Expats will find working in Cape Town is a considerable step back from the rat race they may be used to. Capetonians will contend there are too many other wonderful ways to be spending time, and those that have relocated here will be hard-pressed to hang onto the ladder of ambition for too long.

On the downside, employers are fully aware that beautiful beaches beckon qualified workers to the metropolis and lower wages reflect the high demand of both South Africans and foreigners to call Cape Town home. It follows that fewer job opportunities exist in the city, and smaller salaries accompany those positions that do become available; especially compared with the likes of Johannesburg. Once people pin down a good job with a respectable company, turnover is generally low.

The media and advertising industry, IT sector and asset management businesses are well represented and a relatively high proportion of expats working in Cape Town can be found in one of these industries. The city is also a bastion of creativity; there's plenty of opportunity for young people to expand their artistic whims and those with a focused entrepreneurial spirit can often find success.

Furthermore, Cape Town's stunning natural scenery, attractive weather patterns and low local labour costs have made the city an international destination for the film industry. However, opportunities in this sector are subject to drastic seasonal changes.

Tourism and hospitality services are also thriving industries, and many expats from abroad can find employment in positions where knowledge of a second language, apart from English, is a necessity.

Foreign nationals will need a work permit to be legally employed.

Cape Town follows an eight hour per day, five-day working week. The work culture is relaxed, and few companies require that employees wear formal business clothes in the office.
 

In many ways Cape Town still operates like a small village. Positions are often found and extended through personal recommendation or word of mouth. Expats who have not been lured abroad with a solid employment opportunity should invest time and energy into networking and into creating meaningful connections.

Traditional routes of job hunting also exist, and for expats with the proper documentation, a tertiary degree and relevant work experience, finding employment can be a tedious process, but is very much possible.

The "Jobs" section can be found in the Cape Times on Mondays, listings specific to the media industry can be accessed at Bizcommunity.com, and general opportunities are updated regularly on Gumtree.co.za.

Recruitment agencies and head hunters also exist in the city. The fee for their services is shouldered by employers.