So, you finally arrived here in Australia. You are ready to be comfy on your new home, immerse yourself on the new culture, try all the Aussie food, and live your new life. It’s a brave new world out there!
And then two weeks later, boom! It hits you. You miss your old room. You miss grandma’s cooking. You miss the neighborhood. The sense of isolation and melancholy is getting the best of you. You want to go home. All these excitements of starting a new life now taking a backseat. You now want your old life back.
Homesickness has been plaguing people for ages, from European explorers to pilgrims to World War I and II soldiers to the modern expatriates and exchange students. It is an underrated and underestimated emotional condition that has drove people to desolation and breached contracts. And while going back home isn’t really an immediate possibility, there are ways to tide the longing and continue what you set out to do.
Homesickness isn’t necessarily missing home, but the habits and routines associated with it. Since you can’t go back to those anymore, creating new activities to revolve your daily life on will work just as fine. And no, we’re not discussing about you waking up, getting your coffee, and taking the drive to work. We’re talking about the extra things that give your otherwise conventional day into something extraordinary. It could be meeting a few friends after work, reading a good book on your favorite coffee shop, doing yoga, or a jog in the morning. These will provide distractions as you get immersed in your new life.
And speaking of jogging…
It is no secret that working out releases happy hormones in your body. This is perfect to combat depression commonly associated with homesickness. Also, being physically active keeps you away from bad eating which again, is a huge tendency of those experiencing stress and longingness.
So choose a physical activity that you like and stick with it. A morning jog, yoga sessions, weightlifting, or even playing your favorite sport (Australia’s obsession with sports is huge). It will strengthen your immune system, which means you will have more ammunition to fight off sickness while you adjust to a new atmosphere.
Also, by joining fitness clubs or workout classes, you will meet more people and have more friends, which lead us to…
Of a different family that is. It might the household on your shared apartment, or your coworker’s core relatives. Having them “adopt” you will get rid of any feelings of loneliness. Have them invite you to family functions, dinners, or parties. No, they will never replace your folks back at home, but they can provide a sense of belongingness which is way, way better than getting yourself drunk alone at home during Thanksgiving.
And since we’re on the topic of Thanksgiving …
Since your real family is away, there’s no way you can slice turkey with them. But you can celebrate it with your adoptive family! Treat them to a thanksgiving dinner (you may use chicken, turkey burgers, or other alternatives instead) once a year. Or, if you’re from the Philippines, celebrate Christmas Eve with a Chinese ham and leche flan with them on the table
This works on both ways. First, you will get a taste of home by sharing your traditions with other people. And second, your new family will have new experiences and new food to try. Win-win, if you’ll ask us.
If you think you are helping yourself by spending four hours a day on Skype keeping in touch with your family back home, you are wrong. This will only bolster the longing and homesickness. The same thing happens when you drown yourself in social media, constantly keeping in touch what your friends are having for lunch because you can’t afford to miss out.
You have an entire world to discover out there. Make new friends, try new foods, join groups, and learn new hobbies. You have a new home now. Know and enjoy it. Your relatives and buddies back home are going on with their daily lives, you should too on your end.
Homesickness doesn’t only make you spiral down into depression, but makes you absentminded as well. Counter this by acquiring new skills and hobbies such as learning a new language, attending cooking classes, learn painting or even martial arts. Doing so will keep your brain on foot, alert, and able to retain more information. Plus, it can get you occupied and helps you create a new network of friends.
No matter how much you feel alone about being homesick, the thing is, well, you are not alone. You are not the only one who had struggled to cope up with this dilemma. Actually, there is definitely someone in your workplace, group, or club going through the same thing. Reach out and find someone who you can open up about this. Better if that person had gone through the same thing.
You need to remember that it is OK to feel bad about it. It is OK to burst in tears once in a while. Ignoring it and pretending that such trouble isn’t happening will only make things worse. You lost productivity at work, become temperamental, or worst, become self-destructive. Opening up to a person or a group doesn’t hurt.
And speaking of which…
Expatriates, foreign students, and newly migrants, in a futile attempt to deaden negativity, engage themselves in unproductive behaviors that only hurt them more in the long run. They drown themselves in alcohol, they gamble, spend so much in shopping, do dangerous and illegal pursuits, and worst of all, they resort to substance abuse.
Such endeavors only numb the pain in a short time. When they get back to being sober or on their normal routines, the emotional trouble returns and then it becomes a viscous cycle. Remember that establishing connection with other people and focusing on your positive growth as a person are the things you need to concentrate on. If you feel complete and productive as a migrant, the waves of homesickness are easier to tide on.
It doesn't matter from what industry your business is, or from which country you are, there is no escape from the problem of skills gap, and this is especially true in Australia, a country who thrives on the aggregates on its workers’ individual talent and ability.
A skills gap happens when there is a huge disparity between the skills required for the job and the actuall ability of the employee doing it. Not that the worker is inept or incompetent, it’s just he/she isn't the right person for the position. Like an ill-fitting piece of the puzzle or a cog grinding on the gears, skills gap results in loss of money, unemployment, and even closure of companies.
If you cannot obtain the right employee in your city or country, the best solution is to hire them from abroad. With the increasing globalisation, better traveling technology, and better migration policies, expatriating people to fill the skills gap has become more common. However, very few companies try to take this step as they do not know how to do it properly and legally.
This article provides a clear and concise step by step process on how you can employ staff from overseas without violating any laws or employees’ rights. The procedure can be taxing and demanding, but with the right knowledge and the right people to help you, this can be done right. And your business can continue to prosper.
Not all businesses in Australia can hire and sponsor overseas staff. As mandated by law, you are required first to meet specific conditions before you are allowed to enlist foreign workers. You need to prove that:
This step is quite complicated as it is essential. You need to closely study the type of visa suitable for your worker, lest be prepared to be entangled with issues from the Immigration Department, jeopardizing your business and your employee(s)’ record.
