Finding a job!!! – Part II

Ok…. in my last post I talked about how I found a job, well, actually started writing about it, but I never finished it, so this is the second and last part on how I found my full time job.

Continuing…

4.- The interview:

The day of the interview arrived, Thursday 3 May. I had prepared everything during the previous days. I also went to the place where the interview was a couple of days before just to know for sure where it was so I wasn’t going to be late.

That morning, Ale, a friend, went to my place and helped me with lunch (bought sushi and brought it home hehehe), talked with me in English for me to be a bit more fluent, and came with me to the place of my interview. We arrived at Central at 2pm (my interview was at 3), and sat until 2:35 in a nearby coffee shop, talked for a while and had a chamomile (for the nervousness).

I arrived at 2:45 at the Dean’s Unit (always show up for an interview 15 min before, not more than that), sat for 5 minutes there until the Head of School, Heather, came out, introduced herself and invited me to follow her. While walking she said: “We will have about 30 minutes to talk”… Meaning: the interview was going to last half an hour.

We arrived at a conference room, where three other people were: the Director of the program in Urban Planning, the Director of the research centre “Centre for Contemporary Design Practices” and one leading Senior Lecturer. I sat down and the interview formally started.

They went directly to the point, so the questions were really focused on their selection criteria. What did they ask me (you could use them and relate them to your own work field after some “adaptations") and what did I answer (a tiny summary of the answer) – remember that all the answers are CLOSELY related to the job ad and the selection criteria:

1.- Tell me three strengths you have and how can they relate to the Urban Planning Program? What can you bring to the program?

I am flexible enough to adapt to different multidisciplinary backgrounds and to work with different projects and assignments at the same time.

Since I am a non-English background lecturer I can relate with the needs of non-English background students, and help them understand more easily the subjects we are discussing.

I am really organised and a good planner, which is appropriate in lecturing and researching when trying to achieve goals such as publications.

2.- Tell me about a time you had a problem working in a multidisciplinary team; and what do you think is the greatest challenge in working in multidisciplinary teams?

I described a STAR response:

Situation: In my last job in a participatory design meeting a social worker was encouraging the community to make more demands, creating a disruption in the design process.

Task: I had to control the situation, neutralise the social worker and make the participatory design process to continue smoothly.

Action: I assigned one of the team member to continuo with the design process. I took aside the social worker, explained to him what we were doing and how he could work with us, which he fully understood.

Result: After the quick discussion the social worker apologised, got in track with what we were doing and collaborated with all. In the end, we successfully finalised the participatory design process, in which both the community and the technical teams were happy with the proposed house. [always a happy and positive ending].

In conclusion the most challenging thing about working in multidisciplinary teams is for each member to fully understand what the other professionals are doing in the project.

3.- Do you have a specific research area and focus? Because I see here in your resume that you are finalising Psychology.

For this answer I asked if I could tell a bit about myself and my professional development because it related to my research focus. (Always ask for feedback)… they said “ok, of course”, and they I started telling on how since my master I always cared about designing for people, and after that working in a research with environmental psychologists and how that was vital for me to define my working interest. So, I studied psychology to get a better understanding on the processes relating the human being and their built environment.

Since all that, my research interest is the relationship between culture and cultural expressions and the built environment, specially the public space.

4.- Tell me about you teaching approach and what do you think it is the challenge in teaching nowadays?

My teaching approach is student-centred… and the challenge nowadays is to jump from a traditional approach where the teacher is the expert to an more equalitarian education where every person in the class contribute to the learning experience.

5.- When are you finalising your PhD?

In the last trimester of this year. [btw, I have to work HARD to achieve that, but now I just HAVE to, and I WILL].

6.- If you were the chosen candidate, when would you be able to start?

I am currently available, so I could start whenever it suits the institution.

…………………………………………………………………………………………..

After that they asked me if I had any questions, and that my friends is THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF THE INTERVIEW. Why? Because there you can not only show that you’re interested to get to know more about the position, but also it’s the opportunity to demonstrate what you researched about the company / university.

In my case I asked three questions:

1. I read on your website that you have three postgraduate courses and that in two of them you have sustainability, urban design and planning theories courses. Is the lecturer position related to any of those subjects?
2. I also got to know that you have several research centres in the Faculty of Architecture, Design and Building. Would the chosen candidate be able to affiliate to any of those centres? How does research work here at UTS regarding that?
3. What are the next steps in the selection process?

To the last question they answered they were going to take a few days to review their notes from the interview process and the reference letters.

The interview lasted for 20 minutes in total. So I left happy about it, but with just one thing on my mind: they didn’t like me so it ended really quickly or they were dazzled by me and they didn’t need more time to make up their mind to hire me.

5.- The call:

The next morning at 8 am, I wrote an email to Heather to thank her and the panel for the interview… and at 8:30 I got a call on my mobile that I couldn’t get at the time…. As soon as I could, I listened to the voice message (it was Heather) and I called her back right away.

She said: “Hi Gabriela, I am calling regarding your interview yesterday. We thought it was really great and we are quite impressed with your teaching experience and your research background, so we’d like to offer you the job”.

As you can imagine I started jumping of happiness all over the unit!!!!!

We talked for a few minutes and arranged a meeting the following Wednesday. 

6.- The contract and beginning to work:

This week HR sent to me by email and post my contract package. So I  am officially contracted by UTS as a Lecturer in Urban Planning… well, actually I’m still in the process of it, filling out all the forms and getting to understand about UniSuper (which manages academic staff’s superannuation).

I’m starting late June, so I have enough time to prepare for classes, which start in August.

