American Business Student Wants To Know

[OsoSOSGrande]

Hi all,


I previously studied 6 months in Buenos Aires, and I fell in love with the culture and the city. I've recently graduated with a degree in International Business and I was wondering if more merit is placed on degrees from the U.S.? Therefore, if language comprehension isn't an issue, are Americans favored in the job market? Thanks!

 

[GS_Dirtboy]

I don't think Americans, or degrees from the US, are favored in the job market per se. What is favored is applicable skills and experience (including language comprehension) for the position. You might have a jump on your Argentine counter-parts in those areas because you went to a top university, completed semesters abroad, etc, etc. But don't expect to get preferential treatment just because your degree says UCLA, Thunderbird, or Temple.

Hope this helps.

GS

 

[Davidglen77]

I can tell you for a fact, at least from my experience, that there is no difference between a person who has a degree from a university outside of Argentina and a person who has one from a university in Argentina. I've been working at companies here for several years and have been involved with hiring at different times. Not once has anyone ever been hired because of that factor.
These are the things that will make you stand out and endure in an Argentine company, in order of importance:
1) Bilingual North American English / Spanish (any kind) - and I mean REALLY bilingual, speak read write and HARD TO FIND
2) The ability to get along with your colleagues and understand Argentine culture - they like the fact that you are different- but they don't want to you be an "outsider", don't say anything overtly negative about Argentina, even if they do - it's their country, embrace the culture, learn the national anthem, know the meaning of 25 de Mayo, 9 de Julio, know who Belgrano, San Martin, Sarmiento, Perón, Spinetta were, when they lived and what they did.
3) Know your foods - churrasco, milanesa a caballo, fugazetta, papas provencal, fainá, tinto con soda, etc.
4) Don't constantly compare your country to theirs
5) Know how to laugh at yourself
6) Be a gentleman to the ladies / and a lady to the gentlemen
7) If you are invited to someone's house, make sure you go, and there may be times you can't but don't reject every invitation - if people invite you they REALLY want you to come and enjoy some time with them and their families
8) Know something about football and it's terminology - hincha, xeneize, golazo, arquero, empate, know who Martin Palermo, Diego Maradona, Lionel Messi and the major teams are - Boca, River, Independiente, Racing, etc.
Follow this and you'll be long term at any company.......

 

[Redpossum]

6) Be a gentleman to the ladies / and a lady to the gentlemen

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RsVLIiI8Vfo

 

[Napoleon]

Forget Messi. Tiene pecho frio. He only plays hard for Barça and he never played professionally here.

Know who the Bosteros are as well as who the Millionarios are and which team has far and away the most titles in AFA's Liga A.

Know mate and when someone tells you that a crappy jamón cocido & shit queso sandwich is "muy rico", try not to laugh in their face until you know them really well, because they are being completely serious.

Don't even bring up the topic of "Pizza". Period. You'll be right... which will be wrong.

Know that the disappearing started under a democratically elected Peronist named "Peron" in 1974, but nod when people say that it all started in 1976 after the military coup.

When someone asks you if you "Like Cristina", just say that you don't follow politics, because just because s/he is wearing nice clothes, takes expensive vacations, and drives a nice car doesn't mean they hate her. In fact, they might have all of that BECAUSE of her.

Try not to correct their grammar when they use the "Simple Past" when you know that the "Pesent Perfect" is more accurate. Nobody likes a smarty pants, especially not Argentines.

 

[Montauk_Project]

Even if your job is 100% English (project managing for a US client) they are going to want you to speak Spanish in the office and understand the culture. I think the more relevant question is if you will be able to get a salary/job position that you will like.
Even if you have a degree, I would recommend taking classes or getting a masters here to get more contacts, it also shows employers that you are interested in Argentina for the long haul.

 

[Dublin2BuenosAires]

Ignore 90% of what you read here and you'll be alright.

 

[ajoknoblauch]

Ignore 90% of what you read here and you'll be alright.

Especially the stuff about soccer.

 

[Dublin2BuenosAires]

Especially the stuff about soccer.

I'll raise your "soccer" and see you a tripadvisor.

ZzzZzzzZzz

 

[ajoknoblauch]

I'll raise your "soccer" and see you a tripadvisor.

ZzzZzzzZzz

Both soccer and tripadvisor are equally useless.