There are three types of sponsorship visa available, each one with different conditions and obligations:
This visa permits your sponsored skilled workers to come to Australia and work for up to four years. By law, your business is mandated to be actively and lawfully operating, as well as having no conflicting or negative information known about your business or any person associated with your business.
You may either apply to be a standard business sponsor or negotiate a labour agreement to be able to sponsor someone for a temporary work visa. For more information, you may check here.
Your employee can apply for this visa within six months after you have you nominated him or her under a 457 Temporary Work Visa. Also, the employee should be under the age of 50 at the time of application (unless exemption is granted), as well as possessing the required skills and qualifications for the position and the appropriate English language skills. You may check here for other conditions.
As an employer, you may also transition your staff from the temporary work to this visa subclass, given you satisfy the requirements of being an approved sponsor and that you are not subject to any labour agreement, as well as the adhereing to the following (but not limited to) conditions:
You may check the other requirements here.
The 187 RSMS visa is very much like the subclass 186, in function and conditions, except that this visa subclass is applicable only if you (actively and lawfully) operate a business in regional Australia, i.e. outside Gold Coast, Brisbane, Newcastle, Sydney, Wollongong or Melbourne. You are in regional Australia if your post code is listed here.
The Sponsored Occupations List (SOL) and the Consolidated Sponsored Occupations List (CSOL) is replete with hundreds upon hundreds of job titles that can sometimes create a lot of confusion among sponsors and visa applicants alike.
Are you looking for a cook with culinary degrees and substantial restaurant or hotel experience? Then you need to hire a chef, not just a cook (both occupations are in CSOL). If you hire an optometrist to deal with eye and injuries and perform surgery, you will be trouble, because that’s an ophthalmologist’s job (optometrists are limited to vision problems and corrective treatments). Also, all psychologists are psychotherapists, but not the other way around.
Australia’s immigration policies are very specific with the kind of workers it will let in the country, to the point that each one has an assigned number. And speaking of which, make sure you and your employee(s) take note and input the number as accurately as possible. A mistake even in a singular digit will land a person to the job of a plumber (334111 in CSOL) instead of the child care center manager (134111 in CSOL) he/she is originally aiming for.
Hiring people is tough work. It requires a large network of applicants and potential employees (which itself takes time to build), a knowledge of the talent market, and expertise in selecting the right person for the job. It is something you don’t do perfectly off the cuff, not to mention it is expensive. And all these challenges will double since you are looking for people across the ocean.
These are the reasons why recruitment agencies such as Manpower Hub, Internations, and Scott Recruitment exist. They know where in the world to find which type of worker, have protracted reach to pools of global candidates, and could better market your company or business as an attractive employer. Also, they save you more money since they have become more efficient in doing this thing.
After you have zeroed in on a couple of possible candidates, it is time that you look for the qualifications to be sure you can nominate them and bring them here in Australia.
For employees to be nominated for subclass 457, they must:
For visa subleases 186 and 187, employees must:
After nomination and all requirements are complete, you are now ready to sponsor your employee. For the 457 visa, you may lodge your application online here. For those who will sponsor for 186 and 187, be sure you complete the document checklist here and here, respectively. You may also lodge the application on any Department of Immigration and Border Protection (DIBP) offices. After which your employer can now apply for the visa.
All the nomination and sponsorship process can be done all by yourself. However, doing so can be time consuming, burdening, and be overly expensive. Asking advice from the inexperienced and the shady can be more dangerous, as scams and fraud migration services are everywhere, expanding the already sizable cost without going anywhere, and worse, can land you on legal issues.
Established and competent migration companies like VisaOne have experienced lawyers and migration experts that handle such visa-related inquiries, applications, nominations, and sponsorship, to make sure you maximize your money, get the job done, and no law or policy is being broken. VisaOne has been doing this for more than a decade now, granting visa to people from different countries so they can come to Australia and start a good life.
If you have any questions or clarifications regarding employee sponsorship, just leave a message below. It is free and you will get the reply immediately.
We already discussed the five things you need to do before boarding your plane to make sure your travel is convenient and less of a hassle. And even by that is not complete, as air travel is littered with inaccurate information that considered many as life-saving truths. While trivial things that can have life and death consequences gets buried.
Here, we busted the myths and unearth the life-saving tips for your peace of mind and pleasure.
Contrary to what you believe, the scariest part of the plane travel is not when you are at the highest and the buildings below look like Lego blocks. It is in the few minutes when the plane is taking off and landing on the ground.
These are the moments when the plane is closest to the ground, requires the most maneuvering by the pilots, and most fatal accidents happen. It is in this window of time when you should be wary the most and follow the instructions. When the plane gets into the air, it is the computer that mostly does the job.
Bermuda Triangle is that region in the North Atlantic Ocean where many ships and airplanes have reportedly gone missing under still unknown circumstances (mostly attributed to paranormal and extraterrestrial causes). So it is only logical that airplanes completely avoid this area, right? Come on, we cannot let these aliens take more lives.
Well first, the missing reports are highly sensationalized and exaggerated. And second, planes never avoid this area unlike what you always hear. Aircrafts and ships have been passing the Bermuda Triangle for decades without much incidents. The 1,800-mile detour is not worth it.
Again, contrary to what you’ve heard, your iPad cannot actually remotely mess up the flight control (old school laptops in the past can, however). But these and other electronic devices should be kept or stored, not just turned off, during take-off and landing because they can fly around and act as deadly projectiles in case something happens during these dangerous moments. You don’t want to risk getting hit in the head by a 20-inch HP Pavilion Dragon darting in at 200 miles per hour, do you?
Before the 1990’s, people are allowed light up a puff during the flight, but it has stopped since then (it took them two decades before realizing secondhand smoke in an enclosed cylinder 20,000 feet from the ground is actually a health hazard), but ashtrays are still a legal requirement in airplane comfort rooms. If broken, the law mandates it to be replaced within 10 days.
But no, it’s so you could ignite a roll in secret. It is so the crew can have a place to put out the cigarette in case some hardhead decides to smoke. Putting them in trash bins could start the fire and throwing them in the toilet can cause clogging. So ashtrays are the way to go.