Despite that, I already had a work meeting with Heather and next week I’m going to attend as a juror to the pre-final presentation of “Group Project A: Urban Renewals” (one of the courses I’m teaching next semester). I’m really looking forward to that.

And as you imagine: I’m really excited and happy about my new job.

---

To finalise this post, I’d like to make a balance of this three months here and the things I said I should have already done by now:

• Start the skillmax course: started, finished it and found it really helpfull.

• Elaborate my portfolio: also did it… I finished it for my UTS interview (because they asked for professional practice experience), and didn’t use it. However, I don’t regret one bit investing time in this task.

• Work on my thesis: haven’t done that jet… but going to start really soon… at most Monday next week…. full steam ahead!!!

• Look and apply for jobs on a daily bases: didn’t do that either… Instead I focused on giving the best of me in my tutorial at UNSW and in applying the best I could for jobs that fit me.

• Look for a place to move: did that!!! I have to write the post about it. However I’ll give you a little glance of that… I live a lot closer to the city, where I can ride a bike almost everywhere (I will ride to go to UTS), and I live with the most amazing czech girl.

• Socialise with my friends here: ok… doing that!!!! hahahahaha…. every time I can.

• Buy some things for when I move: did that… thankfully my roomie had lots of stuff so I didn’t have much to buy.

• Go to yoga classes: did that, but right now I’m waiting to start at UTS, because the have a Fitness Centre (right across the street from my office) that offers yoga classes, and that have really good prices.

That’s it for now…. it’s been a really long post so far … hope you enjoyed it.

 

Finding a job!!! – Part I

Well, after 82 days (almost 3 months), six job applications and one interview:

I GOT A JOB!!!!

Now… a friend just asked me last week, before my interview, if I thought I have invested my time properly in the job seeking issue, and my answer at that time was: I’ll tell you after I know whether I got this job or not.

As you can imagine, now my answer is: Ok, yes, I think I’ve invested my time properly regarding the job search.

You may think, that was luck!!! And it may be a little bit of that involved, but I’ll tell you what happened and how I did it.

1.- Looking ahead in time:

As I told you in a previous post, networking is an important factor in the job search process in Australia, so, last year even prior I had my visa, I took the opportunity to come here and let myself to be known in my discipline. If you don’t have such an opportunity, well, create it yourselves. It’s not easy, but it’s possible.

From that I got my first casual job (local experience) and one of my referees.

So (again) networking works!!!!!! Be on top of that!!!!

2.- Applying for jobs:

I’m not going to talk about how to look for a job and how to apply for them, because there are too many blogs and forums that provide that information in a very detailed way. However I’m going to lay out some tips about it while letting you know my personal experience.

As I said before, I only applied in total for 6 jobs. The first two was as an Urban Designer in the City of Sydney. One of them was a little bit out of my league, and the other one was perfect (I applied the second day I was here). However, when applying for Local Government job (as well as other institutions such as universities) besides from the cover letter and the resume, you have to address the “Selection Criteria”.

What is that? what is the selection criteria? Well, the institutional ads are quite longer than private industry ones, because the have to give an extensive description of the position and the selection criteria they are going to use to select the chosen candidate. For that you have to write (sometimes also in an extensive way) why and how you have each one of the criteria they ask for.

So, in the City of Sydney application I didn’t know how extensive that had to be, so, after finishing the Skillmax course (for more info read: Skillmax and finding a place to live), I look at that application and I wouldn’t have hired me either. Why? The resume wasn’t completely in the Aussie way, the cover letter didn’t EXACTLY address what they were asking for, and the selection criteria document I sent, well, I’m not even commenting on that. So, bottom line: the Skillmax course does help!!!

The third job I applied was also PERFECT for me: it was a a Lecturer in Urban Planning in UTS. It was the perfect fit for me. A 2,5 years contract, doing exactly what I did in Venezuela: teaching Planning Theories and Urban Planning Studio (workshops), researching, and occasionally external consulting. For that I applied EVERYTHING I had learnt so far in the Skillmax course (we had just finished with resumes and cover letters), and addressed a lot better the selection criteria, not really great, but at least a lot better. That was on the 23 March.

Then in the 2nd and 3rd weeks of April, I applied for 4 jobs: one of Project Architect, one of Interior Designer, one of Revit Documenter and one of Interior Design documenter. The two latter were basic jobs, but I still applied, and the other two were alright, not perfect, not even close, but alright. Well, for those applications I took under consideration everything I learnt in the Skillmax course, however, no responses yet.

Regarding architectural related jobs:

• It’s not that easy… not impossible, but definitely not easy.
• Recruiters don’t usually work with people that have no local experience, so it’s better to do some cold canvasing or to try to get in touch with other working architects (networking once again)
• Bring your portfolio done when you come to Australia
• Learn how to use Revit (a program)… 80% of positions require it!!!
• Start researching and learning about the BCAs (Building Codes of Australia). This depending on what you want to do as an architect.

In general the moral of this part of the story is: apply for different jobs, even if they are not the perfect fit for you, but also you have to look for a job that says “YOU” all over the ad and really make a huge effort in that application. Remember: the resume gets you the interview, not the job… but you HAVE to get the interview first.

3.- Getting an email / call + preparing for the interview:

Of the 6 jobs I applied, I only got one positive response: I was contacted by UTS via email (Tuesday two weeks ago) to attend the 3 May (Thursday last week) an interview at the Dean’s Unit. That same day they contacted me, the Head of School, Heather, contacted via email all my referees asking for some references.

From that day on (for a bit more than a week) I only did one thing: PREPARE FOR THE INTERVIEW.

