If you want to move abroad and find work, the green sector is definitely the one to look into. Since 2005 in the construction business alone, 77,000 jobs have been created and 22,000 more are expected to be developed within the next five years.
November 1 was All Saints Day, a public holiday in Western Europe. It is the day when people traditionally visit cemeteries to lay heather and chrysanthemums on the graves of relatives and friends. In this sector, as well, the green professions are growing. Some undertakers have started to make coffins out of banana tree leaves. They sell for €1200 (in today’s exchange rate, about $1,600), which is the same price as for the lowest priced regular coffin. Funeral directors provide biodegradable urns now as well.
But while observing November 1 – or any other holiday – be sure to lock your car when you park. A law was put into place that requires you to pay a €50 fine (approximately $67 in today’s exchange rate) when caught leaving your car unlocked. Even your windows should be left no more than a slight crack open.
In Belgium, registration fees for higher education pay €835 (approximately $1,250) per year.
Students who have parents with intermediary incomes pay €375 (approximately $560) per year.
Scholarship holders pay no registration fees.
In addition to the registration fees, courses, books, and computers (or even computer access) must be paid. This brings the total to €8000 to €12,000 for a year of study at the university (approximately $12,000 to $18,000 per year). … Read more
Since these countries held the banks accountable for the economic crisis, the economic recovery has been occurring a lot faster than in the U.S.
The temporary staffing company ManPower Belgium has recorded an increase of 25 to 30% in staffing requirements. Currently, they are actively recruiting new people for their staffing pools in the finance and real estate markets.
Belgium is heavily investing in its infrastructure: potholes being repaired and roads being repaved. The country may not have a federal government, but the regional and local governments are certainly functioning. Not having a federal government hurts Belgium as far as investments are concerned and also on a credibility level where politics are concerned. They did, however, successfully conclude their 6-month European presidency.
September 5: Father’s Day in Australia and New Zealand.
September 6: Labor Day in the United States.
September 6: Defense of Pakistan day.
September 8: Start of the Jewish New Year around the world (in the evening).
September 12: Grandparents’ Day in the United States.
September 15: Respect for the Aged Day in the Pacific Rim.
Some general rules about Asian customs:
- If possible, have a respected well-connected third party introduce you.
- Don’t stand too close to anyone.
- Don’t try to maintain eye contact.
- Stand or sit up straight.
- Don’t touch or backslap anyone.
- Be sure to stand before shaking hands.
- Always remove gloves before shaking hands.
- Never shake hands with one hand in your pocket.
Last time, I ended by talking about a job seeker or entrepreneur needing the local population’s cooperation if he or she is to succeed. The most inviting way is to make an effort to learn the language, however basic it may be. A second way is to concentrate on local customs.
Both men and women use subtle, quiet manners in business situations. They disapprove of aggressive behavior. Prior to working overseas, some of the following items need to be done:
Especially for women:
Next time, I’ll discuss some social customs in greater detail.
This article was written by Zeliha Chaffin (AFP).
PARIS, France — Tall and dapper at 78, Yvon Castaing is not your average grandpa: the Frenchman is a professional model, a second career he stumbled on 15 years ago after retiring from his first.
Advertising used to focus almost exclusively on the young, the nubile, the energetic. But as Western populations age better and better, models over 60—sometimes way over 60—have become increasingly bankable.
Castaing is, well, straight from central casting, the perfect gentleman in a blue-and-white striped shirt matched to his blue eyes, and as crisp as his diction is clear.
“I am a dandy, I admit it,” he says disarmingly.
Born into a large family in 1932, Castaing started his career with a brief stint in the hotel business but found his calling selling perfume at the esteemed French luxury house Hermes.
“I was a good salesman,” he said with a smile. “I guess that’s why I also like modeling—you have to sell yourself.”
His new career started in 1994 after a chance encounter with Beatrice Costantini, an actress who also heads Agence Di, a Paris-based agency specialized in actors that offers a large selection of seniors.
“When I started my agency, there was a demand for grandmother types—little old ladies with grey hair, tiny grannies who made jam and biscuits,” Costantini told AFP.
“But over the years the traditional grandma is no longer true to type. People now want healthy dynamic seniors,” explains Costantini.
Castaing had long flirted with the idea of becoming an actor, even taking lessons and appearing in a few amateur plays. So when Costantini asked if he wanted to cast for an advertisement, it didn’t seem like too big a leap.
Over the next couple of years, he had walk-on roles in movies for Roman Polanski, Martin Scorsese and French director Claude Lelouch, but today he only does commercials and print ads.
Business is booming. Having wrinkles, it seems, is no longer a taboo.
“There is definitely a market for seniors today,” said Costantini, whose agency has more than 500 models on tap in its “Young Forever” department.
Nearly 30 percent of people in France are over 55, demographically typical of many rich nations. So old is becoming gold, and ads for stair lifts and dentures adhesive just don’t cut it any more.
Françoise de Stael, also 78 and one of the leading lights on France’s seniors modeling scene, has seen the profession become far more competitive as brands look to corner the seniors market.
“You have to struggle every day to keep your place in this milieu,” she said. “There are a limited number of opportunities, and there are more and more people showing up for senior castings, some of them only 50. You need a lot of patience.”
A former fashion model, De Stael says that apart from the cash “it’s good for morale.”
“We remain young because we work with young people. That’s what I really love about this job.”
But a sunset-years career on the catwalk or in front of a camera can have its perils.
“I did a shoot on my 60th birthday in which they asked me to jump on a trampoline,” Castaing recalled. “I did it, but it wasn’t easy and I wound up with an acute inflammation of the knee.”
“Sometimes they ask us to do very stupid things to give an image of dynamic seniors, able to do the same things as youths”, De Stael said.
