March 1, 2024
The head honcho of a regional recruitment firm is suggesting that remote work may be “untapped” in the Caribbean, as many companies have not embraced it to the extent that companies abroad have.
Joseph Boll, Caribbean Employment Services Inc. CEO, reminded jobseekers that they don’t have to rely on only jobs available in their immediate area, or even remote jobs only being offered by Caribbean employers.
“In this digital age, Caribbean jobseekers do not have to be limited to just the job openings in their immediate area,” Boll said. “Especially in tight labour markets, where employers say they struggle to find adequate candidates just as jobseekers say they struggle to find the high-quality, high-paying jobs they are qualified for.”
He noted that in many Caribbean countries, more conservative cultures have been hesitant to embrace the digital market on a large scale – including not just digital businesses but also jobseekers. With remote work, he suggested, “the world is your oyster.”
Boll is not the first business leader to recommend more Caribbean jobseekers try their hand at remote work. Several others have likewise made the recommendation, especially during the peak of COVID, when the region’s tourism product was still recovering and the job market was struggling to get back on its feet.
However, with persistent infrastructure challenges and a general culture that has been slow to embrace technological advancements, many Caribbean working people may not know how to launch a remote career from their island hometown.
“The important thing is to not be afraid to get started,” said the CEO. “A lot of people can feel intimidated, or believe that remote jobs are not open to people from the Caribbean. But this is not the case, and many times, once you avail yourself of the opportunities, you will achieve success.”
For instance, Boll noted that many Caribbean people are working remotely full-time for foreign employers. Or, they may be working freelance with multiple clients of their own. He added that resources like Caribbean Employment Services Inc. have tips and guides that can help Caribbean jobseekers jumpstart their remote careers.
“Our biggest recommendations are that you tailor your resume to show that you are capable of working independently with minimal supervision, that you be open to opportunities where you may start small but build up a formidable career in the long-run and that you not be afraid of rejection,” Boll said. “You may not get hired for the very first remote job you apply for — or you might. But you shouldn’t let it deter you from pursuing other opportunities.”