Moving to North Cyprus and job hunting

Felly


Joined: 29/06/2011
Posts: 16

Message Posted:
29/06/2011 22:59

Hi



My wife and I, both professionals, are considering a move to North Cyprus in September and I am looking for employment.



I am 34 and have been a police officer for the last 11 years in the Metropolitan Police. I am keen to explore a new career path and have an interest in the sales, IT, tourism and hospitality industries. I am however open to other suggestions.



I have good computing skills, excellant intepersonal skills as well as a number of professional courses from the police. Unfortunately I don't speak Turkish other than a few phrases learnt from visiting my sister in Istanbul.



I would be grateful for any advice, contacts or feedback of personal experiences from those of you who have been or in a similar situation.



Many thanks



Rob.

ttoli


Joined: 24/03/2007
Posts: 1172

Message Posted:
29/06/2011 23:27

Hi Rob



Putting it blunt, unless you have a tidy nest egg to invest (banks currently paying 10% interest p.a. ), think again, work with decent employers very,very difficult to find and if caught working illegally, ultimatley you can face deportation!!, New work permits for foreigners very difficult to come by.



Try it for 6 months or so first, Rent, DONT BUY.



Gary ex CAD (PL)



http://www.gonorthcyprus.com/

Felly


Joined: 29/06/2011
Posts: 16

Message Posted:
30/06/2011 00:16

Cheers Gary



My wife has all but been offered a job teaching in a school and so we have a bit of security there, i'm just after something a bit different from the Met. We are definately looking to rent NOT buy.



Any ideas?

brianc


Joined: 20/06/2011
Posts: 133

Message Posted:
30/06/2011 06:56

Jobs in NC :

http://forumlovecyprus.21.forumer.com/viewforum.php?f=10

negativenick


Joined: 10/11/2008
Posts: 6023

Message Posted:
30/06/2011 06:58

mess 1 - the cost of living in the trnc is fairly similar to the uk - but the wages are v low (if you can find a job)...



Also - its very cold in your villa between nov and april.................

Agobard


Joined: 20/08/2008
Posts: 271

Message Posted:
30/06/2011 07:20

I think that you will find it extremely difficult to get a legal job here. As has already been said, wages are very low and work permits for foreigners have become difficult to obtain. You may like to consider the possibilities of getting work around south Nicosia and commuting. I don't suggest that this would be an easy option but, at least the Greek side is EU and English is far more widely spoken than it is here.

Tenakoutou



Joined: 27/07/2009
Posts: 4110

Message Posted:
30/06/2011 08:16

Stick to what you know, 'Felly', and be glad of it - pipe-dreams are all very well, but TRNC is certainly not the place to take such a gamble - too many 'punters' can attest to that.



Obviously, I don't know from the info. you've supplied, but it would appear that you haven't the faintest idea of what the reality of life for [working] foreigners is in TRNC.



I don't wish to 'pour cold water' on your [Utopian sounding] plans - in fact, I wish you all the best; but, please, at your age, don't make such a retrograde step!

Biggles


Joined: 14/06/2009
Posts: 165

Message Posted:
02/07/2011 20:32

I think I agree with all the posts to date. Do not think about working without a Work Permit. Do not believe those who say that you do not need one if you are over 60, that you are just helping someone out, doing it for love etc or even if the job is part time, it is not true. I am 64, work part time and I still have a Work Permit and pay my insurance each month regardless of if I have worked or not. It is just not worth the risk. Deportation is the threat if you do not obey the law!

Hector


Joined: 26/08/2008
Posts: 2352

Message Posted:
02/07/2011 20:42

Robert

You may feel out of sorts with the Met at present (I'm guessing I know) but believe me you'll miss it and regret it big time if you leave. As for job security for your wife, I really wouldn't bank on that. The situation in the TRNC is always precarious and jobs for teachers are not secure. If you leave the Met, your pension will be frozen. The police pension is one of the best you can get. I agree with the advice of Tenakoutou. If you want to discuss further by phone please email me.

philbailey


Joined: 17/01/2011
Posts: 3534

Message Posted:
03/07/2011 04:07

Stick it out and get your pension

then consider it

rowan


Joined: 04/09/2008
Posts: 450

Message Posted:
03/07/2011 09:03

there are too many people looking for work here and not enough legal jobs. A someone else has said, if you work illegally then you may be deported.

