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Job Market in Quito

As mentioned in the previous section, tourism is one of the industries that is more open to expats, because of language skills, but also because of the connection with and understanding of the, for example, North American or European cultures. In most cases, knowledge of the touristic destinations in the country is a requirement. Related to this, are positions at international volunteer organizations.

Another interesting professional option for expats is teaching English. Many private schools and language institutions ask for certificates and/or experience, and some of the require teachers to be native speakers. Other work fields interesting for expats are international businesses, like the flower or oil industry.

In general, expats need a professional visa or another visa allowing foreigners to work to be able to get a job in Ecuador. In some cases, the employer can help you to obtain a work visa and in other cases, a freelance construction is possible, for example by obtaining a RUC or RISE.

Resume / CV

To apply for a job in Ecuador, it is not always required to send a cover letter; sometimes a CV or even a resume is enough depending on the position and the sector. In general, a CV is preferred over a resume. However, not all employers all aware of the difference and will ask for an "hoja de vida". If you are not sure, create something in between: a CV with a maximum of two pages.

• Resume: brief overview of work and educational experience. Prominent in the US when applying for employment. Typically one page.
• CV (curriculum vitae): more in depth look at work and educational experience in general described in two or three pages, no more.

Layout

The CV for Ecuador should contain:

• Contact Information: Relevant personal contact information at the top of the page including: name, address, phone number, e-mail address and identification number.
• Photo: Although a photo on the top of the CV is not obligated, it is common and in many cases appreciated.
• Professional Experience: Listed chronologically with the most recent experience on top of the list. List your work experience with: your title, the name of the company you worked for, the dates of your employment, and a brief description of your activities, responsibilities and achievements.
• Education: This section can also be placed before the Professional Experience section, both structures are used. Mention if you received any special honours.
• Certificates & Diplomas: Courses, diplomas, seminars, conferences etc. relevant to the position. Very important: certificates related to languages.
• Languages: This is extremely relevant to an international job, especially when you are applying for a position in tourism or teaching a language. List which languages you speak and your level: advanced, intermediate or beginner, preferably using official standards (C1, C2 etc.). If you are submitting your resume in Spanish and you are not at a native level (yet), make sure a native speaker reviews it.
• Computer Skills: Office and other programs, applications, database skills, Internet skills, etc.
• Interests: It is not common to mention hobbies and interest in your "hoja de vida". 

Tips

• Style should be straightforward. Use standard paper and a simple font.
• Make sure your CV is easy to read; do not overload the pages with information.
• Be neat. Take care of the presentation, design, spaces, and spelling of your resume. Emphasize sections and things that are important with underlines or bold type.
• Make sure your CV is as organized as possible, so the information can be found easily.
• You do not need to date or sign your resume.
• Have a base CV that you can adjust to each job you are applying for.

Cover Letter

As mentioned, a cover letter ("carta de presentación/motivación") is not always required to accompany a CV. It will be mentioned in the job announcement what you are expected to send, and if you are not sure, you can choose to send both. Cover letters in Ecuador are in general short and to the point.

• Header - Standard business letter style, beginning with the date, followed by the sender's address and other information, and the recipient's contact information. The topic of the letter should be mentioned.
• Salutation - In most cases the salutation of a cover letter is formal in Ecuador, including mentioning titles (e.g. Estimado Ing. Sánchez)
• Introduction - The introduction briefly states the specific position desired and should be designed to catch the employer's immediate interest.
• Body - Highlights material in the resume or job application summarized, and explains why the job seeker is interested in the job and would be of value to the employer. Very briefly, relevant skills can be mentioned. 
• Closing – An indirect approach of simply saying that the applicant will look forward to hearing from or speaking with the employer is sufficient, in a very polite way. After the closing follows a valediction ("Atentamente"), and then a signature line.

Job Search

Search Engines

Search engines are commonly used to find jobs in Ecuador, especially in rural areas like Quito and Guayaquil. They allow you to scan a great variety of jobs, and narrow down your search on certain criteria. In some engines, you have to post your CV online to be able to apply for jobs. Large search engines:

• www.multitrabajos.com
• www.computrabajo.com.ec
• www.opcionempleo.ec
• www.porfinempleo.com

Social Networks

In Ecuador, a social network can be very helpful to find a job. Expats who just arrived in the country, however, do generally do not have a very large social network.

Luckily, Quito has a very active Facebook group for expats: Expats in Quito. Here, job opportunities are frequently posted, as well as housing opportunities and tips on visa, travel and other practicalities.

Linkedln can also be a very useful source to identify job opportunities, especially at large, international companies.

Internations is another useful social network to get to know new people. It has a small but active group of expats and locals meeting at official and informal gatherings.

Newspaper

Newspapers have helpful sections for job seekers, depending on the sector you would like to work in. Large newspapers with job sections include:

• El País
• El Comercio
• El Telégrafo
• El Universo

Recruitment Agencies

Most agencies specialize in a particular field, such as computers, nursing, secretarial work, accounting, catering, or construction.

There are also "Head hunting" agencies that are hired by large companies to recruit executives, managers or professionals. To find an appropriate agency, look for "employment agencies" in the yellow pages or go to a directory of agencies.

Teaching English

In Ecuador, English-speaking expats are in high demand for teaching English, especially when you are a native speaker, although this is not always a requirement. For teaching positions at well-paying, private schools, generally you need to have teaching experience and a TEFL certificate.

Working at other institutions, like language schools, does not always require a teaching certificate.

If you speak another language fluently, like French or German, you can also look for a teaching position in that language. Schools like "Colegio Alemán" in Quito teach their students in languages other than Spanish or English.

Schools

The best teaching positions you find at private schools or universities. Generally, these positions are well-paid and the classes well-structured. Moreover, some schools are able and willing to arrange a working visa for foreign teachers. The majority of the best colleges is located outside of the city, but many of them organize free transportation for their employees.

Applicants usually submit their resume and application, and subsequently invited for an interview that may include a sample lesson or a grammar test. In most cases, it takes one or maximum two interview rounds before the school management takes their decision. If a fixed contract is offered, the first three months form the trial period, after which the contract becomes indefinite. Another option is a temporary contract, for example for one academic year.

Private Classes

Many Ecuadorian citizens, both young students and adults, are eager to improve their English language skills and private classes are a good option for people of all ages. There are two ways to teach private classes: through a language school or independently. Generally, the last option is more lucrative, but also more insecure and requires more work to find students. Again, a good network will help you finding sufficient students, as well as an intermediate knowledge of the Spanish language.

Teaching Certificates

TESOL (also known as TEFL) stands for Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages. Worldwide, the TESOL certificate is the most common qualification required to teach English abroad. TEFL International offers TESOL courses to study online. If you prefer a classroom course, you can find several recognized institutions in Quito, like Education First (EF).

Interview

Interviews are a chance for a company to get to know you before hiring you. Important is to research the company before the interview to discover their mission, strategy and product or service. Especially for larges companies, it is common to organize several interview rounds.

• Dress neatly and conservatively (better too formal than too informal)
• Arrive on time (but not earlier than 10 minutes before the agreed time)
• Bring your CV, business card, and copies of the certificates
• Ask questions, demonstrate your knowledge and interest (but be modest)
• Be polite and thank the interviewer for their time.

Work Visas & Permits

To be able to work legally in Ecuador, foreigners need a work visa. People with an internationally recognized university degree have the opportunity to obtain a Professional Visa, in first instance for two years, after which they can apply for residency.

Other options for work visas are investment visas or visas through employers.

Read the "Passport & Visa" section of the guide for full details.