Jobs In Sri Lanka – Start Your Job Hunt Today
Given the rate at which the population is growing, it is difficult to provide everyone with a satisfying and well-paying job. There are so many people and so few vacancies! Many are forced to take up a position they don’t like (for the sake of a big pay package) while a few others have a job of their interest but earn a salary that’s hardly enough to see them through to the end of the month. That’s why many start looking for opportunities, abroad.
Sri Lanka, the island country in South Asia has a sound economic system and offers ample opportunities to locals and outsiders alike. If you are a citizen of Sri Lanka, looking for top jobs in Sri Lanka might not be much of a hassle because you are familiar with the country and its economic system. Besides, being a natural citizen entitles you to certain privileges.
Whether you are local or foreigner looking for job vacancies in Sri Lanka, this article could be a useful resource to you. Given are tips to start your search.
Register with a Recruiting Agency
Registering with a placement agency can be of great help especially if you are a foreigner. You can work with an agency registered in your country and offering recruitment services in Sri Lanka or you can enroll with an agency based and operating in the island state. Like there is the Sri Lanka Foreign Employment Agency or SLFEA(a government-owned employment agency managed by the Sri Lankan Ministry of Foreign Employment Promotion and Welfare) to help Sri Lankan citizens get jobs overseas, there are public and private-owned placement agencies to help people from Asian and European Countries get jobs in Sri Lanka.
There are recruitement sites and job boards too that specialise in providing jobs in Sri Lanka only. They list available positions in diverse fields including education, manufacturing, construction and finance.LankaTopJobs, Topjobs, JobsJobs are a few to name.
Getting A Transfer
Instead of looking out for a new job you can get a transfer within the same company. There are several multinational companies in Sri Lanka such as Unilever, Nestle, British American Tobacco, IBM, Standard Chartered, Sony, Nokia, Microsoft. etc. If you are already working with any of the multinational corporations, you can seek simply seek a position in their Sri Lankan office.
On Arrival or before Arrival
This is often a question asked by many looking for jobs in Sri Lanka. You should shortlist a few companies, in the public and private sector before arrival as it will help you get started once you arrive. On arrival, you can continue looking for jobs maybe by looking at newspaper classifieds or recommendations by friends. There are newspapers in Sinhala, Tamil and English.
Jobs to Match your Skills
It is best to look for positions that match your skill and qualifications since you stand a chance to get a better position and salary package, if you have experience. However, you can also try something new in the same department maybe.
Work Permits and other Regulations
If you’re a citizen of another country, you will have to obtain a work permit to start working; you cannot work on a tourist visa in Sri Lanka. You can however enter the country on a 30-day renewable tourist visa and then apply for a work permit at the Sri Lankan Department of Immigration and Emigration. Submit your application and other necessary documents required to apply for a work permit to the department. It can take anywhere between 2 days to 15 days to get a visa.
Pay Scales
The average salary is good but not good enough to match the salary one can draw in the US or UK as Sri Lanka is a developing country. International organizations offer better remuneration. Also, there are some positions and fields such as administration and teaching that pay better than the rest.
