Chile Forum

Hello everyone,

This is my first post on this very informative forum. I wanted to say Hi, and lay down my plans for moving to Santiago to invite criticism (constructive or not), advice, or anything else you want to say.

I am a 24 year old Canadian who moved to Australia straight out of University and I have been here for the last two years working as an Engineer. Shortly after moving here I met my current girlfriend. I have been dating a Chilena for almost two years now, and it is time to take a big step and be in the same country (WOW!). Australia has been dying down for me anyway so I thought this would be a great opportunity to continue expanding my experiences and really... Australia was not a big enough leap.

I will be leaving Australia at the end of May to move back to Canada. My company needs me for a project there. I will most likely be selling most of my possessions at a very cheap rate to avoid having to move them. However, there are a few items that I plan to send straight to Chile. I have a surfboard, guitar, and clothes that I need to move and am not too sure how to do so. Most post I have read so far relate to large container moves. I will also be taking two weeks of holidays in Chile in May. I plan to load up my suitcases to the weight limit and then hopefully leave most of it behind.

Once I am finished up with the project in Canada, I plan to move to Chile mid-July to Mid-August. I am currently in the process of looking for work. My current employer is using connections to help me, and they might even consider allowing me to start up an office. As of yet, I do not have employment and I am aware that it could be difficult to find. So, I plan to enter the country on a tourist visa (90 days and possible extension for another 90). If I find work in advance, I would probably apply in advance for a subject to contract or temporary residence visa. I will have money for a number of months in Chile with no pay... if I really wanted to I could probably stay a year without work.

I haven't done much thinking about health insurance... growing up in Canada really causes ignorance in that respect. (Thanks for reminding me mom) Is it common for employers to add this into an employment package?

I will post more specific questions in a more specific topic and location when I feel I need to. But for now, I am just enjoying reading the forum and would like to say Hola! Time to get to my Spanish lesson... oh I didn't mention that. I am in "Intermediate" Spanish... but we all know they aren't teaching me Chilean... just helpful to get the basics I reckon!

Chau,

Alan

Aedmunds wrote:Hello everyone,

This is my first post on this very informative forum. I wanted to say Hi, and lay down my plans for moving to Santiago to invite criticism (constructive or not), advice, or anything else you want to say.

I am a 24 year old Canadian who moved to Australia straight out of University and I have been here for the last two years working as an Engineer. Shortly after moving here I met my current girlfriend. I have been dating a Chilena for almost two years now, and it is time to take a big step and be in the same country (WOW!). Australia has been dying down for me anyway so I thought this would be a great opportunity to continue expanding my experiences and really... Australia was not a big enough leap.

I will be leaving Australia at the end of May to move back to Canada. My company needs me for a project there. I will most likely be selling most of my possessions at a very cheap rate to avoid having to move them. However, there are a few items that I plan to send straight to Chile. I have a surfboard, guitar, and clothes that I need to move and am not too sure how to do so. Most post I have read so far relate to large container moves. I will also be taking two weeks of holidays in Chile in May. I plan to load up my suitcases to the weight limit and then hopefully leave most of it behind.

Once I am finished up with the project in Canada, I plan to move to Chile mid-July to Mid-August. I am currently in the process of looking for work. My current employer is using connections to help me, and they might even consider allowing me to start up an office. As of yet, I do not have employment and I am aware that it could be difficult to find. So, I plan to enter the country on a tourist visa (90 days and possible extension for another 90). If I find work in advance, I would probably apply in advance for a subject to contract or temporary residence visa. I will have money for a number of months in Chile with no pay... if I really wanted to I could probably stay a year without work.

I haven't done much thinking about health insurance... growing up in Canada really causes ignorance in that respect. (Thanks for reminding me mom) Is it common for employers to add this into an employment package?

I will post more specific questions in a more specific topic and location when I feel I need to. But for now, I am just enjoying reading the forum and would like to say Hola! Time to get to my Spanish lesson... oh I didn't mention that. I am in "Intermediate" Spanish... but we all know they aren't teaching me Chilean... just helpful to get the basics I reckon!

Chau,

Alan

Well first off good luck in your future endeavours and may everything turn out grand.

What type of engineering are you in? Big demand for experienced mining engineers. As you know, engineering is often a collaborative process. Unless you work for a multinational company where English is spoken you will have to get your spanish on in order to improve your job prospects so the fact that you have started lessons is a positive step. Since you are Canadian I would start hitting up Canadian companies with a presence in Chile. You will find that there is a big difference in being hired in CHile by a local firm and being paid by Chilean standards as opposed to being paid by CDN standards. But the fact that your girlfriend is in CHile at least affords you a soft landing....

I'll leave the rest up to posters that live in Chile. Best of luck!

