? on opportunities for Colombian finding work in Miami

Miguel_Clavo says on Jun 19, 2006, 20:45:

SOME guys will do anything to get out of buying someone a beer!! jajajaja...


Just my opinion...

Miguel_Clavo...faltan 15 días...Colombia es pasión!

"F.A.R.C..S.U.C.K.S"

"I would rather die living life, than to live a dying life."........ Oh, and my PM is always ON. Great Bumper Sticker: "Home of the Free, Because of the Brave"

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Wastelandlive says on Jun 20, 2006, 08:17:

Brody - I earned an MBA at the University of Miami and am - unfortunately - very familiar with our job market. I'll try to help.

1) When you describe her as having "almost" an MS in Business Economics and Brokerage, I'm guessing she's got what's called a "specialty" in Colombia, right? Bad news: that degree is not known or recognized here. Good news: she's obviously got a Bachellor's in a hard subject/ something businessy... that'll help.

2) What are her expectations? That's the biggest issue.

Miami has no manufacturing to speak of, and no high tech. For a city of this size, the job market is amazingly tight. Not to put too fine a point on it, but there's a lot of money HERE that comes from THERE, and it drives up the cost of living without creating the same kind of productive opportunities that you'd find in Los Angeles or New York.

So... we've got services here. Tourism. The cruise industry is a solid corporate employer. And finance is big... two kinds: the usual supects - Wachovia, Goldman Sachs, etc. - are looking for ivy league graduates, and you can't get into the door without an intro. The Latin banks, on the other hand - Banco de Bogota, Santander, etc - tend to hire only Latins.

Is that her world? Could she get a letter of introduction from her current place of employ to one of the Colombian banks that has a branch here in Miami? (Her own?)

That would REALLY be her best bet. If she could get such a professional position, she should take it, however junior... or wait tables in South Beach. (That's the kind of job market you are looking at here.)

If she doesn't have real, credible work there which could manifest itself into a job lead/recommendation into the Colombian/American business world... then it's a rough slog ahead. Her academic credentials aren't going to do much for her here, though her bilingual skills will.

Wasteland

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Aji1 says on Jun 20, 2006, 10:06:

Plan B The best way for a Colombian to get a job in Miami is to pretend to be Cuban.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

miamimike says on Jun 20, 2006, 10:54:

Too Bad She wasn't into Healthcare..Very True on Above Plan B Specifically Nursing. Healthcare for the most part is Wide Open for Bilingual Nurses. You can work 24/7 if you have the FLorida License and truly are Bilingual. This is true for most of Florida for that matter! Healthcare is a Huge Industry here in south florida! Your English needs to really be up to speed at the Technical Level to pass the Florida Nursing Boards exam.In addition, you have to have all your coursework from Col re-evaluated and officially translated by the Joseph Smiley AGency in south miami. This is the state approved translation and evaluating agency for the state of florida for foreign degree holders attempting to use their degrees for licensing here in the USA(doctors, nurses, engineers ect).

"Wait a minute. What did you just say? You're predicting $4-a-gallon gas? That's interesting. I hadn't heard that." -- Feb. 28, 2008 --George W. Bush, Washington, D.C.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Colombiche says on Jun 20, 2006, 11:03:

How about.... A bilingual colombian with over 5 years in the IT industry, and a Canadian citizenship........ does that make it a bit easier to land a job there?

No me den trago extranjero, que es caro y no sabe a bueno.... (Rafael Godoy)

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Colombiche says on Jun 20, 2006, 11:09:

Anybody been to La Havana... cats there don't go miau miau, the go Miami Miami.

No me den trago extranjero, que es caro y no sabe a bueno.... (Rafael Godoy)

0 funny, 0 helpful.

miamimike says on Jun 20, 2006, 11:10:

Colombiche, for many of those IT Jobs you have to be "Connected" to the Cubans here in Miami. The Cubans really can't affect the Healthcare Job really as those all involve Licensing from Tallahassee(capital and where the dept of professional regulation/licensing is located) so they can't fool much with those jobs, anything else is fair game to scam and they do Bigtime-trust me on that. They are always advertising for Police here, an idea :)

"Wait a minute. What did you just say? You're predicting $4-a-gallon gas? That's interesting. I hadn't heard that." -- Feb. 28, 2008 --George W. Bush, Washington, D.C.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Colombiche says on Jun 20, 2006, 11:26:

Yeah I think Aji was spot on when he said "pretend to be Cuban".

