Finding a job and working in Chile

Requirements for working in Chile

To work in Chile, you must apply for a subject-to-contract work visa or a temporary residency visa. The subject-to-contract visa permits you to work in the country for up to 2 years with a specific employer with whom you have a contract. It can be renewed after two years and includes all your dependents. The temporary residency visa allows you to work for up to 1 year, changing employers as needed. 

With a subject-to-contract visa, you must reapply if you change jobs or you must apply for a different visa if you lose the job but choose to remain in the country. Fees vary depending on your country of origin. Find more information on visas on the Chilean government website.

Getting medical degrees accepted here in Chile can be difficult and may require you to study and take the Chilean version of the medical licensing exam which, of course, would require fluent Spanish.

Other professions that may not require licensing are also difficult to find as even many Chilean university students can't find a job upon completion of their degree. There are simply too many professionals and not enough jobs. For example, currently, there is a glut of veterinarians and engineers without jobs.

Trade unions in Chile have said at least 600,000 technical professionals are needed in fields ranging from construction to mining in the world's top copper producer. So, if you have a technical profession and you speak Spanish, you may have a job waiting for you in Chile.

If not, one of the most common jobs for foreigners who speak English is to teach classes--whether for an institute, school, or privately. Most institutes will require a TEFL or CELTA certificate and may or may not require a university degree as well as prior experience. Schools will most often require studies or licensure related to education, and privately, you may set your own standards. 

Curriculum Vitae in Chile

Your resume will be referred to as a Curriculum, or curriculum vitae (CV), and should be a summary of the relevant qualifications and work experience in relation to the position. Positions in technical or professional fields are particularly strict about qualifications and appropriate further or higher education certification is generally expected, which should be translated and have an apostille or other authentication.

Commonly, your CV will include a recent photo of you, and while it is not obligatory, many include their civil status (i.e. married, single) as well. Consider getting a free CV review at TopCV. 

Pitutos

Bear in mind that business connections (pitutos) are hugely influential in the employment market in Chile. Employers can choose not to even publish job openings publicly because they would rather rely on trusted recommendations. Don't let this deter you as it is more of a mark of the personal manner in which business is conducted after initial formalities. Establishing your own pitutos is a crucial skill in advancing an existing career or branching out into a new one.

International business in Chile

A large number of expats working in Santiago are employed by one of the many international businesses based in the city. The computer technology and electronics sectors have a particularly significant presence in Santiago, including many big multinational companies such as HP, IBM, Intel, Microsoft, and Yahoo. The food processing industry is also a significant contributor to the Chilean economy, with Nestlé and Coca-Cola acting as key employers in Santiago.

The more traditional industries of textiles, clothing production, and mining, still provide significant employment opportunities for those working in Santiago. As mentioned, there are also a number of job opportunities to teach English at various educational institutions across the capital.

In 2019, Chile was named as the fourth best country for doing business in Latin America according to the Ease of Doing Business ranking published by World Bank. As an expat, prepare yourself for long working hours as in 2018, Chile's labour force worked the sixth-highest number of average annual hours of all OECD countries (The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development). Presently, there is legislation in Chilean congress to reduce weekly work hours from 45 to 40. 

 Useful links:

The Work Visa
Learn 4 Good
Chile Xpat Jobs
Laborum
Trabajando
Startup Chile
Chile Professional Directory