How to do that (what I did regarding UTS):

1. Research about the selection process. From that I knew it was only going to be ONE interview, and that it had to be minimum of half an hour.
2. Research about the company. In my case, I read EVERYTHING on the website about UTS; about the Faculty of Design, Architecture and Building; about the School of Built Environment (where the position was); about the programs and courses they offered; about how I could fit into those courses; about the staff that worked there…. EVERYTHING!!!
3. Prepare a list of possible questions they may ask you… and write the answers to them. In this case I had a list of 30 questions, from which the first 10 were related to the selection criteria. In the answers always give examples, and if they are behavioural questions (they assume past behaviour predicts future actions) use the S.T.A.R method: Situation – Task – Action – Result… and the result always MUST be a positive one.
4. Prepare a list of possible question you may ask. This is even more important than the previous point, because it shows your interest in the position and in the company.
5. Role-play the interview with a friend. I thank Yoshkar a great time for doing this for me. I emailed him the position description, the selection criteria, my entire application and the 30 questions (without the answers), and we spent all Saturday afternoon practising and revising some important tips about the interview process, such as during the interview it’s good to ask for feedback (f.e.: “Did I answer your question?” “Is it ok this level of details or do you want me to discuss this a bit further?” “Would it be ok if I give an example on that area?”).
6. Prepare your portfolio. This is not only for architects: it is highly recommended for you to bring to the interview a nice folder with the job ad, your resume, well the entire application) and some examples of your work. In architecture this grows by adding your professional portfolio. I must say I did this, but I didn’t use it at all. However, I don’t regret spending a long time in this, because it helped me prepare a bit more, and helped me feel a bit calmer during the interview.
7. Prepare what you’re going to wear: not a silly thing. You have to be dressed properly. So think about it and don’t leave it to the last day, just in case. (Thanks Tocaya)
8. Try to speak only (or mostly) in English the days prior to the interview… and most of all the actual day of the interview… Try not to speak in your mother tongue that day.

Bottom line: PREPARE FOR THE INTERVIEW!!!!!

---

Now, this post is getting too long, so I’ll leave this first part until here. For the next post (coming really soon), I’ll describe the rest of the process, from the interview until now.

Networking!!!

(I wrote this yesterday night in the train coming home)

Today I'm arriving home from my first local job. I started today as a tutor (kind of an academic assistant) in the course "Sustainable Development and the Urban Environment" from the Master in Sustainable Development in the UNSW.

This is a casual job (only for this trimester) of only 3 hours a week... not enough to support myself but enough to help a bit and important enough to be my first local experience.

Now, why the title of the post? Why "networking"? Well, thanks to this I got this job. Last year at the congress I attended in Perth, I met a professor of the UNSW. We exchanged a few emails after the congress and of course this year I let him know I was arriving in Sydney in February. To make the story short, we met and while talking about my settlement here I let him know I was looking for a job... after enquiring about whether I wanted to work in the academic or professional area (both of them which I love) and about my visa conditions, he said: "You know, Gaby, this trimester I'm teaching a course about urban design and sustainability and I've been told I can work with 4 tutors (he explained what that was here and the responsibilities of the position). It's only for this trimester and only a few hours a week, but if you'd like I can send you the syllabus for you to read and if you're interested I'd be happy to work with you."

As you can imagine I was jumping up and down in my head, dancing as the Ally McBeal baby jajaja, but had my poker face on jajaja... so we agreed to that. He also asked me to send him my resume and a sustainable urban project in which I have worked.

We started talking about the last project I worked in and that I left it because of ethical principles, and about the way I design and how people for me is the most important aspect of the design process... well it turned out that he thought the same way I did... ; he said that after all he heard he would gladly work with me in any project :-)

Anyway, the next day I sent him the resume and images if that project, he sent me the syllabus, I called him a couple if hours later and told him I'd love to work as a tutor for his course :-) and that was it.

Today I submitted to the uni the signed contract and had my first class. The best thing is that this is a course I would have taken because it's not only an interesting topic but also a cutting edge approach. I'm going to learn SO MUCH, because I have to understand and manage all the materials in order to be able to guide the students... and all of those are topics I can easily apply to my professional area... it's going to be great!!! And the best of all is the timetable... the class is Thursdays from 6-9 pm so I can keep looking and get a full time job without interfering with one another.

So keep working on your networks and above all be true to yourselves!!!!

ARRIVING INTO MY NEW LIFE: my first week

As I said in my prior post, from now on I'm writing my posts in English, to embrace my arrival at my new country. So I'm telling you the story of my first week here day by day :-), not only as an anecdote, but also as a guide of the first errand you have to do as soon as you get to Oz.

 
Day 1:
Last Sunday 12.2.12 at 10:40am Ellu and I arrived from a 40 hours trip to the Sydney airport. Tired, smelling like crap, but most of all: REALLY EXCITED... our new life was just beginning.
We stepped of the plane and headed off to immigration where our passports where stamped (and our yellow  fever international card was checked). As I declared I carried wood (I had a jewellery box made out of wood,  a belt and a scent burner) they made me go through the AQUIS stage, where all my luggage went through a scanner and where they made me open the suitcase with the wood in it. After checking it they let me go with a smile and good wishes regarding my migration.
At the airport Ellu met with his brother and sister in law (which I knew from school 'cause I studied with her sister since the 4th grade until high school graduation); well, and I met with Juanpa, the guy who rented me his unit for 8 weeks. At home, Caro and Lucas (his wife and gorgeous baby) were waiting for us :). Juanpa and Caro are these Venezuelans I got to know through Aussie Neighbour, because of a post they wrote renting their unit. We spoke using Skype and we liked each other right away. They are an awesome couple I'm really happy to have met.
Well, continuing with my arrival story... that day after arriving, I took a really needed shower, we had some lunch and then we departed on the mission: KEEPING-GABY-AWAKE-TO-AVOID-JETLAG jajaja.
We went to the supermarket and I did my first on-arrival shopping. The good thing is that I only needed to buy food and cleaning things, because their unit is fully equipped.
We got back home at 7 pm more or less. I turned the computer on to write an email to my mom and dad and to apply for the Tax File Number.
The process is really simple... you enter their website and just follow instructions. The only 2 things you need for that are your current address where they can send you the TFN and your passport (because you need to fill in our passport number and some data about your visa). When you're done, make sure  to write down the confirmation number and wait for it to arrive by post mail.
Finally, at 9pm I went to bed :-)

