Working conditions in Jalisco
The Mexican state of Jalisco has vast cultural, historical, and economic importance. It is the land of tequila, mariachi and ranchera music, and dishes like tortas ahogadas, which is a pork sandwich bathed in a thin red sauce.
For these reasons, as well as for its mild climate, it has attracted thousands of tourists and expatriates over the years.
Good to know:
Guadalajara, the capital of Jalisco and its largest city, is the region's most popular expat destination, with a large number of American, Canadian, and European residents. Other popular destinations in the state, especially for retirees, are the small towns around Lake Chapala, Mexico's largest freshwater lake. One of the largest expat communities is in Ajijic, located near the city of Chapala.
Because it is a major city, the cost of living tends to be higher in Guadalajara than in other parts of Jalisco. However, it is still relatively cheaper than in other parts of the world, like most Western countries.
Available jobs in Jalisco
English and French language speakers are more likely to be hired in various fields in Jalisco, namely in call centers, teaching, marketing, tourism, and hospitality. But you can also find a job in multiple other sectors, such as trade and retail, especially at significant national and international firms.
Common jobs in Jalisco
According to the data provided by the INEGI statistical study, the most recurrent jobs in the state of Jalisco range from clerk to dispatcher and retail salesperson. In the sales sector, the ages registered in said activity are mainly between 15 and 20 years.
The following ages regarding people between 35 and 40 years old belong to a greater extent to the commerce sector, including artisans and dispatchers.
The primary profession is the office worker profession, in which people between 41 and 60 years stand out.
The second leading trade corresponds to domestic workers, bricklayers, and corn or bean growers, including people around 60 years of age.
As for the third most common group of occupations, the jobs reflect truck and van drivers aged between 41 and 45 years.
Workers in the health sector, during the Covid-19 pandemic, presented one of their professional sections as common occupations due to the demand that required the formation of operational teams. The common trades in the health sector are nursing assistants and emergency care professionals for infections.
Most doctors are between the ages of 36 and 40. As for nurses, the ages are between 26 and 30 years, as well as 41 and 45 years for technical nurses.
Industrial and professional growth in Jalisco
The wonderful state of Jalisco includes important companies such as Honda, Grupo Modelo, Bimbo, Grupo Omnilife, Mega Cable, Nestlé, Ferrero de México, La Rosa candy company and PepsiCo.
In gratitude for economic progress, companies have turned to the state with substantial industrial plants, headquarters, and, of course, a large number of new jobs. However, technology companies have taken advantage of the good economic conditions to establish their position there, examples of companies such as IBM, Motorola, Oracle, and hundreds of medium-sized companies.
In short, Jalisco presents a valuable opportunity. Especially for professionals in the sectors that lead the region, including engineers, IT professionals, programmers, and developers.
In correspondence to the Secretary of Labor and Federal Social Welfare, physical medicine, physiotherapy,y, and industrial engineering occupy the highest positions in the Jalisco market regarding the best-paid people.
Some of these professions are relatively new to the market and offer a starting salary of between MXN 13,000 and MXN 15,000. Women make up 48% of the workforce. As for industrial technicians, the salaries offered in the labor market tend to be higher due to the low demand and academic offer.
Definitely, architecture, as well as civil engineering, present promising opportunities in Jalisco.
With an average salary that initially exceeds MXN 12,000, this is due to the accelerated development of metropolitan areas, with a continuous trend that estimates intense activity within the next 10 years. Not only the professions mentioned will benefit from this growth, but accountants, managers, lawyers, economists, kindergarten teachers, and psychologists are also part of Jalisco's growth.
Jalisco is positioned as one of the future states, and its growth is compared to the importance of Mexico City. Regarding the professional development of future generations, this is due to the commercial and industrial growth that it is currently experiencing. The best part is that the labor demand extends among the Jalisco population and includes many expatriates and graduates from other states.
As we always mention, the salary depends on the experience you have acquired and what you are willing to charge. On the other hand, in the service, what gives weight to your contract is the experience you have gained along the way. However, the previous professions were the ones that presented the highest income on average in the metropolitan area of Guadalajara.
If you have a university degree in any of these professions, it will be easier for you to adapt to the capital of Jalisco.
Freelancer and coworking spaces in Guadalajara
These people attend to their clients and carry an external modality in the companies they provide services to. An independent worker can work with several companies simultaneously, and the work schedule is self-managed.
Therefore, they are always looking for companies and new clients to collaborate with by providing them with services. In the Mexican market, freelancers need to make arduous efforts to enter it and expand their client base.
