How hard is it to find work in Colombia?

RussianFred says on Sep 11, 2007, 14:38:

What wrong with Lima? What city do plan on living in?

Annual Drug Deaths: Tobacco: 395,000, Alcohol: 125,000, 'Legal' Drugs: 38,000, Illegal Drug Overdoses: 5,200, Marijuana: 0. Considering government subsidies of tobacco, just what is our government protecting us from in the drug war?--Ralph Nader

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Mr. Hollywood says on Sep 11, 2007, 15:46:

I'd guess it's VERY hard unless you have some very unique programming skills.

Colombia has a lot of highly educated professionals competing for a limited amount of jobs.

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danronian says on Sep 11, 2007, 16:13:

I agree that it would be very hard to find a job. I know personally enough people here with college degrees who can't find work. In fact I know one IT person here, with a degree from a good school in Bogota, and he gets paid poorly, the hours are terrible, and it's all he could find in Bogota. He's actually planning a move out of the country.

I would still try it though. Might as well send your resume to some big companies in cities where you would like to live.

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poco says on Sep 11, 2007, 19:36:

I don't think it is hard to find work. Getting paid something is the hard part.

Self employment is the answer but still the pay problem.

All the "Mom and Pop" places are really the only way for most to survive. Yep, buying a job and job that will insure you get up everymoring and work late into the night just to eat, kind of like being a slave, a slave to your business.

I've built / remodeled four houses. No pay, but it was something to do.

I've considered a chicken ranch. but it is low pay.



Better to be in home building. My latest project.

This is the original, 30 year old toilet. Notice the decor, nice brick wall with some white paint, water line coming out of the floor and of course the toilet didn't fit,, but what the heck, not necessary,, just do a little cement finish around the tank.




Take a good look, no holes to install a seat. A nice smooth, wide, cold porcelin seat. A real antique. Notice the hole in the floor behind. Typical toilet installation consists of cementing the base to the floor. It took a 4 inch and 9 inch grinder to remove. Solid construction that is durable but not good for maintenance.



Unfortunatly the concrete pipe "ell" below the floor had rotted out and needed to be replaced along with everything else in the bath.

Bath Floor chisled out for replacement pipe.


Chisel out the water line, move it up on the wall, fill the hole, flange and fill the hole in the wall.



Yep, home building is the way to go.

"When you men get home and face an anti-war protester, look him in the eyes and shake his hand. Then, wink at his girlfriend, because she knows she's dating a pussy." Quote - General Tommy Franks

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gringolondinense says on Sep 12, 2007, 03:33:

Poco...its funny you already mentioned not to go looking for toilet seats in public restrooms. Its number 28 of things not to do in colombia.

http://poorbuthappy.com/colombia/post/things-not-to-do/

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poco says on Sep 12, 2007, 15:36:

Quote: Poco...its funny you already mentioned not to go looking for toilet seats in public restrooms. Its number 28 of things not to do in colombia.

Also: Don’t look for a mail box or a wooden telephone pole because I’ve not seen any yet.

The toilet seat thing, actually the entire installation of cementing the toilet to the floor was something I’d never suspect existed.

A poco built home has a genuine floor flange installed with plumbers putty (something else you won’t find in Colombia),, well maybe but I’ve looked for it and have yet to find any.

This floor flange was located in a bath fixture shop. I don’t know the Spanish name so when I look for something I first go to the internet and print out a color picture.

The flange box was dusty. I asked if they sold a lot and the store owner said NO. I guess it costs too much money, 10,000 pesos. The plumbers putty was purchased at Home Depot in the U.S.



The final product. One of the finest estrato 2 baths in town.



and it has a medicine cabinet.



Oh, wax toilet rings, something else hard to find. I’m taking a few in my suit case on my next trip. No wax rings,, kind of sad but I guess cement is almost free and a flange with a ring probably costs 20,000 pesos or about a days pay.

"When you men get home and face an anti-war protester, look him in the eyes and shake his hand. Then, wink at his girlfriend, because she knows she's dating a pussy." Quote - General Tommy Franks

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vicshere says on Sep 12, 2007, 16:50:

hey poco try finding carpenter's wood puddy...i tired and cant find any even in bogota

listo

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arthur brode (☼Travelguide writer) says on Sep 12, 2007, 17:38:

pedro (☼Travelguide writer) says on Sep 12, 2007, 18:54:

poco says on Sep 12, 2007, 19:06:

Quote: hey poco try finding carpenter's wood puddy...i tired and cant find any even in bogota

Right couldn't locate any either. A good work around is to shave the wood into a little pile of powder and add a glue they call Carbon 60. This makes a workable paste.

Plumbers putty in Home Center ?? I've looked in Pereira and they didn't have any,, I'll look again but Home Center has evolved into an Exito with tools and appliances. I've had better luck finding things at the hardware stores.

Quote: How about becoming a street performer?

A good idea but I don't think it pays much. Like this guy twirling a fire baton on the street

.
Not a good picture because I was surprised and had to get the camera out and take a shot before the light changed.

You could pretend to be a statue with your hand out to collect money. Wait,, those aren't statues, they are people, except with costumes.

"When you men get home and face an anti-war protester, look him in the eyes and shake his hand. Then, wink at his girlfriend, because she knows she's dating a pussy." Quote - General Tommy Franks

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tommy1 says on Sep 12, 2007, 19:14:

thanks for nothing

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vicshere says on Sep 12, 2007, 19:23:

your welcome

listo

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arthur brode (☼Travelguide writer) says on Sep 12, 2007, 20:12:

Man Tequila says on Sep 12, 2007, 20:38:

I can patch together a few hymens for your business in the unlikely event this would be needed.

Aunque no me creas/ si me lo propongo/ lograre olvidarte/ porque a fin de cuentas/ no soy tan cobarde./ Y termino todo una de estas tardes/ no sera dificil buscar algún sitio donde refugiarme/ donde nunca mas vuelvas a encontrarme. (Polo Montañez)

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john_stark says on Sep 12, 2007, 20:43:

Does he have all their holes inspected for damage, I wonder? Sure one hole may be intact but that doesn't mean the others aren't doing double duty!

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Man Tequila says on Sep 12, 2007, 20:56:

I can patch together a few hymens for you in the unlikely event this is needed.

Aunque no me creas/ si me lo propongo/ lograre olvidarte/ porque a fin de cuentas/ no soy tan cobarde./ Y termino todo una de estas tardes/ no sera dificil buscar algún sitio donde refugiarme/ donde nunca mas vuelvas a encontrarme. (Polo Montañez)

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john_stark says on Sep 12, 2007, 20:56:

Will you be able to certify that her poop chute has seen exit only traffic?

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la campiña says on Sep 12, 2007, 21:34:

run'{ gary glitter

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