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Where can I find work? Though finding work may seem a difficult task, it is possible to be successful since Dominican employers have a flexible attitude about hiring foreigners who demonstrate particular skills. Experience shows you may eventually find work, or found your own business once you have explored the field for several months. Even if you do not need the money, look for a job. There is no better way to inmerse yourself in the local culture and enhance your stay here.  Is Spanish necessary to get a job? It is quite possible to obtain work without knowing Spanish. International businesses and the tourist industry need people with the ability to speak many different languages, including Chinese, Dutch, English, French, German, Italian, Japanese and so on.  Learning Spanish, however, does have its advantages. It saves you from the bother of not understanding what is going on, reduces the stresses of everyday tasks, which leaves you with more energy for other matters, opens up a wider range of employment possibilities and allows you to meet and converse with Dominicans in their own language.  Take advantage of any opportunity you have to learn the language before you arrive; even if you just have time to memorize two words, do it. If you are already here and have not learned Spanish, it is well worth going to classes or having private tutoring sessions. There are many options, with varying prices, as indicated elsewhere in this book. What preparations should I make before I arrive? Be sure you have an up-to-date résumé or curriculum vitae in the language you intend to use. If you will be sending in your CV in Spanish, it is a good idea to have a native speaker check it, as some peculiar terminology is used on the island.  If you are thinking of teaching English—or other languages—at least try to take a short course or locate relevant materials. Depending on your employment goals, it may be worth seeking out additional training or related experience as a volunteer.  Find out everything you can about the Dominican Republic. If you are abroad, probably your best resource is the “Dominican Republic One” news and information service (www.dr1.com), that posts extensive archives of The Santo Domingo News past issues through 1996 and daily DR One updates.

Finding Work in the Dominican Republic was contributed by dr.1 - http://www.dr1.com - Dominican Republic News & Travel Information Service - It is considered the The best and most up to date source for news and travel information on the Dominican Republic and it has a wide range of services for those thinking of living and investing in the the Dominican Republic including an online classified board. They also publish Living In Santo Domingo from which this article was excerpted. Escape From America Magazine Magazine Index  Learn Spanish  More on the Dominican Rep.  Submit an Article  Subscriptions are Free

Investigate whether companies from your own countries have operations here. Ask your acquaintances if they know anyone in the Dominican Republic. Look up relevant addresses from a reference library and send as many advance letters as possible, introducing yourself and outlining  your qualifications and experience. 

If you are a teacher, try and contact schools in advance. Note though that schools hire in early in the year for classes that open in late August or early September. In most cases a personal interview will be required. Some pay better salaries to employees who are recruited from abroad, possibly even including travel expenses. Addresses and emails of schools which teach part or all of the curriculum in English are included in the chapter on Education.

Finally, it may be helpful to have a few 2" x 2" photographs taken, as they are required for some job applications. There are many places to have them taken in Santo Domingo, but being prepared will save you time running around a strange city.

What do I need to know before beginning my job search?

Your chances at finding a job in the Dominican Republic will be greater if you have a specific skill, know the right people or are flexible. The key to employment in Santo Domingo can be summed up in the words “flexibility.” Having a wide range of options will make finding work much easier in a society which is not oriented towards specialists. If you question your Dominican acquaintances, you may soon find a graphic designer who works as a special education teacher; a psychologist who works as a hair dresser; an airline employee who works as a dancer on the side, etc. The wonderful thing about this system is that you may have the opportunity to obtain experience in areas you never thought possible. 
On the other hand, if you have a specific technical skill that is in need you may find a job. For instance, a graduate in marketing who had worked as director of a sports program for a major U.S. university interviewed with several American and Dominican companies with negative results. By networking, he learned of an opportunity to manage a major gym and landed the job. 

While you may have the credentials, head hunters in Santo Domingo are cautious and reticent about recommending foreign executives for top positions. One recommendation is to take a lesser job or offer to even work for free with a known company and build up a reputation as an honest and qualified employee. 

When seeking a job, consider your qualifications and your interests. These could be areas in which to seek employment. Hobbies could become your livelihood, either through making and selling the end-products, or by teaching other people. 

