It's More Important to be Kind than Clever...

Sometimes it is nice to read something that just makes you stop and think …and in this instance, remind you of a simple truth.

For all our latest job vacancies please visit us at www.steppingstonescayman.com

Thriving in Adversity

You've probably heard the old adage 'When life hands you lemons, make lemonade'. But how exactly do you do that? The findings of twelve year longitudinal study conducted by Dr. Salvatore Maddi at the University of Chicago offers some answers. See article here.

For information on jobs in the Cayman Islands, visit our website at www.steppingstonescayman.com

Wagging Tails & Smiling Faces

This Sunday, 26th August 2012, saw the first ever Walk & Wag event  in Cayman, a fundraising walk/run in support of the Cayman Islands Humane Society.  As a Director of the Humane Society and avid volunteer, I am aware of the huge support for the shelter and the animals in our care and this event was no exception.  Even with rain clouds looming overhead, we had over 160 two legged participants who were joined by a huge number of four legged canine companions, including almost a quarter of the Humane Society Shelter residents.  What a day - there were wagging tails and happy faces all round!  Many thanks to all who supported the event!

Molly, one of the shelter dogs who got to participate in the charity run 

Michelle Gibbon (second from left, in SteppingStones pink) prepares to  register the participants of last weekend's Walk and Wag Charity 5K run wtih Giri, Laura and Marie, fellow Humane Society volunteers.

It's easy to get invovled with the Humane Society and their events and we are always looking for volunteers. So come along and join in!

For more informaton about living and working in Cayman contact us at steppingstonescayman.com

Getting into the Interview Mindset

As recruiters, we conduct several interviews every day, but we sometimes forget what it's like to be on the other end of the interview. "Intimidating", "scary", "nerve-racking" - there are many words that can describe the job interview, but "fun" isn't usually one of them.

Nevertheless, a little bit of nervous energy is good, and there are ways you can ensure that you are prepared and ready for the interview. 

I stumbled on an article on Recruiter.com which describes getting into the right mindset for your interview - you need to prepare yourself mentally so that you aren't overwhelmed but also that you don't over-present yourself. 

Here are a couple guidelines and tips for getting yourself into the right mindset: 

1. Do your prep work 
2. Sell yourself 
3. Don't overstretch yourself
4. Remember to interview them as well
5. Focus on the big three
6. Remain persistent

To read the full article and details on the above guidelines, check out the article here. 

For more interview tips and a list of job opportunities in Cayman, visit our website at www.steppingstonescayman.com 

10 top tips for why it’s good for you to work with recruiters!

A recent blog written by Jeffrey Shapiro focuses on the main reasons why it will benefit you to work with a recruiter. Not only can you take advantage of the contacts your recruiter has, you are also able to quiz them for career advice, practice your interview techniques and gain your own personal promoter. For the full article please click here.

What would you say is the best thing about having a Recruiter on your side?

For all of our latest job postings please visit our website: www.steppingstonescayman.com  

How would you eat an elephant?

Now, it sounds like a bit of a strange question, but think this one through, how would you go about eating an elephant?

A very wise person (well, quite wise) once gave me a top bit of advice. When things are getting on top of you, when your To Do list is 5 pages long, when you can’t sleep at night because your brain is whirring round so much with thoughts of all the things you need to do, think about the elephant. You would eat it in small chunks right? So that’s all you have to do – look at everything in your life that is weighing you down, divide it up and tackle it in small chunks.

It may take a little bit of time but I bet it will be satisfying.

For all of our current vacancies, please visit www.steppingstonescayman.com  

What motivates employees more than money?

Money is obviously an important factor when looking for a job, and staying in a job. We all have bills to pay and want to live comfortably. However, even if my salary is sky high, at the end of the day if I am not happy in my job then I am unlikely to stay. 

So what else can employers do to motivate their staff, aside from money? Ilya Pozin from Time Business shares 9 ideas:

1. Be generous with praise
2. Get rid of the managers
3. Make your ideas theirs
4. Never criticise or correct
5. Make everyone a leader
6. Take an employee to lunch once a week
7. Give recognition and small rewards
8. Throw company parties
9. Share the rewards, and the pain. 

I'm not sure if I 100% agree with all 9 of these ideas (some of them might not work for every company), but I do like the thoughts behind them. For further detail on each of these ideas and how to make them work, read the full article here. 

Umm? I don't remember .....

