Out of South Africa!!

It is amazing how a whirlwind business trip of 6 days can still feel like a great break!  

On the 8^th October, three of the Think Global Recruitment team, Alistair, Calum and myself, boarded an overnight flight to Johannesburg, just a little excited about the people we were about to meet and a wee treat my PA Lara had organised for us on the last day.  We were so right to have been.

After a 1 hour flight Edinburgh to London and 11 hour flight London to Johannesburg, with Virgin Atlantic, we arrived!  On arriving in Johannesburg airport we were met by a driver who whisked us off the Radisson Blu hotel in Sandton, the business district of Johannesburg. The hotel we stayed at was great for business, clean, modern with WiFi throughout.  They also had suites, which with a partition, can double up as a bedroom and meeting room. Of course, we also liked the pool by reception that you could sneak to for a coffee or bite to eat between appointments. 

We met with a few accountants on the day of arrival (Thursday), including two that we had assisted who had just received job offers to move to the UK.  It was great to be able to meet them in person after phone and Skype conversations leading up to then. 

Early evening and we headed across to Nelson Mandela Square to The Butcher Shop restaurant.   Wow! Wow! Wow!    All three of us had 2 courses, bread and a sausage dip, the best steak we had ever eaten, an amazing bottle of wine and some beers and it came to less than £50.   The atmosphere and service were also great.

The next morning, Alistair headed back to the airport and took a British Airways flight to Cape Town, I took one to Durban, leaving Calum in Johannesburg to meet with accountants seeking an international move over the next three days. Again, I was met at the airport again by a driver and this time driven to the The Beverly Hills Hotel.   Now this hotel is fantastic!   The people that work there would bend over backwards to look after you.  From check in to check out.    I was allocated a suite that had two balconies looking out to sea, a large lounge, lovely bathroom and walk in wardrobe.  I could see, although having a pretty busy schedule, I was at least going to be doing it in fabulous surroundings. 

After one meeting on the Friday afternoon, I was lucky enough to have two good friends join me for dinner.   Lesley and Mark, whom I know from Sydney and now live in Vietnam, were visiting Lesley’s parents in Durban and then getting married in Cape Town.  What great timing!  We visited the very famous Light House Bar at the Oyster Box next to the Beverly Hills to catch up.   Lovely to see them.

The next two morning’s, I had a walk on the beach, brief workout in the gym and then lovely early breakfast on the veranda overlooking the pool and out to sea.  I then headed back to my room for a full day of meeting South African trained Chartered Accountants seeking an international move.    The meetings were great.  Everyone showed up, most early and all were keen and eager to venture out there.  Everyone had a variety of different destinations on their minds, but the one thing they had in common was a genuine desire to gain international experience, both to Improve their Lives and their Careers.   After 18 years of assisting accountants to secure a new position overseas, I still enjoy every meeting of this nature.  

On Monday morning, after meeting with around 60 Chartered Accountants, the three of us reconvened back in Johannesburg – for our treat prior to boarding our international flight!   A visit to the LionPark!   Wow again!  We had a fantastic time seeing Lions and Leopards and so many wildcats up close.  Stroking a Giraffe and a pack of Lion Cubs… Yes I said ‘Stroking a pack of lion cubs’!   The best way to end our trip and spend an afternoon before a long haul flight.

South Africa – we will be back!

Abigail Stevens

International Recruitment Expert

Managing Director of Think Global Recruitment

Irish CA, Aisling, on Life Down Under in Hobart...

In 2013 Aisling moved from Dublin to Tasmania in Australia, where she now lives in a central apartment in the convivial city of Hobart with her partner. We caught up with her for a quick chat and thought it would be nice to share her story…

 I ended up getting a job in a Big 4 Firm where I have worked for 8 months and been promoted to Assistant Manager, I feel like I’ve taken a big step forward

I never really had a work life balance in Dublin and I had always wanted to move to Australia and travel around the country. I went for a two year contract which has given me so much flexibility – I’ve already seen loads of Australia!