Think about your personal qualities. How do they make you employable? If you are particularly patient with children, a nursery school or play group might appreciate your services. What are your specific skills? What are your general skills, which can be applied to numerous positions (e.g., speaking in public, writing clearly, or managing budgets)?
Do not be timid: the Dominican concept of “expert” is very generous. 

You should consider what your priorities are in seeking employment. Is money the most important factor? Flexible working hours? Being able to work from your home? Do you want to gain experience in new areas? What fringe benefits do you expect? Where would you like to work? Considering these questions may help you to decide how and where to direct your search. 

How do I look for work?

Some aspects of job hunting are similar everywhere. Look through the local newspapers. The Listín Diario is the one with the largest circulation, and it often has a wide range of posts advertised. Some are found in the classified advertisements supplement, either under “Empleos” or scattered here and there. Many of the biggest advertisements are found in other parts of the paper; it is a good idea to scan the entire publication. This is a good source even if you are looking for a job with no Spanish language element as advertisements sometimes appear in English, German, French, etc. 

Those which do not describe the type of work involved may be somewhat dubious. One foreigner called in response to a request for a creative person with a good knowledge of American culture. It turned out that the job was for an English-speaking telephone psychic. 
Contact your embassy or consulate (see listing in this book). Most have certain posts which are open to either local people or citizens living abroad. They also may have a list of all of the businesses from your country which have operations in the D.R. 

Another source for lists of companies are organizations like the American Chamber of Commerce, 544-2222 (located on the fourth floor of the BHD Tower on Calle Luís F. Thomen. Most countries with businesses here have a Chamber of Commerce. For a complete listing of the European chambers of commerce, contact the Federación Dominicana de Cámaras de Comercio through the chamber of commerce of Santo Domingo, Calle Arz. Nouel 206, Tel. 682-2688 533-2854. 

Are there employment agencies in Santo Domingo?

There are a number of employment agencies in the city. Most require you to bring your resume or CV, along with a 2" x 2" photograph. You will not usually have to pay anything because most of the agencies charge the companies for referrals. 
The larger ones are: 
G.A. Tavares y Asociados. Calle Recodo No. 1, Edificio Monte Mirador. Tel. 535-5808, 535-4886. This company works with executive, management and secretarial positions. They receive numerous requests for bilingual staff, but some are also suitable for people who do not speak Spanish. Email: g.a.tavares@codetel.net.do
Centro de Evaluación, Selección y Ubicación de Recursos Humanos. Av. 27 de Febrero No. 265, Tel. 567-3184, Fax 565-8383. This company finds work for everyone from messengers to executives, although secretarial positions are the most common. A work permit or proof of residency is required, and all applicants should know Spanish. 
Psicología Industrial Dominicana, S.A. Calle 1, No. 27, Rocamar (off Av. Prolongación Independencia), Tel. 533-7141. This agency does considerable work with the Free Trade Zones: personnel managers, industrial engineers and bilingual secretaries are some of the positions with the greatest demand. The agency has found work for persons who do not speak Spanish.

What other steps should I take in seeking employment?

Networking is probably more important in finding work than you would imagine. Tell all your friends and acquaintances about the work you would like to find. Dominicans are generally tremendously helpful in the area of providing possible leads. 

It is better to try to make appointments to see people personally, rather than holding telephone discussions. 
If you take the time to meet with people, they will often give you a list of contacts, even if they cannot help you themselves. Be persistent. The fact that people fail to return your calls does not mean that they prefer not to talk to you, as it might in other countries. They may have been very busy or simply lost your number. 
Because of the importance of personal contacts, it may be worth taking a job which is not exactly perfect as a step in the right direction. The better jobs are those, such as sales, where you will be in contact with multiple company executives, one of which may be so impressed with your work personality that you may be offered a job.  You will be meeting people both from your company and others, and thus may hear of something which is never advertised. (Many vacancies are not publicized and it is even possible that a job may be created for you.) Also, visit the businesses that are located in your neighborhood. A company may give you preference.

If you are having trouble requesting an appointment on the phone, show up and request the appointment in person. Try to get through to the boss's administrative assistant or secretary.
Companies here are also flexible. If you like a specific kind of work, and a job in that area does not seem to be available, accept another position in the company. Chances are, if you are talented, you can work yourself into the job you are seeking within a year’s time.

Are there any “sure bets”?

