If you are considering a change of scenery, or career, there are plenty of opportunities on the Isle of Man. The Government of the Isle of Man will be taking part in Jobs Expo Galway on Saturday 16th September. You can also meet them at Jobs Expo Dublin on 21st October and Jobs Expo Cork on 24th November. We wanted to know what it's like to live on the island. We spoke to Dyana Carrins from the Department of Economic Development who looks after the www.locate.im site where you can find out more about opportunities on the Isle of Man.
There are plenty opportunities on the Isle of Man, whether you have just qualified, finished university or have a few years of experience under your belt.
The sectors that are growing at a fast pace are ICT, e-gaming and engineering and there are a range of companies to choose from, including well-established global players and innovative start-ups.
Furthermore, if you have solid transferrable skills, don’t be scared to look at a career changes in a new industry and set yourself a new challenge. A couple of years ago I moved from the life assurance sector to e-gaming to gain more digital experience - and I have never looked back.
There are graduate schemes that are run by many of the island’s leading employers and the opportunities are there for you, whether you are coming to the Island with a degree from the UK or if you qualified in Ireland. Specifically for graduates, on www.locate.im we have collated the Top 10 Tips on landing a job on the Isle of Man.
This depends on the job and agreement with your employer, but if you are lucky enough to move to the Isle of Man with a job, your employer may provide you with a relocation package which could include initial accommodation, a consultant to show you around, help with settling in and support for your family.
This can be as easy or as difficult as you want it to be and ultimately, it depends on your perspective.
When you are starting a new job or moving to a new place, there are always opportunities to connect with people at work or with neighbours. You never know where those connections might lead to, what hobbies or interests you may discover or changes you might introduce to your life.
The Isle of Man has a very active sports community, whether you are into netball, hockey, rugby or want to get into fell running! There are many creative groups around from pottery enthusiasts to creative writers and social groups from expats to networking communities.
Whatever you decide to do, make sure to be interested, engaged and genuinely open to new connections and the opportunities you encounter.
I have lived on the Island permanently since 2005 after discovering it first through a student exchange programme while I was studying English and German for a teaching degree in Russia in the Ural Mountains.
Summer is special anywhere you live and TT is something else. You see thousands of people joining in for the special atmosphere, races, shows and history that is the famous Isle of Man TT Races.
When I first came to the Isle of Man in 2003 as a student, it was just the beginning of the TT festival and I still remember the packed boat and many bikers! Since then TT has held a special place in my heart.
Living on the Isle of Man means having the best of both worlds – career opportunities that stretch and challenge you and a vibrant, rich life which stems from a place connected to nature, communities and meeting like-minded people who are on the similar journey.
For me it has to the sea. I grew up surrounded by mountains and steppes so I never stop wondering at the beauty of the natural marine landscape we have here. It is something that I remember every time I go away and miss when I am off on adventures.
Like anywhere else in the world, you might experience setbacks when things do not go according to plan A, but it’s a great place to ride out any of life’s challenges, because when you look at the vastness of the sea here, you realise how relative everything is in the great scheme of things.
The Isle of Man is one the safest place to live in the British Isles and with crime rates are significantly lower than certain parts of the UK.
The average earnings are about 10% higher than in the UK and on www.locate.im we have a handy calculator which allows you to work out your take-home pay on your salary here.
In terms of things to do, the Island has a lot going on – from adventure centres and Segway tours to expat groups and running clubs. You can find world-class restaurants, vegan eateries, and organic shops – on a par with many towns in the UK and Ireland.
But with all these activities and places, do you know what really gives the Isle of Man its depth? People. People who have lived here for generations and are proud to be called Manx and anybody who had moved here, either from Ireland, the UK or anywhere else in the world and is glad to call this beautiful island home.
Moving anywhere new will be a step out of your comfort zone and if you have a chance to move to the Isle of Man from Ireland, take it! Living here, you are still closer to home (only a flight or a ferry away) yet it be will a new chapter, with many opportunities for growth.