I was trained in a small practice and then went straight into a top 5 firm in Dublin, when I was looking to move overseas I ended up getting a job in a Big 4 firm where I have worked for 8 months and been promoted to Assistant Manager, I feel like taken a big step forward.

All I had to do was pack my bags and that was it!

Think Global Recruitment have a really good reputation in Hobart. All I really had to do was pack my bags and that was it! My consultant was so good at getting back to me, my visa was running late so he was chasing it up and making sure I was kept in the loop. He also put me in touch with an English girl who he assisted in moving to Hobart previously, she was so helpful, she helped me out with loads of stuff.

It was such a big move just for a job.

Obviously moving a few thousand miles away from home was a little bit of a concern! I guess I was worried about settling, it was such a big move just for a job, it was a huge jump so I was really just worrying that it would work out. My partner came with me so we were both hoping that he would be able to get work. We wondered what it would be like; would it be that much different from home?

 

I don’t regret moving, it’s been a massive improvement

My move met my expectations, definitely, I don’t regret moving, it’s been a massive improvement, I didn't know what to expect in my move to be honest, I guess you never do. I’m not really sure; I was just hoping that it would work out. I didn't know so I just hoped. It was quite a rush as well, we both kind of decided we wanted to leave in October, I got offered the job in November and then we moved at the end of January. It was so quick. But it was just too good an offer to turn down.

We call each other the ‘internationals’

 

It’s good in the office because there is a Scottish and English girl and when I first started there were two American girls so there was a good group of people who were in the same boat. We call each other the ‘internationals’. It’s quite easy to settle in when they have the same culture.

It probably took about three months to settle in, we spent a lot of time going on trips and doing fun things, we kind of felt like we were on holiday for a while.

We've only been here for eight months but I would say we’re pretty comfortable.

I’m getting massive exposure to larger clients over here.

The work life balance is amazing; they love Irish and British people because we work so hard. Their busy season here is just like normal busy back home. If you work until 7 you are generally the last person to leave, they all go home at 5.15pm. It’s appreciated if you stay late, not expected.

My firm is heavily into investing in people. Training is really important to them, I’m doing a coaching course at the moment where I look at everyone and see how I can help them do better. I think it’ll look great on my CV. They are really into training and getting everyone involved. The partners really make an effort to know everyone, they even know my boyfriends name! They sit down with you and talk about everything, even family etc. It is amazing.

I am getting massive exposure to larger clients over here. There are loads of different offices with a lot of different clients.

Cultural differences… Everything is quite similar though, sometimes they don’t understand me or know how to say my name but that’s about it!

My partner and I have done so much here, every weekend we do something, we go on day trips or away for the day, the kind of stuff you wouldn't do at home. We’re only 50 minutes away from Melbourne.

The relationship that Think Global Recruitment have with my firm, they have a massive trust in the company

They have assisted accountants getting jobs there before so the firm knows that they can be trusted to bring in good candidates. I think this made my application a bit smoother. It was great having someone there to help you out with everything through the process. There is always someone there to hold your hand!

Just do it! You won’t regret it!

If I had to give advice to another accountant it would be to just do it! And I guess, my mum always said to me that you can be home to visit in two days, you’re only a flight away!

Think Global Recruitment on Tour, Next Stop… Dublin!

Abigail is excited to be spending her November birthday in Dublin!

Wow, how the past year at Think Global Recruitment has flown!  We have yet again been putting the ‘Global’ into Think Global Recruitment! With meetings and events all over the world! So far this year, we have visited: London, Glasgow, Liverpool, Chester, St Albans, Durban, Johannesburg and Cape Town. Our next stop in this Global Challenge will be the charming city of Dublin!

I can’t wait to be saying ‘top of the morning to ye’ in the Irish capital next month when we come over to host our Worldwide presentation and one to one meetings, which are aimed at Chartered Accountants, who are considering an overseas move. We intend to share everything there is to know about living and working overseas and the recruitment process involved.

What are the benefits of living overseas to my career?

What can I expect when I get there?

Where can I go?

How long does it take?

What are the salaries like?

