Job Discussion Forums

patriciaon1 · Joined: 23 Mar 2004 Posts: 8 Location: New Jersey, USA

Hi everybody.
I'm moving to Mexico City from NJ in about a month and I was just wondering if you could share some information with me. How much money do you think I need to survive till I find a job? (I hope it doesn't take me long!) I have friends over there, so I don't have to pay for accommodation (at least the first couple of months).
Thank you,
Patricia
[email protected]

thelmadatter · Posted: Wed May 26, 2004 1:41 pm Post subject:

Hey! You from Joisey?? I from Joisey! What eggzit? hee hee

Seriously...

If you can hang with friends for a while, you wont need much money to survive. Depending on where you are and your definition of survival, you can survive pretty well on $200-$300 month, esp with the current exchange rate. I am assuming that you will kick in something to your friends.

How long to get a job? Again, depends. Where will you be and what are your credentials?

Ben Round de Bloc · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 1946

moonraven · Joined: 24 Mar 2004 Posts: 3094

If you told us what kind of job you were looking for and what kind of qualifications you have, we might be able to tell you more helpful advice.

patriciaon1 · Joined: 23 Mar 2004 Posts: 8 Location: New Jersey, USA

lozwich · Joined: 25 May 2003 Posts: 1536

Just guessing here, but I think Moonraven was wanting to know because if you had zero experience and qualifications it might take you a bit longer to get a job, which would mean you'd need more money.

If I was you, with those quals and experience I'd saunter straight over to Tech de Monterrey and ask for a gig!

I'm not sure if thelmadatter meant dollars or pesos, but $3000 pesos a month would be good to survive fairly comfortably.

Good luck,
Lozwich.

moonraven · Joined: 24 Mar 2004 Posts: 3094

Thanks, Lozwich, that was exactly what I was driving at.

I agree re: the Tech de Monterrey (ITESM)--any branch. You can teach in their high schools without a Master's degree. And the chances of getting enough hours to survive on are much better when you can also teach in Spanish (literature, for example.)

In your first post you indicated that you were going to be living in Mexico City. If that is still the case, I think you should budget more than 3,000 pesos per month--I would say at least 5,000.

MELEE · Posted: Thu May 27, 2004 1:50 pm Post subject:

It helps to know your background, because that gives us an idea on how quickly you will be able to find a job. I don't think you'll have much of a problem, you should have a job in less than a month. Living in Mexico City can be expensive, but it doesn't have to be. Its good that you've got a place to stay for a while, with that expense out of the way it comes down to how you want to live--also how your hosts want you to live. Things like how often you eat out and what you eat out, if you go to the cinema, to clubs, concerts, etc. and how you get around the city. If your a metro and torta (sandwich) type of person, obviously you will spend a lot less than a taxi and Sanbourne's (a restuarant chain) type of person would. Living somewhere in between I think you'd spend the about 4,000 pesos a month, but I've never lived in Mexico City and when ever I go there I act like I'm vacationing Embarassed

, so maybe I'm over estimating!! Also put off visiting muesums and ruins until your working because you might get the a job that gives you the right kind of teacher's card to get in free at most of those places.

Try asking Mixtecamike or Guy (who is mysteriously absent of late), word has it they lived in Mexico City for years.

patriciaon1 · Joined: 23 Mar 2004 Posts: 8 Location: New Jersey, USA

Thank you everybody for all your help and information.
TEC de Monterrey contacted me some weeks ago, but they only had a 10-hour position. Since I hadn't thought about the possibility of getting 2 (or 3) part-time jobs (I guess I've been working at a regular 8-to-3 school for too long now!!!) we just agreed to keep in touch till I got there in July. Colegio Peterson has just contacted me to schedule an interview and La Salle showed some interest too.
Does anybody have some input on the (dis)advantages of working several part-time jobs vs. working at a regular 8-to3 school? Transportation, salary, load of work... any kind of information would be truly appreciated.
Thank you very much.
Patricia

moonraven · Joined: 24 Mar 2004 Posts: 3094

There's another thread going on this forum--fulltime work at language schools-- which has addressed some of your questions.

