Peruvian Job Market

Perú's economy is one of the fastest growing among all Latin America countries, and employers are hiring across most professional areas. Since 2002, it has had strong economic change: annual GDP growth averaged 6.4%, while employment grew by 2.4% each year.

Those who have experience in the areas of finance, banking, mining or public services, will be able to find a lot of job opportunities in Perú, as well as those who are recognized as technical experts in the agriculture, engineering, mining, IT and healthcare sector.

Nowadays, Lima employs one-third of the country's workforce and it offers the best and largest variety of job opportunities.

Given this need for experienced professionals, there has been a growing number of non-nationals who have found their career opportunities in Perú over the past ten years, representing a growing of almost 600% between 2000 and 2012. However, Peruvian law establishes that foreign employees may not constitute more than 20% of the total number of employees of a local company, even if it's owned by a national or foreign capital.

Skills in Demand in Peru

The job market in Perú becoming more diverse, and professional specializations are highly valued.
Nowadays, employers seek candidates who also have socio-emotional ‘soft skills' and not only the required technical or specialized ones, as well as dynamic professionals who can combine the ability to obtain and analyse sectorial information and have a professional vision to develop both internal and external business relationships.

Resume / CV

The first information a Peruvian employer will want to see is your CV (curriculum vitae) - an in depth look at your work and educational experience that, ideally, should not be longer than two pages.
To apply for a job, you should develop the Professional Experiences part and be brief about personal information. Some of the companies will ask you the contact number of your former company. The best way is to include it in your CV.

CV Template for Peru

• Personal Information: At the top of the page include your name, birth date, and photo (the latter two are not mandatory but recommended)
• Contact Information: Relevant personal contact information at the top of the page including: name, phone number, address, and email address
• Purpose: The position that you are applying for
• Professional Experience: Usually this information is listed chronologically, starting with your most recent employment. 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 tasks and achievements in that job
• Education: This section should come before work experience if you are in school or have been out of school for one to three years, depending on your level of work experience and how relevant your education is to your career. If relevant for the position you are applying for, you can expand on your degrees and/or specialization
• Certificates & Diplomas: Courses, seminars, congresses, or conferences that are relevant in relation to the position. Note if you received any special honours
• Languages: This is extremely relevant to an international job. List which languages you speak and your level: advanced, intermediate or beginner. Point out if you can read, speak, or write in each language and list any associated degrees. Punctuation and grammar are extremely important
• Computer Skills: Programs, applications, word processing, database, Internet experience, etc.
• References: If not asked for in the job advertisement, you may indicate that references are available upon request.

In Perú, it is advisable to make a "follow up" phone call or send an email to make sure they have received your application if the company does not respond within four weeks.

Tips

• Style should be straightforward. Use standard paper and a simple font.
• Print original copies on high quality paper - don't send photocopies.
• Be neat. Take care with the presentation, design, spaces, and spelling of your resume. Don't use abbreviations. 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

A cover letter usually accompanies a CV in a job application. In the format of a letter, it establishes your tone and intent.  

• Header - Standard business letter style with the sender's address, the recipient's contact information and the date sent after either the sender's or the recipient's address. The final part of the header is a salutation, ideally, addressing the person who will be reading the letter (if unsure, check the company's webpage or LinkedIn page).
• Introduction - The introduction briefly states the specific position desired, how you found out about it and a brief (one sentence) outline of why it interests you / why you are suited for it. The introduction paragraph should be designed to catch the employer's immediate interest.
• Body - Highlights material in the resume or job application and explains why the job seeker is interested in the job and would be of value to the employer. Also, matters discussed typically include skills, qualifications, and past experience.
• Closing - Sums up the letter and indicates the next step the applicant expects to take. It may indicate that the applicant intends to contact the employer; although many favour the more indirect approach of simply saying that the applicant will look forward to hearing from or speaking with the employer. After the closing you should add a valediction ("Sincerely") and a signature line.

Interviews in Peru

Interviews are a chance for a company to get to know you before hiring you. Research the company before the interview to discover their missions and direction. It is not uncommon for them to be a series of interviews, with the first lasting 30-60 min, and further meetings possibly taking an entire day.

• Dress neatly and conservatively.
• Arrive on time.
• Bring your CV, business card, and copies of the certificates.
• Ask questions. Demonstrate your knowledge and interest.
• Thank the interviewer for their time.