How does the process work?

What are the offices like?

Where can I get the best work-life balance?

My colleagues and I aim to answer all of these questions and more!

Last time we were in Dublin we received fantastic feedback, one accountant said: ‘There was detailed information about all of the locations’ liked the overall synopsis of each area, it was very important.  It went beyond my expectations and I was very impressed overall’

I loved my last visit to Dublin so much, I have chosen to make this trip back on my birthday!

Abigail Stevens

Managing Director

Think Global Recruiment

We will be visiting on the 13^th to 16^th November 2014, in one of the city’s swankiest hotels. Spaces are limited so register ASAP. To do so, please send a copy of your CV to Emma: emaloy@thinkgr.com

Erasmus and My Life in Europe

Having had the initial fears and thinking about every possibility that could go wrong, I took that plunge and boarded my train...

I, like many students of languages are offered the opportunity to live abroad for year. This is the amazing chance to emerge yourself in the language you are studying and gain a more in depth view at the culture and language.

I had the opportunity to live in Belgium for six months and Austria for a further six.

I had, embarking on a journey to live in a country I didn't know, to go to a university I had only recently begun to research. There was a certain rush of excitement, that sense of unknown and discovery that lay ahead.

I think the main challenges were faced in the initial weeks, the fear of not finding a place to stay, not knowing anyone and not knowing your way around. These quickly fade as you do inevitably find a solution to all these issues and before you know it, this new, scary life has become your norm.

Personally, the help of strangers and support from the university made it very easy to integrate. I quickly learned where the best pubs were, found a great social network and had settled into my new house.

In my situation there was the added element of the language barrier, however prepared I was for lectures back home didn't quite prepare me for the nuances of a native speakers, speaking in dialectal French..
 I was very fortunate to have been in a small town. The people there were friendly and the amusement of a Scotsman being in the town allowed me a certain leeway. I found on the whole that people were very accommodating and would take the time to help me understand and be understood. You get accustomed very quickly to the suddenly ever-present language and soon it is normal.

Having spent my six months in Belgium, I was feeling very settled into this life and had built up a very strong set of friendships. It was a strange thought that I would have to give all this up to start again in another country, with another language.. And as it turned out, another dialect, this time Austrian.

With this move came the change to a city, which in comparison to Belgium was huge and filled with distractions. Personally my German was always weaker and I definitely struggled to acclimatise. The one saving grace was that English was a bit more prevalent and being a touristy city, more widely used in the service industry, meaning my mistakes with the menu were few and far between.

Once again though, I had to set up my 'home', this time student accommodation., and try and establish a new circle of friends. Being a bigger city there were plenty of ways to meet new people and soon enough I found myself in that pleasant swing of things. With week after week passing quicker and quicker.

I was truly sad to leave that year by the end of it all. I had had my ups and downs, made a fool of myself linguistically and made new friends for life, bound by a common experience of life abroad.

In that year I saw a big transformation in my confidence. I had made that leap into the deep end and I found I could swim. University had previously been preparing me for talks about politics and the economy, which is very academic and sophisticated, however you realise that in the grand scheme of things that these aren't very useful if you are actually in the country and you can't think of the word for flea as your carpet starts to jump..

But all in all, the experience was rewarding and deeply fulfilling. My languages improved no end and I came back with an appreciation for new cultures, ways of life and I had gained independence and the ability to thrive in new situations.

So if you are thinking and worrying about life in a different country, don't. It may seem scary now but when you are living it it is fun and afterwards you will wonder why you ever worried at all.

Still to this day I would go back and live abroad in a heartbeat.

By Roger, Think Global Recruitment

The move of a lifetime to the UAE!

In 2013 Think Global Recruitment assisted Leroi in gaining a new job in a Big Four firm in the UAE, roughly 3,883 miles away from his original location in Pretoria, South Africa. I got in touch with Leroi to find out more about his experience.

Leroi worked for five years in one of the Big 4 firms in Pretoria, just outside Johannesburg. This was enough time to lead him to the conclusion that he was ready to move overseas to explore ‘new opportunities and gain new experiences’, something that he had always wanted to do and the timing couldn't have been better.