You are tired and only wants to catch a nap, but the attendant insists your seat should be on the most uncomfortable position possible to man: upright. Because, well, the plane is taking off.
Again, this goes to the most hazardous moments during the flight. In case things go wrong, an upright and locked seat will allow more space for people to get out on the shortest time possible. Also, a reclining and unlock seat can act as a catapult that can throw you forward during an accident, which is fatal. Getting slingshot in the air is fun during lake parties. Inside a plane? Not much.
If Carl the captain gets a braised beef with asparagus and tartar sauce from First Class, Mike, his co-pilot, needs to make do with the brisket chili and cheese from Business, no matter how likes the same meal as Carl. No, Mike isn’t under reprimand and being punished, it is a rule most airline will impose to avoid a case of food poisoning for both aviators (both is the operative word here).
They can only afford to have one pilot to be incapacitated, as the other can still manage to fly the plane and do an emergency landing. Both navigators going down will literally take the plane with them.
Lightning can burn forests, incinerate houses, and smolder Iron Man. But can they crash airplanes? Not really.
Decades of aviation technology have discovered ways to protect planes from Thor’s wrath by wrapping the jets with aluminum (or any other composite material) to conduct electricity and let it travel on the plane’s surface, while keeping the insides (read: people) insulated. The last time an aircraft crashed due to Zeus’ bolt was in 1967. These days, planes respond with an alarming "meh.”
No matter how drunk or bored you are and how fun it could be, NEVER point a laser to an airbcraft. It can be fatal for the passengers and it can land you in jail. We are not even discussing about the high-powered ones they use in NASA. We are talking about those pocket-sized novelty pointers lecturers and rave party goers prefer.
You see, planes use Plexiglass in their windows to maximize incoming light (helps a lot during night travel). The concentrated light from these miniscule pointers, no matter how weak they could look like, can become overly blinding and disorienting to pilots once it passes through the glass. Because of the dangers it could bring, FBI offers $10,000-rewards for information leading to laser-related arrests. Yes, you’ll be hunted down like a serial killer because you think pointing lasers to helicopters is cool.
What is the dirtiest part of your office table? That’s right. Your keyboard. And you are the only one using it. And you get to clean it regularly. Imagine something being used by hundreds upon hundreds of people from all over the world to place their food, things, and dirty napkins, with little maintenance. Yupp. You just environed the airplane tray.
The tray is a constant home to 2,155 germ colony–forming units per square inch, which probably involve E.coli, salmonella, and molds i.e. the usual suspects for food poisoning. Wipe the tray first with alcohol or sanitizing gel before using, and do not let it directly contact your food. Use a plate or mat instead.
Choosing the country to live in for the rest of your life isn’t always easy. You need to consider the health care, the quality of life, the standard of living, and the weather, among others.
Australia has been a prime destination for international skilled talent and partners for decades. Those who have already obtained citizenship rarely think about going back to their home country and just choose to retire in the Land Down Under.
What are the reasons behind the charm of this country? We outlined some of them for your careful consideration.
The Australian Health Care system, private and public, are amongst the best in the world. As a resident, you have access to thousands of well-trained doctors and the most technologically advanced facilities in the world.
Regulated by the Department of Health and funded by both state and federal entities, the Australian health care is a two-pronged system made up of the public and private health sector.
The public system is being taken care of by Medicare which allows access to GP (general practitioners) and hospital services. It provides financial assistance so that Australians can have low cost, if not free, access to medical and hospital care. The private system provides access to a private treatment in either a public or private hospital or specialist services.
The health care system enables citizens to have access to a wide range of services. In public hospitals, these include acute and moderately-acute care services, geriatric care for old people, and palliative care for patients with serious illness, care for people with terminal illnesses, and emergency services.
Australia has an average life expectancy of 80.3 years for males and 84.4 years for females. There are only less than ten countries whose life expectancy goes above 80. This is the result of many positive factors that revolve around Australian life. The country is also ranked as one of the happiest countries on Earth in terms of health, civic engagements, and housing.
With a Global Peace Index Score of 1.425, Australia is ranked 12th as the most peaceful country in the world. The index focused on major factors such as militarisation, society & security and domestic & international conflict.
Since Australia has a subtropical climate, and sometimes straddle between continental and cool grassland temperatures, you will experience a comfortable range of seasons that are not as harsh as Europe or the Americas.
The overall temperature is friendly, inviting, and gets you in the mood for outdoor physical activities. The sun is also very abundant here, which means more vitamin D and better health effects for you as you take a walk, jog, or even run outside while enjoying picturesque views, which in turn also lowers stress levels.
And lastly, it is all about the human factor. It is always great to be in a place where people are friendly, warm, and will treat you as one of them. The Lucky Country is such. Australia runs on an egalitarian principle. People will treat you based not on your gender, ethnicity, or age, but on your character.
If you are worried because you are a foreigner, remember that the country was built through a consistent flow of migration, and there are thousands upon thousands of migrants here fitting in and enjoying their lives in the country. The spirit of mateship, a cultural idiom that embodies and promotes equality, loyalty and friendship, will assure that you will not be treated as something less as long as you deal with others with respect and politeness, too.
*Legal Disclaimer: Please note that this article is for general information only. Always seek professional legal advice in regards to your situation as every situation is different. Immigration legislation changes regularly and thus always, get up-to-date advice on your situation. Lodging a visa application is a judicial process and is based on the quality of legal advice and legal representation you receive. It is illegal for any Migration Agent or Lawyer to guarantee 100% of a positive result as it is a judicial process.
Aside from being a haven for migrants and expatriates, Australia is also a prime destination for students from around the globe. And it only makes sense, the country cradles some of the best universities in the world, plus a whole lot of other perks and advantages.