walkerscott


Joined: 13/08/2009
Posts: 901

Message Posted:
03/07/2011 21:02

Rob,

Your wife may be fortunate to get a job, albeit a low paid one in a school, but you won't! Listen to the wise on this forum. I would suggest that you don't give up your career esp with the Met. Only come out here if you have the fiancial security to exist without worrying otherwise just visit as often as you can and enjoy both worlds.



http://no-deeds-no-money.moonfruit.com

Marion


Joined: 06/03/2011
Posts: 1816

Message Posted:
03/07/2011 22:23

You don't say which school, and your wife could find she is wanted for only a year or less, and in some places has to wait for the money. (even with a contract). There is NO security here as you would expect in U.k.



There is some good advice above, but could I add that I think your options would be:



1. Stay with the Met until you get your pension (not too many years to go???)

2. If you want to step sideways, do it where you are until established.#

3. Thin k of a busines s you could set up here but that is more difficult than U.K, so you have to be certain that what you are doing is the right thing (money and a TC partner is involved)

4. if you want to become hippies and can afford it - fine, but don't forget you need to get Residence permits and you need to prove income for that if you don't have a work permit.

Please think seriously or you could be deeply unhappy. If it is right, I am sure your heart will tell you.

Hector


Joined: 26/08/2008
Posts: 2352

Message Posted:
04/07/2011 10:58

Robert

Not the advice you wanted or expected to hear but true all the same and said with the best intentions.

Marion


Joined: 06/03/2011
Posts: 1816

Message Posted:
04/07/2011 12:08

Perhaps I should explain that I don't want to be a doom monger, but I have lived south and north and am firmly established north now, and have seen so many people's dreams dashed to pieces. When you are older, one can jog along on a pension, but many younger folk (including Cypriots) have come bacmk full of enthusiasm, but various factors have driven them back to U.K. So, please accept that my advice is with the best of intentions (as per message 14) as I really DO have your interests at heart.

there are plenty of us on this board who will happily give advice and do all they could to help you find a life here, but.... tread cautiously

Hector


Joined: 26/08/2008
Posts: 2352

Message Posted:
04/07/2011 21:12

Methinks the truth is often hard to hear.

ttoli


Joined: 24/03/2007
Posts: 1172

Message Posted:
04/07/2011 21:25

Rob



Just a thought, Apply for a career break, The Met granted me a three year one, in that time I moved here got myself established before handing in my notice.



Gary



And No, I dont miss the Job, The team and banter Yes.

Hector


Joined: 26/08/2008
Posts: 2352

Message Posted:
04/07/2011 21:26

Have you thought about Australia or NZ?

Marion


Joined: 06/03/2011
Posts: 1816

Message Posted:
04/07/2011 22:47

Me ssage 17 makes sense. But message 18, although great, you could be faced with being too old. also there are more rules and regs on living in oz. Freedom here is greater. But if I could go back to Oz I would, but I am too old and too poor. But Gary makes sense if that is a possibility. But don't sell up in U.k, come join us, rent, explore and seemk your destiny.

TRNCvictim


Joined: 17/08/2010
Posts: 1417

Message Posted:
04/07/2011 23:02

Felly (mess 1)



Listen to everyone! the TRNC isn't what it's cracked up to be! it's a very very small Island in the Eastern Med with no infrastructure, no law, policed by bandits, Governed by a corrupt Government, occupied by many criminals, and once in your cornered! with no where to go!!!!!!!



On the plus side it has plenty of sunshine from say...........April to November........... and can certainly only gain from your Met experience!



Good Luck

Felly


Joined: 29/06/2011
Posts: 16

Message Posted:
07/07/2011 16:13

Wow,



Plenty of comments, more negative than i was expecting. When i say negative i mean advice against the move.



To confirm, i have taken a career break, we are renting our home in England. So i have not put all my eggs in one basket. This is something my wife and i plan to do for a few years before coming back to England and perhaps starting a family and settling down.



She has a job lined up and i'm just looking for something to bring a few more pounds into the pot.



We are coming, i'm just lookinf for some suggestions please.

Brinsley


Joined: 04/04/2009
Posts: 6858

Message Posted:
07/07/2011 16:30

Does the 'News of the World' have a resident journalist in the TRNC? With the 'Met' contacts with this rag you could ask them for a job as an overseas correspondent reporting on corruption!!!!



Richard