Leroi was quite open to moving anywhere, some of the options he listed were: Australia, New Zealand, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Europe. Though, his preference was the Middle East because his wife had previously lived and worked there as a teacher, meaning, she would find it quite easy to join him and gain employment there.

When Leroi applied for a job that we had advertised online, one of Think Global Recruitment’s international experts got in touch with him. "They spent a considerable amount of time finding out what I was looking for in a move and all about my experience". Our consultant then agreed an action plan and a list of companies that he would contact to identify where the most suitable positions would be and which of them would be most interested in his vast experience in internal audit, risk and advisory.  Through this approach his consultant promptly secured him an interview with a Big Four firm in the UAE. His first choice location!

On the 14^th of April 2013, Leroi was offered a job in Abu Dhabi, he moved in mid July. We asked him what he felt was the most helpful thing that Think Global Recruitment did throughout the process- 'you looked after me really well and were really informative. I was very happy with the service. It is great to have someone to take care of the administration side of things which made the whole process much easier. There was always someone to answer your questions and give you support and peace of mind.'

The different culture was, at times, ‘quite difficult’ in a business sense and Leroi said, ‘there will always be an uncertainty on a personal level when you move far away’, however, after a few months his wife joined him on his new adventure and they settled very quickly in their new home. At present, Leroi sees the cultural differences as a highlight of his location.

Following our chat, we are happy to conclude that Leroi is thoroughly enjoying his time in Abu Dhabi and feels that the move has benefited him in many ways, he has a lot of ‘new connections’ and has ‘broadened his horizons’.  We strongly believe that the life experience and career progression that you can gain from living and working overseas is endless.

Leroi’s advice to anyone who is considering an international move:

• ‘Do your research so that you have a bit of an idea of what to expect’
• ‘Try to get hold of people who have done the move before and get their opinion’
• ‘It’s hard to know what to expect until the day that you get there, you should try to understand the pros and cons before you move’ 

We couldn't agree more!

By Emma Maloy, Marketing Assistant

My First Week at Think Global Recruitment

By Katherine, our team's shiny new administrator

'I was very fortunate to get my break away from hospitality and even more fortunate that straight out of university I landed at Think Global Recruitment.

On my first day, nerves and excitement propelled me into the office where I was faced with a daunting challenge - remembering all my new colleagues names!

Faces bobbed up from their computers and desks as names were rattled off to me and though I was rubbish at remembering who was who, I did happily note how lovely and welcoming each of them were, and suddenly I wasn't so nervous!

After finally memorising names and tearing myself away from the beautiful views of Edinburgh that the penthouse office provides, I focused on mastering the computer systems and operational tasks that my new job in administration required.

The energy that is in the office is amazing, I am constantly enamored by how engaging, friendly and knowledgeable the consultants are!

I was surprised, as a recruitment office rookie, at the strength of commitment that the consultants have for their candidates and clients alike.  They really are like the Cupids of the international recruitment world, pairing candidates with their dream finance jobs in even dreamier locations.

Even in my role in administration I get to learn so much not just about recruitment but also about the world of finance. The amount that I have learned about both these industries in my first week is astounding and I love that there is so much more.

If I was looking to make an International move in the finance world I know who I would be contacting!
I really can't wait to see what lies ahead for a me in my new role and as well as watching Think Global Recruitment grow and continue to be the leader in International recruitment for financial professionals.'

Making an International Move - What our Team Think

Are you considering an overseas move but a little uncertain? Do you want to make a move but you’re not sure where to go?

To celebrate the return of our Accountancy Worldwide Forum in South Africa, October 2014, I have started digging through our files and tracing down candidates that we have assisted in their international move to find out their thoughts on the process, the locations and what they are up to now.

While I’m doing this, I thought it would be interesting to look at the people that sit next to me every day – what are their thoughts on moving overseas? Where have they lived? What makes them interesting? And finally, what advice would they give to someone who is considering an international move?

