Taking the biggest step - the story of my international experience and why you should do it too!

Desde Edimburgo hasta Madrid - my journey to the land of sangria, paella and Salsa!

Making the decision to spend an extended period of time away from home is never easy - there's a lot to consider! Things such as, 'What if I can't adapt to the culture?', 'What if I don't like living there but I can't go home?' and 'What if I don't make any friends?' were some of my main worries when I was moving abroad. 

I was born and raised in a small village in Fife called Auchtermuchty, home to the Proclaimers (the twins that brought you that infamous chant about walking 500 miles and then 500 more just to be the man who... you know the one!) and a place where nothing exciting ever happens! I spent the majority of my childhood running muddy-wellied across fields and through forests, and if you'd told me then what I'd have done by the time I was 22, I'd probably have laughed you right out of town!

I moved to The Big City when I was 18 to come to study at Heriot Watt University. Even though it was only an hours' drive across the Firth of Forth, it was still a big deal. I'd never lived away from home before and I was so used to being a country bumpkin that the thought of living in such a bustling and busy city liked Edinburgh really scared me!

I had chosen to study Spanish Translation, which meant that during my third year I was going to be living abroad as part of the ERASMUS programme - which, if you haven't heard of it, is an EU exchange programme which allows thousands of students from across the EU to study abroad for an academic year! 

When the time came for me to choose where I wanted to go, I decided to choose Madrid. I'd done my research, spoken to other students who'd previously gone there and realised that it was the best choice for me. The city offered me everything I needed - culture, restaurants & bars, entertainment and a buzzing nightlife, as well as quick transport routes to the university and an airport with direct flights across Europe for travelling at weekends and during holidays!

I decided that before I moved there, I should probably go across for a weekend mini-break and scope it out beforehand. So in April 2014, I went to Madrid for the first time. My emotions were flying - would I like it? Could I see myself living there? Was it going to be everything I was hoping for?

The answer to those questions? YES! The moment I stepped out of the metro station in Puerta del Sol, I knew I was right where I was supposed to be. The architecture was beautiful, the sun was shining and there was even a Mariachi band playing nearby (which I later learned are there almost every night!). During my first trip to Madrid I did all the tourist routes from the Royal Palace, along Gran Vía and down to Retiro park, as well as looking at a couple of apartments. I even visited my future university to check it out and see if I'd like it!

When September 2014 rolled around and the time had come for me to make my permanent move to Madrid, I was so excited even though I was terrified at the same time! I didn't have a place to stay, I hadn't worked out my university timetable and even worse - I was flying solo! Saying goodbye to my family and friends was really difficult, but they were so supportive and reminded me that it was only for a year! 

I remember when I walked off the plane and the 30 degree heat hit me like a brick wall. I had 2 suitcases weighing what felt like 50 tons between them, as well as a backpack with dodgy straps... and only my 2 wee hands to carry it all! I got a taxi to my hotel, and then flopped down on my bed.

For the next few days I met up with the other girls that were doing ERASMUS in Madrid with me, and we found a flat very close to the city centre and 10 minutes walk from our metro stop to uni. Our landlady was lovely and she helped us with every question we had - big or small! I sorted out my SIM card and figured out how to pay my bills. It all seemed very surreal, and I was still figuring out how I felt about it! But all I needed to do when I was worried or scared was pick up the phone and call home - and all my worries melted away!

Uni was great - I met lots of lovely people, and made lifelong friends. I learned a lot and my Spanish improved tenfold. I began to realise that I was loving living abroad, and Madrid began to become a second home to me. A few months after I'd moved there, I was speaking to my Mum on Skype, and she told me that she'd never seen me looking so healthy and happy. Since moving to Madrid I'd forgotten all about my initial worries, and I'd settled into my life there. 

I've been back from Madrid for over a year now, and I really miss the life I had there and everything about it! Thinking about my experience in Madrid just makes me want to travel more, and it's opened up my eyes to what living abroad can be like! There's really nothing like it! Madrid became a second home to me, and leaving there in June 2015 was far more difficult than it was to move there in the first place.

