Yucatan Peninsula Working

Due to high unemployment in Mexico, short-term employment opportunities are few and far between. Let's Go urges you to leave short-term work opportunities to the Mexican citizens who need them most. For those looking to work long-term in Mexico, teaching English is the way to go. In general, you should try to make your work arrangements before you leave for Mexico, as working abroad often requires a special work visa, which can be difficult to obtain (see below for more information about visas). Transitions Abroad (www.transitionsabroad.com) also offers updated online listings for work over any time period.

More Visa Information. It is difficult to obtain a general work visa for Mexico, and the government reserves the right to restrict permits to sectors experiencing labor shortages. In order to work, you must be authorized by the National Immigration Institute (Instituto Nacional de Migración), which will require proof of employment as well as a letter (written in Spanish) requesting entry and detailing your intended activities, estimated time, and pay while in Mexico. You will also need to declare your prospective employee. See website for further details. Homero 1832, Col. Los Morales Polanco, Delegación Miguel Hidalgo; C.P. 11510, México, D.F. (☎555 387 2400; www.inm.gob.mx).

Suffice it to say that teaching jobs abroad pay more in personal satisfaction and emotional fulfillment than in actual cash. Nevertheless, even volunteer teachers often receive some sort of a daily stipend to help with living expenses; expect your salary to match the low cost of living in Mexico. In almost all cases, you must have at least a bachelor’s degree to be a full-fledged teacher, although college undergraduates can often get summer positions teaching or tutoring. Many schools require teachers to have a Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) certificate. You may still be able to find a teaching job without one, but certified teachers often find higher-paying jobs.

The Spanish-impaired don’t have to give up their dream of teaching, either. Private schools usually hire native English speakers for English-immersion classrooms where no Spanish is spoken. (Teachers in public schools will more likely work in both English and Spanish.) Placement agencies or university fellowship programs are the best resources for finding teaching jobs. The alternatives are to contact schools directly or try your luck once you arrive in Mexico. In the latter case, the best time to look is several weeks before the start of the school year. The following organizations are helpful in placing teachers in the Yucatán Peninsula, Tabasco, Chiapas, and Oaxaca.

International Schools Services (ISS), 15 Roszel Rd., P.O. Box 5910, Princeton, NJ 08543, USA (☎609-452-0990; www.iss.edu). Hires teachers for more than 200 overseas schools, some in Mexico. Candidates should have teaching experience and a bachelor’s degree. 2-year commitment is the norm.
Office of Overseas Schools, US Department of State, Room H328, SA-1, Washington, D.C. 20522, USA (☎202-261-8200; www.state.gov/m/a/os). Keeps a list of schools abroad and agencies that arrange placement for Americans to teach abroad, including in Mexico.
Teachers Latin America, Avenida Cuahtemoc 793, Col. Navarte, Del. Miguel Hidalgo, Mexico City D.F., Mexico (☎555 256 4108; www.innovative-english.com). TESS-EFL and TEFL certification, language courses, internships, and job placement services. US $200-1200 depending on the service (see website for more details). TEFL course fees include accommodations (or homestay). Typical certification program 9-12 weeks for minimum 6-month position.