But we have to admit, the life of a foreign student here is never straightforward. It is laden with surprises (“We can drink tap water here?!), disappointments (“I thought it’s always beach season here.”), and culture shocks (“I volunteered to take the wheel aaand it’s right-hand drive!”). But fear not. We have gathered the things every aspiring foreign learner needs to know before if they want to set foot here and get their precious degree from the Land Down Under.
The Student visa (subclass 500) allows you to come and stay here in Australia to study full-time until your course is finished. However, you need first to be accepted in a recognised education institution in the country before you may apply for the visa. And a forewarning: it can be expensive.
We understand, you miss mom and dad, and your BFF needs to see that tropical henna you got, but consuming your entire day communicating and updating people from home is a no-no. Australia is teeming with people, places, and things to be discovered.
So go outside, meet people, join clubs, create your network, eat Aussie food, and explore the places. Australia is a free-market place of (purely legal) activities. You can update your family and friends under five minutes (that’s what social media is for), then get out. It’s an exciting world out there. Within these are hidden opportunities you may never find again when you get back to your country. So don’t waste time. Carpe diem!
And since you are already out...
We know, we know. A few days in Australia, especially in bigger cities, brings out the inner child from people. What with the cool atmosphere and the quirky architectures and… is that a living statue? Better take a picture with it!
Despite the ultra-low crime rate, some pick pockets still roam in the crowds here. So be alert, ditch the souvenir t-shirt and the digital camera hanging on your neck, and stop zoning out. You don’t want to have that precious allowance be a goner.
And speaking of allowance…
Australia fosters independence and resourcefulness among its youth, which is why it gives foreign students the opportunity to work while studying. However, you can only start working once your course has commenced. You will be allowed to work for 40 hours per fortnight (fortnight = 2 weeks) if your course is in session. If not, you can work for as long as you want. Employment that is a registered part of your course won’t be part of this 40 hour-limit. So yes, you will have a lot of options coming.
Most likely than not, you have a bank account in your country. Get this, withdrawing them here in Oz can get you ridiculous amount of fees. Opening a bank account can be more practical, especially if you want to be employed and earn some side cash. Not to mention, some banks here offer considerable interest rates, all while saving you from a lot of banking fees.
Back home, getting a D on your card means you have to rethink your life of partying and skipping classes, probably while having a drink or two. Here in Oz, receiving a D means your hard work paid off and it’s a reason to be happy, probably while also having a drink or two (there is always a reason to drink, doesn't it).
A grade of D means “Distinction,” and is equivalent to an A in other countries. Other grades include (in descending order) C or Cr for Credit, P for Pass, PC for Pass Conceded, and N for Fail, which are respectively equivalent for B, C, C-, D, and F. Anything higher than D is HD, for High Distinction.
Students from the United States and Canada will come here during June expecting to see a lot of sun and warm weather, thus bringing only their loosest clothes and sandals. And alas! They are greeted by a chilly winter.
If you are from the northern hemisphere, anticipate Australia’s seasons to be a complete reversal. The warmest months are from December to February (during summer) while the coldest are June to August (winter season). And this gets more complicated depending on wherever you are in the country. Likewise, never rely too much on the weather forecast. Be ready for anything.
If you just landed here and excited to see the Sydney Opera House, the Great Barrier Reef, and Ayers Rock within your first year (they sure would look great in a single Instagram collage), then we need to tell you to quit that fantasy.
Most people live here all their lives and never visited all of them. Because Australia is huge, and there’s no way to exaggerate it. It takes a lot of money and time to visit these one by one. Unless you have lots of disposable income, then it would be possible. Slightly.
Unlike in the United States, Canada, or much of Europe, Australians still hold on to their coins. They never relegate them to be just stuck between cushions and be forgotten. That’s because the one and two Australian dollar denominations are still in form of loose change.
And what can these coins buy? A liter of gasoline (AU$1.28), a kilo of potatoes (AU$3.14), a liter of whole milk (AU$1.38), a kilo of apples (AU$4.00), or a piece of bread for a day for two people (AU$2.22). Losing these metal currency means wasting the money that can buy you everyday things.
Each year, hundreds of thousands of hopeful workers from around the world vie to be employed in Australia, have their visa, settle in, and establish a good and stable life. It is every migrant’s dream. However, you need to be noticed and employed first before this aspiration rolls on. And that starts with the curriculum vitae.
As we have mentioned before, your CV is your first chance to get your future employers’ (or the Human Resources', for that matter) attention. Much like in products and services, it is your advertisement. You do it wrong and you forever lose the chance of making a deal.
You only get a singular chance to make an impression. It better count. Follow these tips that everybody seems to neglect when writing a curriculum vitae, and then you can start walking the road to a better life.
Here is what every job hunter’s order of business looks like: Write CV. Print multiple copies. Send them to prospective companies. Scratch head wondering why he/she doesn’t get a call. Believe it or not, there is no mystery there. Once you start thinking that a single CV will be acceptable to all companies, then expect to get ignored.
Much like your suit/dress is tailored to your size and shape, your curriculum vitae must also be adjusted to each company you are gunning for. Sit down and read the company’s values, mission, and vision statements, take a look at the words they use, and customize your paper according to those. Each employer is looking for a person who will fit to its established goals and culture, and you need to sell yourself as that person.
But no, do not copy statements directly off their Mission and Vision declaration. You will sound pretentious and insincere. And that’s a turn off.
It is a wonder that people still bother including objectives. That much is very clear the moment you send your CV. You need a job. Period. What companies want to know, however, is what you can do. That is where your executive summary will come in.
An executive summary is your elevator pitch printed on paper. It contains a gist of what you are good at and what value it can provide to the company, all listed in three to five sentences. If your curriculum vitae is a TV show, this is the opening scene. If the audience (your prospects) don’t like it, they will switch to another channel (the next applicant).
Do not litter your summary with vague and cliché descriptions like “Self-motivated, organized, and excellent in multi-tasking,” they have seen that on the previous fifty resumes before yours. Instead, be specific. “Account Manager with a degree in Business Management and experience in sales and marketing” is a better description. It tells something about yourself and what worth you can give to the employer. Throw in your most substantial work-related achievements and work ethics and you have got the big bosses hooked.