The experience of living in Madrid gave me so much. I learned how to adapt to a completely new culture; I made lifelong friends and improved my language skills; I became more independent and achieved something I never thought I could... And most importantly, I learned that even though it might seem like the most daunting thing ever to up-sticks and move to another country where they don't speak your language and don't have the same culture as you, it's really not the end of the world! You learn to live with the things you miss, and you learn to adapt and change to deal with your new surroundings. Your family and friends are always just a phone call away, and sometimes they'll even visit you! After a while, you forget why you were scared in the first place, and you start to wonder why you didn't do it sooner!

If you asked me if I'd ever do it again, the answer would be YES! And if you asked me if I'd recommend living abroad, I'd ask you why you've never done it before! 

So, if you've ever thought about making an international move but are worried about the implications, or if you just want to find out more about what opportunities are waiting for you, please get in touch and let me know! I specialise in working with professionals who want to gain more experience and improve their lives by making an international move, and you'd be amazed to find out just how many fantastic opportunities are available to you! The hardest part is making the first step, but with the right support behind you and the right opportunity, then you too could be heading off to start your new life abroad

Worry is only temporary, but the experiences you have and the memories you make will last forever.

 

Think Global Recruitment’s Summer Olympics 2016!

Team building days are never fun? Well they are when Think Global Recruitment does them!

On Friday we set off in our minibus towards an unknown location, a secret brilliantly kept for a number of months by Abigail & Katie. We arrived in our location at 10am…the Peebles Hydro Hotel! An impressive country house hotel situated amongst the breath-taking views of the Peebles countryside.

 

Our day started with a recap of the year, congratulating our team on their achievements and mapping out our goals for Year 17. We discussed our exciting new upcoming projects which including our new website, CRM and phone systems.

Then it was time for lunch, where Think Global Recruitment did not fail to impress. A barbeque buffet was arranged for the team including a mouth-watering mix of meats and salads. We were also spoilt for desert which included Pavlova & cheesecake. After leaving the dining room with heavy stomachs we continued back into our room where the real surprise awaited.

An instructor informed us of the afternoon’s activities, Think Global Recruitment’s very own Olympics! Teams were set out- senior staff vs the rest of the Think Global Recruitment office.  

Outside it was raining but that didn’t stop the team. First up, bubble football! Both teams went at it bouncing off each other and falling to the ground. The senior staff took the points with three goals to nil, leaving them with the first round victory. Then there was the Bubble Off between Peter and Kevin, with neither able to knock the other over until they both collided, falling over after a double charging run.

Next up, archery & shooting. Both sides we’re determined to win with the rest of the office buoyant by the fact they had a former marksman in their team. After a few John Wayne-esque shoot offs and rather dubious arrow shots, the teams went back inside with the scores tallied for revealing later on.

Back in the hotel our percussion skills were once again put to the test with several rounds of laser quest. Various group tactics included illegal use of hands covering the head strap, shooting from behind curtains on the stage (out of bounds) and hiding a person under a person under a piece of blow up apparatus, all of which were adopted by the senior team. The rest of the office valiantly fought back to secure an overall win, leaving the scores level.

Back in the room the Olympics medal announcement was made…a victory for the senior team! Celebrations were had as the team collected their bottles of champers & Scotch whisky and everyone joined together for a drink afterwards in the lobby. Then it was time to head back to town where the team stayed out in typical fashion.

 

Another memorable team building day with Think Global Recruitment, geared up and ready for the new company year that lies ahead!

 

 If you would like to apply for a role at Think Global Recruitment please send your CV to pmcloughlin@thinkgr.com.

Don's Story: Old MacDonald has a farm- one man's life-changing move to Zambia

 

Don MacDonald, a man we assisted to move over 15 years ago, initially set out to live and work in Zambia on a two year contract, but after six months of living and working in Lusaka, his family decided that they were enjoying it so much that they wanted to stay. Recently we caught up with him to see how he has been getting on. Don thanks our Managing Director, Abigail, and Think Global Recruitment, (who he jokes are entirely to blame!). He says his experience exceeded his expectations far more than he could ever have expected.  He has lived in Lusaka ever since, working and running his charity 'Old MacDonald’s Farm'  with his wife Christine. 

So how exactly did Don discover the opportunity to work in Zambia?

“I was working in the Scottish government’s finance department when I came across a Think Global Recruitment advert for opportunities in Africa that would end up changing my life forever"

“During my lunch hour one day I rang up Abigail. In a quick turnaround between meeting Abigail at Christmas and by the first week of January, I had  been offered an interview in London with Deloitte where was offered a role in Lusaka”.