Hi!

Hope you start to practise your Castellano with your girlfriend. You need to speak it no matter you find work here by yourself or are sent here by an overseas company.
You didn't say what is your field of expertise? In any case be prepared to the fact that landing a job here is not easy. Engineers with some experience get paid around 1 600-3 000 USD/month. Working in the minining industry will get you a better salary.

Good job hunting!

Once you go Latina you CAN'T go back! (She will hunt you down and cut off your albondigas with a dull knife)

Once you go Latina you CAN'T go back! (She will hunt you down and cut off your albondigas with a dull knife)

LOL, as in "nervous chuckle".

John Hyre, No High Voice Just Yet

Since you are moving to Chile don’t just load your bags to the limit when you come down in May, take a couple of extra bags loaded up, the extra bag charge (sometimes they may just give it to you free) is much cheaper than air cargo and 1/10th the hassle, do this a couple of times and you are moved, more or less. I'm back to Canada at Easter, I only spend the winter or summer down here.

You'll learn that everything is backwards. For instance with a latina you're not coming, you're going.

If you are flying direct from aus (via NZ) to chile on qantas/lan, standard baggage allowance is 2 bags at 23 kg each per person, that is a lot of luggage, so hopefully you can get most of your goods on that, and as said above, they can be pretty flexible with the extra baggage charges.

If you are flying direct from aus (via NZ) to chile on qantas/lan, standard baggage allowance is 2 bags at 23 kg each per person, that is a lot of luggage, so hopefully you can get most of your goods on that, and as said above, they can be pretty flexible with the extra baggage charges.

Since you are moving to Chile don’t just load your bags to the limit when you come down in May, take a couple of extra bags loaded up, the extra bag charge (sometimes they may just give it to you free) is much cheaper than air cargo and 1/10th the hassle, do this a couple of times and you are moved, more or less. I'm back to Canada at Easter, I only spend the winter or summer down here.

Thanks guys. I will have to have a look at Qantas/LAN baggage policies. From all the other times I have flown domestic and international with Qantas I thought they charge $10/kg. They are usually flexible on the first 5kg but after that they ding you for it. Typically with Qantas, the rules are it doesn't matter how many bags you have just the gross weight of them all.

Once you go Latina you CAN'T go back! (She will hunt you down and cut off your albondigas with a dull knife)

I have already lost them a couple times but she has been kind enough to give them back

What type of engineering are you in? Big demand for experienced mining engineers.

I am an Geo-Environmental Engineer (Geotechnical with an Environmental focus). I have been doing consulting in mine closure for two years now. I have been focusing my job search on large international companies (so far, companies that are based in Canada). If anyone has any companies to add to my list I would really appreciate it (maybe a bottle or two of fine Chilean Wine, or some nice Pisco ). So far I am looking into BGC, Hatch, and Golder.

Here is another bit of a question. In March 2010 I traveled to Chile for two weeks. I was supposed to leave the day after the earthquake but obviously that did not happen. A week later I caught the first flight out. Anyway, I am wondering about Visa issues. Because of the Earthquake and the terminal being a tent, I didn't have to pay for a Visa the first time. I assume however, that I got put into the system as a 90-day tourist. This nest time I go I will be getting the same thing. When I finally move for good... could I have an issue with getting a Visa?

Alan

BHP, Xstrata, Anglo also have fairly big work forces here, based in the north, with a limited number of jobs in Santiago also... check their websites, make some calls, let people know you will be around, it helps. The usual contractors also have workforces here, some you have mentioned above, also bechtel, caterpillar, other tech service companies.

Take a look at the British (Britcham), American (Amcham), Canadian (not sure what they're called here) & Australian (Auscham) local business Chambers. They usually have a list of sponsors, that should start pointing you in the right direction to find large companies that would employ English speakers.

Off the top of my head, there's a huge Canadian concrete company here (can't remember the name, sorry), BHP, Anglo-Chile and so forth.

http://www.mch.cl/

this should help you out a bit. You will need to be able to speak some decent spanish to work here long term, but show that you are making the effort, and just get involved it will advance pretty quickly. Expect headaches for the first few weeks and then it will settle

Steph wrote:If you are flying direct from aus (via NZ) to chile on qantas/lan, standard baggage allowance is 2 bags at 23 kg each per person, that is a lot of luggage, so hopefully you can get most of your goods on that, and as said above, they can be pretty flexible with the extra baggage charges.

Or maybe not so flexible. Quantas was charging US$100 for a third bag up to 23 kg, same as AA, when traveling from Auckland to LAX, and SCL is the same I believe. I think they were kicking up that extra $100 for any bag that went over 23 kg. Or maybe they will be nice to you... just can't count on it.