Bogota
About
Colombia's got a bad reputation but the country is going through a renaissance of sorts lately. Home of the third largest economy in South America (which is saying something for it's small size), the lively cities of Cartagena and Bogota, incredible wildlife, a Caribbean coast and more - this country has something for everyone.
Language
Colombia is home to the second-largest Spanish-speaking population in Latin America (right after Mexico). Knowing at least some Spanish will get you a bit farther in terms of work.
Best For:
- Spanish speakers working in business, marketing, or sales (though xpatjobs.com lists opening by language and has posts for everything from French to Norweigan speaking jobs)
- For executives, a recruiter could help (along with being bilingual!)
Visa Information
You must secure employment first, then leave the country to receive your work permit (visa runs to Ecuador or farther). The visa cost will likely fall on you - currently it's roughly $225 USD plus $77 for your residence card.
The Moneys
It is possible to secure a decent salary in Colombia with a job in business or sales, and it's one of your best bets for teaching English in South America. English teachers make $600-900 USD per month at a language institute, or roughly $10 an hour. Bigger cities will obviously pay more than small towns.
Jobs Available
Teaching English is the easiest job to secure (at least if you're a native English speaker). Some language schools are looking for other language teachers as well. Other than that, mostly large companies need various executives for sales, business, and marketing. Craigslist.org has some random jobs thrown in as well.
In Summary
I've heard good things.
Beach par-tay!
