Desperately looking for a job in Colombia

10POSTS

10 years ago

Hello everyone,
I am new here and quite relieved I discovered this forum by accident. I am reaching out to the expat community regarding a rather difficult situation I have been facing, professionally. I have been living in Colombia for almost two years (over a year in Bogotá and since February in Manizales) and I have NEVER been able to find a job. I know I am not the only one but I consider my professional profile interesting and I find it hard to believe that it is so difficult to encounter employment for a trilingual engineer, even in Colombia. Regardless, I know for a fact connections are emphasised so I am hoping that I will find someone in here who can help me and possibly be of assistance job-wise, I can obviously send out my CV if needed. I am an engineer within the field of renewable energies and sustainable development with a Master in International Management. I speak French, English and Spanish.
If you can help me or give me any kind of tip, I would be very grateful if you could post in this thread.
Cheers,
Arthur

1 member reacted to this post

See also

Internships in Colombia - Guide
I am looking for a Job in the IT industry in Medellin Colombia - 5 Replies
The jobs that are the most in-demand for expats in Colombia - 18 Replies
Looking for job opportunities - 13 Replies
Looking for advice on job opportunities in Bogota - 2 Replies
How to get teaching jobs in Colombia - 14 Replies
What are the dos and don'ts of finding a job in Colombia? - 11 Replies

benadlook New member

6POSTS

10 years ago

Hi Arthur,

Please send your resume to ben@adlook.com - We are currently hiring in Bogota, and need French speakers.

Thanks,
Ben

Mariposa2014 Contributor

141POSTS

10 years ago

Hello maybe speking whit SENA

feros Member

10POSTS

10 years ago

Hello,
Thanks for the answer. However, I have no idea what it is. Could you be more specific?

OsageArcher Colombia Expert

1661POSTS

10 years ago

SENA:
http://www.sena.edu.co/Paginas/Inicio.aspx

feros Member

10POSTS

10 years ago

Will check it out. Thanks!

JohnAmericaninBarranquill Member

13POSTS

10 years ago

I would think that to work at SENA in any city in Colombia you would need a cedula -- meaning, some form of residence status. SENA being public sector is likely to require this.

feros Member

10POSTS

10 years ago

I obviously have a foreigner cedula but I do not think it'd help for such an organisation, as colombians are usually favoured. But I can give it a try.

JohnAmericaninBarranquill Member

13POSTS

10 years ago

It might. Give it a try. I worked for awhile at a Coliombian government institution -- with legal permission quite obviously -- not SENA it was another institution -- but I have since left Colombia. I have a cedula extranjera. Actually, that cedula is still valid as it hasn't expired yet. But I'm not using it right now because I am not in Colombia. You will have to go through a lot of background checks and stuff for any government position in Colombia. Yes, they usually favor Colombians. Yes, it pays to know someone and have a personal referral. That's how it works in Colombia.

JohnAmericaninBarranquill Member

13POSTS

10 years ago

#10

For government positions you are likely to find that fluent Spanish-speaking ability helps, which you said you have. I speak fluent Spanish although English is my native language.

feros Member

10POSTS

10 years ago

#11

Well, as my original post said: it has not come that handy so far (and it has been almost two years). I'll keep trying though. Thanks for the help.

JohnAmericaninBarranquill Member

13POSTS

10 years ago

#12

Colombia can be super hard to find a job. The recent deportation of thousands of Colombian living and working in Venezuela by the government of Venezuela flooded many places in Colombia with job seekers, putting even more pressure on an already tough job market. I lived in Colombia for nearly a decade. I might go back sometime, we'll see.