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15 -
Working in the country
There is a very high rate of unemployment
throughout the country.
11% of the labour force work in agriculture, 5% in
mining, 24% in industry and 60% in the other
sectors.
Before leaving
You should take Spanish lessons, or improve
your level. The quality of job you could aspire to
may depend on how well you speak the language.
If you are employed locally
When you find a job, your employer will take in
charge the formalities concerning your stay and get
a visa from the immigration authorities equivalent
to the length of your contract - usually for a
year.
(Be extremely careful when you sign your contract
to check that it is valid and that it gives you the
possibility to resort to the local court if
necessary).
With a French or international company
If your employer is a French or international
company you don't have to worry about formalities.
Usually the administrative services deal with all
the formalities concerning the expatriate staff.
Unless you are the only representative of your
company in the country (sales representative, or in
charge of a liaising office ...), in this case you
will have to deal with the formalities
yourself.
To get your residence card
You will have to give your employer certain
administrative papers before you leave so that he
can consititute your dossier :
- a copy of your passport
- a medical certificate
- your work contract
- your police record
- a copy of your birth certificate
Looking for work
You could start looking for information by
writing to French associations installed in
Argentina, to Trade Commissions, to commercial
services of Argentinian banks in France or French
banks in Argentina.
The French consulate in Buenos Aires has a
job/training service and can put you in touch with
local companies willing to employ French
personnel.
Consulat
de France (employment service)
Avenida Santé Fe 846
1059 Buenos Aires
.
(See
also in the Practical Guide for the
Expatriate).
The French
Chamber of Commerce also offers information about
the job market, the most dynamic sectors of the
economy, and edits a bulletin for French companies
and local members. You could publish a job
application in this bulletin.
The Trade Commission in Buenos Aires, or the CFCE
in Paris can furnish you with a list of French
companies established in Argentina.
The Oficina
de empleo del Ministerio de Trabajo has job offers
that you can consult if you are in Argentina. It is
a free service.
Documents
about the country are usually available in the
cultural service of the Argentinian Embassy in
Paris.
You can
however prepare your trip in a more precise manner
by making a personal appointment with the Latin
American Chamber of Commerce in order to complete
your information and get professional advice.
The international departments of the Chambers of
Commerce and Industry often have information about
the country available. Directories and useful
dossiers from the country can be helpful in getting
information on sectors of activity and the local
economic life.
While you are
hunting for information you could contact companies
directly by sending a spontaneous candidacy
proposing your services, saying that you are
waiting for your visa. A prospective employer will
not want to wait indefinitely and will only engage
you if you have already taken the necessary steps
to get a visa.
It is
advisable to avoid the services of companies
specialized in immigration.
Where to look for job offers?
In the French press (Le Monde, Le France Soir,
Figaro, Moniteur du Bâtiment, etc...), for
French companies sending people abroad.
In the local press (Clardin, a daily printing
730,000 copies, Piedras 1743-1140 Buenos Aires, The
Nation, a daily printing 230,000 copies, Bouchard
557-1106 Buenos Aires)
The international press also prints overseas job
offers, often for European companies.
French
organizations abroad publish bulletins : 'Le trait
d'union' is published by the Alliance
Française and 'Perspectives' by the
Franco-Argentinian Trade Commission.
During the recruiting
Your CV should be clearly set out, detailled
and accompanied by a hand written covering
letter.
Be well dressed for your interview, whatever kind
of job you are trying for. Your appearance will
weigh with the interviewer.
First interviews are often very short but can last
several hours if your candidacy is interesting,
depending on the post offered, and if you have to
do any psychotechnical (graphological analysis) or
aptitude tests.
Be careful not to appear pretentious about your
know-how and don't exaggerate your professional
competence.
Don't forget that nowadays the job market is a
chronic problem nearly all over the world, so take
an interview appointment seriously, jobs are not
easy to come by.
Emphasize
your real competence, your ease of adaption, your
mobility, your ability to work in a team, your
readiness to pool your experience.
The work market and the employment situation
The economic boom of the 80s did not profit
everybody in the country, a large part of the
population lives in dire poverty.
However, in
spite of the dificult situation which the work
market and the local economy are facing, job
opportunities exist. In several sectors there are
openings for highly technical posts or jobs where
experience and professionalism make the difference
(eg. hotels and restaurants).
Salaries are
low if you are engaged locally.
Several infra-structural projects are being studied
or carried out (highways, building, private
projects...). Investments and loans (IMF) will
hopefully boost the economy, encourage developement
and improve the employment situation.
If you wish
to live abroad with your family and your wife will
want to work it is better to know that
international companies and organizations,
Embassies or consulates will rarely engage someone
locally.
The advice
of the Club
Go to Argentina for a French or international
company or its subsidiary.
16 -
Formalities
Entry formalities
You can enter Argentina with a valid passport,
no visa is necessary, if you are staying in the
country less than three months.
But if you are going to study the market or look
for a job it it better to apply for a long term
visa (1year).
This will be a great help in negotiating a contract
with a local company.
Customs
Duties can be paid in cash or by cheque. There are
over 2200 forwarding agents in the country. Goods
which are dangerous or perishable have to be
cleared at the port or airport of arrival. Other
goods can be cleared within the country so long as
you have made previous arrangements and given an
advance payment. Goods can be grouped for bulk
transport. Average clearance period : 48 hours if
it is done on arrival, or 4 days if it is done
within the country.
All documents
have to be in Spanish.
17 -
Health
In the main towns the sanitary conditions are
modern and satisfactory. Doctors and medical staff
are competent. There is a French hospital in Buenos
Aires.
If you are
travelling around in the country you have to be
careful because of the climatic variations.
Vaccinations
No vaccins are obligatory to enter the country,
but it is advisable to be up-to-date with your
regular vaccins, tetanos, polio etc and to have
medicine with you for tummy upsets.
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