12ellie12

Hi Jane,

Please let me know how you get on when you get back...meanwhile I'll keep cruising Monster Abroad & playing the lottery!

Cheers
Ellie

Bajanboy

As a Bajan, I must agree that it is next to impossible to get a work permit here. While they are many expats who are working here, they usually do so by getting their work permit arranged by their company who must prove that there are no locals to do the job. However, I know a few of people who come here are work illegally as a short term solution. Immigration will give you up to six months at a time provided you can show you can support yourselves without working. But if you get caught, you will be deported, sometimes they will give you no time to pack, and can keep you locked up at the airport for up to several days while they arrange your flight back.

Jane888uk

Yes, 12ellie12 l will hope to come back with some valid information!

Bajanboy, l would never risk working abroad illegally, anyway l dont
think it would be very proffessional to do so in my line of work.

Its a shame its so difficult, but l think they have got it right!
Why should they employ us, look whats happened to the dear ol
UK!!

Nevertheless, l would love to be able to afford to stay in Barbados.

What if l sold my house here and bought a house for half the price
in Barbados?
Is that legal?
Apply @ Grantley Adams airport & wait for a position there.( if one comes up )
Or, if l have to - go into hospitality or back into beauty.( if something comes up ).....

I dont see the point in renting out my house now here in the UK, as its only
for six months.
If l sold up, can l then apply for permanent residency if l bought a property
in Barbados?

Phew!!
Jane

IkklePiranha

We actually have the same sort of set-up as Barbados - only instead of caricom members, we'll employ EU members.
The only difference being is we're not strict on illiegal workers/immigrants in the same way Barbados (and every other country is!).

I'd also be interested to hear what you find out about jobs at GA, it's a route that was actually suggested to me by my bajan friends, so definitly worth investigating while over there!

Jane888uk

We might have a similar policy to Barbados, but l think like so many others that it has now simply got out of hand!!

Maybe doing six months of work here, and then six months of doing
nothing in Barbados sounds rather attractive to me now!

If thats the only way to go, l still think its a waste when l know l could
work - and may l add - work hard!

Over the years l have had my fingers in lots of different pies, maybe
you could say a Jack of all trades!
But would be willing to put my hand to anything, especially if it helps
towards the islands economy.

Regards
Jane

Bajanboy

I think as long as you can prove you have the funds to live here and not work, immigration will keep extending your stay six months at a time. Another thing to note is that most government jobs pay poorly, and you could expect to earn a fraction of what you might be getting back home. Lots of Barbadian nurses and policement leave here to work in the US or in Bermuda or Cayman Islands. Without an expat package, expect lower wages and higher cost of living compared to the UK.

Jane888uk

Gosh its not easy is it...lol

Oh anyway l am a believer in fate and what will be will be!

Thanks for your sound advice everyone - l will continue
on this quest, you never know what may turn up.

I am so looking forward to going out there again next month,
that l know l will leave after two weeks of turquoise seas,
magnificent weather and of course that Bajan welcome....
wanting more, much more!

Maybe one day...
Jane

cboy

Hi There - yet another one of us escaping from blighty. heading over to barbados in june to settle down, couple of job prospects in the offing. Have done a little bit of research about rental costs etc, and have found i can probably rent a decent spot for about $600 US. This leads me to my question - bearing in mind other costs, and of course fun n frolics, what would be a reasonable wage to live and have a giggle on? a bit of a general question I guess, but I'm curious...

Bajanboy

US$600 is towards the bottom end of apartments, but if you are happy to live in a simple apartment, that you can find something for that. You will need another US$400 for food. Cars are very expensive, so even an old banger will cost you a few thousand dollars, and a decent used car about US$15000. You can get around on the bus or on a bike if you live close to where you are working. Factor in another US$100 - US$200 for utilities, and another US$200 for incidentals. So, you are looking at a minimum of US$1400 to live.

wofbart

Hello all.