What is Don doing now?

Don is now working as the Managing Director of the airline service company, Zega Limited. Before working for Zega he discovered first hand just how many opportunities there are whilst working abroad.

“About eighteen months into my two year contract I was doing an insolvency review on Zambian Airways and found it had some problems. Three months later the chairman of the airline joked with me and said 'why don’t you try running it?' and that’s how I became the chief executive of a national airline!”

 

 Don grew the airline over the next four years, turning it around from making a loss to making a profit, which was a particular standout moment in his fascinating career.

“Having visited and being exposed to Africa before allowed us to settle in pretty quickly, especially due to it being an English speaking country with a lot of English people”. Don had no concerns before making his international move. “Everything that you might need could be found in the capital city and with great international schools for both of my daughters we had no problems”.

So what does Don think are the advantages of moving overseas?

“The opportunity to advance your career quickly. Within a short space of time, I became the CEO of an airline and you can move faster up the ladder than back home. And of course, the weather is so much better over here”.

What advice would Don give to accountants that are thinking about working overseas?

“Go for it! I’m glad every day I did it. You only live once and it is definitely worth going for. There are huge benefits to the experience and it's important to remember you don't have to commit life where ever you go."

During his fifteen years in Zambia, Don and his wife looked to give back to the community which embraced them so warmly, which is when they decided to start up Old MacDonald's Farm.

Old MacDonald’s Farm

 

One day back in 2001, Don and Christine began helping street kids, inviting them in every Sunday for a shower, a home cooked meal and to get some clean clothes. Noticing that there we so many street kids in the local community, they felt something needed to be done to help. Little did they know that their family would extend when an ill young boy became a permanent part of their family and soon enrolled in the nearby school. Old MacDonald’s Farm was born and has since combined several projects on the same site, allowing the opportunity to house more kids in Old MacDonald’s Children’s Home; educating them on lots of matters from conservation farming methods to providing schooling from the on-site school. Over the years their family has been growing and growing with the addition of more young boys staying with them and at one point they had 40 extra children!

After listening to Don's story it's hard not to be impressed by all that he has achieved. All of us here at Think Global Recruitment would like to wish him the very best for future and that the next 15 years are just as interesting!

 If you would like to find out more about the work of Old MacDonald’s Farm you can visit their website here: http://www.omfzambia.com

 

Charity Horse Racing Night- How much did we raise?

Now we’ve all had a week to recover and count the pennies it’s time to make the big reveal…

 

BUT before that we would like to thank all those that came along or donated to this event. Asides from a few technical hiccups we could not have hoped for a better night.
 

MC Cramond did brilliantly as our very own John McCririck, the two bearded men on the tables ensured you could place all your bets and Reece did a fantastic job acting as our charity bouncer and raffle ticket dispenser.

A massive thanks to the businesses that supported this event including CloudCover, Kumo Ink, Lemon Squeezy Driving School, fatBuzz and Edinburgh Copyshop for sponsoring our horses and to all those many other businesses that donated raffle prizes. A special congratulations goes to the lucky individual who won the impromptu auction of our Payatas FC football shirt!

So here it is folks the magic number from the night- of which all proceeds will be going directly to our two charities Marie Curie & Fairplay for All…

...£1025!

Thank you everyone once again for all your support, we hope a good night was had by all and look forward to seeing you again soon at the next event!

 

Think Global Recruitment presents... Charity Horse Racing and Raffle Night!

Our team has been putting in a lot of hard work and planning over the last few months organising our Charity Horse Racing Night, which is being held tomorrow –Friday the 22^nd of July, 7pm at the Hibs Supporters Association. This year, our team have decided to support two very deserving charities: Marie Curie and Fairplay for All, who do incredible work at home & abroad. Asides from the races there are some fantastic prizes available to win on the night with a raffle- a huge thank you to all those businesses who kindly contributed!

For  this fundraiser we will be supporting Marie Curie’s hospice in Edinburgh, where they provide support for people living with any terminal illness and their families, including 24/7 expert palliative care, as well as offering services to visitors. Marie Curie is one of the most recognised British charities in cancer care and has been carrying out this essential work for over 65 years! Their services are vital to many people in the UK and their families. Last year alone they cared for over 40,000 people across the UK!

