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Want a career with political, environmental, and economic implications that makes a difference to whether people eat, keep warm and are able to be mobile? A career with no boundaries internationally, that could take you to work on a North Sea rig, Azerbaijan or the South China Sea, especially in areas such as KL Malaysia and Jakarta Indonesia. A market that is changing shape all the time? An end product that is affected by war zones such as Libya? A job that will have you working alongside talented people from different countries of the world? A product for which there will always be a demand, until it runs out? Look no further than oil and gas. Energy give a country independence and power on the world's political and economic stage. Working in the gas and oil industry is an exciting choice and a career with longevity. Energy is an emotive topic because of nuclear power, oil spills and their effect on the environment and the price of petrol at the pumps. There are obviously environmental complaints. There is a shortage of skilled workers, so in a world of high unemployment, the world is your oyster. However, watch out for scams. This career guide has been created exclusively for The Telegraph and shares market trends, job trends and tips for a successful career in oil and gas. For more information: http://westhillconsulting-career.com/ http://www.westhillconsulting-career.com/blog/

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)

TEFL Job Opportunities http://www.westhillconsulting-career.com/blog/2014/03/31/tefl-job-opportunities/ Your employment opportunities are excellent Travel the world; experience a foreign culture; learn a new language; and improve the futures of many. This is your chance to make a difference. WesthillConsulting & Employment Australia would like to give a warning that the following information though interesting may be illegal. Please watch out for scams. EFL/ESL teachers are in high demand world-wide. You have peace of mind in knowing that if you are a native English speaker and hold a degree we can offer you a Guaranteed Teaching Position after successful completion of both our 4-week TEFL training course and a subsquent one month volunteer teaching assignment (Package B). If you don't have a degree and whether you opt for Package A or Package B your job prospects are still excellent. A TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) certificate is one of the main qualifications required by learning institutions to teach EFL in a non-English speaking country, or ESL in an English speaking country. Wherever you decide to teach, your internationally recognised Island TEFL certificate will provide you with the credentials required to work as a TEFL teacher abroad or at home. It is worth keeping in mind that many schools are now not accepting online TEFL/TESL qualifications (unless there has been a practical teaching component included), or certificates from TEFL/TESL courses of less than 4 weeks duration. Some schools/institutes will also require a degree. TEFL teaching positions are available in government and public schools, colleges, universities, language schools, kindergartens, businesses, the tourism industry, as well as volunteering and one-to-one tutoring opportunities. Here is a list of some of the countries where your internationally recognised TEFL certificate can assist you to find TEFL teaching employment. (Please note we have tried to be as accurat

Westhill Consulting Career and Employment Tips: Teaching English abroad "Under the Table" Without a Work Visa - What Does it Mean? There are thousands of Americans teaching English abroad in dozens of countries around the globe likeBangkok in Thailand, Jakarta in Indonesia, KL in Malaysia or Beijing in China. What do 90% of them have in common? In addition to enjoying the international adventure of a lifetime,they are teaching English "under the table." In other words they are not legally working in those countries with a work visa. This is commonplace, even routine, in dozens of countries around the world, but it is not technically legal. The first matter is to understand that there are different types of visas that you will use to teach English abroad and that regulations vary from country to country. Please refer to our article, "What is a visa and do I need a visa to teach English abroad?" source: http://www.westhillconsulting-career.com/blog/2014/03/28/westhill-consulting-career-employment-tips-teaching-english-abroad-table-without-work-visa-mean/ What does it mean to teach English abroad "under the table," without a work visa? Typically the following:  You don't have official permission to work in that country.  You are officially working illegally.  You probably entered the country where you are teaching on a tourist visa (in many countries a tourist visa will enable you to stay legally in the country for 90 days) and in many cases, you will stay on and teach English on a tourist visa that has expired or lapsed (this will be the case in countries like Italy and Spain where tourist visas cannot typically be renewed). In such cases, you are not only working illegally, but you do not have a valid visa to legally be in that country either.  In other cases, such as Argentina, you canrenew your tourist visa or get a new one before your original visa expires (example day 85 of your 90 day visa), often by leaving and re-entering t

