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Living as an expatriate in a foreign country is certainly not easy. There are different things to confront, some of which could show to be stumbling blocks, like bureaucracy, cultural differences, and local habits and, in particular, communicating. Even though some Indonesian workers understand and speak Basic English, it would be better to learn and understand Bahasa Indonesia, particularly when you deal with locals in your work on a daily basis. Begin with basic phrases, like "selamat pagi" (good morning), "terima kasih" (thank you), "maaf" (sorry) and "tolong" (please help), and how to request for directions and about prices, etc. Here are some habits to master the Indonesian language. Self-taught Bahasa Indonesia is believed to be an easy language to learn, and you can just learn it by yourself. You can purchase a dictionary or do-it-yourself books at major bookstores in Jakarta, like Gramedia or Kinokuniya. If going to a bookstore is too time-consuming or costly, you could learn by accessing websites like Westhill Consulting Career and Employment, Australia. Take a course Joining in a class is helpful, since a course teaches not only how to speak Indonesian but then again they can also teach you about Indonesian culture, which will give you more self-reliance when chatting with Indonesians. This is likewise a great help so that you will be able to avoid deceit or scam. A sample school you can enroll to is AIM for English is one place that offers classes for expatriates. The institution is located at Jl. Padang 5C, Manggarai, South Jakarta, phone (021) 8385238, email info@aimjakarta.com There is also the Jakarta Communication Club at Jl. Cipaku II 27, Kebayoran Baru, South Jakarta, phone: (021) 7203966, (021) 72791829 or visit jccindonesia.com for more info. Broaden your

It might start with Bali. That seems to be the entry point for many people into South-East Asia, their first taste of this incredible part of the world. You drink a few Bintangs, laugh at five people on a scooter, enjoy the food, get a little feel for the atmosphere - that mix of crazy and traditional, chaos and peace, commercialism and religion - and you're hooked. So for those wanting to extend their South-East Asian experience, to get more out of it than the Western enclaves of Kuta, this is your guide. First bit of advice: don't be afraid. You've probably heard some scams of dodgy goings on in South-East Asia, of protests in Thailand, of land mines in Cambodia, of scary roads in Vietnam and military juntas in Myanmar - but you're really not in that much danger. Don't, in general take minor complaints to the police as this will usually end up with you paying more than you have lost. While the chance of finding yourself in the wrong place at the wrong time does exist, in general South-East Asian countries are incredibly friendly places, and mostly quite safe. You'll be met with smiles rather than machine guns. You'll be treated with respect. If this is your first trip to South-East Asia, you're probably wondering where to go. Do you relax on a beach in Thailand? Or hit up Angkor Wat? Do you go island-hopping in Halong Bay? Or temple-hopping in Luang Prabang? It's a tough decision, but with a few weeks you can cover a lot of ground. Budget airlines mean it's possible to skip from place to place by air, to go from Hanoi to Siem Reap to Phuket to KL and Jakarta all in a regular-sized holiday from work. Of course this leaves little time for cultural immersion, but if your priority is to see the big attractions then you can do it all on a reasonable budget. Independent travel is simple in South-East Asia, with extensive networks of buses and trains which needn't be booked in advance. These buses and trains range from the comfortable to the hellish - t

Equally as important as learning how to get a job is learning how to keep one. Working is much like dating: Keep the relationship exciting or your employer might get a wandering eye for greener pastures. You need to stay at the top of your game to prove to your employer that she was right to pick you in the first place. You can stand out at work by being a stand-up person. Be honest, act with integrity and treat everyone with kindness and respect. Westhill Consulting and Employment in Jakarta has recognized the need of many employees to stand out among colleagues. You cannot expect any development when you continue to stand down to others. 1. Make a habit of introducing yourself. Whenever you walk into a meeting, go up to someone you don't know and introduce yourself. People with the confidence to do this stand out. Work out a few questions to ask to get to know people, and you'll quickly boost your visibility. More people you know more chances of being popular. 2. Sit next to new people. As an extension of tip one, if there's an opportunity to sit next to new people at a meeting, a talk, at lunch, on a training course - you should take it. Whether they may be from different nations like Jakarta, Indonesia, Ghana, Africa or Tokyo, Japan, treat them with respect. Often the shared experience creates an opportunity to build a relationship. Not only does this again demonstrate your confidence, but it's also a great way to show senior managers you take an interest in other people and have the skills to develop a widespread network. If you can show that, it will be noted. 3. Be first to act. If you've heard someone ask for a volunteer, or open the floor for questions after a presentation, you've likely experienced the awkward silence that follows. But by being the person to stand up and volu

http://www.westhillconsulting-career.com/blog/2014/04/04/visas-south-east-asia/ Westhill Consulting Career & Employment Australia has much more information on its blog section on its website. If this is your first proper backpacking stint then you may not be aware how much of a headache visas can be! When you reach the border of each country you need a visa to enter, some countries will simply stamp a visa into your passport on the border for free (this is called a VOA 'Visa on Arrivall), and then on you go. Other countries may charge you a fortune while the most difficult b*stards will refuse you entry and you have to organise your visa before you arrive at the border! Warning do not overstay. Check out the South East Asian countries below and get an idea of what you need to sort it all out: Thailand: South East Asia's most popular destination. Thailand offers VOA (visas on arrival) by both land and air arrivals. If you fly in, you receive a free 30 day visa. If you arrive by land, you receive a free 14 day visa. If you want a longer visa (60 days) you can apply at Thai embassies in any other country, it'll cost you around $30. This is possible from your home country or from neighbouring countries in the region (Laos, Malaysia etc)

