Development jobs in Guatemala: Tips for expats

Guatemala’s stunning scenery, pleasant weather and vibrant indigenous culture have lured foreign development professionals to seek work in the Central American nation. Such a pursuit, however, is not without challenges. Paid positions are reserved for expatriates with niche skills that cannot be found locally. Hence, the most likely path to development work in Guatemala is through volunteering or an internship with an international or local organization. Downward trend for paid expat positions The hiring trend is not favorable to foreigners amid shrinking organizational budgets and the country’s high unemployment rate. “When I started working for CARE a long time ago, we started with 5 percent or 7 percent expats, and we ended with 3 percent or 1 percent,” said Guatemalan native and Mercy Corps Country Director Borys Chinchilla. “There are a lot of [Guatemalan] people with university degrees that have many years of experience with NGOs and the government [that are seeking jobs],” Chinchilla said. Furthermore, pay for local staff is 25 percent cheaper than an expat’s salary, he said. In order to compete, expats need to target sectors where Guatemalan professional capacity is lacking. “I think writing skills could be a real asset, especially if you have strong writing capacity in English and you are fluent in Spanish,” said Population Services International Deputy Regional Director Judith Heichelheim. “If the local staff don’t have strong English skills, it falls on senior people and they [usually] don’t want to spend their time that way.” But even such a post would also most likely be an internship, Heichelheim said. Another sought-after skill: monitoring and evaluation expertise. “We need to improve in that a lot, and we don’t have qualified people in the country, [especially setting up high-tech] systems for capturing information,” Chinchilla said. Abundant volunteer opportunities Development professionals agreed that volunteering is often a backdoor to obtaining paid development work. “There are a lot of volunteer opportunities that evolve into contract positions,” said Casey Wheeler, a contractor for the U.S. Agency for International Development. “Organizations can find funds for positions if they [want to hire you after volunteering].” USAID Development Communications Specialist Wende DuFlon also urged expats to start with field internships in organizations such as Save the Children or Catholic Relief Services. Field experience, she added, is “invaluable.” Volunteer opportunities are more likely for those that are well-prepared and able to make a long-term commitment. “I don’t like volunteers that can only spend one month [at a position],” Chinchilla said. “I personally prefer three months [minimum].” Spanish fluency is also crucial for volunteer positions. “If you come in with zero language and zero experience, you are not going to get anything,” Heichelheim said. Finding opportunities Development jobs in Guatemala are, like in much of Central America, advertised in newspapers. New jobs are posted in the classified section of Prensa Libre’s Monday edition. The nation’s oldest newspaper can also be viewed on the Internet. Candidates that are able to pursue jobs from inside the country will have a major advantage. “A lot of it is making a personal connection,” Heichelheim said. “It’s not very formalized here,” she added. “If you come here and offer something for free, they might jump on it. Being on the ground can give you more opportunity.” Aid workers are also advised to identify and contact organizations with operations in Guatemala – including Peace Corps, USAID, CARE and Mercy Corps – for volunteer jobs before visiting the country. Although some organizations might not have volunteer opportunities available all the time, donor agencies and development organizations sometimes communicate with each other regarding prospective volunteers. “USAID takes applications from volunteers and refers them to us,” Chinchilla said. Entry-level candidates and volunteers also need to be flexible in order to get started in Guatemala’s development sector. “Start with whatever opportunity is available,” Wheeler said. “As long as you start out by demonstrating your capabilities and capacities, [you could end up in a paid position].” Organizations also value candidates that are willing to work in the field, rather than in Guatemala City. “The willingness to be flexible about where you live could really make a difference in your opportunities,” Heichelheim said. Read more career advice on working in Latin America: - Development Jobs in Latin America: A Focus on Locals, Specialists - Development Jobs in El Salvador: What You Need to Know - Development Jobs in Nicaragua: What You Need to Know - Working in Peru as an Expat Read more career advice articles.