. If you want to teach English at a formal school or language center, they may require you to have a TEFL certificate (wiki) or similar qualification.
Look through the small ads in a newspaper, and on Internet bulletin boards, and you'll see a collection of people advertising English language classes on an informal basis. Some people do manage to make a living by teaching English informally, although its a crowded market and people serious about learning English will sooner choose a school or language center (or a private tutor recommended by same).
Translation Work in Mexico
Translation of English into Spanish and Spanish into English is sought after daily in Mexico. Most translators seek work through translation agencies in Mexico (do a Google Mexico search in Spanish to find agencies).
Most agencies will require you to pass a test and/or provide a portfolio of past work as well as references. Although there are no formal qualifications for translation work, being accredited by a national body, e.g. The American Translators Association, may help you get work more easily. Ultimately, you will need to build up a reputation for good translation with an agency (or agencies) if you expect to make a long-term, full-time living from translation work in Mexico.
Interpreting Work
Interpreting is distinct from translating as it requires you to instantly interpret and translate spoken words from one language to another. The work is most often required at media briefings as well as large international company meetings and events. The same agencies which broker translation work often broker interpreting work, also.
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Voluntary Work in Mexico
There are a large number of charities and social organizations continually looking for volunteers to work for them in Mexico. Some are very local, others are part of larger, often international agencies that place people in social, cultural or humanitarian projects in countries world-wide, including Mexico.
If you are living locally in Mexico, perhaps retired, and you want to give some of your time and experience to a good cause, you may inquire locally about the charitable and social organizations which exist and who require help and expertise to deliver their services to the local communities.
If you live outside of Mexico and would like to take some time out doing charity work here, you may want to consider applying via one of the larger, international charities with operations in Mexico. They include: VolunteerAbroad, Transitions Abroad, UN Volunteers, and US Peace Corp.
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Self Employment in Mexico
Foreigners living in Mexico and who have specialist skills, especially in knowledge-based industries, coupled with the capability to market those skills successfully, often set up their own business (an incorporation) to make a living here.
Read the comprehensive guide on Mexperience to Self Employment in Mexico for full details.
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Employment Conditions in Mexico
Employment conditions in Mexico vary depending on where you are working, who you are working for, and what you are doing. This section outlines some of the universal factors which make up the typical "working environment" in Mexico.
Salaries in Mexico
Salaries for middle-management professional jobs in Mexico vary in comparison with US-equivalent posts, and it depends entirely upon the specific role and responsibilities you are charged with as to how much you will earn working for a company in Mexico.
Highly specialized roles may fetch equivalent (in some cases higher) salaries than US-equivalent roles, although most appointments in middle management roles usually pay less than US-equivalent appointments.
Overall, middle-class salaries are generally lower in Mexico than the USA although there are exceptions: principally if the work you are undertaking is highly sought after and specialized and/or if you are taking a high management or executive role (as a local or expatriate) in a large company.
Most people in the latter categories, especially highly experienced engineers and technical specialists, don't work for the company directly, and instead sell their expertise as independent consultants, sometimes working for foreign-based companies of which they are the owners.
Salaries in Mexico are usually paid in Quincenas— literally translated this means every 15 days. Some companies are beginning to pay monthly, although the overwhelming majority continue to pay every two weeks.
Employee Profit Sharing in Mexico
Under Mexican Law, companies in Mexico must share out any profits the company makes each year among all its payroll staff; this payment can be made at any time during the year and is usually paid a few weeks or months after the company's end of financial year.
The Aguinaldo in Mexico
In addition to profit-sharing, Mexican law states that employees on the payroll, known as 'la nomina', (note: not people working independently or through an agency contract), are entitled to a yearly bonus known as an Aguinaldo. By law, the Aguinaldo must be equal to at least two week's pay; most larger-sized companies pay four weeks and some even pay six weeks. It is usually paid in December, just in time for Christmas and New Year expenses. Companies who pay six weeks usually pay four weeks in December and a further two week's pay in the summer.
Other Bonuses
A raft of other bonuses may be pay-able, depending on the job. Sales people are often paid a very low base salary—sometimes as low as the Minimum Salary in Mexico —and need to earn the bulk of their salary with sales commissions or sales bonuses.
Some management jobs have objective-based bonus payments associated with them; company directors and executives may also receive bonuses if they accomplish certain targets or business objectives.
Working Hours in Mexico
Working Hours will vary depending on the company and the job.
If you are working in a tourism-related industry, you can expect to be asked to work weekends, public holidays and unsociable hours, although you should be compensated for this.
Most office job hours run from 8am to 6pm, although the work culture among Mexico's middle-class is now becoming more aligned to US work-culture and it's common to see people arriving in the office before 8am and not leaving until around 7pm or later.
Lunch breaks tend to be longer in Mexico—high level managers and executives may take long working lunches that can last from 2-4 hours or more. However, the majority of people will take an hour's break or less for lunch.
If you are used to working in Europe, note that there is no work time directive (wiki) in Mexico so there is no recourse to law (other than your working contract) when it comes to your working hours.
Holidays and Annual Leave in Mexico
By Mexican Law, you are entitled to one week (5 week days) of paid holiday leave when you start working for a company, and that rises by one day every year you work at the same company to a maximum of 20 days.
Some companies offer more generous leave entitlements; some adhere to the letter of the law.
Some of the larger companies also offer 'personal days', in addition to the annual leave entitlement, for events such as special events at your child's school or personal emergencies and bereavement.
In addition to the leave days, you are also entitled to take off all of Mexico's Official Public Holidays, although if you are working in the service / tourism sector, you may be required to work these days and get other days off in lieu.
Related Blog - Foreign Native: Bridges to Cross
Pensions and Insurance
Many companies, especially medium and larger ones, offer employees a personal pension plan, usually through a money-purchase scheme known in Mexico as an AFORE (wiki).
Under the terms of the AFORE, you place a certain amount of your salary into a savings pot, the company makes a contribution and the Mexican government makes a contribution, too. It's similar to the 401k (wiki) pension scheme operated in the USA.
Some companies also offer employees private insurance as part of the remuneration package. Private medical, accident, dental and optical care is relatively expensive in Mexico. If you are a permanent resident with a FM2 Visa you will be entitled to access the services of the IMSS, the Mexican Social Security system, that offers free health care. Note, however, that most people elect to 'go private' if they are insured or can afford to pay.
Also See: Health & Healthcare in Mexico, Insurance in Mexico
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Notice
This guide has been published for general guidance and information only. We endeavor to ensure that the information we publish is accurate and up-to-date, however; laws and situations change, often with little or no notice. You should take professional advice before entering into any contract or formal agreement. This guide does not constitute personal, professional or financial advice to our readers.