Our modern hectic lifestyle affects our bodies in many ways including an increase in stress levels. It is generally accepted that increased stress levels lead to increased health problems but what you may not realize is that it also affects our ability to transfer new information from short term to long term memory and to access stored memory. 

If you are having difficulty with consolidating or retrieving memories here are some tips that may help.

Rich vs. Poor - Who is the Most Charitable?

One would logically think that the people with the most money would be the ones to give the most to charity and/or be more generous with their giving, but is that the case? Not really. 

According to a new study done by the Chronicle of Philanthropy in the USA (by measuring charitable donations in different area codes), it turns out that lower-income people tend to donate a much bigger share of their discretionary incomes (the money left over after taxes and living expenses) than wealthier people do. 

The study found that "households with incomes of $50,000-$75,000 donate on average 7.6 percent of their discretionary income. That's compared with about 4 percent for those with incomes of $200,000 or more." 

I don't know about you, but I found those figures quite sobering. Why is it that the ones with the least amount of money are the ones who are the most generous? What is wrong with this picture? 

That being said, not all rich people are to blame for being tight with their generosity. The study also found that wealthy people who live in economically diverse neighbourhoods, or who are among those who aren't so rich, tend to give more than their counterparts who live in wealthier neighbourhoods. 

To read the rest of the study's findings, click here. 

What do you think about these findings, and have you noticed this trend in your own circles? 

Cayman has one of the highest standards of living on the planet, and is home to a lot of wealthy people. I wonder how charitable they are. For more information on living in Cayman, please visit our website at www.steppingstonescayman.com 

If you are looking for a job, get out of your own way

Why do some job hunters give up when they are just in sight of their goals?

John Lees, a UK-based career strategist and the author of 'How to get a job you'll love' and 'The interview expert' has written a very interesting article about the six types of frustrated job hunters out there.

Do you fall into any of these categories?

For the motived job hunter looking for a job in the Cayman Islands, please visit our website - www.steppingstonescayman.com

Are you a passionate employee or an enthusiastic employee?

You could ask what the difference between passion and enthusiasm is, but in a recent article on the CNN Money website, journalist Anne Fisher is highlighting the point that the individuals you employ need to be passionate about the specific job they are interviewing for. In other words, in order to recruit the best possible candidates for your organization, you need to be able to spot the difference between true genuine passion, and over the top enthusiasm which can be easily forced.  To read the full article please click here.

How do you think you distinguish between passion and enthusiasm?

To view all of our up to date job listings, please visit www.steppingstonescayman.com

12 Things You Need to do Before Noon to Succeed

I am definitely more of a morning person (although I will admit I do hit the snooze button a couple times during the week) and I find that I am most productive before the afternoon slump hits - and then by 8pm my brain shuts off entirely. 

In a recent study published by the American Psychological Association, it was suggested that early birds are generally happier than night owls, and employees who complete certain tasks before midday tend to be more productive and high-functioning. 

These tasks are: 

1. Make a work to-do list the day before
2. Get a full night's rest
3. Avoid hitting snooze 
4. Exercise
5. Practice a morning ritual
6. Eat breakfast
7. Arrive at the office on time 
8. Check in with your boss and/or employees
9. Tackle the big projects first 
10. Avoid morning meetings
11. Allot time for following up on messages
12. Take a mid-morning break 

Do you do any of these things before noon? 

Click here to read the full article with tips for achieving maximum productivity.

For more information on living and working in the Cayman Islands, please visit our website at www.steppingstonescayman.com 

What's your priority?

Effective prioritization skills are key to good time management skills and can boost productivity and positively impact overall job performance. Geoffrey James, columnist on Inc.com and author of 'Business to Business Selling' believes that popular time management systems such as to do lists and schedules actually waste time as they encourage us to spend too much time on less "valuable" tasks. 

He has proposed a interesting prioritization method based on the Pareto Principle, which states that 80% of the effects come from 20% of the causes, to rank tasks according to their potential positive or valuable result.  While his method can not be applied to every type of task, it is definitely worth considering. See article here.

Share your tips on effective prioritization and time management.

Get information on working in Cayman by visiting www.steppingstonescayman.com.

How to make social media worthwhile

In the days before email, we used to talk with one another. It strikes me that a lot of people have largely forgotten how to do that, and if we are not careful I think social media will continue that forgetfulness.

