Mexico is one of the most appealing destinations in the world which attracts millions of international tourists every year. If you like the idea of working in Mexico, there are lots of opportunities for foreigners and English speakers. Search temporary, summer and year round jobs in places like Cancun and Mexico City.
Mexico Facts
• Population: 123,166,749
• GDP: $2.31 Trillion
• GDP / Capita: $18,900
• Capital City: Mexico City
• Dialing Code: +52
• Currency: Mexican peso
Top Reasons to Move to Mexico
If you have the right attitude and are open to different cultures and norms, then Mexico could be the perfect destination for you. Benefits of moving here include:
• Unique culture and friendly people
• Learn Spanish or improve your language skills
• Choice of destinations from ancient cities to beautiful tourist resorts
• Cheap cost of living especially compared to the United States
• High salaries compared to other countries nearby like Belize, Guatemala and Cuba
• Mexico does have a reputation for being dangerous, but in the main tourist destinations it is very safe to live and travel
• When working here you’ll get to sample the cultural highlights and also the excellent beaches. There are many, many beaches which are more popular among the locals than the foreign tourists, throughout the coasts.
Popular Places to Work
The larger cities and tourism hotspots are the best places to find employment, including:
• Cancun
• Playa del Carmen
• Mexico City
Other popular tourism destinations are also recommended for finding employment for foreigners like Acapulco, Tulum, Zihuatanejo, Cozumel, Ixtapa and Guanajuato.
Types of Positions
Tourism
The travel and tourism industry employs thousands of people, from hotels, hostels, hospitality, resorts, activity instructors e.g. yoga and scuba diving, tour guides and more. You can find jobs online with large international hotel brands where hire thousands of staff each year.
Teaching English
Popular with gap years and backpacking, or people looking for an easy way to live overseas, take a TEFL certification and teach in Mexico. There are language schools throughout the country hiring foreigners.
Voluntary work
Although generally unpaid, there are so many rewarding volunteer abroad programs available to help communities, wildlife and conservation efforts. Popular projects include working with marine animals, building houses or contributing to environmental protection. Some backpackers also do cultural exchanges for example working in hostels in exchange for free accommodation.
Remote Work
Find a job online or freelance and you can work anywhere in the country.
Jobs in Cancun
Cancun is also located on the Yucatan Peninsula, in the state of Quintana Roo, and is considered to be in direct competition with Acapulco in terms of drawing in the international crowd. While the city center of Cancun is located on the mainland, the Hotel Zone where most tourists stay is located on a separate island connected through bridges to the mainland, and this is where most jobs are found.
The facilities of the Hotel Zone cater more to the international crowd of holiday goers, so the local flavors are all concentrated on the central part of the city on the mainland. Some recruiters offer positions with accommodation included.
Benefits of working in Cancun as well as the beaches, warm weather and lifestyle, there are also some ruins of the pre-Columbian Maya civilization in Cancun. A small one called Ruinas El Rey is found in the Hotel Zone while a bigger ruin called El Meco is found just on the outskirts of the city – both are worth visiting.
Jobs in Playa Del Carmen
Are you looking for a location to kick back and relax then this Mexican coastal resort town is for you. It’s down the road from Cancun, but Playa offers a much richer experience in our opinion. Enjoy a healthy work/life balance, mix a job with relaxing with a refreshing cocktail on a beachside bar, snorkelling amongst coral reefs and picking up a spot of shopping along the main strip.
Summer Jobs in Mexico
Mexico has miles upon miles of coastline, some six thousand of them, stretching along the Gulf of Mexico to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. These beaches of Mexico are very popular among tourists, both local and foreign. A large group of holiday goers to Mexico are college students from the United States, enjoying freedom from school on their spring break.
If you would like to do more than partying you can find short term jobs from June to September, these pistons are very popular with students and graduates especially from the USA. Managers, sales, marketing, bartenders, chefs, djs, dancers and many more positions are available.
Working in Mexico FAQ
Visa & Requirements
You do need a work permit to legally work in Mexico. Some international and local recruiters can help you obtain this by offering you employment and sponsoring your visa.
Language
Learning basic Spanish is highly recommended to boost employment prospects. Although lots of jobs advertised only need English, knowing Spanish or other language is really beneficial. It will also help with cultural integration and living here. You could search courses with Spanish schools in Mexico.
Safety
Mexico is much safer than you might imagine especially in the areas where most foreign staff work. In places like Cancun there are lots of police and also checkpoints setup in the area to keep tourists safe.