Successes in your career in Ecuador

Ecuador in simplest terms is a dead-end for many would be expats seeking to pursue their careers. There are simply too many obstacles for most expats including the language, visa regulations, poor economy, and the fact that many jobs require some kind of connection to attain. So it's common to see overqualified expats working in low paid jobs just to survive, and even such jobs are elusive.

The exceptions are expats who secure jobs beforehand, especially jobs for the UN, NGO's, Red Cross, and Aid & Development programs. These jobs are relatively well paying, and some come with all the perks, such as housing allocation, return airfare once a year, bonuses, etc.  A friend of mine works for an aid and development program, and her expat package includes a rent free fully-furnished 2 bedroom apartment in one of the best areas of the city. Her salary is also competitive and saves a lot of money.

Expats have varying circumstances but the best advice to pursue one's career is to secure a job beforehand particularly from a reputable employer who is qualified to get employees visas. This will prevent desperation and frustrations that some expats experience because of the lack of jobs, low pay, and visa issues.