To be updated and competitive in the market, an important step to start working as a freelancer in Mexico is to obtain a federal taxpayer registry. This registry allows the worker to charge for their services, and this implies obligations and responsibilities that determine the official status of a service provider.
The freelancer looks for the client and, in most cases, presents a work proposal, then agrees on the delivery dates of the service, determining the costs and the terms of the contract. He begins the work phase of delivering then and collecting.
Coworking spaces in Guadalajara
Coworking is a valuable space for entrepreneurs, people in business, people from small companies, consultants, freelancers, and other people who need a place to develop their projects.
The coworking space is a good place for business meetings, as it has benefits relevant to many work activities and free internet, meeting rooms, game rooms, virtual training, cafeteria, printing services, etc.
Since its implementation in Guadalajara, many students, companies, and independent professionals have used the facilities to carry out their activities due to the time flexibility they allow.
Definitely, these sites add value and efficiency to the professional environment since those who use the spaces save electricity and other services that could include expenses.
On the other hand, due to the coexistence in the facilities, new relationships and contacts have been generated between members. The close ties between projects allow collaboration with high-value partners in the future, all of which result in a strategic point that supports social-labor exchange in the city.
Coworking is a great idea to have a specific workspace, and Guadalajara is betting on these new proposals.
Find a job in Jalisco
You must, above all, be patient during your job search in Jalisco. Getting in touch with active professionals can be an advantage. Who knows, you might be recommended to a particular firm if you are lucky. The contacts you make upon arrival will be able to inform you about the local labor market, available jobs, and their requirements.
You can also check classified ads in local newspapers and job websites. Also, consider registering with a recruitment agency or with an online professional network where you can post your CV. However, you must visit potential employers to ask for an interview because it is highly uncommon for Mexicans to hire by email.
Once you have a job offer, you will need to apply for legal permission to work in Jalisco. Here is more information about the Visas for Mexico.
Do you want to prepare for an interview?
This part is essential to make a good (first) impression, so get going and prepare well.
The interview is the critical moment for a company to select a candidate since it is a step prior to hiring.
Suppose you have already submitted your resume and have been selected for an interview.
Remember to continue with the selection process due to the fact that you are interested in the position and have the possibility of being part of a work team.
Get ready at a good time and put aside tensions, fears, and stress, because your future and your job are at stake. It is important to remember that going to an interview is not a matter of luck but preparation.
During the interview, there are several possibilities. One is that you advance to the next round, and the other is that the company does not continue with the selection process.
At Expat.com, we will give you some necessary recommendations for a successful interview.
Know your CV
First, they were impressed by your CV, and it doesn't mean that they don't ask you about it and what your achievements are. Most likely, they will investigate him. So be prepared to answer all questions, including possible questions that may arise from your resume.
For this reason, you should review the documentation one by one to consider how you can expand on the information you provide, what additional information is interesting, or what might prompt a question from the interviewer.
Think about writing composition. How did you stay in that school and university? Where do you get the not listed skills on your resume? Why did you quit your previous job? What do you think you can add to the company?
Investigate the company in advance
It is advisable to read the job offers that the company has published since this demonstrates the company's mission and what they are looking for.
Get all the information you have about the employer's business, such as its size, products, services, or the latest news, and it will always impress and give confidence to the interviewer. Read the company's blog or its articles in newspapers and magazines.
Tip:
Don't ask about benefits or salary at the first interview. For example, to return to the topic of “company,” “I know that the company is trying to position itself in the market, and I am interested in being part of a team responsible for achieving this goal.” It can be helpful.
Make a list of the questions you have
Write down any questions that come up about your job and the company. If you find a suitable moment to do it during the interview, you can take out your sheet and read it calmly, which shows that you are ready and interested.
When making the first change, do not ask about working hours, salary, vacations, or type of contract. The interviewer should raise these questions. Of course, you have the conditions you want to work and the financial framework you wish to demand if they ask you.
Don't be discouraged
Maintain an open and solid attitude regarding the position you are applying for.
It is discarding other possibilities for having obtained an interview, and it is better to be able to choose between different vacancies than to choose only one.
If you think the interview isn't going too well, keep trying. The following answer you give may be what they were waiting for, so keep waiting until the end. If you are interested in the position, you can politely ask about the next steps in the interview.
If the interviewer offers you a job and you really want it, go for it right away. On the other hand, if you're going to take the time to think, be polite, and witty, and ask when to respond.
Do you still have doubts about working as an expatriate? You can visit our section about “Work in Mexico” to get a general idea about working in this country. We recommend that you look at the job platforms to understand the labor market better.
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