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations is planning to adopt a single visa system enablingpeople to visit any of the group's 10 member states on a single visa. Following the lead of Europe's Schengen single visa system, Jakarta, Indonesia-based ASEAN believes that a single visitor visa policy would enhance the tourism experience in the region, boosting arrivals to member states. 'The plan is realistic, action oriented, attuned to the global realities and designed to ensure that the ASEAN region can continue to be a successful tourism destination,' said Thong Khon, Cambodia's minister of tourism. It fits with the group's Tourism Strategic Plan 2011/2015 which aims to promote the region as a single tourist destination, develop a set of ASEAN tourism standards with a single certification process , enable tourism employees to work in any ASEAN country, and create a single tourist visa policy. Importantly the strategy has strong support from the so-called 'Plus 3' countries of China, Japan and South Korea. ASEAN is also moving towards the implementation of an open skies aviation policy, which is scheduled to come into force in 2015. A unified ASEAN aviation market means that airlines would be able to fly freely over the region, transporting passengers between member states without limits imposed by individual governments in terms of routes, frequencies, airlines or aircraft types. 'In tandem, the single tourist visa and open skies aviation policy would have the potential to greatly improve the region's appeal as a tourist destination, offering the opportunity to significantly increase tourist arrival numbers from the 65 million achieved in 2010,' explained Khon. The plans have some obstacles to overcome, however, not least the inclusion of Myanmar, and local cross border disputes, including the situation between Cambodia and Thailand. If it works it means that travellers could surf in Bali, shop in Singapore and eat spicy street food in

Westhill Consulting Career & Employment based in Australia, thank the guardian for the following comments Do your research Collaborating with an overseas university first is a great way to get to know them if you are considering moving abroad. Paul Matsudaira started his career at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in the US, before accepting the position as head of biological sciences atNational University of Singapore in 2009. While he was still at MIT, Matsudaira taught biology to students from two Singaporean universities via an online videolink. He also travelled to Singapore several times in the summer holidays to teach at study camps. He says his family really enjoyed their trips to Singapore, and this made it much easier for him to make the decision about accepting the offer of a full-time post. Go for it wholeheartedly Once you have made the decision to move, make sure it is a clean break. Matsudaira says the biggest mistake he saw others making was expats not really committing to the move. Warning, it can be very stressful trying to run parallel lives - particularly across different time zones. It can also lead your new employers to question your commitment to the job. He said a "go for broke" attitude is essential to succeed. Don't be put off by the paperwork Job interviews often take place in London. The employing university liaises with the immigration department and it usually takes less than four weeks for a work permit to be issued. Pay In general HK/south-east Asian universities pay better than European institutions and about the same as US universities, but tax is much lower. Check for allowances Academics with children should also check on the availability and costs of places at international schools and whether the employer provides any education allowance. Look into accommodation Accommodation is very expensive in many of south-east Asia's densely populated cities so colleges often provide it as part of the package. But if living

By 25 active operators in Southeast Asia with 46 rigs, the contracting conditions have been challenging due to the collapse in crude oil prices while exploration and production spending have pressured both utilization and day rates in the region INTRODUCTION Southeast Asia is rich with hydrocarbon resources. The region is made up of Brunei, Burma, Cambodia, Timor-Leste, Jakarta Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. According to Shell, the Indonesia oil industry and what subsequently became Royal Dutch Shell are closely connected. Shell discovered commercial quantities of crude oil in Sumatra just over 100 years ago. Moreover, Shell was the first to bring a drilling rig to the region and the first to discover oil off of Brunei in 1958. Today there are about 25 operators active in Southeast Asia with 46 rigs (Jack Ups, Semis and Drillships) currently contracted. Forty one of the contracted rigs are drilling, and five are waiting on location or in shipyards. In addition to the rigs that are contracted in the region, there are eight cold stacked units, nine ready stacked units, and one unit in the shipyard without a contract for a total supply of 64 rigs. Thus, total utilization in the region is 72% and ready utilization is 84%. While indications are that Jack-Up Market fundamentals have begun to stabilize. Southeast Asia only has eight semisubmersibles actively drilling in its waters (one other is contracted but not currently working). Four are off Malaysia, two are off Vietnam, one is off the Jakarta Peninsula, and another is off Myanmar. However, the drilling Jack Up count is significantly higher at 31 (four others are contracted but not currently working). Malaysia has the highest Jack Up count at twelve, followed by Vietnam with seven, Thailand with five, Indonesia with four, Brunei Darussalam with two, and East Timor with one. There are also two Drill ships working in the region. One is off Malaysia and the other is of

http://www.westhillconsulting-career.com/blog/2014/03/17/seizing-opportunities-south-east-asias-oil-gas-industry/ Since 2010, South-East Asia has consolidated its position as an important contributor to the global downstream market with Petronas' recent announcement of its plan to build the new RAPID facility in Malaysia one further example of the region's growing importance. In reality the timing couldn't be better - as populations across Asia continue to grow, the demand for fuel will grow exponentially, offering oil & gas operators a real opportunity to make a significant contribution to the region's continued economic development. However, with this growing demand comes additional pressures, and with the sector still vulnerable to fluctuating oil prices, operators can ill-afford to rest on their laurels. The need to ensure their operations are as productive as possible and that cost inefficiencies are stripped out from the very outset, is arguably more important than ever before. Minimizing operational costs When it comes to new projects oil & gas operators have traditionally been good at minimizing their CAPEX spend. However, there has been much less focus given to limiting the cost of operation of their assets. With maintenance costs typically responsible for 20-30% of the overall OPEX expenditure, this is one area where the downstream sector in South-East Asia is increasingly focusing its attention. According to some analysts the costs incurred across the globe in maintaining the next generation of oil & gas assets could equate to $0.75 trillion highlighting the scale of the prize that could be on offer here. For a typical refinery the operational expenditure is principally dictated by three prime factors: the quantum of work carried out on the asset, the efficiency at which it can be delivered and the agreed cost rate of the resource used. In each instance there is an opportunity to significantly reduce cost outlay by focusing on a range of inter