If you would like to teach languages, particularly English, there are many immediate opportunities. For instance, the Instituto Cultural Dominico-Americano, Tel. 533-4191, is always looking for English teachers. Ditto for APEC’s English Department, Tel. 686-0021. English Speaking Specialists, Tel. 547-7375, is an agency providing English teachers. It pays higher rates than the ICDA and provides all of the necessary materials. Look up language schools in the telephone book. Almost all of them will welcome you with open arms (if not pocketbooks) if you are a native, or a very good English speaker. 
Most of the primary or secondary bilingual or English-language schools need substitute teachers. A teaching certificate is not always required  if you have a university degree or its equivalent. 

Check the telephone directory, ask parents  or look around your neighborhood to see if there are any nursery schools nearby. Many do not require advanced degrees. 
If you are fluent in Spanish, there is always a demand for translators, particularly from Spanish into your native tongue. In addition, many individuals and organizations want someone to check their translated materials—a possibility even if you do not know Spanish. These jobs are primarily available through personal contacts, although you could try advertising your services as well. 

The Ministry of Tourism offers a course (in Spanish) which, if you pass, qualifies you to be a tour guide. It takes place in the evenings, from 6 to 8 pm  over a period of three months. You must have residence permit—or be a Dominican national—to attend. For more information on the 1998 courses, call 689-3657. Once you have your tour guide card, many agencies can make use of your services, including Prieto Tours, 685-0102 (Attn. Ramon Prieto) and Turinter, 686-4020. 

There are numerous other companies (shipping companies, importers and exporters) and hotels that are always on the lookout for qualified people.  In a country with a booming tourist industry, there are plenty of jobs for those with good foreign language skills (relevant prior experience will also be of help). 

If you are confident about your skills, do what most Dominicans who are unemployed or who seek high salaries do. Open your own business and contract out your services. Seek out a Dominican partner who is willing to share the returns of what your joint work produces. 

What salary level should I expect in the D.R.?

This can be the down side to employment in the Dominican Republic. As of October 1997, the minimum wage in the private sector is RD$2,412 per month for businesses with a capital of over RD$500,000; RD$1,728 for businesses with capital RD$200 to 500,000  capital; and RD$1,500 for businesses with a capital under RD$ 200,000. Note that benefits add on an additional 30-100% to the salary paid per month. 

Earlier in the year, the Siglo 21 economist research group found that only 22.8% of private sector employees earn the minimum wage or close to it. In fact, 77% of private sector workers earn more than RD$2,100 a month and 65% earn more than RD$2,500. The average private sector salary was calculated at RD$7,707.14 amongst the businesses surveyed.

In most jobs, the amount of training and experience possessed by the employee has great influence on the salary offered. A secretarial assistant might make RD$3,000 per month, while an executive secretary—or a secretary who trained at a well-respected institution—might earn RD$6,000. A bilingual secretary can earn RD$8,000. (One company quoted RD$10,000 as an average figure.) Likewise, in accounting, an assistant might just earn RD$4,000 per month, while a qualified accountant with experience could earn over RD$10,000. Technical personnel could earn RD$4-8,000. Middle managers might earn RD$8-10,000, depending on their responsibilities, and executives earn over RD$20,000. Salaries for positions in sales and marketing are often dependent on commissions, with bonuses for obtaining new clients or selling certain quantities of a product. Advertisements in these fields which make spectacular claims about earnings should be regarded with the same healthy dose of skepticism necessary anywhere else in the world. 

Teaching languages, such as English, or providing individual therapy or tutoring services can command from RD$50 to over RD$200 per hour, with the higher end of the scale being less common. Many free lancers have a sliding scale based on the economic circumstances of their clients. 

How can I find the better paying jobs?

The best salaries are offered to employees who are recruited in their home countries; if possible, try to find work before you arrive. It may be wise simply to tell companies that you are interested in the Dominican Republic. Saying that you are planning on coming here anyway may result in them telling you to contact their local operations once you arrive—a more uncertain procedure, which will, no doubt, result in a local level of salary. On the downside, most companies will not even consider your application unless you have relocated already. 

If one employer offers you what seems to be a very low salary, do not presume that this is standard everywhere. Every person interviewed for this article emphasized that pay and conditions vary greatly, depending on a multitude of factors. 