A lot depends on how you handle stress, and how much you value your free time. If you work at a private junior high or high school you will probably work from roughly 7:15 to 2:30 or 3:00. You should receive a net salary (after taxes) of around 10,000 pesos, plus coupons for food and other items--maybe a bit higher net income in Mexico City if you are at someplace like Colegio Eton. When you walk out the school gate you are free for the rest of the day, which is great. The downside is that you will teach between 24 and 30 class hours a week.

If you work fulltime at a language school you will teach between 35 and 45 class hours per week (including Saturdays). You will make less money than at a private junior high or high school.

If you don't mind working several jobs and spending some time traveling between them, you can make more money. You can also burn yourself out. A friend I taught with in the north of Mexico was working at 3 schools, 48 class hours a week. He was also 23 years old....

If you are used to working in a "regular" school and like that schedule, I would suggest you stick with that. Try as many provate schools in Mexico City as you can. Most of them are hiring now, but sometimes folks back out and they end up going through the hiring process again in mid to late July.

patriciaon1 · Joined: 23 Mar 2004 Posts: 8 Location: New Jersey, USA

patriciaon1 · Joined: 23 Mar 2004 Posts: 8 Location: New Jersey, USA

sometimes even the SAME city, that's what I meant (sorry, it's the end of the day, I can't think straight).

delacosta · Joined: 14 Apr 2004 Posts: 325 Location: zipolte beach

I'd have to agree, it really depends on the size of the town/city where you live and what you do with your free time.
I make just about 12,000 a month gross, which works out to about 10 grand after taxes. I live in a very small town so my rent is very cheap-about 1,200 a month for a house, and there isn't a whole lot to spend money on.
For example for me a typical Friday night out would involve having a few cold coronas on the stoop out front of the local store, shooting the breeze and 'chismeando' with the locals, then picking up a batch of the most amazing tacos and roasted onions you've ever tasted, of course having a few more coronitas and laughing and chatting with the townsfolk while the tacos are being prepared. Everyone’s really happy since its Friday night but also because the savage Oaxacan sun has gone down and the air feels nice and cool, now that its only 31�(that's about 90�F, chilly I tell ya). A walk to the end of the dock to find a nice stoop to munch down the tacos, more beers (you've got to drink them fast cuz they get warm so fast...), and... that's about it. If you really wanted to you could go to a really cheezy disco and dance to really cheezy music and it is actually really fun, once. More than that and the whole thing gets, well, a bit too cheezy. Better to stroll home, a few relaxing sways in the hammock listening to the waves and noises of the night and tuck in under the mosquito net. SO without the disco the 'night out' costs about 70 pesos.
But I digress. It’s getting close to Friday night and I'm starting to fantasize...
I enjoy the things that I do that don't require spending money, such as working in my garden, exploring the countryside on bike, surfing, swimming, hiking, etc. In other words I don't feel deprived of anything and enjoy myself immensely doing the things I do, which allows me to save a fair amount of cash. I don't actually manage to accumulate much of anything though, because I always travel on my time off and blow all my savings. I usually manage to fly back to Canada once a year and that takes a large chunk of it. And of course when I am in a city of any size I do blow money quite quickly. The first thing I do is go to a movie! And then the bookstore. Books are so expensive, especially ESL stuff.
I've been here for four years and have seen a good part of the country. I've had a great time and believe that I live quite well. Perhaps a bit too simply for some but it suits me fine. I manage to save about 6,000 a month on my salary, so I'd say 15 grand is more than enough, if you don't have extravagant spending habits. And by the way, that’s a very good salary for Mexico. Where will you be working?

Gringo Greg · Posted: Sat May 29, 2004 6:38 am Post subject:

I had an American friend living in Mexico City on 2500 pesos a month and his accodmation was paid by his friends. I really couldn't imagine staying down there on less than 5k a month, even if rent was paid, especially for a first timer in Mexico. It is really hard to cut down your expenses to your lowest needs. Even at 5k, you will not be enjoying things as much as you would like. Stick to the 5k and you will make changes in your lifestyle and you might find it possible to live on even less.

Ben Round de Bloc · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 1946