NEWSLETTER

Barbados Employment and Career Counselling Service

Nov, 2021 Vol 2 of 4

Quarterly newsletter of the Barbados Employment Career Counselling Department (BECCS)

The Barbados Flag

Source: Stock Footage-Google images

The months of September and October were very active months for Barbados Employment and Career Counselling Service (BECCS). The Hotel US Programme and the Farm Labour Programme saw several new hirers travelling abroad to take up employment opportunities. The Hotel US programme, which saw a resurgence after several years of being off BECCS calendar, was met with much enthusiasm from interested Barbadian applicants with significant experience in hospitality, mainly within the age ranges 18- 25 years, and 45 years and under.

In September and October, a series of orientations were held to inform and bid best wishes to new hirers for the USA Hotel programme. Job seekers who visited BECCS and submitted applications digitally, transitioned to new hirers via several virtual interviews held at BECCS in August and September. September’s and October’s orientations sought to educate and inform new hirers about work, behavioural and cultural expectations. Topics covered included work ethic: arriving at work 15 mins early, good deportment; handling workplace conflict by reporting to the liaison on the ground if work-place conflicts arise that affect job contracts; staying focused on the link between employment and personal goals; buying warm clothing appropriate for winter and the lower temperatures of spring and fall seasons; making one-time shopping trips during colder months, and using underground shopping paths where possible, to avoid exposure to lower temperatures. Sentiments from successful applicants indicate that they were happy to receive the

New hirers for BECCS USA H2B Hospitality Programme

Source: PR Consultant - BECCS

“Sentiments from successful applicants indicate that they were happy to receive the opportunity to be employed abroad in the US hospitality industry…”

opportunity to be employed abroad in the US hospitality industry and hoped to return home with new skills to share with Barbados’ hospitality sector. These perceptions are not far from what plays out after returning home with experience in North America, as many persons point out renewed, improved focus and direction assists in gathering resources to start a business, or that international experience speeds job search. Minister of Labour, Mr. Colin Jordan, highlighted these key areas during one of his many key note addresses to new hirers. Mr. Jordan shared valuable information on career development strategies and goal setting, emphasizing the opportunity to work in the US is a prized one as it is a particularly valuable, tangible experience that will increase employability; not only on the local front but also internationally since the ‘US brand’ is globally recognized for and associated with quality, expertise and excellence.

BECCS also saw the return of several persons in September and October from the UK Farm Labour programme which, like the US hotel programme, was not active for quite some

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time until 2021. In order to find jobs for Barbadians given the challenges of the current employment market, it was revamped as a pilot. Most of the farms delivered satisfactory experiences for Barbadians working in the UK. After some evaluation and feedback on the UK farm labour pilot, BECCS expects it will be benched marked against the Canadian Farm Labour programme to ensure higher satisfactory experiences among new hirers in 2022, as the Canadian Farm Labour Programme scores higher on satisfaction. BECCS is of the view that international farm labour experience will in some in stances broaden the perspective of participants so that those perspectives, when applied locally, will help develop our agricultural sector at a time when the high cost of our food import bill is a major challenge. The rising cost of food impacts our country at a micro and macro-economic level so that any successful application of programmes knowledge acquired through BECCS farm labour, toward a modern farm set-up at home, will result in growing and retailing food locally at a cheaper cost, resulting in reducing our food import bill. These are the outcomes BECCS looks forward to, as we are cognizant that while our programmes do not match every job seekers employment E MORE preference, they offer a window to many possibilities. If (A) ‘Life is a journey and not a destination,’ and (B) ‘The road to success is crooked’, it follows that (C) ‘We must find different pathways to reach our goals.’ The relationship

A+B=C is an important one for job seekers to consider in the current climate. It requires job seekers to step out of their comfort zone to try new strategies to earning an income. Anyone who prides themselves on rationalism will seek alternative ways to generate income either through starting a small business or taking a job that is not their preferred form of employment or both. BECCS therefore encourages job seekers “to do what you can, with what you have available to you.” Heralding Barbados as a Republic on Independence Day, Nov 30, 2021 reinforces to us as a people, the strengthening of our resolve to continue to take action as we move forward, and to take full ownership of our decisions. This is a milestone that we at BECCS hope serves as a motivational factor for job seekers to remain resourceful and resilient in their commit ment to personal growth and development especially in the pandemic. On that note, let us look briefly at what is happening in the Caribbean region with respect to employment prospects. Regional opportunities are also worth exploring. Marcus Myers, Information Officer of the Barbados Accreditation Accreditation Council (BAC) urged CARICOM national job seekers to acquire The Certificate of Recognition of CARICOM Skills Qualification, a tool that helps secure employment in any of the qualifying CARICOM member states. Anyone graduating from University of the West Indies (UWI) or any other accredited university, with a Bachelors, Masters and/or Doctoral Degrees also have the opportunity to immigrate to Canada through the Express Entry Programme for skilled workers by submitting a strong profile to www.cic.gc.ca. Enrolling into a Canadian college or university with a coop programme is also another option for job seekers to get work permits and later, become permanent residents. The Student Revolving Fund is instrumental in approving loans for studying abroad. option for job seekers to get work permits and later, become permanent residents. The Student Revolving Fund is instrumental in approving loans for studying abroad.

Please contact BECCS for further information about our programmes

BARBADOS EMPLOYMENT AND CAREER COUNSELLING SERVICE

1st Floor East Warrens Office Complex Warrens, St. Michael, BARBADOS TEL# (246) 535-1540/ 51/ 47/ 48/ 37/ 44

LABOUR DEPARTMENT 2nd Floor East Warrens Office Complex Warrens, St. Michael, BARBADOS TEL# (246) 535 -1500

MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND SOCIAL PARTNERSHIP RELATIONS 3rd Floor West, Warrens Office Complex Warrens, St. Michael, BARBADOS TEL# (246) 535 -1400

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