Day 2- Monday 13rd:
I woke up quite early, at 7am... turned the computer on, talked a bit with my mom (she met the guys) and had a nice breakfast with them.
Juanpa and I left the house around 9:30am, went to the post office to pick up a package they were waiting for and I "aproveché" to send to the Venezuelan Embassy in Canberra the papers they ask for in order to get the Consular Registration my mom to "tramitar" "Cadivi Remesa Familiar" [in another post I'll write about this].
After that we took the bus to the Parramatta Westfield, which is quite close (even walking distance depending on how much of a hurry you are). There I enrolled into Medicare. You have to fill up a form, then they (the person who is with you) put your data in the computer and give you a. receipt and you have to wait about a week for the card to arrive also by post mail.
Well, then we went to the city to the main branch of the Commonwealth Bank where I opened my account. Why? Well, because if you open an account being abroad, you have to activate it as soon as you arrive in the country so you can use your money. But that can be done at any bank branch, however my debit card was there, so I did both things in one trip: activate the account and pick up the card. I also updated my home address and asked for statements because you may need them for some transactions and errands.
Then, after staying a bit in the city, we went back home to have lunch with Caro and Lucas. After that the 3 of us went again to the Westfield in Parramatta in order for me to get my so desired iPhone. This first time I couldn't get it because  I didn't reach the 100 points I needed (the phone story is going to be written in another post). The recommendation of the clerk was for me to get a Photo ID issued by the RTA... with that I could reach the needed points. Then we went home and it was time to go to bed.

Day 3- Tuesday 14th:
Juanpa, Caro and Lucas left at 7am to go to the airport to catch a plane to Venezuela. It was my first day by myself.
I had a great breakfast (English muffins with cheese cream and scrambled eggs) and headed off to the RTA.
I got there, took 2 numbers (I didn't know at first which was the one I needed to take), filled a form and waited. When they called my number I went to the booth and gave my passport, the filled form and the bank statement where I had my full name with my current address. Everything so far was perfect until the attendant said: "It's 46$"... when I heard that the phrase that popped in my head was: "WTF!!!!!!!"... and well, with a smile I handed my credit card. Then he took my picture. and in about 10 minutes I left the building with my Photo ID... ready to get my so desired iPhone.
Got to the Westfield, which is only 2 blocks away from the RTA, went directly to Telstra, and after a second attempt I left the store with NO iPhone (again, this deserves its own post). Anyway, after that I was supposed to meet Ellu at Town Hall station, but for that I had to call her from the new phone I didn't have, so I ask for the Telstra girl for a phone where I could call and she allowed me I use the one from the store... after 6 times trying to connect with Ellu I left her a voice message in her sister-in-law's mobile and got even more frustrated jajaja. Then I called Liber, one of my best friends here, who had a pin I bought last year, so she could give it to me to have a phone... guess what?!?! I also reached her voice mail!!! So, no comments.
I left frustrated as hell and went to Town Hall and when Ellu didn't arrive I went to Bondi Junction to get my originals and translations (of the documents I used for the visa application ) from the SCA people.
I got there at 1 pm, expecting the worse, taking under consideration the morning I had. But everything worked out perfectly after that.
Yenny (in behalf of Penny jejeje) took all my documents, gave them to me and the receptionist let me use the phone to call Liber again... this time she DID pick up the phone (in the morning she was vacuuming so she didn't hear it ring). We talked and agreed to meet in Hornsby 'cause she had a doctor's appointment there at 2:30pm.
I went as quickly as I could (Hornsby is far from Bondi Junction) and got to her GP at 2:15... we talked a few minutes and when she was called in, I took Sophia, her gorgeous daughter, and went for a walk :-) (I bought myself a new pillow... really nice, soft and Eco-friendly made by recycled plastic bottles)...
At 3 we returned and met with Liber. We were together until 4:20 aprox 'cause at 6 I was going to meet Arturo (another close friend) at Green Square 'cause I was going to borrow from him a phone (a perfect “potecito”) which is the one I used until Sunday. We met, talked for 15 min, he gave me the phone and walked me back to the station. I got home that day at 8 pm.
I didn't stay longer with him because although I know, rationally, that here walking at night on the streets is safe, there is still some Venezuelan paranoia in me that makes me feel a bit scared of walking alone in the dark.
After arriving home, I made the application to enrol myself in the Skillmax course, which is meant for migrants to help you write resumes and cover letters in the Aussie way, so it becomes easier to apply and get a job.
The process to enrol depends on where you want t study. If it's in the city Ames you can do it online... you need to fill up the application and then upload some docs: your visa (has to be a 175 or 176), your IELTS results (minimum overall score of 6,5), and your qualifications (which I uploaded both in Spanish and the translation I picked up in SCA earlier that day).

