The Commonwealth of the Bahamas comprises seven hundred islands and cays, and islets in the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. Located north of Cuba, the Dominican Republic, and the Turks, and Caicos Islands, it Shares boundaries with the state of Florida and the Florida Keys. With a population of about 400,000 people occupying 32 islands, the capital and most inhabited city, Nassau, is situated on the island of New Providence. The island has become an excellent summer resort for tourists attracting more than its population every year. Aside from the tourism sector, transportation is a major contributor to the growing economy as the country offers one of the biggest open registry shipping fleets in the world. International banking and investment management account for the highest percentage of the nation’s annual GDP.
Job opportunities
Majorly open to foreign investors interested in expanding their businesses, and tourists looking to have fun, there are only a few job opportunities for foreigners residing on the island. Though, these jobs pay little compared to other countries. Despite this, finding a job here is rather exigent for ex-pats, except for those who are highly skilled and experienced.
If you are a foreigner looking for a job here before relocating, or you are already living on the Island and exploring its job market, this is a comprehensive article just for you. It covers the basics you need to know about finding work open to foreigners in the Bahamas.
Types of job openings for ex-pats
The common working round-the-clock in a typical workplace setting is now becoming a thing of the past with the introduction of other forms of working systems. They comprise remote, part-time, hybrid, internship, contract-based, freelancing, seasonal work, etc. Fortunately, they are available in the major sectors of the country. Jobs open to ex-pats can be found in the following industries: tourism, finance, logistics, etc.
Finding a job as a foreigner
There is work available in both domestic and multinational organizations, local warehouses, schools, banks, etc. situated within the republic. The popular trend these days for foreigners looking for employment is searching through adverts of countless openings on LinkedIn, websites such as Indeed, work for our pages of desired firms, job groups on Facebook, job sections of local newspapers, et cetera. With these means, they can find and apply to job postings filtered to their fields of interest, level, job type, and work experience. Because of the short opportunities, only adept emigrants who fit the specifications employers seek are generally hired. Another method ex-pats can try is networking: this involves hearing about vacancies from relatives, close friends, or foreign networks working in the same discipline as well as being recommended for positions one is skilled for.
Work requirements for ex-pats
Notwithstanding its small population, the country still offers employment to ex-pats living on the island. However, with the few openings available, there is an incessant demand for only well-trained and proficient workers. For ex-pats without formal education, there are short-term jobs in the tourism sector. Jobs like being a driver, waiter, cook, porter, etc. may not need much of a formal education but they do not pay well.
Language skill
Its official language is English, though Bahamian Creole is widely spoken. Learning to speak any of these languages is vital for foreigners who desire to interact well with other residents around them, particularly in rural areas. For ex-pats quite eloquent in English, there is a higher chance of getting work in the nation thanks to the need to improve English speaking within its territory. Native English speakers with TEFL certificates and teaching experience usually gain employment to teach English in domestic schools across the islands.
Work visa/permit
If you are living outside the commonwealth, then you must apply for a work visa after securing a job with a prospective employer. This visa allows ex-pats to legally enter the country. The work permit is issued by the ministry upon an employee’s arrival.
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