It is easy to spot the first time applicants by the way they refer to themselves. They use pronouns. And nothing turns a good curriculum vitae sour than pronouns. You need to be streamlined and unambiguous in your descriptions, so you better take it off.
Logically, using third person pronouns are out of the question (it sounds weird and you are not the Rock), but you shouldn’t use “I” either. Your descriptions, whether it is about your qualifications, trainings, and values, should begin with a verb or (rarely) an adjective for them to be firm and straight to the point:
Has a degree in Psychology…
Develops computer programs for entrepreneurs…
Responsible for arranging financial reports…
Notice also that they come in singular form and in present tense, unless of course the description stated refers to a specific accomplishment in the past that has a profound positive effect to the company, then you use the past tense.
And speaking of accomplishments…
Say what you will, but accomplishments are the most prized part of your curriculum vitae. This part proves that you are not just an item on the company’s payroll, but someone who actually turns the lever and moves the wheels. So you better write them correctly or you are wasting a good opportunity.
You use the Result by Action format. It simply means you list the achievement (result) followed by the method(s) you used.
Generated 150% increase in sales quota (result) by targeting more densely populated territories (action).
Lead the acquisition of related business entities (result) by developing policies that mutually adhere to the companies’ interests (action).
Structured a teaching curriculum (result) by conducting an intensive academic study on freshman students (action).
It shows that you are the employee that provides solution to the company’s challenges and you are producing results.
You know why Facebook’s Timeline design is successful and engaging? Because it focuses on the current things you do, what you are into, what you have for lunch… etc. Then it threads on the past and less important occurrences as you scroll down.
Its structure follows a reverse chronological order, where the latest period comes first followed by the older ones. Your curriculum vitae should be written in the same manner, too. It lets the employer take a look on what you’ve been up to recently. Are you currently working? Attending school? Starting a business? Remember when it comes to employment, time is relevancy. What you are doing in the previous month impacts more what you can offer to the company than, say, your status a year ago.
Also, this format provides a clue of what your future boss thinks is next for you. Are you up for a higher position? Do you need to expand your specialization? The possibilities are endless. And unless you are a fresh graduate, you also need to place your educational background at the bottom. We understand you are proud of dear alma mater, but it won’t make much bearing on your application.
This we cannot stress enough. You have gone out of High School (or College) and now ready to face the professional world. Your days of getting immersed in the World of Warcraft twelve hours a day has ended. Competing with thousands upon thousands of other applicants and/or clients is the real game now. That being said, there’s no reason for your email address to be soulcutter_megablade_1177@hotmail.com (or worse, something laden with sexual innuendos).
Look, your email address is a means of contact. The Human Resource will take note of that. Be sure it is appropriate and emanates professionalism. Leave the silly, suggestive, innuendo-filled names to your Counter Strike: Go account.
Create an email address solely for job applications. Use your first and last name. Avoid using underscores (_) and limit the use of numbers. If you can’t obtain an address with your name, experiment by including your middle initial and/or your job title, like in JohnSReedWriter@gmail.com.
You email address is your brand. It’s something people will associate with you. Be the person that should be taken seriously. Start with your email address.
If you are like most of us, you probably ditched the idea of going from office to office to hand out your CV and instead send virtual copies of applications online. If that's so, you are probably are among the thousands who carelessly just named their CV file name resume.doc. Big mistake.
You see, much like your executive summary and email address, your CV’s final name can also make or break your chance of getting noticed. If you simply named your curriculum vitae, well, curriculumvitae.doc, you are among the one-third of applicant who do that, and there’s a big chance your application will be lost among the similarly and generically named ones.
Use your name on your file name so you can be indexed and found easily among huge batch of files. Or better yet, include your title or the position you are vying for like in RachelLee_CV_OperationsManager.doc (you may use underscores and dashes). For someone who sorts through gazillions of applications each day, your file name will provide a relief since it already tells them who you are.
Also, avoid using version numbers on your CV, like in MelissaCruz11.doc. Your boss will think there are ten more which probably went to the ten other companies in the building. You are not giving a good impression with that.
We already gave you a glimpse of how amazing, bizarre, and challenging Australia’s day to day foods are. But not all of Aussie cuisine is as quirky as those. Some are ranked among the world’s finest, sought by foodies, chefs, and tourists from around the globe.
Also, they cost three months’ worth of rent and/or a lifetime of savings.
Here are seven of Australia’s world class and highly regarded fares that challenge not only your inner food critic but also your ability to explain to your bank why you maxed out your credit card in single night.
newsusauk.com
For the same amount you can get: Four bottles of imported beer
Cost of the regular variety: $2.00 (homemade)
Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. You have fasted for six to eight hours already and your body is aching for fuel. You definitely can’t miss it. Unless of course you are stuck inside the Sydney Opera House then you will be forced to think with your wallet and doubt the scientific validity of that claim.
This is because Bennelong’s Five Cheese Truffle Toastie might be your only option, and it costs $22.00. Considered to be the most expensive of its kind, the budget-busting toast you could make at home in under five minutes for less than two bucks consists of five kinds of cheese from different parts of Australia. These are C2 cheddar, Heidi Gruyère, ricotta, mozzarella, and l'Artisan Mountain Man. That last one reportedly smells awful (or you know, like a mountain man), but they still think the price is justifiable. And they also threw in black truffles for good measure. And the best part, you can guzzle it inside the prestigious Opera House. You are actually paying for the ambiance, too.
coffinbayoysterfarm.com.au
For the same amount you can get: A pair of business leather shoes
Cost of the regular variety: $20.00 a dozen
These oysters were not called king for nothing. The Coffin King Oysters are being sold for a hundred bucks per piece due to their massive size and incredible flavor. While the regular sort only has 12 grams of meat max, the Coffin Bay variety has 100 grams of luscious seafood flesh.
Also, the factor of time comes into play, as they need to wait for six years before these shellfish can grow to Incredible Hulk proportion versus the 18 months for the common breed, making them the cognac of oysters.