I can work on my cuban accent.

No me den trago extranjero, que es caro y no sabe a bueno.... (Rafael Godoy)

0 funny, 0 helpful.

miamimike says on Jun 20, 2006, 11:31:

You live in such a nice place, Toronto, why would you want to even think about coming to Miami? I know two cubans who recently moved to Toronto from Miami and they love it! They can't used to how honest the people in Toronto are.LOL I know a lot (not all) of this is true as I used to travel there on week-ends from my home area fo Erie, Pa, maybe 130 miles sw of Toronto and 80 miles west of Buffalo, NY.

"Wait a minute. What did you just say? You're predicting $4-a-gallon gas? That's interesting. I hadn't heard that." -- Feb. 28, 2008 --George W. Bush, Washington, D.C.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Colombiche says on Jun 20, 2006, 12:17:

Miamimike Toronto is a nice place. I don't think there is much to do up here as I would like.

I suppose the crime rates are lower than those of Miami, but it is has been going downhill over the last couple of years.

My main issue is with the cold, I can't stand cold long winters. I also think that we get taxed through the nose up here, almost 40% out of each paycheck so that new immigrants who have money back home can live off the welfare system..... no way Jose!

No me den trago extranjero, que es caro y no sabe a bueno.... (Rafael Godoy)

0 funny, 0 helpful.

utopiacowboy says on Jun 20, 2006, 12:28:

I would take Toronto over Miami any day and I hate Toronto.

Disclaimer: any comment I make is inane and is not to be taken seriously, and is so patently ridiculous that no one should take it seriously, even as an insult.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Colombiche says on Jun 20, 2006, 12:41:

You are on to something... MIAMI MICE...........

IT consultant/Undercover COP, tracking down pay per click scams.

No me den trago extranjero, que es caro y no sabe a bueno.... (Rafael Godoy)

0 funny, 0 helpful.

miamimike says on Jun 20, 2006, 18:28:

Trouble is We pay a lot of taxes in the USA but don't receive much contrasted to the taxes you pay in Toronto, you have a Good National health care system in Canada. Here in Florida alone we have 2,500,000(that is million)with no Health Insurance of any kind. Miami now has 600,000 residents with NO health Insurance at all. Toronto has a great Rapid transit system as does Montreal. I don't even see a comparison in the 2 countries and that comes from a US Military Veteran who didn't cut and run BTW. They are even trying to cut a lot of Vets out of healthcare in the VA Medical system. I would NEVER trade Toronto for Miami, knowing both well!

"Wait a minute. What did you just say? You're predicting $4-a-gallon gas? That's interesting. I hadn't heard that." -- Feb. 28, 2008 --George W. Bush, Washington, D.C.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Colombiche says on Jun 20, 2006, 19:08:

Miamimike I really appreciate your insight about how both places compare as I have been flirting with the idea of moving down there for about a year.

I do go to Miami quite often and spend a lot of time there, but always as a tourist.

One thing I don't really like about Mia is the transit system.... I really haven't seen one much of one, except for the Collins bus in Miami Beach.

I did find groceries quite expensive. I remeber shopping at Publix in Weston and Miami Beach and the prices for fruits and vegetables were ridiculous, more expensive than what I pay here in the winter.

I did have to go to the ER at the Miami Beach Hospital for a minor injury, it ran me up about $700.00 and I was in and out that same night.

No me den trago extranjero, que es caro y no sabe a bueno.... (Rafael Godoy)

0 funny, 0 helpful.

utopiacowboy says on Jun 20, 2006, 19:14:

I would really think twice about this, Colombiche and then think about it some more. A lot of things you take for granted in Toronto you're not going to be able to enjoy in Miami. Like a fairly high degree of personal safety. Or hospitable people. Miami people have to be the rudest, surliest bunch I've ever encountered. They may be Latino but they're not Mexican Latino unfortunately. All they care about is money and the crap that money can buy. What about family? Religion? Friends? All the things that are important to Tejanos count para nada en Miami.