According to a recent article by the CIPD, Doug Shaw discussed this point in great detail and looked at three things to make your workplace more open and trustworthy;

Decentralisation
It’s not enough for businesses to talk about openness and trust, for it to occur, giving people access to the like of Facebook and Twitter is one thing, but giving them the environment where it’s OK to respond on behalf of the company is essential; otherwise all you do is create blockages in the system. A benefit of social media is speedy responsiveness.

Vulnerability
People make mistakes, and very often the open systems of social media highlight those mistakes, and quickly. Having the confidence to display your vulnerability is extremely powerful in creating an environment where it’s OK to make mistakes and learn from them.

Conversation
In the days before email we used to talk with one another. There is no tone in online converstaion, you can only pick that up in normal conversations.  Remember having a face to face conversation with someone in the same physical space? You get to see the body language, eye contact, smiles, anger, all these things manifest themselves and add to the richness of the experience.

So there you have it – three things that make a real difference in helping an organisation be more responsive and more engaging, for employees, customers and other stakeholders too.

What are your thoughts on how social media has affected or enhanced your organisation?

If you are interested in working in Cayman, please visit our website www.steppingstonescayman.com

SteppingStones Rugby Team Excels in Division 1!

"The spoils of division one went to Stepping Stones who rose to the top of the table with two great wins. Their first match, a top of the table clash with reigning champions Maples1, saw them unseat the three times titleholders 4-2. Scott McCarty, Riley Mullen, Dougie Anderson and Vangie Raftopolous converted the chances for Stepping Stones with Adam Huckle and Jo Ziegler replying for Maples1. 

Ziegler, who is having a fine season with four tries in five games, did more than most to drag Maples1 back into the game, but this was not going to be her day. This is their first loss of the season but Stepping Stones have not lost a match since their inception. Is it a case of “The King is Dead, Long Live the King”? It is too early to tell as we approach the mid-point of the season but the Stones’ play with a great fluidity that is hard to repel. One thing is for sure, Maples1 won’t go down without a fight.

Stepping Stones easily beat Ogier in their second match 10-1 to consolidate their position at the top of the table, Lisa Bird putting in an Most Valuable Player performance with two tries. Maples1, playing with the fury of a lover scorned, took DART apart and registered a 10-1 scoreline." 

Sounds like our team is doing great, considering it's our first year in the league! To see the rest of the Touch Rugby 2012 updates, please read the full article on cayCompass.com. 

How does your employer talk to you?

A recent survey of 1,000 workers in the UK has recognized that although employers are using Social Media outlets more and more as a way of advertising, marketing and maintaining client contact, 60% of organizations do not use any form of social media to communicate with their immediate employees. We are interested to know if your company is the exception to this, does your employer reach out to you via social media and if so in what capacity?

To see all of our most recent job opportunities, please visit www.steppingstonescayman.com

Mont Blanc climb aims to raise funds for local charity

SteppingStones are proud to sponsor Cayman resident Fiona Crellin on her bid to climb Mt. Blanc this month.  All the money she raises will be donated to the Lions Club PACE (Prostate and Colon Cancer) fund raising initiative.

Mt. Blanc is the highest mountain in the Alps and Western Europe, it rises 15,782 ft above sea level and is ranked 11^th in the World in topography.  Fiona set herself this goal at the beginning of the year and has trained hard, including spending up to six hours on a Sunday morning trudging up and down the West Bay Road with her back pack.

She chose this local charity because as part of her training she took part in the inaugural Lions Club PACE (Prostate and Colon Cancer Event),  which was held over the three days of the July long weekend and comprised a walk of 15 miles each day.  She wants to further support that fund raising effort and to help raise awareness and promote the continued success of the event.  This year CI$40,000 were raised and donated to local charities including Cayman Island Cancer Society and Cayman Hospice Care.  Next year’s PACE event is already scheduled and will be held on the long public holiday weekend for Constitution Day on 29 and 30 June and 1 July. 

The climb up Mt Blanc is spread over 6 days; the 5^th day is the final ascent which is scheduled for 16^th August . It is anticipated that this will take between 12-14 hours, climbers carry their own provisions throughout the ascent. 

Weather can be a factor that can prevent a successful ascent so we wish Fiona calm conditions and good luck!

Check back for updates on her progress.

Cross-Cultural Communication

Cayman is a very multi-cultural country, with a large expatriate population from all facets of the globe, so naturally my circle of friends includes about eight different nationalities. Moreover, as a Recruiter, we are meeting so many people from all over the world and who come from very different cultures. 

