jobs in Costa Rica are Within Reach if you Know Where to Look.

Ah, to have a job in paradise… it’s the dream of many, but the reality of very few: landing a job in safe, tropical, idyllic Costa Rica. So why don’t more people make the move, and secure employment here? Because finding a job isn’t as easy at you might think: in fact, Costa Rica’s strong economy and strict labor laws make it an attractive location for many, with few jobs for foreigners available.

If you have your heart set on Living in Costa Rica, initial advice is always to consider starting your own online business. Working over the internet, from the comfort of your own home, is not only entrepreneurial, but easy. The truth is, it’s hard to find a legal job here, and working over the internet allows you to avoid a difficult work visa situation, and earn a U.S. wage. In a country whose average monthly salary is less than $500, this can be a very big plus.

If working from home isn’t your cup of tea, you’ll need to get comfortable with some legalities. To begin, though there are several types of residency, only citizens and permanent residents are allowed to work in Costa Rica. (Though, depending on your residency status, you may be able to own your own business, though not work in it.) If you’re not a citizen or permanent resident, then you must have a work permit to legally work.

Your employer must apply on your behalf for a work permit, and in order for the request to be granted, you must be providing a service which cannot be provided by a Costa Rican. This law exists to protect local workers which are, on the whole, educated and highly skilled. However, there are two professions which consistently apply foreigners legally: teaching English as a foreign language, and teaching a specialty in English.

TEFL, or Teaching English as a Foreign Language, is a very popular option for foreign workers in Costa Rica. Generally, you will need to speak English as your first language, and have either TEFL or CELTA certification. TEFL teaching experience may help you secure a higher hourly rate. English teachers in Costa Rica are expected to prepare their own classes, so prepare to spend at least 5-6 hours weekly preparing. Average pay is between $5-$7.50 hourly, with contract completion bonuses. Most teachers work about 20 hours per week. Big companies like Berlitz, English 2 Go and Idioma International often post job openings online on sites like Craig’s List Costa Rica or La Nacion’s jobs page: economicos.com.

Finding a full-time teaching job can be a bit more tricky, but a good method is to email a cover letter and resumé to your target schools, to see if they have any openings. Searching the classified sections can also be helpful, but many times, English-language teaching jobs are advertised internally. Expect to be paid $700+ per month, which is considered a good salary in Costa Rica.

Keep in mind that only certain schools will secure you a work permit, so if legal employment is important to you, ask if your school will provide this service. If you go the legal route, you won’t live like a king, but you’ll live comfortably, and I’ll take comfortable in paradise over royalty elsewhere any day.

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Filed under: Business on July 7th, 2008