I lived in Barbados for nine years, coundnt wait to get back to UK, but i find myself drawn back for as long as i can.
The best way is to become self employed it takes some money £10'000 at least then no problem all you need to do is show you have enough funds to support youself fot the time period at least $100 per day, getting married is common and they interview everyone.

good luck

hope to see you all out there.
Ricky
Lavish Lounge
Black Rock

bajan_girl

Hi there

I was just wondering what kind of job are you looking for?

Getting a job in B'dos is difficult or easy to get into, depending on the field of work you want to be in. For example, I would not recommend something like accounting because there are so many Bajans that are educated to a masters degree in this area that it is extremely competitive.

All of the people that I have encountered who have moved from overseas to B'dos have been employed in hospitality/medicine/the arts/sports development. It is difficult but not impossible...it would help if you could actually go out there and meet some locals and network...what a lot of people don't realise is that B'dos runs on a "who you know" basis.

Belinda1974

Hi bajan_girl,

saw your posting here too
As you probably saw on my postings, I am looking for a job there too. I am working as Creative Director in advertising agencies for the last 6 years (originally I studied Fashion Design, so that´s my profession, but I changed industry in 2000).
I hope to get a job in Barbados either in the hospitality industry (I am studying tourism management besides my job, will graduate in May 08) or in an advertising agency, so if you have any hints for me regarding vacant positions, I would be more than thankful!

I will be in Barbados between July 7th and 28th, so meeting there would be nice if you want to!

Bajanboy

Belinda1974:

Bajan_girl is somewhat correct in that it is who you know when it comes to finding jobs. However, many companies are now taking recruitment much more seriously and are hiring recruitment specialists to seek out the best candidates. I applied for a job a year ago and they were three rounds of interviews (including one in Grenada where the job was going to be based) and two sets of psychometric tests.

As for jobs in tourism and advertising, none of them pay particularly well. I know of a creative director in an advertising company who earns US$4000 gross, and she is well paid. However, agencies here struggle to find creative staff (if you could see the terrible stuff they produce) so you might be able to land a good position if you could sell yourself.

I do not think hospitality is much better as they are more and more qualified staff (quite a few are doing postgraduate degrees from the University of Surrey in the UK). But you might be able to combine your advertising background with a job for a hotel or property development company.

Good Luck!

Belinda1974

Hi bajanboy,

thanks very much for your interesting reply!
Since I do have some friends who are already in Barbados, they also told me that I should have chances in the creative industry there At the moment I am preparing a huge portfolio of all the media I designed within the last years, and I already listed some interesting agencies I found on the yellow pages.
So this will be my next step to send them my CV and portfolio, I really hope that they will at least give me the chance to introduce myself when I will be there in July.
USD 4.000,- for an creative director - per month?? Thats pretty good in comparison to what I get here in my current job. I am earning very good for Austria, but honestly to say, it is not enough to have a good life, it is just enough to survive and have a car So for me Barbados is not really that expensive, because living in AUstria and particularly here in Salzburg is VERY expensive. Well, not all here is the same price than in Barbados, but seen in summary, it is quite the same there if you want to live luxurious But money is definetely NOT the reason why I want to move to Barbados - it is the more relaxed lifestyle, the weather, the music, the ocean and the people.

So if you have any more tipps for me, this would be great

P.S. Oh YES, I saw what they are producing there, most of the stuff is not good, I agree So I hope this helps

Bajanboy

Hi Belinda:

I think you could expect US$3000 - US$4000. The work permit may be a problem, but they could tailor the application to meet your particular range of skills.

As for agencies, you could try the following which are the biggest

SOJE Londsdale - Winston Edghill ([email protected])
Virgo Communications - Stephanie Von Oppen ([email protected])
RED Advertising - Jevan Jutagir ([email protected])
BCB Communications Inc

Barbados can be as expensive or as cheap as you want to be. But the best things here are free (beaches, weather, people) or not expensive (happy hour or dinner at the fish fry in Oistins).

Feel free to write back with other questions.

John