As a Canadian, I grew up in a multi-cultural country and had the opportunity to meet people with various backgrounds, but it wasn't until I started working in recruitment in Cayman that I noticed so many cultural differences - from food to language and manners. 

Even in speaking with my colleagues, we often discover that we have very different ways of saying things, different vocabulary, etc. They will quite often see a perplexed look on my face and then someone else usually needs to translate for me before we can carry on the conversation, and vice versa. 

When dealing with people, both professionally and personally, it's important to be aware of - and sensitive to - any cultural differences that may exist. This can help to alleviate the possibility of misunderstanding and conflict. It can also help you to understand certain behaviours that may not be familiar to you. 

Do you work with or deal with people from different cultures? If so, have you ever encountered any difficulties or misunderstandings? 

5 great questions YOU should ask in an interview

Interviews are hard enough when you're the one being asked the questions, so it can sometimes be daunting to think of good questions to ask them when it comes to that time in the interview. 

You shouldn't just ask "smart" questions because you want to look good - employers can tell when you aren't paying attention to their answers. You should be asking questions that sound smart but also show that you care about the company and are really interested to hear what they have to say. At the end of the day, you are also evaluating them and whether or not you want to work there. 

Below are 5 questions that great candidates ask in an interview, courtesy of this article on Inc.com: 

1. What do you expect me to accomplish in the first 60 to 90 days?
2. What are the common attributes of your top performers?
3. What are a few things that really drive results for the company?
4. What do employees do in their spare time?
5. How do you plan to deal with...? [insert major challenge, i.e. technological changes, new competitor in the market, economic trends, etc.] 

"A great candidate doesn't just want to know what you think; they want to know what you plan to do--and how they will fit into those plans," says Haden. 

For more tips on interview preparation and to view our current vacancies, visit our website!

Do you need help getting a good night's sleep?

Although we are all aware of the detrimental impact of sleep deprivation on our productivity and health, many of us are still not getting enough sleep. Whether this is due to physical factors or to an overloaded schedule, the following the 'Tips for Sleep Success' suggested by the American Psychological Association may help. See article here.

For all of your Recruitment and Immigration needs or for information on jobs in Cayman visit www.steppingstonescayman.com .

Food for Thought

How often do you and your co-workers take a lunch break? Do you step away from your desk, get some fresh air, take some time out to revitalize yourself for the afternoon? If the answer to all of these questions is no then you are in the 70% of employees surveyed by British private healthcare provider BUPA. The recent survey carried out has demonstrated the point that a lost lunch break equals a loss of productivity. To read the full article please click here and perhaps take a look whilst eating your sandwich away from your desk!

To view our latest vacancies please visit our website: www.steppingstonescayman.com

All about Cayman Islands

The Cayman Islands Coat of Arms is made up of three elements; the shield, the crested helm and the motto

The Cayman Islands Flag 

The Cayman flag is blue, with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the Caymanian coat of arms centered on the outer half of the flag.

Cayman Islands Logo

This unofficial national logo was originally created by Suzy Soto in 1963 and sold for $1.00 to the Department of Tourism in the early 1970's.

Cayman's National Bird: Grand Cayman Parrot

The Cayman Islands' parrots are two subspecies of the Cuban Parrot. The islands' parrots have iridescent green feathers with darker edges over the body, a white eye ring, red cheeks, black ear patches and brilliant blue wing feathers.

Cayman's National Lizard: Blue Iguanna

This unique and magnificent creature is endemic to Grand Cayman - which means that it is found nowhere else in the world.

Cayman's National Flower: Wild Banana Orchid

The Wild Banana Orchid (Schomburgkia thomsoniana) is one of 27 varieties of orchid that grow in the Cayman Islands.

Cayman's National Food: Turtle

Cayman's National Tree: Silver Thatch Palm

The Silver Thatch Palm (Coccothrinax proctorii) is unique to the Cayman Islands. Known locally as "Tatch", the upper sides of the fronds are light green, but the underside is a silvery colour.

for more information on jobs in Cayman, contact us and visit our website www.steppingstonescayman.com”

No tax for expats!

We mentioned in an earlier post that the Premier had announced a proposed Community Enhancement Fee on 25th July for expatriate workers in the Islands. This announcement was met with strong opposition and controversy, and it has been a hot topic in the local news since. 

However, Premier McKeeva  bush how now confirmed that the Community Enhancement Fee is off the table and will not be implemented. 