Your language abilities in addition to your professional skills may be both marketable and lucrative. For instance, at the time of this article, there were apparently no known native English-language speech therapists in the country. Investigate to find out if there is a niche you can fill: Cooking classes in German? Art lessons in Dutch? If you are working independently, you can charge as much as your clients are willing to pay. 

Will accepting a lower salary hurt my employment history?

It is not advisable to convert your salary into the currency of your home country for the sake of comparisons. A better practice is to think in terms of the minimum wage. If you earn RD$10,000 per month, you are earning four times the private sector or ten times the public sector minimum wage. This would be the equivalent in the U.S., for instance, of earning US$40-80,000 per year. Recording your earnings in this way, in multiples of the minimum wage, is better for your self-esteem and makes your CV look very respectable. 
Furthermore, the flexibility of life in the Dominican Republic makes it likely that you will be able to gain valuable experience both during and outside of working hours. Less cash is more than compensated for when you manage an entire department instead of just your own desk; take charge of new projects; exhibit your artwork for the first time; take (affordable) lessons in a new sport and so on. The Dominican Republic is a wonderful place to do those things you have always dreamed of doing. 

How will I be paid?

Some employers pay once a month; in the case of the government, on the 25th. Others pay twice a month, on the 15th and 30th. These are good days to avoid going to the supermarket or the bank, where there are long lines and crowds. You will most likely be paid by check. If you do not have a Dominican bank account, this can be cashed at any branch of the issuing bank. Dominican banks have varying procedures, so ask before you spend half an hour in the wrong line. 

What deductions will be made from my paycheck?

If you earn less than RD$4,004 a month, 2.5% will be deducted from the salary of workers for the Dominican Institute of Social Security regardless of whether you use the modest medical services or not. The company has to pay an additional 7%. If you earn more, the company has to request from the IDSS that you be exempted from payment of this deduction. 
You may have to contribute to your medical insurance or life insurance, depending on the policies of your employer. Some additional benefits are also taxable. 
Anything above RD$7,560 per month will be taxed at a rate of 15%; if you earn RD$10,000 per month for example, your employer will deduct 15% tax on RD$2,440 of your income. 
The Direccion General de Impuestos Internos reviews the tax exemption levels every year. For 1998, salaries up to RD$90,720 a year are exempt from taxes. Again, this means monthly income of up to RD$7,560 does not pay income taxes. Those making from RD$90,720.01 to RD$151,200.00 will pay a 15% tax on the difference. Income from RD$151,200.01 to RD$226,800 pays RD$9,072 plus 20% of the surplus of RD$151,200. Income in excess of RD$226,800.01 pays RD$24,192 plus 25% of the difference. 
There are other tables for contractors, service providers. For instance, publishing companies deduct 10% income tax from checks paid to free lance writers. 

What benefits can I expect as a full-time employee?

All of the mandatory benefits are listed in the Código de Trabajo, the Dominican Work Code, which is available from the Ministry of Labor’s office on Calle de Los Heroes (Tel. 535-4404). 
If you have worked full-time for a company for a year, you will receive an extra month’s salary (regalía) in December. 
Many private companies pay a month’s salary (bonificación) as a bonus, if it has been a profitable year and you have been with the firm for some time. 
Companies usually provide some kind of medical and life insurance, although they are not legally responsible for paying any portion of the premiums. Optional benefits may include: complete payment of insurance policies; pension plans; scholastic support, which may cover children’s educational expenses up to their second year of university; and free training programs. 

What about holidays?

Policies vary from company to company. Until you have worked full time for a year, you do not have a legal right to any vacation days—but some employers will choose to give them. After a year, you are eligible for 14 working days of vacation. In some cases, these must be taken over Christmas. In other cases, a schedule is established in January detailing when each person will have their days off. After three years of working, you should be eligible for an additional three days vacation per year and so on. 

Unless the nature of your work makes it difficult, for instance, if you work for a hospital, hotel, supermarket or newspaper, you will be given Dominican holidays, traditionally including half a day on December 24 and 31. In certain jobs, such as teaching, you will have more days off—but do not assume that you will be paid for 12 months if you are only working for nine. This is an important detail to clarify before accepting work. 

This chapter is reproduced with permission from the “Living in Santo Domingo 1998” book.
The book is available on line: http://dr1.com/living98.shtml