Paradoxically, working behind a camera well into their 70s has made both models less self-conscious about their looks.
“I used to be too narcissistic. But at some point, you really do realize that beauty is only skin deep,” Castaing said. “Being young is all in your mind.”
De Stael says she won’t invest in cosmetic surgery or rejuvenation shots just to stay competitive.
Being philosophical about looks doesn’t mean letting oneself go, however.
Castaing cycles and swims every day, and is careful about what he eats. De Stael walks vigorously, and takes special care of her hair and nails.
“The engine gets tired but the bodywork’s still OK,” said Castaing.
Father’s Day is celebrated on the second Sunday in June in Belgium and Austria. For other European countries, it is celebrated on the third Sunday in June just like in the U.S.
A first-ever summit was just held between France and various African countries. At first, French president Sarkozy was against it, but now he encourages the Security Council to allow the African countries to participate as well.
Software engineering opportunities abound at Skyline Communications in Izegem.
Expatica.com is a great resource for expatriates wanting to find work.
eHow.com is a good site for finding positions in The Netherlands.
Currently, job opportunities are to be found in the Golf Club Management industry in Uganda for those of you looking to work in Africa for a while.
Several cities in Vietnam are looking for teachers who can teach English. Divemasters also have an opportunity in this country: Rainbow Divers are the longest established PADI dive centers in Vietnam and the only PADI CDC, IDCs and National Geographic centers throughout the country. They currently have vacancies for enthusiastic DMs who are looking toward completing their IDCs.
Pfizer Laboratories are offering work opportunities in India.
Remember, your clients need more than just pick up a suitcase and go. First thing to do is to check with the appropriate consulate to see what kind of Visa or passport (or both) is necessary. If this is not in order, nothing else matters.
Once the proper paperwork can be obtained either through the consulate or an attorney specializing in these matters, your clients need to check out the climate to see if they can take it. This is important because if, for instance, you are used to living in a sunny climate and all of sudden, you have to live in a rainy climate, you could develop depression. By the same token, if you are used to a cool climate and suddenly you must live in a warm and humid climate, could you survive it? We are talking long term here, not just a few days.
When the answer is yes, it would behoove your client to start learning the language, however basic. The grumbling is getting louder throughout the world about people invading countries—whether legally or seeking refuge—without making the slightest effort to learn the local language. Your client will need the local population’s cooperation if he or she is to succeed.
More on this next month. In the meantime, many Independence Day celebrations coming up: June 30 (Congo), July 1 (Canada), July 4 (USA), July 9 (Argentina), July 14 (France), July 20 (Colombia), July 21 (Belgium), August 1 (Switzerland). Let’s celebrate!
Crises are rampant from Europe to Africa and Asia. The Belgian government is crumbling and elections will have to be held in June. This means that the many files the government needed to handle will be on hold again until after the elections. These files include unemployment, the homeless, and the immigrants. Unless you work for NATO in Brussels, no new employment is taking place in that country. One exception: if you’re either a basketball or a baseball coach, you’ll get right in.
Athenians are up in arms and fed up with their government. Harsh restrictions are being imposed to get through their difficult economic times. Government officials are being blamed here as they have not been transparent about their handling of the people’s money.
South Africa is in a new crisis as the jointly run government is being targeted for the poverty that has slowly taken over that country. It used to be one of the richest countries on the continent, but no more. South Africa has been in a constant decline for the past 20 years.
Bangkok’s financial neighborhood is under siege because of the “red shirts” protesting against the current government. They want their previous leader reinstated. Constant clashes are taking place between the current party supporters and the “red shirts.” And they do wear red.
On a happier note:
Taiwan’s economy is improving as more and larger orders are being placed by foreign countries.
Mail service to Northern Europe has resumed as planes are allowed to fly over that region again.
The Hungarians decided to vote to the right this time while the Austrians reelected Heinz Fischer as their president. He obtained 79% of the vote. What is remarkable in Austria is that the people directly elect the president. Sixteen-year olds were allowed to vote for the first time in this past election.
So job opportunities in the business sector currently exist in Central and Eastern Europe as well as in Taiwan and China. There is a great need for volunteers all over the world: campaigns to fight poverty and to protect civil liberties abound.
There are some slowdowns or short interruptions taking place at the moment in various parts of the world.
This past weekend, employees of the supermarket Carrefour chose not to strike and close down the Belgian stores which are slated for closure by the French grocery chain. Instead, they enlisted the help of their customers by having them sign petitions in support of the employees.
Solidarity is a big thing at the moment in Western Europe where they are still trying to recover from the economy. If a few workers are laid off (no matter the industry), the remaining workers go on strike in solidarity for their “buddies,” so that either they are not laid off or there is at least reduced employment. This is accomplished simply by locking up management in the work facility, be it a manufacturing plant or an office building, so that they cannot go home and have to stay and participate in “talks” until the issues are resolved.
Yesterday, France had its first part of elections. Second part will take place next Sunday. This is the first time a 52% abstention of voters has occurred. The various parties are trying to figure out how to get the electorate to the voting booths next Sunday.
For people employed in the rebuilding of Iraq: Iraq also held its elections and the current leader is leading the opposition by 7 to 5 regions. Shirin Ebadi, Iraq’s Nobel prize winner for peace, recommends political sanctions rather than economical ones. She believes they will be more effective.
Bangkok is in an uproar as about 150,000 people are trying to have the current government disintegrated and the former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra reinstated.
This blog probably reads more like a news blog; however, all these activities create a slowdown in work performance. People tend to get seriously involved. Optimum efficiency is not the order of the day when one has to go and rally in the streets, protest, or discuss politics. No hiring (especially of foreigners) is occurring right now in the above mentioned regions.
