JOBS... Where and How ?

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rey

Active member
Jan 2, 2007
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Hello everyone ; I am thinking about moving to DR for a year but I need some extra income in order to supplement my Veteran's check ; so Where and How does Americans citizen(expats) get jobs Santiago? It's my understanding that's the fact that someone speaks and writes English fluently in DR Opens up a lot of jobs opportunities.

Keep in mind that's I am just a regular joe ; I don't have a Phd or Masters degree ....


Thank you
 
AlterEgo

AlterEgo

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Well, I see you've been here since 2007, so I'm assuming that you know you need your residency to work legally in DR. Not knowing your skillset or experience, it's hard to say what doors English will open. Certainly in a call center, but that's like 100 pesos an hour AFAIK.

Do you have some special training? Or were you career military?
 
R

rey

Active member
Jan 2, 2007
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I was 42A "Human Resource Specialist"; I was also Infantry(but being an marksmanship/ expert with an M16 doesn't qualified me for many jobs)

So no expats in DR work without being resident ? I am sure there got to be a way around not having a cedulla and getting a real job .... Such as " la zona Francas" , calling center , English schools, .... Does anyone have any similar experience ?
 
R

rey

Active member
Jan 2, 2007
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By the way,,, does calling center really only paid 100 pesos per hour. ?

That's incredible !
 
E

Expat13

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Jun 7, 2008
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rey said:
I was 42A "Human Resource Specialist"; I was also Infantry(but being an marksmanship/ expert with an M16 doesn't qualified me for many jobs)

So no expats in DR work without being resident ? I am sure there got to be a way around not having a cedulla and getting a real job .... Such as " la zona Francas" , calling center , English schools, .... Does anyone have any similar experience ?
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Based on your credentials I would suggest you become a personal security for the many targeted gringos in the North Coast.
 
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pauleast

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Jan 29, 2012
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MR Rey. Its best to land a job Stateside with a company,outfit, organization that has interests here. Hammer out the particulars in the U.S and than come on over. A lot of people in said organizations don't wont to come here.
 
R

rey

Active member
Jan 2, 2007
592
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pauleast said:
MR Rey. Its best to land a job Stateside with a company,outfit, organization that has interests here. Hammer out the particulars in the U.S and than come on over. A lot of people in said organizations don't wont to come here.
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Good idea
Can anyone mention any one of those USA organizations or companies that have sites (BRANCH) in Santiago

Thank you
 
CristoRey

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Most Dominicans I know make less than 20,000 pesos a month. Finding a job down here paying more then 4,000 peso a week is going to be very difficult in Santiago unless you have some sort of private practice in a med field or work via the internet.

If they catch you working anywhere on the island without a permit you can expect some heavy fines and possible deportation.
 
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Mauricio

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Nov 18, 2002
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windeguy said:
rey, I would never recommend to anyone to come to the DR if they need a job.
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That Depends. I need a job to live. I was doing well in my home country but after a long process of 5 years doing fine now here as well and work way less hours I did there, no traffic jams, time for the children, nice weather. It took a while and I have been on the brim of deciding 'we are going back' many times, but at this moment I'm happy I didn't.
 
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josh2203

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Mauricio said:
That Depends. I need a job to live. I was doing well in my home country but after a long process of 5 years doing fine now here as well and work way less hours I did there, no traffic jams, time for the children, nice weather. It took a while and I have been on the brim of deciding 'we are going back' many times, but at this moment I'm happy I didn't.
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IMO these two situations are different, and do not compare. If someone has the possibility to be on the career path or in a real position in the DR, yes, I would do that as well, but if it?s only a "job" which you land on not based on your qualifications, apart from language skills, then I would not recommend it either.

Call center jobs (and similar) may exist in wealth in the DR, but an expat making it to the career path (be it a branch of a foreign company or a Dominican company), is not that common, and may require quite a bit of preparations/work/planning, just like you said (long process of 5 years).

Hence, if you are offered a decent position in Banco Popular, with appropriate conditions, I would perhaps think it twice, but if you need to go apply to a dozen AIs to pay your bills, I would not think about it (depends on the person though)...
 
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josh2203

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Apologies, double post, I saw a bunch of PHP errors and then my post twice... Please delete this one, thanks!
 
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M

Mauricio

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josh2203 said:
IMO these two situations are different, and do not compare. If someone has the possibility to be on the career path or in a real position in the DR, yes, I would do that as well, but if it?s only a "job" which you land on not based on your qualifications, apart from language skills, then I would not recommend it either.

Call center jobs (and similar) may exist in wealth in the DR, but an expat making it to the career path (be it a branch of a foreign company or a Dominican company), is not that common, and may require quite a bit of preparations/work/planning, just like you said (long process of 5 years).

Hence, if you are offered a decent position in Banco Popular, with appropriate conditions, I would perhaps think it twice, but if you need to go apply to a dozen AIs to pay your bills, I would not think about it (depends on the person though)...
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That's why I say that it depends. Windeguy says he wouldn't recommend anyone that needs a job to get here. Though I understand why he says it, it's not that there are no possibilities. Also for an expat it's possible to live as the well off Dominicans with good jobs or profitable businesses live.

I must add, I wouldn't have come here just to try my 'luck' or show I can succeed or escape the rat race to get in another (harder) one here. I came for another reason, knew I'd have to find a way to make it work, and, thank God, it did.
 
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windeguy

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Mauricio said:
That's why I say that it depends. Windeguy says he wouldn't recommend anyone that needs a job to get here. Though I understand why he says it, it's not that there are no possibilities. Also for an expat it's possible to live as the well off Dominicans with good jobs or profitable businesses live.

I must add, I wouldn't have come here just to try my 'luck' or show I can succeed or escape the rat race to get in another (harder) one here. I came for another reason, knew I'd have to find a way to make it work, and, thank God, it did.
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You are one of the minority that beat the odds and found something you can live with. For the low-skilled English only speaker, that would be very difficult to do when about $400 US a month is all they could hope to get.
 
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LTSteve

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Jul 9, 2010
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If you were bi-lingual that would be an asset. Speaking English only is not in the DR. What you need to do is come to the DR for a month, and see what life is like. The residency process will cost you probably in the neighborhood of $1200-1500usds.
 
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josh2203

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Dec 5, 2013
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Mauricio said:
That's why I say that it depends. Windeguy says he wouldn't recommend anyone that needs a job to get here. Though I understand why he says it, it's not that there are no possibilities. Also for an expat it's possible to live as the well off Dominicans with good jobs or profitable businesses live.

I must add, I wouldn't have come here just to try my 'luck' or show I can succeed or escape the rat race to get in another (harder) one here. I came for another reason, knew I'd have to find a way to make it work, and, thank God, it did.
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Exactly, fully agree. I suppose you could say, that whatever you want to do in your life, if you are systematical and plan/prepare everything carefully, failing is much less likely. Changing your mind a lot and taking hasty decisions may cost you lot, on the other hand.

I know a few people, who have made it as well, having the mindset of an entrepreneur is usually not a bad thing to have...
 
bob saunders

bob saunders

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Jan 1, 2002
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josh2203 said:
Exactly, fully agree. I suppose you could say, that whatever you want to do in your life, if you are systematical and plan/prepare everything carefully, failing is much less likely. Changing your mind a lot and taking hasty decisions may cost you lot, on the other hand.

I know a few people, who have made it as well, having the mindset of an entrepreneur is usually not a bad thing to have...
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Exactly, Fail to plan, plan to fail. Setup your decision based on living off your veterans pension, and any other income will be a bonus. A lot depends on your lifestyle ( wants versus needs)
 
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