Like most pricey ingredients, these oysters are targeted by high-end restaurants because of the size and quality of meat. Given with these establishments’ reputation to amplify meal prices by adding a few more exotic ingredients, you can only imagine how much the final product will cost.
For the same amount you can get: A month of electricity, heating, water, and Internet service.
Cost of the regular variety: $15.00 (Outback Steakhouse sirloin and shrimp)
Aside from ultra-modern gadgets and the love of anime, Japan is well-known for its succulent and extravagant cattle meat such as Kobe and Wagyu beef. In this tradition comes the Mishima beef. Also a breed of Wagyu, Mishima is highly sought because it is pure bred i.e. never cross-bred with western cattle unlike Kobe.
But those who delight Mishima meat need not to travel to the Land of the Rising Sun anymore, as Aussie farmer David Blackmore already brought the cattle here and raised them in what could be the only Mishima farm outside Japan.
Rockpool Bar and Grill then took it to the next level by having them dry-aged, bringing out the flavor and taste of the beef further. Such process is quite expensive as well, thus incrementing the final price to $190 for 350 grams of meat.
timeout.com
For the same amount you can get: A Samsung Galaxy Tab 4
Cost of the regular variety: $8.00 (regular bag)
Climate change is bringing a lot of bad things: rising sea levels, drought, and meteorological disasters, among many. But ironically, what alarmed the world the most is the impending extinction of chocolate. We don’t know if this dire forecast is Boon Chocolates’ reason to jack up their prices to stratospheric levels, but one thing is for sure, it sells.
Popular during the Valentine’s seasons, the Harana bag lets you take home some of their succulent products encased in a bag entirely made of chocolate, all for $299. The name comes from the Filipino-style of serenading sweethearts, because apparently a chocolate bag containing more chocolates inside can now be equated to undying passion and commitment.
You can’t just enter the shop and grab one, however. You need to call and pre-order two weeks prior, because these things don’t grow on trees. They take time to fashion and develop. You know, like love.
dailytelegraph.com.au
For the same amount you can get: A seven-day European tour by boat
Cost of the regular variety: $1,000 per kilo (Sturgeon Black Caviar)
Caviar is one of those foods that are pretty much relegated to the fancy, people who brew coffee beans from the far end of the world and probably drive luxury cars. So it is no mystery that its value can reach a thousand dollars or two only so you can have something black and salty on your otherwise pale blinis.
But for a price that will get you half a year of rent on downtown Sydney, it becomes ridiculous. Introducing, Gourmet Life’s Beluga Caviar, a delicate and buttery roe obtained from beluga sturgeon. But these aren’t any beluga sturgeon, they have to be at least 25 years old before they can be considered ripe enough to give ten-grand roe. As with any food, the factor of time heavily compounds the caviar prices.
It is so exquisite, you should never eat it with a metal spoon. As the metallic taste it leaves on ruins the flavor of the roe. The best utensil to use? A spoon made from mother of pearl.
lorddudley.com.au
For the same amount you can get: A 2013 Chevrolet Spark
Cost of the regular variety: $22.00 (Beef Pot Pie at The Glenmore)
Pies are the Swiss knives of the gastronomical world. You can just put whatever inside them and still look edible and enjoyable: meat, fish, seafood, veggies, fruits, and nuts, name it. The guys at The Lord Dudley Hotel in Paddington, Sydney thought of this (probably) and said, “Let’s make a pie with all of our priciest stuff inside. They won’t complain.”
And so they did.
Recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records as the most expensive pie, the Posh Pie contains two cuts of wagyu beef, two whole West Australian rock lobsters, rare Winter Black truffles, two bottles of Penfolds Grange Reserve, and German gold leaf, because all expensive foods need to come with a golf leaf somewhere. The finished product has a price tag of a measly $12,000.
And if you think you can share the pie and therefore split the gargantuan bill, we’re sorry to tell you that each pie is good for one person only. Yes. Get ready to spiral down into debt.
modernisticdesign.blogspot.com
For the same amount you can get: A Volkswagen Golf 1.4 90 KW Trendline for you and five of your friends.
Cost of the regular variety: $14.00 (Penfolds Koonunga Hill Cabernet Sauvignon)
You could expect the most expensive nourishment out there to be a lavish meal fit to feed two to four person and will fill you with satisfaction and satiety. But no, the most excessively costly food in this list is well, a bottle of liquid.
The 2004 Kalimna Block 42 Cabernet Sauvignon, comes only in a limited edition of 12 bottles. The red wine is made by Penfolds, one of Australia’s very few established wine makers (they make the wine for our Posh Pie up there). It is so rare, it has to come with its own cabinet, as they realized you have already blown too much money for the wine itself for you to build a decent casing. The sauvignon is sealed in an airtight hand-blown glass ampoule fashioned into a shape of a plumb bob, an ancient device used by builders to determine a vertical line. The vial is then suspended inside the timber cabinet.
All in all, four expert master artisans collaborated to create the entire casing. The wine is described to have “an ethereal dimension,” and “extraordinarily perfumed with layer upon layer of flavor.” In 2005, a U.S. wine critic gave it 100 points out of 100.
A perfectly-tasting wine encased in masterly-crafted cabinet worth a hundred grand, it definitely is the most valuable thing of its size you will ever have in your collection, until you stumble upon the Ark of the Covenant, of which will probably only slightly outprice the red wine.
Congratulations! You just got your Australian Permanent Residency visa. And the first thing you want to do is get a piece of property because come on, you are now eligible and you totally deserve it. So you went to an open house, checked the kitchen area and the coastal view from the window, and you’re sold. You signed the papers and moved in.
Then you realized only two out of the fourteen sockets works, and the shower won’t even give you warm water. You ended up with electricity and plumbing cost piling higher than Mount Kosciuszko.
What went wrong? You did your research and the seller is very honest in assuring you that everything is working. Well, for one, you didn’t do your homework well enough. There are some minor inspection tasks that people often neglect to do that resulted to big expenses and even bigger headaches.
