Bermuda College students had the opportunity to learn about careers in the international business field at a lecture held during Business Awareness Week.

The 90-minute lecture, entitled "You and Your Bermuda: Job Opportunities in Business and Finance'', was presented by Government MP Delaey Robinson and Lorene Phillips.

Mrs. Phillips, a senior claims analyst at XL Insurance Co. Ltd. and a Bermuda College graduate, spoke about her introduction into the insurance field.

"I literally fell into it -- my concept of insurance was about life and health insurance -- but we're trying to correct that by providing information to help Bermudians plan better,'' she said.

"You have to begin to think globally because our competitors are international, and we have to come up with ways of differentiating ourselves,'' she added.

Mrs. Phillips suggested that Bermudians students consider taking a double major while at college, and pairing up fields like computer science and finance.

"The best way to stay ahead is always to educate yourself -- through foreign language development, for example -- because you need a variety of skill sets.

"And there is a need for specialised knowledge -- it's not good enough to have a general degree.'' She noted the changes in the business environment due to global expansion, and stated: "You have to have an open mind to embrace those changes.'' Mrs. Phillips noted that there was a new organisation called the Bermuda Career Centre -- located in the Cedarpark Centre with the Bermuda Foundation for Insurance Studies -- geared towards providing students with information about career paths.

Government MP Mr. Robinson used statistics from the Ministry of Finance and the Manpower Survey to inform students about career areas that needed more local workers.

Mr. Robinson stated: "There are more than 35,000 jobs and we can't begin to fill all those jobs ourselves, but what we will do is begin to analyse where those guest workers are positioned.'' He showed students overhead projections of employment breakdowns by race and Bermudian versus non-Bermudian status.

Mr. Robinson pointed out disparities where white non-Bermudians tend to be more heavily represented in higher-paid administrative and managerial positions.

While conceding the need for foreign expertise and specialists, he noted that management was "a bit top-heavy'' with guest workers and said he would like to see a more even distribution.

"Government can only do so much -- we as individuals must do the rest,'' he said.

"We have multiple roles to play in a small place like Bermuda, and Bermudians have always been flexible. We need to retain that and be smart enough not to just think in terms of one career, but of two.'' BUSINESS BUC