Disclaimer: any comment I make is inane and is not to be taken seriously, and is so patently ridiculous that no one should take it seriously, even as an insult.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Gomezman5 says on Jun 20, 2006, 19:32:

Miami ?? You have to be kidding? You have to remember that so many educate South American and Central Americans live there. The climate is similar to most of these countries, and they are close enough to home that they don't have to travel all day to return to their families in their native countries. People think that every Latino is Cuban. Nonsense. My family owned a Condo on Collins Ave in MB for over 25 years. I sold it several years ago but my cousin still lives there. In fact she used to live only minutes from Miamimike. I still go there a lot so I am familiar with the situation.

Miami is inundated with bilingual Latinos. Like the above poster said:

"The best way for a Colombian to get a job in Miami is to pretend to be Cuban."

Sorry to say, he is not kidding. The Cubans are very good at look after their own. Also, the pay is not all that great. Because so many people want to live there, most jobs pay far less than jobs in Northern citis pay. Housing prices have gone through the roof and salaries have not really kept up with the cost of housing if you want to live in a good area.

Miamimike is right however. Becaucse of the shortage of healthcare workers, if you are a nurse, PT or OT, you can get a job yesterday. Of course, the doctors do well too. But I do have friends in Miami and I am shocked at how much less money my friend earn than similarly situated people in Chicago earn.

In this woman's case, she is Colombian, but she is well educated. Nevertheless she is new to the region, so without contacts, she is going to have to be lucky to get a well paying job.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Colombiche says on Jun 20, 2006, 19:37:

UC That is a true point... the people are a bit rougher around the edges there, I must admit people are a bit politer here. The again, same thing applies to NYC.

I do have family in Miami, they seem to have a pretty nice life down there. It' almost like living in a latino city, with white sand, palm trees and a blue ocean.... and you make greenbacks.

No me den trago extranjero, que es caro y no sabe a bueno.... (Rafael Godoy)

0 funny, 0 helpful.

utopiacowboy says on Jun 20, 2006, 19:52:

After that greenback comment, maybe it is the place for you. It is interesting to me that all the terrible characteristics that Colombians lambaste the US for: obsession with money and things, lack of focus on family and friends etc are found in abundance in Miami. Based on her limited experience here, my wife thinks these charges are baseless. I think she'd have a different opinion if she lived in Miami.

Disclaimer: any comment I make is inane and is not to be taken seriously, and is so patently ridiculous that no one should take it seriously, even as an insult.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

miamimike says on Jun 20, 2006, 20:15:

Miami is the Poorest Big City In the USA The disparity between wages and housing costs are the greatest in the Nation.Average home price -$370,000 ---average wage is like 37K for a family of four. Miami also has the distinction of the Number one one Road Rage Driving city in the USA as of 3 weeks ago. These drivers are A Mean Inconsiderate bunch! Crime really seems to be heating up here also-last week 4 teenagers were assassinated in a Drug turf war! Last place I would move to, knowing what I do now. Not to mention, seems like Miami is in the Hurricane cycle for the next Ten Years!

"Wait a minute. What did you just say? You're predicting $4-a-gallon gas? That's interesting. I hadn't heard that." -- Feb. 28, 2008 --George W. Bush, Washington, D.C.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Wastelandlive says on Jun 20, 2006, 23:11:

Wow. Lots of bustin' on Miami! Face it... one reason wages are low in Miami is because people will accept less to live here.

I think it's a great city. But to repeat a truism that probably applies everywhere, the quality of your job and the brevity of your commute mean alot. I live and work in the Gables... I never get on a highway except when I'm headed to Brickel or South Beach for some night life. I'd probably hate it here otherwise.

I do hate that you cannot park without paying. And the fact that the cops are the dirtiest I've seen in the US... abusive, corrupt, you name it. That really blows.

But ya! It's Latin. Doesn't everybody here like Latin? What is this, "Poor But Happy Duetschland?"

Colombiche - I see ALL KINDS of IT positions advertised around here. How skilled are you? If you can write code, I'll bet you Accenture would pick you up. Are you ready to work US hours?

Wasteland

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Colombiche says on Jun 21, 2006, 06:26:

Thanks I am not even the OP that asked the original question, nevertheless, I have found the thread so informative.

UtopiaCowboy -- The greenback comment... I would like a place where I can have good wages but not have to sacrifice culture, warmth and family atmosphere. That is why I am flabbergasted at your comment... I thought Miami was such a place !