So the next time you look for a new house or apartment, do these five things.
Since mankind left the caves and jumped to modern and civilized housing, it has only two basic needs, water and electricity. But it is still a mystery why movers neglect to take a look at these things when shopping for a new home.
During house visits, see if your prospective domicile has enough wall outlets to handle all your appliances and electrical devices (read: smart phones), or if there is enough in every room. Also, you may bring a multi meter or any portable electrical device to test the outlets. It could be an electric shaver or a portable lamp. Plugging in your smart phone is not really advisable, unless you can afford to lose it in a fit of short circuit or over voltage.
And while you are at it, turn on all the faucets to see if it’s working and if the volume of water is well enough. Inspect also for the water’s clarity, any discoloration, or presence of small debris or particles.
You don’t want to be in a situation where your marriage gets endangered because you and your spouse have to fight over that sole working outlet because your respective tablets need some juice.
While you are surveying down the walls looking for outlets, you might as well lock up and examine the windows. Do they open? Are they stuck? Can you securely close them? Windows are sources of natural light and ventilation and are important components to your safety. A pane that you can’t easily open and/or can't be firmly close is a hazard to your well-being.
And here’s the thing: replacing dysfunctional windows can be super costly and would take a lot of time and effort. You measure the holes, shop for replacements, follow the city’s building and safety codes, get professional help, pay for all of these, and so on. An inexpensive place with broken windows will slap you with repair and maintenance costs that cancels out the bargain that you thankfully got. It is not really worth it after all.
Always remember, when you buy/get a property, the neighborhood comes with the package. A beautiful villa with half the price situated in an area replete with altercations from inebriated people isn’t really beautiful at all. And sometimes the landlord/property agent will try to sell the house to you, a clueless stranger, by overblowing the features and benefits while trivializing these deal breakers.
The neighbors, on the other hand, will always offer the raw details. These are people who had gotten over the first impression atmosphere already and will not hold back on spilling the hidden flaws. So politely strike a conversation (Australians are always open to chats, even from random blokes) and ask a few questions about the neighborhood. How’s the noise level in the area? Any parking areas around? How many gas stations, restaurants, and shops are around? What’s the frequency of the rent increase? How’s the general safety in the area? And so on.
The neighbor’s collective opinion and observation will provide a feel of the life in your new place without having to spend two weeks there only to find out that the Williams and the Browns engage in a shouting contest every night because they don't get along very well, at which point, you can’t get out of the contract anymore.
And while we are on the topic of the contract…
“I AGREE” is probably the biggest lie in the Internet. We scroll down past the Terms and Conditions section composed of strings of legal patois and technical concepts so we can just click the Agree button and call it a day. This habit might work in the Internet (you can just uninstall that app or return the product if you want). But in buying/renting properties, this will get you in trouble.
Hidden within the fine print of the lease agreement are details that can mess up your stay, your money, or even your legal safety if you are too much in a hurry to get the ink on the papers.
When reading the leases, zero in on addresses and the contact numbers, who manages the property, and which property is being leased. It should also specify the monthly rent and the amount of the security deposit, the date when a rent payment is considered late, and what the penalties are. It should also indicate the minimum and maximum length of your stay, who is responsible for the repairs, and who settles which utility fee.
Remember, when problems arise and lawsuits get thrown between parties, the lease stands in court as evidence, and will either be your shield or deathtrap.
And we mean the damages that you found the day before you get the property. Do this while the landlord is walking you through the house. Inspect every wall, every ceiling, every nook and cranny, check for peeling paint or wallpapers, worn out carpet, stains and burns on the counters and cabinets, leakages, rust, moldings, and water damages (and yes, including that dysfunctional window pane if you pushed for it). Take pictures of them and document them into paper with the date included in which you and your landlord will sign on both. This will protect you from deposit troubles in which the landlord will charge you for pre-existing damages and keep your installment.
For the images, make sure the date is imbedded on your camera/phone, as this can never edited. Another trick is upload them on your email and send them to yourself on the same day, as date stamps on email can never be altered. Uploading them on social media is not really advisable as they are visible to other people and might be negatively interpreted.
These contingency plans will prove that such flaws have existed before you moved in, and that you are not liable for them. They can be burdensome to do, but you will be thankful once your contract expires and your landlord attempts to rip you off.
Australian citizens and permanent residents can be eligible to sponsor their partner for an Australian Partner Visa under the following subclasses:
You must meet the following requirements to be able to sponsor your partner:
Only Australian citizens, permanent residents and eligible New Zealand citizens can sponsor their partners for an Australian Partner Visa.
Your relationship must be genuine, continuing and ongoing. You must be living with your partner or, if you aren’t living together, any separation must only be temporary.
For married applicants, marriage must be valid under Australian law (which recognises marriages in other countries, as long as it is a legally recognised marriage in the country get married in).
Underage and polygamous marriages are not legal in Australia. Same-sex couples can apply for a Partner Visa under de facto grounds, as Australia does not yet have legalised same-sex marriages.
Those who are in a de facto relationship must prove that their relationship has been ongoing for at least 12 months before applying for a partner visa. Immigration will not count any time spent during the “dating period” as time towards your relationship as a committed couple.
Please note there are exemptions to the 12-month rule. To find out more about them, you can read our blog about the 12-month relationship myth here https://visaone.com.au/the-12-month-relationship-myth-partner-visas/
If this is the case, then the Prospective Marriage Visa (Subclass 300) is applicable to you. This nine-month temporary visa will give your fiancé time to come to Australia and marry you. Then after you are both married, you can apply here for a subclass 820 Partner Visa and proceed to permanent residency in Australia.
If you have sponsored a previous partner in the last 5 years, or you have been sponsored yourself in the past by an Australian Citizen or Permanent resident, then there are restrictions that will apply to you that will generally prohibit you from sponsoring someone during this period.
