July 2006 College Edition This edition of TraveLOG takes on topics from the world over, including new visa rules in the UK, Costa Rica and the Netherlands, work-study in Canada, career advice, the brain drain in Africa and setting expectations for internships. Read on for more! FROM GOINGLOBAL International Assignments: Cultural Differences Matter International assignments are doomed to failure if the assignee doesn’t know how to operate within the context of the host country’s culture. In Russia, for example, expatriates who don’t understand the importance of nicknames, inside jokes and corporate traditions probably won’t last long. Expatriate managers who take a hands off approach are unlikely to have much credibility among local staff. For more, click here: http://www.goinglobal.com/hot_topics/russia_jerome_business.asp. Featured Country Profile: Korea In spite of many other changes, Confucian ethics still dominate the Korean culture. There is great respect for age, for parents, and for the employer, although hierarchy by ability has been slowly replacing hierarchy by age in the last decade. To be successful in Korea, individuals must be respectful of these values. They must also be natural and modest about their accomplishments - bragging is taboo. For more information on working in Korea, click here to access GoinGlobal’s Korea country profile: http://www.goinglobal.com/countries/korea/interview.asp. For direct access to the Going Global career and employment resources click here: http://www.goinglobal.com.
FROM THE WWW
Student Visas: United Kingdom Issues New Regulations Beginning July 1, 2006, visitors to the United Kingdom will no longer be allowed to apply for student visas without returning to their home countries first. The good news, however, is that if they eventually earn a Master’s degree or higher in the UK, they automatically qualify for work authorization for 12 months after graduation. Undergraduates also can qualify if their degrees were obtained in specific fields. For more, click here: http://www.goinglobal.com/newsletter_atricles/june06_uk.asp. Work-Study: Canada Permits Foreign Students to Work Off-Campus
If money worries have kept you from pursuing studies in Canada, get out your application. The Canadian government recently reversed its rules and now allows foreign students to obtain off-campus work permits. Eligible foreign students at public post-secondary institutions can work off-campus for up to 20 hours a week during the school year and full-time during study breaks. For more, click here: http://www.goinglobal.com/newsletter_atricles/june06_canada.asp. Careers: Want To Work In The West? Become A Nurse
To solve acute nursing shortages, several Western nations, including the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom, are trying to attract nurses from around the world through premium salaries and expedited visas. The packages are good enough that doctors in some countries are reportedly training as nurses to qualify for Western openings. For more, click here: http://www.goinglobal.com/newsletter_atricles/june06_nurse.asp. Jobs: Cast A Wide Net For International Jobs
If you want to work in a specific country, don’t limit your job search to just local firms or multinationals in your home country. Instead, do some research and find out which compares are trying to expand their operations in your target country. France-based Carrefour for example, anticipates hiring more than 40,000 employees over the next three years to work in China, including 3,000 senior managers. For more, click here: http://www.goinglobal.com/newsletter_atricles/june06_china.asp. Dependents: Australia Opens Doors To Same-Sex Partners Looking for a country that will be friendly to your same-sex partner? Consider Australia, where officials recently announced foreign nationals on temporary work permits can include same sex partners as accompanying dependents in their visa applications. For more, click here: http://www.goinglobal.com/newsletter_atricles/june06_australia.asp Brain Drain: Africa Losing Academics To Europe And The United States
With nearly one-third of Africa’s university-trained professionals leaving the continent, Africa’s higher education system is suffering. For more, click here: http://www.goinglobal.com/newsletter_atricles/june06_africa.asp. Work Permits: Costa Rica Reduces Documentation Requirements
A new law in Costa Rica means foreign nationals no longer have to submit reams of personal documentation, including birth and marriage certificates and police clearances. It also eliminates financial guarantees of repatriation previously required for certain expatriates. For more, click here: http://www.goinglobal.com/newsletter_atricles/june06_costarica.asp Visas: Netherlands Tightens Culture Requirements for Visas
Applicants for resident visas in the Netherlands must now not only pass a Dutch language test, but also perform favorably on a test that measures their compatibility with Dutch values. To determine applicants’ levels of liberalism, for example, the test includes images of same-sex kissing and nudity on the beach. For more, click here: http://www.goinglobal.com/newsletter_atricles/june06_dutch.asp Next Edition: August 2006 |