Day 4- Wednesday 15th:
This day I was supposed to straighten my things and put my place in order... all my clothes were still in the suitcases. But instead I spent all morning talking through Skype with my mom and dad in a group call... it was hilarious!!!
I also spent my morning applying for a job in the City of Sydney (let's see if something comes out of it - fingers crossed)... it was quite an application, because besides having to modify my CV and cover letter to be suitable for that specific job, I had to write 3 paragraphs about how I met the selection criteria and I had to upload my qualifications, which I did both in Spanish and its translations.
That morning I also received an email from the Skillmax saying I was accepted in the course starting Monday 5th of March, and if I wanted to study there I had to accept some conditions in order to verify my enrolment.
I didn't do that at that time 'cause I wanted to see if I could enrol for the one beginning the prior week which was going to take place in Chastwood. So Ellu and I decided to go there ad fond out if we could do that.
Around 2 pm we met in the Chatswood station, after I went to the Westfield there to buy some credit for my prepaid phone. We walked to the Macquarie Community College where the course was supposed to take place, and guess what?!!! It didn't exist anymore!!! All the neighbours guess they moved (all in shock).
Well, after that we decided to go to the city to enjoy the rest of the day.
That night I confirmed my enrolment in the city's Skillmax course: I begin classes the 5 of March; Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday from 1 to 5 pm

Day 5 - Thursday 16th:
That was the day!!! I was going to straighten my things out!!! But noooooooooo
I went to the bank to make a deposit, and walking to Parramatta I saw a bus that went straight to Ellu's place... so I texted her and took the bus there and we spent the day together.
While being together I had lunch... my first Laksa here :-)

Day 6 - Friday 17th:
Well... on Friday morning I stayed home... FINALLY storing my clothes in the closet... didn't finish but was a very good start.
Friday afternoon I went to Waitara to meet Coralia and Leo. Cora is an architect I met in our Aussie Neighbour. She is quite a special person, really nice and easy going, and very willing to help and give a hand in whatever she can.
Leo and Cora gave me some advise regarding my resume and cover letter, being one of the most important ones that in the cover letter we must write the same exact words that appear on the job add. For example if the add says:"we need an experienced architect with strong skills in Autocad" well, you MUST write exactly that. Why? Because both the cover letter and resume are scanned by a software that looks for the key words; if you don't have them, you won't be even considered.

Day 7 - Saturday 18:
That day I finished with my clothes in the morning and in the afternoon our group met in Arturo and Carila's place to celebrate we all were finally in Sydney, the first of us to be working (Arturo) and our first Aussie to be born this week: Anabella :-) We had a GREAT time.
To end my first seven days in Sydney that night I had my first fire test... I ripped my insecurity-feeling-band aid off: for the first time I was walking home by myself in the dark at night. It was a mix of emotions among frightened to death, happy, excited, nervous, etc. I got home almost bursting into tears because of something that should be natural, something that here is natural... it was my first time and I had a mix of emotions.
After that I'm not afraid anymore to walk home at night.

Ya con fecha de llegada :D – La compra del pasaje

 

Pues si!!! Ya hoy compré el pasaje … ya tengo fecha de llegada a mi nueva vida!!!

¿Quieren saber cuál es?

12 de Febrero 2012

Sip… el 12/02/12 comenzará mi nueva vida en Oz, esa vida que anhelo desde hace tanto tiempo, y que he estado construyendo desde hace un par de años.

¿Cómo es el itinerario?

Bueno, salgo con Air Canada el viernes 10 a las 9 am, escala en Toronto de 5 horas, luego Vancouver (con escala de 1 hora mientras limpian el avión y colocan gasolina) y de ahí a Sydney… tiempo aproximado de viaje: 36 horas.

¿Por qué por Canadá?

Pues fácil, porque era la opción más económica… Cabe destacar que el pasaje no fue comprado con la OIM para poder solicitar Cadivi TC + Efectivo (sacando cuentas sale mucho mejor), así que el ida y vuelta más accesible es ese.

¿Y ahora qué?

Bueno, pues a seguir con el “Check List” de este post… especialmente con lo relacionado al envío de las cosas a llevar y la venta de aquellas que no son necesarias.

De Melbourne a Sydney...

Bueno, pues si... como diría mi mejor amiga: al fin me sinceré conmigo misma de a dónde quería ir...

Si se acuerdan del post Things to do before we go entre las primeras cosas estaba el "Decidir a dónde ir". Según me mejor amiga, ya eso desde que regresé de Oz estaba decidido y que yo sólo me quería engañar a mí misma diciéndome que lo tenía que pensar y analizar... así que como dice el título del post...

El lugar de residencia futura cambió de Melbourne...

... a Sydney...

Sí... la decisión está tomada... Sydney, it is

Ahora, ¿en qué se basó esa decisión?... en diferentes aspectos que expondré a continuación:

1.- ÁMBITO LABORAL: desde el viaje modifiqué mis búsquedas de empleo en seek.com, y definitivamente, aunque en Syd pueda haber mucha más competencia (que en realidad en el campo de la arquitectura creo que es bien pareja con Mel), también hay MUCHA más oferta. Si de Mel me llegan diarias 3  resultados de trabajos, de Syd llegan 15. Hace un año no era tal la situación, pero hoy en día si es así. En otras palabras en Syd tendremos más oportunidad de empleo.

2.- ÁMBITO SOCIAL: aunque muchos digan que no podemos basar la decisión en este aspecto, realmente es MUY importante. El contar con un grupo de amigos con los cuales puedas compartir, con los cuales se pueda brindar un apoyo mutuo, etc., etc. definitivamente pesa. En este sentido, a pesar que en Melbourne conocemos gracias al foro y a los blogs a varias personas, en Sydney puedo decir (pues es lo que siento) que tenemos amigos (you know who you are :D ).