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

http://www.westhillconsulting-career.com/blog/2014/03/10/7-tips-revamp-job-search-2014/ Experts foresee the job market being more competitive than ever in 2014. With 10.9 million Americans unemployed, it is important to take a fresh look at your job search strategy. Now is the perfect time to develop an effective plan for success. How can you set yourself apart from the competition and position yourself for finding the best next step in your career? Here are seven tips to help you refresh and refocus your job search in 2014: 1. Don't be a copycat candidate. Job searches are a very personal experience and one-size-fits-all strategies will not help you stand out among the competition. Even though a certain interview tactic or style was successful for one candidate doesn't mean it is the best strategy for you. Take into consideration your personal experiences, preferences and career goals and use them to position yourself as a unique candidate. 2. Learn to look at job titles differently. Be open-minded about your preconceived notions of job titles. Roles in compliance, human resource, or administration, for example, are often perceived as being boring, career-limiting or otherwise undesirable. Such preconceptions, however, about the scope, strategic importance and long-term potential of these positions are not always true in today's market. In many cases I've seen, these jobs offer exceptional opportunity for influential and attractive long-term careers. 3. First impressions are everywhere. With 92% of employers using social media in the hiring process, the content of your social profile forms an employer's first impression before you even sit down with for an interview. You should take special consideration to job-proof your social media profiles. For example, use a picture that represents you as a professional. Don't rely on privacy settings to keep your personal information safe. Your best bet is to assume everything will be seen by a potential emplo

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/

Unless you have been living under a rock for the past 3 years, you'll know that job hunting is tough. In fact, in general the world of employment is rocky and is something that has affected people massively over the past couple of years. With people being made redundant, companies cutting back on new intake and less opportunities being made available, people are stuck. This has resulted in massive numbers of people applying for vacancies when they do become available - which means that the recruitment process is tougher than ever! Does this mean you need to be stuck in a job you hate or living a life on benefits? Not at all. It means you need to be inventive, organized and well informed on the ways of recruitment, to give yourself the best possible chance of being given any job that you apply for. Keep At It It can be disheartening when you're looking for a job and nothing seems to come up of. The first thing to remember is that climbing a career ladder is tough and you'll be up against some stiff competition. Companies can only see a limited number of people during their recruitment process so are often very picky when it comes to who gets to the interview stage. You need to bear this in mind and don't give up when it seems like you're just not getting anywhere at all. Instead make sure that you look in different places for job adverts and keep applying for any that peak your interest. Don't put all of your eggs in one basket and apply for one job at a time - get your application out there to as many companies as possible in order to give yourself the best possible chance of being successful. Think Outside The Box Sometimes you need to take the initiative and contact a company, even if they aren't advertising jobs. It's not recommended that you simply spam every company in your local area with letters, but if there is a company that you would love to work for - why not let them know? Companies generally like people that are passionate ab

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.

On November 8, Friday, President Barack Obama tries to shift the national conversation to economic growth from anger over insurance policy cancellations under his signature healthcare law, as he visits the Port of New Orleans. The next day after Obama said in a nationally televised interview he was sorry some Americans were dropped by their health plans because of changes mandated by the Affordable Care Act, he will tour a busy cargo and cruise ship port, the White House said. Again, he will convey the message that the United States should spend more on its roads, bridges and ports as a way to create jobs and strengthen U.S. firms through increased trade. Said on Friday, he will speak after the government that employers added 204,000 jobs in October despite a 16-day government shutdown, although the jobless rate ticked up to 7.3 percent. The White House expected that there would have been 120,000 additional jobs created in the month if not for the shuttering of government offices regardless of the surprisingly strong employment report. The administration has repeatedly said that the economy would be growing more rapidly and job growth would be more robust without the shutdown, prompted by Republican efforts to defund or delay the healthcare law, known as Obamacare. Yet, the jobs report suggested the impact of the shutdown on the economy was slighter than many had thought. The Mississippi River port will provide Obama an appropriate setting to discuss about his proposal to spend $50 billion to repair and upgrade the nation's infrastructure and efforts to expand trade. The president "believes that exports are central to our national economy and has made increasing exports a major focus for his administration," the White House said in a statement. However, because of lingering questions about Obamacare, Obama's efforts to press Congress for more spending to strengthen economic growth will be overshadowed. The failed even out of the online signup process for in