From Austria to India, New York to Bermuda, Thailand to Australia, Germany to South Africa, our team have all lived overseas and that’s what makes us experts! Before I begin, I will give you a brief overview of the team members that I have spoken to, where they went and how long for.

Abigail Stevens, Managing Director, Sydney

While backpacking through Australia, Abigail fell in love with Sydney so she got sponsorship and decided to live and work there for three years. 

Alistair Mills, Recruitment Manager, Melbourne

Alistair was made redundant during the recession and wanted to try something new. He had a friend who traveled to Australia and loved it so it seemed like a good place to go. Alistair worked in Melbourne for 1 year.

Calum Smith, Recruitment Consultant, New York

Calum had always wanted to work in New York and got the opportunity straight after university, he had no plans at the time and thought that there was no better time than then to experience the city! Calum lived in New York for 4 months.

Daniel Scott, Recruitment Consultant, Austria & Spain

Daniel lived in Austria and Spain for 7 months each. Though it was compulsory for his university course, he fell in love with both and stayed a little bit longer. He really didn't want to return home after his time was up!

Kevin Dillon, Recruitment Consultant, Thailand & South Carolina

Kevin lived in South Carolina for 6 months due to his university course, he had always wanted to experience life in the USA and enjoyed living and working on the beach while he was there! After finishing university he said that he always wanted to travel and so he moved to Thailand to teach English and stayed there for 1 year before returning to the UK to begin his career with Think Global Recruitment.

Lara Caswell, Administrator and PA to Directors, Mozambique & South Africa

Lara decided that she was fed up of living in the UK, she wanted to encounter something new and begin an adventure. So, she moved to southern Africa where she ended up living and working in various locations for seven years!

Michael Black, Recruitment Consultant, Colorado

Michael lived in Colorado for 6 months during the skiing season, his cousin lived in Denver and so he had a connection there. He had always wanted to work and live abroad so this was his opportunity.

Roger Edwardson, Recruitment Consultant, Belgium & Austria

Roger lived in both Belgium and Austria for six months each as part of his university course. Because he was studying languages, he was really keen to get involved with this aspect of his degree, it was a chance to live in his target area and immerse himself in a different culture. 

Emma Maloy, Marketing Assistant, Germany

I lived in Germany for nearly five years in two different locations. The reason I moved was due to family commitments. I feel very lucky that I had the opportunity to experience a similar, yet very different, way of life and given the chance to go back - I would take it in a heartbeat! 

The general consensus when I asked why everyone moved over seas came down to:

‘I wanted to try something new’

And why shouldn't you? One of our newest recruiters, Kevin Dillon, commented on his time in Thailand stating,

‘I wanted to travel before starting my career and especially somewhere that I didn't speak the language, I wanted to challenge myself.’

Referring back to my last blog, I stated the importance of stepping out of your comfort zone and this is exactly what he did. I guess this is what we all did...

Of course if you’re moving away from home, no matter how long your stay, you will always have concerns niggling at the back of your mind. I know that my biggest concern when I moved to Germany was the fact that I was leaving all of my friends behind, not knowing if I would get the chance to see them again and knowing that I would have to make new friends and adapt to a new, very strange environment. It was truly terrifying but incredibly exciting. Here’s what some of our team members had to say about their concerns:

Alistair Mills, Melbourne –‘I went on my own so I was nervous about meeting new people and settling in. I arrived in Melbourne with just a back pack so it was a little overwhelming however I had a new place to live and a group of friends in no time. It forces you out of your comfort zone and really gets the best out of you. It’s a big decision and of course it’s a little daunting but ultimately really rewarding.’

Abigail Stevens, Sydney –‘Before going I knew nothing about Australia at all, except for what I learnt from Home and Away! I didn't realise there would be big modern cities and it would be a great place to take my career forward. I therefore only had Australia on my itinerary for a three month stop over – I ended up staying three years!’

Michael Black, Colorado –‘I was worried about the altitude (9,000 feet) and being away from the folks, but I fell in with a great group of guys and settled in very quickly.'

