EMPLOYMENT IN ECUADOR

Ecuador has seen as explosion in ‘voluntourism’ in recent years, and there is a huge choice of organizations, both in and out of the country, that can set you up with voluntary work. The most popular options are working with children (generally teaching English at a school or helping out at an orphanage) or ecology-based projects such as reforestation, research or bear-tracking. Some offer free accommodation and food in return for your labour, while others charge a small fee (up to $15 per day). If you’re planning to stay for a while (generally a month or longer) the price goes down.

If you are in Quito, go along to the South American Explorers Club, which can give you up-to-date information on organizations that offer volunteer work.

There are also numerous possibilities for working in Ecuador, although this is more difficult to arrange from home. Your best bet is to turn up and see what you can find.

There are vacancies year round for English teachers in Quito (less so in other cities) and most of the teachers had no problems finding a job. The best way is to print off a few copies of your resume/CV and visit a few language schools in person. Chances are you’ll get hired on the spot. Pay ranges from $3 to $7.50 per hour. Schools that teach business English pay the best, but tend to require certification such as CELTA or International TESOL. Some bilingual high schools require native English speakers (with the relevant experience and qualifications) to teach English as well as other subjects. They generally hire in September and the pay is probably the best you will find as a foreign teacher in Ecuador.

Your second best bet is to get a job in the tourism industry, such as travel agency or hotel work. Pay isn’t as good as the top-end English schools but employment often includes accommodation and food so you can live fairly cheaply. For these jobs you need a good level of Spanish.

If you have computer or web skills, it may be worth checking out the notice boards in the Mariscal as there are often vacancies for jobs designing websites or web-support. Again, your chances will be far better if you have a good level of Spanish and English.

More tips on employment, visit Allo' Expat Ecuador.