Hi Dawn
My fiance & I moved to Chloraka in September & are not of 'retirement age' yet.
I hadn't worked in the UK since 2000 because of health issues & hoped to find something part-time to get back in the 'working frame of mind' after we were settled. David was to be the main wage earner.
However, walking home from the village taverna one evening, we were invited to join a few locals for a drink at a coffee shop. After chatting for about 10 mins about our move to Cyprus and our future plans, I was offered a full-time job! Bizarre I know, I thought he was joking but established that he was serious and said I was interested to know more. We agreed to talk again the following week as I was going to be busy with our furniture arriving and we returned home somewhat puzzled and bemused by the circumstances. What about interviews, CVs etc etc ??
Long story short, I contacted him the following week & after a short conversation was handed the keys to the office, the code for the alarm and agreed to start on 1st November. My background as a medical secretary/PA stood me in good stead as he wanted an Office Manager in his estate agency & construction company.
Work is a 5min walk to the office & not a pressurised job so I've eased back to work gently with no health issues as yet! David is hunting for security work full-time but has found part-time work at the paintball centre (don't ask) & is pursuing his love as an artist. After doing some 'wall art' in our local bar, as a kind of advertisement, he has been commissioned to do some canvasses for a shop & is hoping this may, in time, turn into a business for him.
I guess the crux of this story is..... don't have any fixed ideas, be flexible & open minded about opportunities that may arise. I know plenty of people who have found it very hard to find work, some of who have returned to the UK with sorry tales to tell.
Our story is by no means typical, it's way to bizarre, but it does demonstrate the Cypriot way of doing business which is all 'word of mouth'. Get out & about, speak to anyone who will listen & promote any talents that you have and hopefully you too will be lucky. We are determined to do whatever it takes to make our lives here work & so far so good. We don't earn much (no-one in Cyprus does) but it doesn't cost as much to live here so we are more than happy with our lot.
Whatever you do, all the very best of luck & good fortune to you.......