3.- ÁMBITO URBANO: ¿a qué se refiere esto? pues a la ciudad... a pesar que como ciudad, como arquitectura y espacios urbanos estamos enamorados de Mel, pues sí, también Syd es una ciudad para enamorarse de ella; no sólo sus espacios y edificios, sino también su relación con los espacios naturales, y sobre todo con LA PLAYA.

4.- ESTILO DE VIDA: Nosotros hemos evaluado muchas cosas, por las cuales decidimos Australia: lo cultural, comida, outdoors, playa, parques, caminar, montar bici, no necesitar carro para moverte diariamente, entre otros, los cuales se pueden encontrar en ambas ciudades en diferentes medidas. Si bien Mel es más cultural y gastronómica, su estilo de vida es más indoors...y hay que ser sinceros: las playas son ESPANTOSAS (luego de vivir con las playas venezolanas que son espectaculares)... claro su ruedas como 30 min o más encuentras unos paraísos, pero cerca de la ciudad: no comments. Syd por el contrario, puedes comer bien, mas no como en Mel según los expertos, también puedes encontrar alguna oferta cultural, pero definitivamente las playas si son fabulosas... y muy cerca de la ciudad. En definitiva, haciendo un balance de nuestras prioridades: Syd is the winner.

Los cons de Sydney: definitivamente es una ciudad muy cara para comenzar, pero bueno, se puede ver como una inversión.

Aparte les voy a dejar (cortesía de un vaivén de videos argumentarivos entre Rod y yo a modo de campaña publicitaria para irnos a Sydney) varios videos de ambas ciudades donde se refleja bastante el estilo de vida.

De Melbourne:

De Sydney:

...y la tapa del frasco... (o como dice Rod "la cereza en el tope del helado...")

... bueno, ahora lo que me queda es sustituir en la plantilla del blog todo lo que dice o muestra a Melbourne por Sydney, and we're good to go... jajajaja

MY BIRTHDAY

Bueno, si... el viernes 19 de agosto fue mi cumpleaños... cumplí tal como dice la imagen 29.95 + tax.... jajajajajajajaja

En fin, hablando en serio... este cumpleaño fue un tanto particular, muy extraño y sobre todo muy diferente a cómo lo había venido celebrando desde hace 10 años.

El punto es que el comienzo de esta nueva década en mi vida, llega con muchos cambios, mucho retos, muchas emociones y sobre todo mucho crecimiento: personal, profesional, emocional, económico, energético, etc., etc., etc...

Así que bueno, a continuar aprendiendo y a continuar creciendo...

OMG ¡¡¡Pasaportes estampados!!!

En una semana exacta los pasaportes fueron, los estamparon y regresaron... TIEMPO RECORD... jejejeje

Ayer en la tarde como a las 5:30 pm me llamó la encargada de MBE La Urbina (por donde los envié) a decirme que ya tenía los pasaportes en sus manos :D (y eso que yo estuve desde el viernes revisando la guía de retorno y salía como si aun no los hubiesen enviado).

Así se ven las visas (claro, photoshopeado como todo lo que publicamos)...

Bueno, ahora si que llegó la hora de la verdad... no hay vuelta atrás... al ver la visa en los pasaportes me di cuenta que nos vamos del país... a una nueva vida, a unas nuevas costumbres, que dejaremos atrás lo que conocemos, lo que queremos y a lo que estamos acostumbrados, tanto lo bueno como lo malo, simplemente lo abandonaremos y dejaremos atrás... es muy fuerte, pero fue nuestra decisión, de nadie más, nadie la tomó por nosotros, y una decisión pensada, meditada y sentida... y ahora es una decisión hecha realidad (o por lo menos este es el inicio real de esa decisión).

Ahora a seguir con nuestro listado de cosas por hacer ya el tema de a dónde ir, estamos cada vez más cerca (muchos posiblemente se pongan muy felices), aunque la decisión final al respecto aun no está tomada... del resto ya PRONTO comenzaremos con el proceso de limpieza y de venta de cosas... ya les iremos contando los avances.

Saludos a todos...

Electronic Application Status Enquiry – Parte VI - APPLICANT APPROVED!!!!!!!!!

Pues siiiii!!!!! Applicant Approved

Hoy me desperté con un no se qué, y más temprano que nunca revisé la página de DIAC... y EL CAMBIO

 Estoy demasiado emocionada... aunque hoy no fue el mejor día para la aprobación, por asuntos personales, aun no lo estoy disfrutando como debería, pero bueno, pronto será... igual me pone muy feliz :D

Ahora a correr!!!! Jejejejejeje

Electronic Application Status Enquiry – Parte V–A paso de tortuga

 

Hola a todos,

como les había comentado en el post anterior de esta serie, ya tenemos CO, nos solicitaron la forma 80 y la evidencia de inglés del aplicante secundario… pues bueno, han habido avances

Hoy nos enviaron un correo… y se reflejó en la página de DIAC…

Cabe destacar que ese correo le llegó al agente migratorio… así que ni idea… así que estuvieron juntas la emoción y la preocupación…

Al revisar el “Document Checklist”…

… pues ya la forma 80 pasó a “MET” … mas el pago del EEC aun sale “Requested”…. así que como se imaginarán le escribí a mi CM:

Hola fulanita,

te escribo en esta oportunidad pues me acabo de meter otra vez  en la página de Electronic Status Enquiry, y sale que nos enviaron un correo electrónico el día de hoy. Ya las formas 80 salen "MET", pero aun el pago del EEC sale required, e intuyo que el correo hace referencia a eso, aparte que de mi cuenta no han debitado nada. ¿Será que hay algún problema con la autorización?

Espero tu respuesta,

Saludos y abrazos

G.

