Expert: Drew Wilmoth - 4/13/2009

Question
QUESTION: Hey Drew!

I am a young professional that is currently working for an insurance brokerage and consulting firm in Houston, TX.  My degree is in Political Science with an emphasis in International Politics and Diplomacy.  I have worked for the Governor of Texas and have public policy experience as well.  My family spent a lot of their lives in Jamaica and because of that, I have always loved the Caribbean and felt at home there.

I am actively seeking a way to relocate to Grand Cayman.  I have spent much time on the island and consider it the ideal Caribbean island to work and live.

Can you please give me any advice you have as how to someone like me should go about looking for a job?  Also, my wife is a nurse.  Any thoughts on her prospects of landing a nursing job on the island?

Thanks in advance!

- Kevin F. Murphy

ANSWER: Kevin,

Your question is far easier to answer On the part of your wife. Health care professionals are consistently in demand. Depending upon her area of experiences she may be more comfortable seeking work in a hospital setting or in a physician's office.

The Health Services Authority is a governmental agency with responsibility for the George Town Hospital as well as the various district health clinics. The is also a private hospital the Chrissie Tomlinson Memorial Hospital. These would be the easiest points of inquiry for her.

For yourself, you have described the places you have worked but not the exact nature of your work.

Various department of the Cayman Islands Government occasionally have position openings related to a wide range of public policy matters. At the present time the government has imposed a general hiring freeze and only select exempted positions and recruiting. You can checks for public listings on the www.gov.ky website. Just follow the link for jobs.

Private sector recruitment has shown a similar reduction with the slowing of the world economy. Still there are many legal firms and accountancy offices which still are filling various positions.

You may look for suitable positions advertised in the Caymanian Compass or Cayman Net News newspapers' classifieds every Friday. Owing to the nature of Cayman labour laws, all jobs being offered to non-Caymanians must first be advertised. As such, there is no hidden job market for most professional positions.

Best of luck in your endeavours.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Drew,

Thanks so much for your help. I will have my wife contact the appropriate hospitals asap.

I currently work for an insurance brokerage and consulting firm in Houston and previously worked for the Governor of Texas as an aide.

I would think that my experience in the insurance induustry (although its only been two years) might serve me well in my search.  Any thoughts?

Thanks again,

Kevin

Answer
Cayman has a large financial services industry with associated legal services. There is not a great deal of offshore insurance services.

There are a few domestic insurance carriers but this is a sector widely dominated by Caymanians. Cayman Islands law strongly gives preference to Caymanians in employment. The local insurance industry trains and often promotes from within.

As previously stated, the government has essentially placed a hiring freeze. Very few positions are being filled in government services.

Regardless, the basic suggestion remains the same. Monitor the advertisements in the Friday editions of the Caymanian Compass or the Cayman Net News. All jobs, whether in government or private sector, must be advertised before they can be offered to any foreign national.