Job Offer in Buenos Aires

[TrevorCito]

It's something you can do at your age and even if you have to go back home for money purposes, you'll have lived an incredible experience in BA & in Argentina. When you'll be 40 and above, doing so will be more difficult !

Go for it ! And enjoy it

Well said French Jurist. I personally am envious of the opportunity presented to the OP at such a young age. I'm mid 40's, loving BA and can only imagine how I would have enjoyed myself here in my early 20's.

 

[fifs2]

It's called humor, mixed with a bit of hyperbole and reality. You really took that way too seriously.

Sometimes you never know on this site..humor duly appeciated..

 

[fifs2]

Steve, I maybe the old fart as I have always enjoyed the value of the experience irrespective of the material gain, but always with an eye on progression...as long as you know that nothing is forever, the escape hatch is always open, you can leave tomorrow etc then what makes you a drone? If wealth was measured in experiences, values, ethics, anecdotes, empathy etc instead of USD this conversation wouldnt even be happening....

 

[steveinbsas]

Do you understand the subtext behind the OPs desire to come here? The OP appears to be on a journey of discovery and what he's searching for cannot be found at home. He sees opportunity in Argentina and would like to leverage his education while seeking answers to questions about his life.

Not all things in life can be financially rationalised. Money is important but its just a tool we use to achieve outcomes.

Do you understand how condescending it is to start a sentence with the words, "Do you understand?"

 

[TrevorCito]

Do you understand how condescending it is to start a sentence with the words, "Do you understand?"

I enjoy your little jousts, especially your moral elitist come economic rationalist perspective. If you express an absolutist point of view, expect a challenge. Anyway, its all in good fun and I for one enjoy your take on things.

 

[gouchobob]

Another option for the OP is to look for a U.S. firm that has foreign assignments. I personally would rather work for a U.S. company overseas making $60K than moving to another country and working for a local company at low local wages. Also many U.S. companies will pay your way through graduate school. I don't think that if you don't do it now you won't do it later necessarily is true. A bit of experience and language skills will open a lot of doors not close them. I don't know if the offer in B.A. will be good for your career or not. If you are out of circulation in Argentina for several years it might not be viewed positively by employers back home when you decide to return. A short stay might not hurt you but what would you gain? Didn't you already have the living overseas experience already?

 

[citygirl]

Personally, I think it sounds like a great opportunity. It's not a salary that is going to allow you to live a high life but honestly, as a recent graduate, you don't need to. My advice, share an apt - it's a great way to cut costs and make friends. Do it for a year or two, then go back to the US.

And to those who said it wouldn't help the OPs career - personally, I would be *very* impressed with a candidate who started working right after school, had the cojones to move to a foreign country and learn a language. It shows a desire to work, strong initiative, an ability to take risks but plan and if the OP comes back fluent in Spanish - even better.

Personally, now is the time to do it assuming you don't have the burden of student loans or something like that that would prevent you from doing so.

 

[steveinbsas]

What an awesome opportunity to be presented with at this stage in your life. Yes, tremendously exciting and commercially advantageous in many ways.

Argentina is truly a great country. Here you'll enjoy a great city with a deep history, people with a love for culture and a passion for life. You'll make friends, international contacts in business which will help you in the future and you'll learn a different perspective on so called western values.

With the money they're offering you, cultural immersion is guaranteed. While it's an important factor to consider when living here, it's only an enabler. What you take from Buenos Aires (and give) is entirely up to you. Some westerners find Buenos Aires difficult to live in and it's true, it's a very challenging place but it's a great teacher too. You'll learn much about your father, your roots and yourself while here. Others have stated that if you can survive in this country then you will flourish anywhere. I tend to agree.

I'd love to know how the OP will learn much about his father or his roots when he is in BA. He said his father speaks Spanish, but never indicated that his father was from Argentina.

Others have posted in ther forum that being able to speak Argentine castellano might not be very uesful outside of Argentina and others have posted how difficult it is to make freinds with Argentines. I tend to agree.

 

[steveinbsas]

My main concern with the money is just to be able to live comfortably near the center of the city in a single apartment, and be financially flexible enough to enjoy the city's numerous cultural opportunities. Does anyone have any insight on if this is fair compensation for an entry level expat coming from a well respected university, and how I would be able to live?

My plans would be to return to the US after a few years after I have gained working experience and developed my Spanish skills. This might be to another consulting or business firm or to business school. I understand that paying for business school could be a concern if I am not able to save much money while living in BA.

By now it should be clear that you will not be able to "live comfortably near the city center in a single apartment" but I don't think anyone has added that even if you receive sufficient compensation to rent a single apartment that living near the city center is not very desirable (especially in a cheap apartment) . The center is deserted after 6 PM and the areas nearby are also consdered dangerous at night. Members of the forum who rented small and cheap studios there usually move rather quickly.

If you find an apartment to share it will probably be with another expat, but what will you do if they decide leave before you do? Willl you be able to assume their lease? Will you be able to pay the full rent for a month or two while you try to find someone new with whom to share the apartment? You also need to know if it is "legal" for the original lessee to "sublet" in the first place.

As I said in my previous post, developing your "Spanish skills" in Argentina may not serve you as well as you hope in other countries and I seriously doubt you will be able to save any money while you are living and working here if you only receive about $4K or even $5K per month. If your salary does not increase 20-30% per year (highly unlikely if you are not in a union) you may find it impossible to make ends meet in a year or two. If you don't like the job and decide to quit in after a few months you will have spent a lot of money to get here and get settled. Finding another job won't be easy.

When I commented that this job might not enchance your resume I had two things in mind: Will a future employer wonder how soon you will again be bitten by the international travel bug and, if he knows how little compensation you worked for in Argentina, will he be willing to offer you a decent salary in the first place? Perhaps you can get around both "objections" by saying you had a "paid internship" in Buenos Aires. I think they would buy that, especially if you go to grad or business school immediately after retruning to the States.

If your compensation was $8,000 USD more per year I would be just as enthusiastic as those who have already told you to come, but given the desired living conditions and financial concerns that you stated in your first post (quoted above), I simply cannot. Before you make the decision whether or not to accept the job please be sure (as others have urged) that your employer will help you get the work visa and DNI. If there already other expats working for this company perhaps you can ask to speak with them (via email). They could be a great source of information for you.

 

[marksoc]

Wages do increase between 17 and 25%, especially in companies that pay 5000 pesos, which is not bad at all for Argentina. If you rent an apartment with a "garantia" you will be OK, or sharing with other foreigners (try here or in the "Shares apps" subgroup in Couchsurfing, Buenos Aires group). You will be over middle class local income for one person, and if you don{t go to eat to expat restaurants, it will be enough for going out, theater, cinemas, parties, etc etc. If you eat at home you will even be able to save a bit (especially if you share your flat, and if the flat was rented with a Garantia). I have seen many young foreigners teaching English in South East Asia that with 1000 USD share big flats, eat out all the time, have fun and even save 25%-40% of their wages. With 5000 pesos IN HAND you could save at least 15% of that, with 4150 pesos maybe not.