Wasteland -- I used to write code, but after a few hours I am ready to run!
Right now I am a project manager, I am writing my PMP in a few months I would love to find a position more business oriented, my clients are all big financial institutions, I do have clients in the Miami area and the keys.
The sad thing about being a programmer is that you can be replaced in a heartbeat! Right now my company is considering outsourcing all the code to India.... the programmers are shaking in their pants.

MiamiMike -- 37,000 for a family of 4? Damn!

The worse thing about Miami are the cabdrivers... I guess I am spoiled, Toronto cab drivers all have PHD's back in their home countries :)

No me den trago extranjero, que es caro y no sabe a bueno.... (Rafael Godoy)

0 funny, 0 helpful.

lpdiver says on Jun 21, 2006, 06:58:

She could alway... be a waitress in an ethnic restaurant and pull down 50-70k per year. No papers or English skills required.

t

"cook some rice!"

0 funny, 0 helpful.

webmanco says on Jun 21, 2006, 07:36:

I would like a place where I would like a place where I can have good wages but not have to sacrifice culture, warmth and family atmosphere. Colombiche
I would add health

Don´t look any further



Is the place. Internet the tool

...A yo, déjenme queto y no me jodan má! ...

0 funny, 0 helpful.

kernow62 says on Jun 21, 2006, 13:12:

Colombiche, do you like to party, do you like the beach, warm weather, well Miami is worth the hassle then. The drivers are shit and the people can be brusk, but you can buy almost any Latin product in the world, sample great food....

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Colombiche says on Jun 21, 2006, 14:05:

Are you kidding?? I would be content living ina hut by the beach. That alone, is worth putting up with 20 hurricanes, crappy drivers and rude people.

No me den trago extranjero, que es caro y no sabe a bueno.... (Rafael Godoy)

0 funny, 0 helpful.

utopiacowboy says on Jun 21, 2006, 15:55:

De acuerdo con Webmanco. Por los Colombianos no hay una lugar como Colombia.

Disclaimer: any comment I make is inane and is not to be taken seriously, and is so patently ridiculous that no one should take it seriously, even as an insult.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Colombiche says on Jun 21, 2006, 16:35:

Tienes razon UC Estoy de acuerdo 100% que colombia es el lugar mas maravilloso para cualquier colombiano.

A proposito, ya le compraste el pasaje de regreso a tu esposa y a sus hijos?

No me den trago extranjero, que es caro y no sabe a bueno.... (Rafael Godoy)

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Wastelandlive says on Jun 21, 2006, 18:00:

Well Columbiche... Accenture, I'm telling you. They're big here. If you're a project manager already, that just means that you've already got the experience that they are looking for, and could command a higher salary while managing code writers.

You'd still work your ass off. That's consulting; little time to hang out on the beach.

But that's the American dream... myself, I'm trying to buy a house I can't afford, and give it to a wife who doesn't like me very much. Whittle down my vacation time to about 7 days a year, which I'll take in three different blocks, and I'll be ONE HAPPY CAMPER.

He with the most toys wins!

Wasteland

0 funny, 0 helpful.

utopiacowboy says on Jun 21, 2006, 22:30:

Esperamos volver en diciembre.

Disclaimer: any comment I make is inane and is not to be taken seriously, and is so patently ridiculous that no one should take it seriously, even as an insult.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

arthur brode says on Jun 21, 2006, 22:35:

Colombiche san juan,puerto rico is a latin city with white sandy beaches and palm trees.puerto rico doesnt get hit as hard with the hurricanes like miami does and its not as hot/humid either.being that you are fully bilingual you would have priority over a lazy puertorican that doesnt speak english well.oh,and puerto rico pays in greenbacks also.Colombiche,pretending to be puertorican is easy,just say "que se joda" de vez en cuando and you will be ok.for job opportunities in P.R. check out www.endi.com

http://www.calirentals.net/

0 funny, 0 helpful.

lpdiver says on Jun 22, 2006, 04:58:

Tinto... Last time I was there visiting my wifes friends they had a party and everyone wanted to meet me...the real live gringo! I never laughed so hard or had such a good time in my life.

T

"cook some rice!"

0 funny, 0 helpful.