La respuesta, que fue INMEDIATA, fue:

Hola G.,

Espero sigas bien.

Efectivamente el correo hace referencia al EEC. Como te había dicho anteriormente, seguramente nos iban a pedir el pago del EEC cuando ya todo lo demás estuviera finalizado: como lo último que quedaba eran los formularios 80 y esos ya los mandamos hace días, hoy ha llegado el pedido oficial del Case Officer para el pago, y ya he reenviado la autorización para que así se haga. Supongo que mañana Viernes tendré la confirmación, y ahí recién te notificaré para que estés atenta al respecto.

Saludos cordiales,

Fulanita

  ¡¡¡ OH POR DIOS!!!… AHORA SI QUE FALTA POCO   

Electronic Application Status Enquiry – Parte IV–Grandes avances… Ya tenemos CO!!!

 

En el post de hace unos días llamado Re-Apareciendo con muchos avances hice una promesa, así que acá: el post prometido… cómo se ven los cambios para darnos cuenta que teníamos CO.

Revisión en la página principal…

EL CAMBIO: en la primera parte sale 27.06.11 Application being processed further. Luego, debajo donde la persona 1 sale 27.06.11 e-Mail sent to you.

Ya en Document Checklist:

Ahí como verán ya salen casi todos los documentos “Met” … y los que no, son precisamente los que nos solicitaron en el mencionado correo: Form 80 + Evidence of English language ability.

Ya para esta fecha (14.07.11), la forma fue firmada y enviada, y para el pago del EEC se envió una autorización a DIAC para debitar directamente de mi cuenta (a través de la TC).

Aunque aun el status de la visa sigue así:

Esperemos que pronto cambie esta página

Re-apareciendo con muchos avances...

Hola a todos...

primero que nada disculpen la desaparición por este tiempo... mas ya he vuelto aunque sea con un post corto.

Éste es para hablar, tal cual la imagen indica: de todo un poco... de avances y de esta semana.

Hay tres temas de los que quiero hablar, los cuales ahora sólo escribiré brevemente, y si luego se convertirá cada uno en un post más detallado (pues lo merece).

1.- ESTOY EN OZ :D... pues si...en estos momentos estoy en Oz... más específicamente en Sydney (y mañana me voy una semana a Perth). Llevo acá un poco menos de una semana y estaré un poco más de una semana más.

Como se imaginarán esto es más que MARAVILLOSO!!!!... claro, pensarán que como turista todo es perfecto, pero bueno, es así, aunque muy sinceramente me veo fácilmente viviendo acá, aunque Syd no estaba dentro de nuestras opciones.

2.- ROD, KATHY, LARRY Y LIBER: sin duda alguna qué importante es establecer amistades antes de venir a Oz... los cuatro han sido un apoyo invaluable en millones de aspectos; me han mostrado tanto la ciudad turística como la que se vive de día a día, me han consentido y enseñado, me han hecho recordar que en el mundo los venezolanos somos personas colaboradoras, realistas y sobre todo amigables (no de diplomacia sino de amistad)... de verdad chic@s: MUCHÍSIMAS GRACIAS POR TODO... ESPECIALMENTE POR SU AMISTAD.

Por supuesto, cambiando el tema un poquito, esta semana ha sido total campaña publicitaria para que vengamos para acá a Syd a vivir, tanto viendo lo bonito que me venden, como la realidad desconocida de Oz (modos de vida, aspecto laboral, etc).

3.- (por último pero no menos importante) YA TENEMOS CO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Pues sí!!! ya confirmado... tenemos CO!!!!!... en la página de "Electronic Application Status Enquiry" en el "document checklist" (en el post específico que hable al respecto incluiré las imágenes como he hecho hasta ahora) cambió casi todo a "met"... lo que no cambió fue lo que nos solicitaron por email: (1) la evidencia de inglés del aplicante secundario, lo cual ya esta semana se termina de cancelar el 2nd installment; y (2) la forma 80 firmada nuevamente... parece que tuvo una nueva actualización.

Bueno, la forma 80 como tiene que ser firmada por los dos, pues cuando regrese a CCS la firmaremos, la escanearemos y la enviaremos... nos dieron como deadline para todo el 25 de julio, es decir 28 días.

En fin... ya les seguiré contando y escribiré los posts detallados de cada uno de los temas, así como de otros que tengo en mente ;)


Por ahora me voy a pasear :D

Skilled Migration Blog

 

Hola a todos, les escribo para comentarles que el Secretario Asistente de la Rama de Mercado Laboral de DIAC ha abierto un blog llamado Skilled Migration Blog.

Acá les dejo el link: http://skilledmigration.govspace.gov.au/

Saludos

Electronic Application Status Enquiry – Parte III - OMG!!! Do we have a CO?

 

Heyyyyyyy… ¡¡¡¡algo cambió de nuevo!!!!

08.06.11 Health requirements finalised

… y al darle click a “Message”

Ahora me pregunto: ¿¿¿eso significa que ya tenemos CO???…

….Me imagino que SI

Ya les seguiré contando

DIAC y sus cartas… WE FINALLY GOT IT

 

Post corto: WE FINALLY GOT THE LETTER!!!!

La carta o comunicación que comenté el post anterior que invita a los aplicantes a realizar los Antecedentes Penales y los Exámenes Médicos pues en un período menos a 3 meses nos será asignado CO.

 

Ahora: a por esos documentos!!!!!!!!!

Primero a sacar la citología… luego de eso en paralelo la cita con el médico autorizado y la “visita” al MPPIJ (Ministerio de Interior y Justicia).

Ya les contaré qué tal… para complementar un poco más lo que ya se ha publicado en otros blogs.