There are always exceptions to the rule, so depending on your circumstances, you may need some proper advice before sponsoring your partner on a Partner Visa.
Australia has introduced very strict legislation in relation to child offenders, so if this applies to you, make sure to seek advice before proceeding with a Partner Visa.
*Legal Disclaimer: Please note that this article is for general information only. Always seek professional legal advice in regards to your situation as every situation is different. Immigration legislation changes regularly and thus always, get up-to-date advice on your situation. Lodging a visa application is a judicial process and is based on the quality of legal advice and legal representation you receive. It is illegal for any Migration Agent or Lawyer to guarantee 100% of a positive result as it is a judicial process.
We’ve all been warned about the changes that will happen when moving to a foreign land. You will meet new friends, learn new languages, and try different foods; you know, all those stuff your expatriate friends and relatives keep telling you. But along the way, there will be these tiny occurrences that will barrel your way and sucker punch you into mild depression and a progressing case of “I want to go home.”
We are here to talk about those life-changing experiences which everybody think are too trivial to talk about.
When moving to another country, you will only feel two emotions: excitement and fear. And you will entertain and juggle these two while on your six-hour plane trip (“I can finally visit the Forbidden Palace and order authentic Chinese foo… wait, I don’t know Chinese!.”). But upon setting your foot on the new land up to your first three months living there, the third (and evil) sibling of these emotions will rear its ugly head: hate.
And no, you don’t hate because you are far away from home and you are stuck in this alien life for good or other huge changes you’re having. You feel irritated and exasperated because of the small inconveniences that comes to you on a non-stop, daily basis. Whether it’s the fact that they serve pineapple and beetroot on your burger; or most of the restaurants won’t accept credit cards, or hey, is that milk on sealed plastic bag? Really, guys? It never ends. And it piles up.
And you can’t do anything to change that. Back home, you just take a deep breath , walk away, and find an alternative. In your new country, it’s the universal rule. And you have to deal with it.
People will play this "moving abroad" thing down, so we will give an analogy to illustrate what it really feels like: Your homeland is like your bedroom. It’s where everything is familiar and comfortable. Moving abroad is like going to your new job or your new school where everybody doesn’t know you and is not really enthusiastic on helping you feel at home.
Consider having this feeling on a daily basis. You will learn to think on your feet, get creative, and improvise. Your senses are constantly sharp (“What is the Serbian-speaking guy trying to tell me? Oh, my chair’ is stabbing his toes!”), and surprises, whether good or bad, are staples of everyday life (“What do you mean you didn’t save our payroll before the system crashed?”).
Yes, there’s always adrenaline rush. Routine becomes an alien concept. Waking up means dealing again with a dozen of different emotions all at the same time. And here’s the catch: it is addictive.
Danish philosopher Søren Kierkegaard once said “Adversity is what brings people together.” We don’t know much about him, but we are pretty sure he hasn’t lived abroad, otherwise that quote would look different. When you are in a completely unfamiliar territory, your compatibility with a fellow countrymen increases by 300% even if they are complete strangers. It doesn’t matter how huge your differences are i.e. they are weird, your age gap is big, your industry is unrelated, they love DC and you worship Marvel, etc, you will be huge BFFs, at least for the time being.
You will exchange stories from back at home, share your discontent about your adaptive country, talk about life, work, and dreams comfortably like you have known each other since kindergarten years whereas you only exchanged glances three minutes ago.
The surge of endorphins is no illusion. You are away from home, confused, exhausted, and ready to spiral down to depression with a slight push. Seeing someone who thinks, feels, and perceives the same way as you do on a cultural level is what your psyche is aching for to maintain sanity. You need that newfound countryman in your life. Thus the sudden establishment of connection, comfortability, and compatibility.
That cricket-induced (the sports variety) mass hysteria in your country that you can’t even understand? You won’t see that in the US. You only occasionally dig McDonald’s fried chicken? Good luck seeing that in Japan. You always tip huge to show your gratitude? No need for that in Australia (OK, you will probably enjoy that even more).
The thing is, the almost negligible details that completes the intimate and convenient picture of home will be missing in your new country. This provides the feeling of unfamiliarity, or worse, inconveniences that lead to our item number one. You might not be into cricket, but the mania that follows it disrupts what could be a routine and boring day back home. In the United States, you have to find other disruptions. The same goes with craving for fried chicken in Japan. You can find that in KFC stores three city blocks away (Japan isn’t really big in fast food). It suddenly gives rise to inconvenience. You might not care about something back home, but you actually need it to go on with your day.
If the above case is bad, consider if the thing you miss is something you really, really love. And most of the time, nostalgia hits you on the most inconvenient time and place. Just a sight or smell of a favorite food or a sample tune of favorite song will flood you with memories of family and friends back home.
Technological connectivity and social media does not make it easier either. Yes, it will allow you to follow on what’s happening back home, bringing you closer to them, but it also shows how far and inaccessible you are. “We are having a Christmas feast here in the Philippines. How’s Hanukkah over there?”
Nostalgia is bittersweet. Either you love it or you hate. You deal with it for good. It will be a part of you once you set your foot outside the land. And yes, even when you come back. It’s because…
That’s right. Given that you have lived abroad for a considerable amount of time, things will go full circle. You have become comfortable with you adoptive country that you become a foreigner on your homeland. Suddenly, everybody is driving on the right side again (“I need to return to the UK!”), the chopsticks are wooden again (“Korea, take me back!”), you frown on splitting the bill (“Thanks for institutionalizing me, France.”), and you are carrying a bunch of dinars on a dollar-using country. The list goes on.
And every time you see a native of your expatriation country, you feel the urge to spend half of the day with them because working abroad made you confusing.
But these are not weird after all. They are all signs of reverse culture shock (yes, there is such a thing). The feeling of distress experienced upon re-entry to your country. We human beings are formed by evolution to adapt to which ever land we are on. The fact that you are experiencing shock means you have accustomed quite well with your expatriation country. So celebrate and enjoy that smoked yogurt soft served ice cream, because welcome back to Australia!