Yeah, you don't need an agency, you've got the marriage certificate to put you in the front of the queue.  Well, you'll find that although you technically have the same access as a Bermudian, even Bermudians are divided up by artificial strata.  You'll work that out soon enough. 

Bermuda is small enough that a little social effort will get you acquainted with every player in the industry in a few months.  It is all about the who-you-know on the Island.

Definitely start with my friend Hannah at the Bermuda Bookstore.  She is top notch and has a great store, although you never know what colour her hair will be!   
 

In an  interestingly skewed survey, HSBC ranked countries by percentage of expats with salaries over $250K per year.  Bermuda was 3rd behind Russia and Singapore.  Relatively few expats, most of them in the high end jobs, I take that result to reflect.

I take it that means ditto? 

Or, you want me to remove the post!   

'Country' is colloquial for sovereign state and that's where it gets tricky.  Trying to get an agreement on what 'sovereign' actually means has been a problem for hundreds of years!

The one part is about a space with internationally recognized boundaries and that would be a pretty tough proposition for an underwater atoll.

Another part is about having people who actually live there, again tough.

Economics, education, transport and some other requirements would tend to make me think they have a difficult time ahead.

Of course, they could always build a tower like the so called Principality of SeaLand and hope for the best.

That's a great time to arrive on the Island.  The fall weather is beautiful and you will have a few months to settle in before the worst of the rain and cold North wind make you wonder why you thought Bermuda was a "tropical destination".

My best advice is to take leave the time pressure behind you when you step of the plane.  Slow down and take the time to look each person in the eye, smile and greet them.  Give them time to respond and make a connection.  You are on their time, not the other way around.  Don't be in a rush and never rush anyone.  Relax, enjoy and show respect.  You'll have a great time. 

Hi lazybird, welcome to the forum.   

I used to date a woman who works in retail in one of department stores.  She was on about $30k per year and saw a few thousand dollars as a bonus at Christmas time.  I also knew an expat who worked as an assistant buyer in one of the department stores which closed, she was on about 50K and also had a similar bonus if the store did well.

I'm not quite sure how to give you advice.  On one hand I want to wish you well for aspiring to improve the service, on the other I want to tell you to spare yourself the grief. 

Perhaps I'll just point you to the Bermuda Sucks archives for some inspiration:

Service tutorial

Etiquette Guide for Guest Workers

Retail Sales down - Internet Sales Up

The Immigration website lists the following jobs categories as "closed" to non-Bermudians:
Airline Ground Agent, Floor Supervisor, Labourer, General, Office Receptionist, Painter, Salesperson, Taxi-Driver, Wall Paper Technician (?!?)

and these categories as "restricted":
Bank Teller, Bartender, Carpet Installer, Commercial Cleaner, Construction Tradesmen, Entertainer/ Musician, Fisherman, Photographer, Technical salesperson, Tourist Retail salesperson, Travel Agent/ Consultant

Please keep us posted on your adventure getting a job and interacting with the Bermudians.  It would be genuinely interesting and helpful to a lot of our readers.

All the best!

I see this thread continued on a new topic here.

Very cool... great find Brenda.

In the second shooting in three days, a 29 year old man checked himself into hospital with "a gun shot wound to his body".

That is often true.  However, in Reality's case, no amount of cajoling could reverse the rejection.  We should define the Captain's axiom for regular use: "inconsistency is the only thing consistent", as it applies in this case as well.

It is true the board only meets to make decisions on Wednesdays.  Since Senator of Self-Importance Burch insists on making decisions himself, that will of course depend on his busy cocktail schedule.

Congrats maagic123, I'm delighted to hear your permit was approved!  When do you pull the pin? 

I'm sorry, I think you might have misunderstood what I meant by my comment.  I've "done well and continue to do well" and have no issue with that!      There are just some personal (moral if you will) reasons I could not work in a couple of industries.  Insurance and drug dealing spring to mind.

Insurance, of course....

a report from the Association of Bermuda Insurers and Reinsurers shows about $950 million is contributed annually to the Bermuda economy by this industry.

Since we just looked at the construction jobs yesterday, it is interesting to look at the hourly wage of this sector.

Let's be generous and say they work a 40 hour week and get only 4 weeks paid vacation a year.  Total 40 x 48 weeks = 1920 hours per year for their "average" compensation of $178,000 - that works out to about $92 per hour.  Nice work if you can get it, but I'd still have trouble looking at the guy in the mirror every morning.

A 19-year-old was shot as he drove his motorcycle on Middle Road by the Maximart supermarket in Somerset.

He was taken to hospital with what were described as not life-threatening injuries, however the hospital was put on "lock down" and police were "stationed inside and outside the emergency room".

The shooting occurred  around 3:45 in the afternoon and police had to hold up traffic while they completed the search of the area for evidence.

It is interesting to see the figures quoted for wages for construction workers in Bermuda:

Bermudian:  $45 / hour
"Average":   $30
Foreigner:    $18-$20



So, even at $18 per hour, working 70 hour weeks, your boy can earn a couple of grand more to send home to feed his family.  Funny how global economics works, isn't it?

Insight from the Bermudian worker:

"There are some workers that brought things on themselves, but at the same time we are not going to work for the same wage they are paying the foreign guys."

"A lot of them are badly treated but they are afraid to say anything. They accept a lot of garbage just to stay employed."

Garbage like being told they have to show up on time, actually work during their entire shift, and not get high on the jobsite?   

I can only answer that as maybe. 

The 'rule'  is that you get a $100 per entry duty-free allowance.  There was some discussion about a $5,000 one time exemption for Government employees, but that probably doesn't apply to you.

If you budget for the 22.25% duty and get a Customs Officer who gives you a break, you'll have the money to put toward some dive trips.