Wages in Perú

Since 1st January 2019, the national minimum wage for an experienced adult employee increased to 1730.34 PEN/Month (US $524,80) from 1693.40 PEN/Month (US $513,60) in December 2018.

An experienced adult employee for the purposes of the National Minimum Wage Act is an employee who has an employment of any kind over the age of 18. However, the national minimum wage does not stop an employer from offering a higher wage.

Holidays

The following ones are the official bank holidays days per year:

• January 1st and 2nd: New Year
• March 29th and 30th: Thursday and Fridays before Easter
• May 1st : Labour Day
• June 24th and 29th : Inti Raymi (Inca Saint) and St. Peter and Saint Paul days
• July 28th and 29th : Independence days
• August 30th : Day of "Santa Rosa de Lima"
• October 8th : Angamos Fight
• November 1st : All saints day
• December 8th and 25th : Day of the Immaculate Conception and Christmas day

Job Search in Perú

When seeking for a job in Perú, it is recommended to get the special permit to sign contracts in Perú (Permiso para firmar contratos en Perú), which will allow you to sign both work and rental contracts, as well as access to a job, training offers and other services offered by the government.

The best resources to find a working place are:

Search Engines

Search engines allow you to scan a great variety of jobs and narrow down your search on certain criteria. It is also a good idea to post your CV online so hiring managers can find you. They may also allow you to sign-up for e-mail alerts when new jobs become available.
The following are the biggest search engines available in Perú.

• OLX
• Aptitus
• Computrabajo
• Indeed Perú
• Bumeran

Adverts and 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.

Mass Media

Several papers, radio or Tv programs have a helpful classified's section. There are job offers for executives and professionals, as well as sections dedicated to specific professions, like teaching, computers, and media.
These include:

• Perú 21
• La República
• El Comercio
• Diario Correo
• La Razón
• La Primera(first free newspaper in Lima)
• Diario Perfil

Career Fairs

Career fairs are an excellent way to find out about available jobs and opportunities. There are a large variety of employers you can visit in one day. Entrance is usually free, but registering online might be encouraged. Bring your resume and dress to impress, as there may be interviews on the spot.
You can find out about upcoming fairs in your industry on the homepage of the Lima Expo Database

Networking

Sometimes getting a job is about knowing the right people. Talk to friends, family, and business contacts to see if they have connections in the area you would like to work.

Expat events can also be a great way to find out how other expats found work and see if their company has any openings. Use social media such as Facebook, Twitter, Linkedln or expat forums.

Work Visas & Permits

You can travel to Perú with your working place already assigned. However, if you first want to travel to the country as a tourist to settle down before you look for a working position, you can also do that before your tourist visa expires.

In this case, you will need to present some documents to the National Superintendence: Original and copy of current passport and the Andean Migration Card (TAM), the payment in the Banco de la Nación for the permit (S16 – US$5) and the Migratory Quality Visa Change - F004 property filled in, in order to change your visa status into resident/worker, etc.

Please refer to "Passport & Visa" section of the guide for full details.

Teaching English (or any other language)

English-speaking expats are in high demand for teaching English. Language schools usually require applicants to be natives and a college degree. You must have adequate visa clearance and registration. Most schools will supply you the intent to employ so you can secure a visa.

Language Schools in Peru

The easiest way to get started teaching English is to find a school. The best situations are companies that pay adequately and aid in getting visa paperwork completed. These positions may be difficult to come by and there is fierce competition for the best.

Applicants usually submit their resume and application, and if the school approves, the applicant will be asked for an interview. The interview may consist of a sample lesson or a grammar test. Some schools will throw teachers right in for a 90 minute class where the school observes and either offers the job, or does not.
It is common for new teachers to only receive a few classes at first. If they are able to prove themselves reliable and are able to handle a class, they will gradually be given more classes. Some teachers work at two schools or also give private lessons.
Teaching in the state sector is the most lucrative strain of teaching. These jobs are hard to come by without experience and the best qualifications. These positions offer the paid holidays, excellent salary, and a good pension.

Private Language Instruction

It is also an option to give private lessons. These are usually more profitable per hour, but require a lot more work finding customers. The best way to get private students is to post advertisements in business newspapers, on bulletin boards, or offer your resume on expat site's like Easy Expat's Job Listings. Having basic native language skills will help expand your clientele as you can then work with beginners.

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