"At our public meeting on Wednesday August 1st at the Sir John A Cumber School Hall I stated that the Community Enhancement Fee would be taken off the table if robust, credible and sustainable revenue that did not hurt the poorest members of our islands was found,” Mr. Bush said.

“We are satisfied that many of the commitments from the private sector will meet these criteria,” Mr. Bush adds." 

For more information on this update, please visit the Cayman 27 website. 

SteppingStones tops the leader board of the Cayman Summer Mixed Touch Rugby League

It's only halfway through the Cayman Summer Mixed Touch Rugby League, but the SteppingStones team is leading the competition!  Playing in Division 1, the team has already faced some tough games, including a top of the table clash with reigning champions Maples1.  With more strong competition ahead of them, it's all to play for!!!

Click here to find out more about Cayman Summer Mixed Touch Rugby League and to follow the SteppingStones team. 

You can also find an action shot of Riley Mullen, one of our star players, inside this month's What's Hot magazine. We think Riley looks great in the pink-sleeved jersey, don't you? 

For more on top jobs in Cayman, visti our website at www.steppingstonescayman.com

Hurricane Preparedness

The official start of hurricane season is June 1st, and it runs through to the end of November. So far this season we have been fairly safe in the Cayman Islands, but we are currently keeping an eye on Tropical Storm Ernesto as it approaches the Caribbean sea. 

The best advice that we can give is to be prepared, well informed and do not panic. For all Cayman Islands residents, and anyone who lives in a hurricane-prone area, we would encourage you to learn more about hurricanes and how to prepare. Learn about your area, knowing how high above sea level it is, and its flooding history will give you an idea of how safe your area is. 

Your next step: make a plan! Find a shelter closest to you or friend you can stay with if your house isn’t safe. Make sure the house you choose is well constructed and on high ground or has a foundation high enough to avoid too much water getting in. Make sure home and property insurance is up-to-date, and that you understand what your coverage provides.

You should also have a Hurricane Supplies Kit ready to go in the event of an impending storm. A few things we recommend including in your kit are: 

• Drinking water – A minimum of 5 gallons per person.
• Non perishable food & beverages - at least a 7- day supply for each person. Buy items in cans, plastic or other unbreakable, water-proof containers. Include some high-energy and comfort foods such as granola bars, chocolate, candy, etc.,
• Portable cooler / ice chest and disposable utensils - plastic cutlery, plates and cups.
• Blanket, sleeping bag, and a pillow
• Cash
• Can opener - non-electric
• Battery operated portable radio with extra batteries
• Cell phone, car charger and/or extra battery
• 2 flashlights for each person and 2 extra packets of batteries,
• Toiletries
• Toilet paper
• Insect repellant
• Hand sanitizer/ wet wipes
• First-aid kit

When a hurricane or tropical storm is likely to affect the Cayman Islands, warnings will be issued as follows: 

1. Alert: A hurricane or tropical storm is likely to strike the Cayman Islands within the next 48 hours.
2. Watch: A hurricane or tropical storm is likely to strike within the next 36 hours.
3. Warning: A hurricane or tropical storm is likely to strike within the next 24 hours.

For more information visit the Hurricanes page on our website.

Hurricane Ivan - Cayman Islands 2004

Olympic Fever!!

Of the 204 countries participating in the London 2012 Olympics, 22 are from the Caribbean region and 5 from the Cayman Islands. You can check out the profiles of Kemar Hyman, Ronald Forbes, Brett Fraser, Shaune Fraser and Cydonie Mothersille, and track their progress here http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/olympics/2012/countries/cayman-islands 

Congratulations to all our Olympians for such an incredible achievement!

For an opportunity to come and live and work in Cayman please go to our website to see what vacancies we have available: www.steppingstonescayman.com

Coping with Information Overload

In the face of increasingly rapid technological advances, information overload has become one of the main causes of reduced productivity and increased stress within the work environment. Alvaro Fernandez,  co-founder and CEO of  Sharper Brains, an independent market research and innovation think tank tracking brain fitness and  applied neuroplasticity research, offers seven learning and productivity tips for managing information overload. See article here.  

Please visit our website www.steppingstonescayman.com for information on living and working in the Cayman Islands.

Is teamwork in decline?

Do you have Olympic Style competitiveness in the workplace?  Click here to read more on this interesting commentary on the different ways in which individuals can try to outperform rather than collaborate with each other in the workplace.

To work with a great team who are experts at recruitment in Cayman, visit our website at www.steppingstonescayman.com