As an international business, part of our company ethos is to support international charitable causes, so we have decided to share this fundraiser with another very worthwhile cause, “Fairplay for All”. They are dedicated to creating opportunities for some of the poorest children in the Philippines, helping them to holistically and sustainably break the cycle of poverty through sport and education.  Fairplay For All's projects include the Payatas Football Club, where children can experience a safe place to have fun and play football and the Fairplay Café where a range of healthy meals are on offer.

Payatas FC began in 2011 with 80 kids playing barefoot on a basketball court. Now the team has several players invited to the National Youth Team. The players are amongst the poorest children in the country and due to malnourishment are sometimes only half the size of their opponents. Yet they are very successful because of their heart and determination. Three of the girls were part of Team Philippines in the Street Child World Cup, held in Brazil 2014, where they won the silver medal!

Having gone from strength to strength each year, they have big plans for 2016, building their Sports Centre and Fairplay Academy while expanding on their social enterprises.

So if you're in Edinburgh please come along tomorrow night and support these amazing charities and have a bit of fun! Tickets are available to buy on the door.We hope to see you all there!!

Charity Horse Racing Night & Raffle

When: Friday 22^nd July -7pm

Where: The Hibs Supporters Association, 11 Sunnyside, Edinburgh

Cost: £3 entry

If you would like to reserve tickets to this event please email pmcloughlin@thinkgr.com.

Think Global Recruitment Turns Sixteen!

16 YEARS AGO TODAY, I WONDER WHAT MY FACEBOOK STATUS WOULD HAVE SAID….

 ‘’way hey, here we go!’’… or ‘’this is going to be fun #newventure’’

Whatever it would have said, I am sure it would have shown a naivety of the roller coast ride that and pure adventure that I started that day.  

On the 7^th July 2000, Think Global Recruitment was born! 

As a 28 year old young woman who started her first business at the age of 6, left school at 16, bought her first house at the age of 17, opened her first shop at the age of 19, moved to Australia at the age of 21, then Scotland three years later, this seemed as though it would be easy.   

I had broken all records at my last company, been promoted quickly and managed a very successful team. It felt there was nothing I could do wrong. Surely it would be easy running a business in an industry you have a successful track record in? What could go wrong?  

My first months saw me learning fast including being on BBC Watchdog, budgeting, improved budgeting, revised budgeting, applying for grants, loans, external investment, motivating/attracting and retaining staff, dealing with the effects of 9:11 and my first recession in business! 

5 lessons I learnt in the very early days

1: Others know better:  Do not purchase computers because the manufacturer has a shop next to your favourite cookie shop….  Outcome if you do: flown down to be on BBC Watchdog to tell how Tiny Computers are bankrupting your business due to their faulty computers and rubbish service.  Note to self: Get advice from specialists, read reviews and get 3 quotes for business critical or items worth over £500.

2: Don’t be a sucker:  Advertising sales people can be persuasive, especially when they offer vanity projects such as your company plastered all over a taxi  (a new concept in Edinburgh at the time). Stick to your budget or you could end up buying the world before any income comes in!

3: Have a contingency plan: Two major world events in the very early stages of my business meant clients had less spending power and there were less people wanting to leave to fly somewhere else (an issue if you are in the business of moving people around the world).   I certainly learned how to juggle with cash flow back then and was lucky to pick up some grants and loans whilst picking up a willing investor. Looking back the Dot.Com ‘recession’ it was just a small glitch compared to the doom and gloom heavy recession years of 2008- 2014 and now the uncertainty around Brexit/the potential breakup of the UK! 

4. What is for me isn’t necessarily for you:  Know your people.  Find out what motivates and demotivates the individuals in your team.   I have always been driven by helping others and making money.  I love people telling me how to improve myself and learning new things. I love change.  That does not mean others do.  If you know what is important for your team then you can help them achieve just that.  This will keep them engaged and achieving the best results for the reasons that motivate them.

5: Everyone needs passion:  Recruit people who are passionate about what you do.   Looking back, the people who have succeeded and stayed within the business for the long term were/are passionate about what we do and the company itself.   If I could recruit people with only one trait, it would be passion for what we do.  Improving Lives through finding people them their dream job in their dream location.