Calum Smith, New York –‘No concerns whatsoever – just a lot of excitement at the thought of it!’

We all have our concerns when making such a dramatic, life changing decision, we are only human after all (except maybe Calum – who didn't seem to be nervous at all). At Think Global Recruitment we go out of our way to help anyone who is worried or concerned about their move, we want them to feel safe in the fact that they are making one of the best decisions they will ever make.

Moving on to my next question for the group, did their move meet their expectations? Every single person said no. It exceeded them. It’s hard to envision what it will be like when you are literally stepping into the unknown, you know it’s going to be scary, you know it’s going to be exciting and you know that if it all goes wrong – you can come home but when it comes down to the nitty gritty, you have no idea. 

When I asked the team what disappointed them about their move, Kevin mentioned that the size of beer cans in America are considerably smaller than the UK and Alistair noted that Australian TV is rubbish. Both huge deciding factors when moving overseas! On a serious note, nothing was really disappointing. It's such a fantastic experience that the highs most definitely exceed the lows.

So what advice would our experts offer to those considering a move…

Alistair Mills, Melbourne -‘Go for it! It’s an amazing experience and something that you will look back on with great memories for years to come! From a practical sense, make sure you research the location and find a role that you will be able to do comfortably! Use a recruiter to make sure you have some help with each stage of the way and to secure you the best deal!’

Abigail Stevens, Sydney -‘Do it! It will give you amazing life experiences and friends for life. You will become a more rounded individual with increased knowledge and confidence.’

prolonged her visit) –

Calum Smith, New York – ‘Embrace it – go with a completely open mind and just take every experience in, good or bad! I would also recommend immersing yourself in the local culture wherever you go!’

Daniel Scott, Austria & Spain – ‘My one piece of advice is if you get the opportunity to travel and experience a new culture or new environment, DO IT!’

Kevin Dillon, Thailand & South Carolina – 'Buy the ticket and take the ride! Go head first into each and every situation and do things out with your comfort zone on a regular basis. Try and integrate into the local community and culture as much as you can, you’re not going to like everything but at least you can say that you tried. If there’s anything that you couldn't or wouldn't do at home that you've wanted to do then this is your opportunity!’

Lara Caswell, Mozambique & South Africa - ‘Throw yourself into it wholeheartedly, to this date it is the most exciting, rewarding thing I have ever done!’

Michael Black, Colorado – ‘Do it! It’s a great thing to do, build your confidence and experience; I wish I had made the move sooner as I did so much growing up when I was there.’

Roger Edwardson, Austria & Belgium – ‘Make sure you do research on the location and try and visit there beforehand to get a taste of the culture. Also make sure you talk to locals and don’t be afraid to ask for help.’

Everyone was so enthusiastic about living overseas that when I asked if they could open a Think Global Recruitment office in another country, would they? Everyone said yes.

Obviously our moves have given us the experience needed to be able to advise others on living overseas but how else has it enhanced our careers? I believe that it gives you edge, makes you stand out from the crowd, people are instantly interested in you because you have done something different.

Daniel Scott, Austria & Spain - 'You learn a lot about yourself and also a lot about how to handle situations and interact with people on a different level to what you would at home'

Roger Edwardson, Belgium & Austria - 'My time overseas improved my language skills and gave me a great sense of independence'.

Abigail Stevens, Sydney - 'I know about living and working overseas first hand and now help others to Improve their Lives by doing the same. I believe I gained the confidence to run my own business through the overseas move. I am used to being out with my comfort zone and meeting new people and this really helped.'

I must admit, when I initially typed the questions into an email, I expected that everyone would have vastly different answers, how could they be the same when we all traveled to opposite ends of the globe? We all returned home, not one of us wanted to come back and every single person has had the best time that they could have imagined. I would personally advise every single person to take the plunge and live in another country, experience the culture, the beauty and the excitement. Whether it’s for three months or three years, you will not regret it.

So, there’s a little bit more about our team, if you have been placed by us (or would like to be) and would love to share your story, get in touch!

By Emma Maloy, Marketing Assistant