CAREER TRANSITIONS

Changing careers can be scaryand daunting, but also exciting – to be finally taking this step to make the change you’ve been thinking about for sometime. Career transitions take time and the transition period may have started long before you consciously decided to make the change.  Keeping focused on the end goal is what is important.

As an expatriate, changing careers in the Cayman Islands is challenging due to rules and regulations around the approval of a work permit. In order for a permit to be approved for an expatriate, Immigration need to be satisfied that there are no suitability qualified or experienced Caymanians interested in and willing to undertake the position.  If you don’t have any specific qualifications or experience in the new career that you are looking to transition into, Immigration are unlikely to allow you to undertake that role.

However, if the above does not apply to you, then here are some top tips for being successful in transitioning into your new career:

1. You need to understand the position before you apply for it, so that you don’t come across as someone who needs a lot of training from day one. Review your resume and cover letter and make sure they reflect your knowledge and skills relating to the new role.  Then imagine yourself in the new role before being interviewed for the position so that you are mentally prepared and committed to the new role.
2. Research! Speak to individuals who are working in the role you are interested in to find out more about the role, how they got there and what skills they needed to get there. Having a greater understanding will help you analyze your own knowledge and skill set to see what you need to focus on in order to be successful in your new career.
3. Read books related to the new field or position to broaden your understanding. See if you can shadow an individual who is currently working in the position for a day or longer to see if it is a role that you really want to do. This experience will also help you learn a lot more about the position in a hands-on fashion.
4. Demonstrate to a potential employer that you are ready and able to take on this new role. Clearly articulate your general transferable skills and find ways to demonstrate them, with all the new knowledge and skills that you have acquired as part of the transition process, all whilst reverting to the first point of imagining yourself in the new role.

If you would like to know more about your options and what roles we are recruiting for, please contact one of our Recruiters who will be able to speak to you about your transition into a new field and will provide you with some support and suggestions as to how you will get there.