 

Abigail Stevens, Founder and Managing Director, Think Global Recruitment

 

 

All the world’s an office - the millennial generation that yearns to work abroad

Millennials are fast becoming the most important workforce segment in the global market and are therefore, not surprisingly, the most popular to study. The figures observing the patterns and behaviours of this generation have suggested a proposition of a simple change in the recruitment practice which could potentially save employers many future headaches.

Life without borders 

 

Where older generations may have saved travelling for retirement, millennials have accepted that they might not have that guaranteed in the future and have expressed this through their own extensive travel habits. They are not intimidated by the prospect of moving for work either. KPMG International highlighted in their study of business students from 23 different countries that 89% said that they ‘would be prepared to move regularly to a different country for the right job opportunity’. Not only that, but 80% of those asked also said they expect to live in 3-6 countries throughout their career. MoveHub’s study found that employment was the primary motivation for those making a move overseas with another study in the US finding that 55% of the generation was currently considering changing countries.

Some savvy businesses have already caught on to this trend by incorporating policies that enable staff to take time out to travel. However, this can be an expensive option with temporary workers required to fill the gaps and the unpredictability of staff returning.

 

Loyalty-lite

According to Deloitte’s international 2016 survey of 7,700 Millennials, 25% said they would leave their current job if offered another one. PwC’s study highlighted that the same figure expected to have six or more employers. The harsh reality of these studies is that an employer could look at their staff and know that two thirds will be gone in four years. This results in a lot of wasted time and resources. It would be fair to presume that due to the attitudes and preferences of this generation a high percentage of those leaving will be seeking some form of international experience. Which leaves you to wonder: what is it that employers can do?

 

The simple solution

To combat Millennials potential lack-of-loyalty and to repel the travel bug, employers need to adopt a different approach to their recruitment strategy. In order to win the war for attracting and retaining talent, the answer lies within shifting the focus from recruiting locally to internationally. Here are the top four reasons why this could be your winning formula.

Investment on both sides

It is true that making a move to work in another country is an investment for both parties, but it can be considerably more of an investment for the employee. They will have had to make commitments that possess a certain level of determination to move. This personal investment encourages loyalty and the drive to succeed in their new life.

The opportunity to learn & develop

The desire to develop oneself and learn new things ranks highly amongst this generation, however this can be difficult at times for a businesses to achieve. The truth is sometimes the employee needs to do the ‘boring basics’ and get the job done. However, if you have an employee coming from outside the country, as the case studies on our online blog illustrate, even starting the same job in a different country comes with an array of different learning and development opportunities. These extra stimuli are free of cost to an employer and ensures the employee constantly feels a sense of self-development.

Citizenship & passport opportunities

Many countries allow employees to apply for citizenship after spending a number of years within their country. This can be a motivational tool for employees within an organisation and allows the opportunity for the employer and employee to develop a closer bond through assistance in the process. 

The lure of a different location

How do you stem wanderlust? Become the destination. Local weekend excursions and cultural activities will excite a new arrival much more than somewhere who has always lived there. Providing this generation with exciting new experiences is essential to making sure they are fulfilled psychologically.

Ticking off both the international and the professional boxes will lead to a more satisfied and content millennial employee. For a generation that strives to lead individualistic lives with plenty of photo sharing moments, to win their affections you should make them an offer that combines both life experience with professional opportunities.

 
 

How can Think Global Recruitment help?

It is important that our clients receive the best service to ensure you recruit the perfect candidates to match your needs.

At Think Global Recruitment we can help by assisting in organising a trip to a country of your choice and setting up an interview schedule with pre-screened accountants that fit your requirements and are motivated to make a move abroad.  The Accountancy Worldwide Forum, is another way of meeting global accountants. Bringing together prestigious accountancy, commerce and financial services companies from all over the world to match with the best accountants in the world.

It can be stressful for companies recruiting internationally which is why we have created an extensive walkthrough guide and have client support available the whole way through the process and even after the candidate has started. This makes the process run smoother for everyone involved.

Our advice when recruiting Millennials:

· Provide a detailed job specification to save time and get the exact candidate you are after. Every detail counts to ensure you get the right fit for your organisation.

· Be honest to the candidate about the role & location so they get the full picture. If you don’t they’ll find out online or worse once they’ve just arrived.

· Stay in touch with candidate after they’ve accepted an offer– they will appreciate the extra time you take to do this and means they’ll feel valued before they start.