Saludos a todos….

P.S.: ¡¡¡ESTAMOS DEMASIADO FELICES!!! (No me quiero ni imaginar si esto es así con una piche comunicación, qué será el día que nos asignen CO y que nos aprueben la visa… jajajaja)

Revisión de la SOL

Hola a todos…. especialmente en este post a los que están en el proceso de aplicación de visa para Oz.

Les comento que he estado leyendo en varios foros que se está haciendo una nueva revisión de la SOL; bueno, de hecho ya tiene tiempo haciéndose.

Sí, exactamente, la van a volver a cambiar. En Mayo de este año, 2011, van a anunciar los cambios, y los van a aplicar a partir del 1ro de Julio… igual que hicieron en año pasado.

En fin, esta revisión de las profesiones la ha estado llevando a cabo Skills Australia, de lo cual hay un estudio de finales del año pasado. A partir de éste se ha especificado el status específico para las diferentes profesiones respecto a la SOL (este es el link).

En el caso de los arquitectos creo que tenemos un muy buen panorama, y CREO que es poco probable que nos quiten de la SOL, así que mucho ánimo!!!

DIAC y sus cartas…

 

Originalmente quería escribir la segunda parte del post referente a las Reacciones Familiares, pero la situación cambió hoy en la mañana… bueno, aunque no la nuestra, por lo menos no aun.

En fin… este post, relacionado con la situación mencionada antes, es referente a la carta / email que han recibido muchos aplicantes a nivel mundial, de Prioridad 3, por parte de DIAC.

En esta carta se les alienta a ir sacando los antecedentes penales y los exámenes médicos pues en un período menor a 3 meses serán contactados por un CO… excelente, no!!!!… y bueno, mejor todavía porque no son casos de junio 2009 (que según la info suministrada por la ASPC son los casos de prioridad 3 que están evaluando), sino gente que ha entrado hasta finales del año pasado… inclusive una amiga nuestra, arquitecto, que entró en Dic-2010.

Pues bueno, nosotros aun NO hemos recibido dicha comunicación… así que estamos con una sensación dual bien extraña, pues si bien nos alegramos muchísimo por esas personas, en especial por nuestra amiga Ellu, la arquitecto que entró en Dic 2010, no dejamos de preguntarnos:

¿y qué pasó con nosotros? Nosotros entramos en Agosto 2010, también somos arquitectos, ¿será una cosa de azar? ¿será por profesión? ¿ será por la documentación de la aplicación? ¿será que VEA ya sabe y simplemente no nos ha avisado? (esperando que sea esta última) ¿será….. ?

En fin, esa preguntadera interna deja un sabor agridulce; a pesar que nosotros sabemos (pues vivimos bajo esa filosofía) que los tiempos del universo son perfectos, igual no dejamos de preguntar ¿qué pasó? y ¿cuándo nos toca a nosotros?

Bueno, esperemos que pronto, esperemos que sea en el momento PERFECTO.

Nuevo Sistema de Puntos

Hola a todos,

hoy publicaron en la página de DIAC respecto al nuevo Sistema a Puntos a ser implementado a partir de Julio 2011., el cual no es retroactivo para las personas que ingresen a migraciones antes de esta fecha.

Les dejo los diferentes links asociados:

-  http://www.immi.gov.au/skilled/general-skilled-migration/whats-new.htm#h

-  http://www.immi.gov.au/skilled/general-skilled-migration/pdf/points-fact.pdf

- http://www.immi.gov.au/skilled/general-skilled-migration/pdf/points-testfaq.pdf

 


Saludos...

Reunión VEA 23 de octubre del 2010

Les copiaré un post que hice en Aussie Neighbor al respecto:

"La agenda de la reunión se dividió en dos partes:

1) hablaron de los avances del sistema migratorio, puntualizando respecto a los SMP que ya todos los estados - regiones los han entregado al DIAC y que este último aun los está revisando para su aprobación. Por otra parte comentaron para los que ya estamos en DIAC y los que están apunto de entrar, que van realmente rápido, pues ya van por el tercer trimestre del 2008 y que estiman que para finales de este año o enero del 2011 ya habrán terminado con todo el 2009, lo que significa que comenzarán con 2010 y que posiblemente los post julios tengamos nuestras visas el año que viene ya aprobadas (la última línea es interpretación mía!! )

2.- El segunto tópico fue respecto al alojamieto temporal y permanente al llegar a Oz, varias recomendaciones y tips, de los cuales hay dos particularmente que me parecen vale la pena resaltar: (1) al buscar apto o casa, resaltan la importancia de la presentación de los documentos, es decir, recomiendan entregar todo SÚPER ordenado, con carpeta y separadores de colores y demás; esto porque se hace una asociación entre el cuidado que le pones a organizar documentos con el cuidado que le puedes dar a la vivienda que quieres ocupar (lo cual me parece bastante lógico); y (2) que al llegar a Oz podemos escribir a la oficina de SCA (para los clientes de VEA), pues ellos nos pueden dar una referencia como empresa australiana, que mantuvimos un contrato por un alto monto de dinero el cual cumplimos y pagamos en los tiempos requeridos, por lo cual somos confiables... y bueno, ya tendríamos una referencia local, que suele ser muy cotizada en el mercado inmobiliario en Oz (según lo que he leido en diferentes posts y blogs).

Y ya.... eso me pareció lo más relevante."

Aparte les cuento que fue bien chévere la reunión previa que tuvimos el grupo de Aussie Neighbor - VEA... aunque no hablamos en inglés :P

Saludos a todos... 

Btw... hoy cumplimos dos meses exactos en DIAC