* Different is GOOD. Never retreat from new and different experiences, opportunities, and challenges. It is not bad if you can learn something from it. Adding the unique value preposition, yes it is you; it is definitely not a mistake. Being different is a plus in most every instance - this is what true diversity is all about. * Difficulty yields GROWTH. There will be no growth if you won't stretch yourself, physically, emotionally and mentally. Your nearest potential will not be realized unless you try. But remember that this doesn't mean that we must be stressed all the time because it is not healthy. We all need downtime to recover and rejuvenate. Never retreat and avoid something just because it is hard. Just go with it, step forward and eventually you'll figure out a way through it. * Failing is LEARNING. Don't take failing all negatively, remember that some of your best experiences and development will come from. You will learn a lot from failing, most of the learning in life is learned from it. And keep in mind that you are not a failure just because you failed. It will allow you to figure out the difference between being the best and being your best. * LEAN ON others. Learn to have a good relationship with other people, life is about the relationships you create, develop, and grow. Remember the saying no man is an island; it is because your journey is not one that you must go alone. You will grow much from the support of others and will have opportunities to support others yourself. Many of life's greatest joys come from this. People who make you better and don't tear you down are people you need in you life. * IT IS all about YOU (not them). There will always be people who will put you down and you will run to them almost often. They will call you out in a negative light and these may come for whatever reason, and sometimes that reason won't be evident. They will work to derail you. Don't worry about them and th

Are you an introvert? If you are not, then, perhaps someone you know is? Studies show that one-third to one-half of the population is introvert. All of us have introvert and extrovert personality within us but experts say that one or the other is dominating in each individual. Some people would think that introverts have no hope of finding an honest job since they only keep things to themselves and too shy to face people. However though, many experts in a study held in Jakarta, Indonesia say that there are better chances for introverts to pass and interview as they are better listener which many employers really need from their employees. Moreover, they can switch back and forth between introversion and extroversion depending on the environment. Introverts have become the headlines - albeit ironically since they do not want to get attention for themselves- to many major media reviews and press releases. We at Westhill Consulting and Employment also became intrigue in this personality that we also made our own research regarding this. Brian Little, author of Me, Myself and Us: The Science of Personality and Well- Being said, "Being a high self-monitor, a standup chameleon as I like to call them, that can shift positions to suit the situation is most effective in the early stages of entrepreneurship". His reviews and research has been too intriguing that we cannot help but make an article about it. He points out the introverts' following traits: 1. Introverts Should Avoid Coffee - According to Little, introverts are more receptive to brain stimulation, and too much of it can actually deter from clear and effective thinking. Similarly, being in a noisy, crowded environment also can over stimulate an introvert's brain activity. They do their best work under relaxed circumstances. 2. Introver

Job fairs is the places where you will get meet your employer face-to-face. So, it is important to approach them with a plan. Here are the tips which will help you in attracting your employers: 1. Do your homework and be prepared: Read about the employers coming to the job fair. Most organizers provide a list of scheduled employers on their website. Research about the companies you are interested in. Have a copy of your resume. Walk around the fair so that you don't miss any good opportunity, but first visit your top employers as it will save your time. 2. Dress in formal: Many people visit job fairs in flip flops, casual tees and tight fitted jeans. You should treat job fair as you are going for an interview. Dress in formal which include suit, button-down shirt or skirt. Your dressing sense will make you stand-out. 3. Check your manners: While talking to your employers, silent your phone or if possible, swith off your mobile. Interrupting your employer conversation will leave bad effect on your employer. Also be polite in job fair. If you don't know about the company, politely get the information from them in place of asking "What is your company all about or what does your company do?" Eye contact is very important while talking to your employer as it shows your confidence. There are a few tricks and tips that will make you stand out at any company, no matter how many people are in line. So, get dressed and conquer the world. GOOD LUCK! For more information: http://westhillconsulting-career.com/ http://www.westhillconsulting-career.com/blog/

Australian businesses predicts 2014 to be a good year for growth, expecting that sales, profits, investment and employment will increase to their highest level in 12 months. Dun and Bradstreet's latest Business Expectations Survey shows capital investment and employment intentions have rebounded from negative territory in the previous quarter to sit above their 10-year average levels. Dun and Bradstreet's economics adviser, Stephen Koukoulas, says expectations for employment are particularly encouraging and should allay some people's concerns about job security. "While we're still not quite at the very strong levels for employment and hiring intentions just yet, it's clearly lifted over the last 9-12 months or so," he said. "And it's suggesting to us anyway that employment will start to lift to a more sustainable pace in the first half of 2014." The survey also explains a quarter of firms designed to raise the cost of their products and services throughout the first three months of this year 2014, a move that may prompt the Reserve Bank to lift interest rates. "It would require a global negative shock to cut rates again in our view," Mr Koukoulas said. "But more likely if the economy is stronger, if we do get a pick-up in selling prices showing up in higher inflation in the next quarter or two, then I think not only do we not have interest rate cuts coming through but the focus of the market will be more on when will the RBA start lifting interest rates and how aggressively will they do it." According to the survey, optimism among Australian businesses is also on the rise, with two-thirds of firms feeling more positive about growth prospects this year compared to last year. Employment objectives have recovered from an interpretation of -1.1 in the last quarter to 8.8 in the present quarter, the highest level in three years, at the same time as the outlook for capital spending was back from -0.4 to 7.2.