Intervista #4 - Trake, da Lisbona a Brussells

Back in February 2012 I met my friend Trake in Lisbon, at Royce Gracie Academy, during one of my Jiu Jitsu trips, and since then we kept in touch.

Hello Trake, thanks for accepting this interview, can you tell us something about you? What is your education and your professional path and what lead you to work abroad?
Hello my friend my name is Stavros Maniateas, I am coming from Greece. I have a BSc in Computer Information Systems and an MBA(Master in Business Administration).

As I finished my studies I had to go for military service all Greeks we have to do this, before I go to there I was working in IT sales for a greek small firm in parallel with my studies. After the army by the end of 2010 I found another temporary contract for 3 months in Greece again in IT sales, and then I decided to move abroad.

Crisis in Greece is still very hard especially for the young people, I moved in Portugal to work for a 6 months contract in Siemens ,after that I came back in Athens I found another 3months contract but the situation is really bad and finally this March I moved again for Belgium and more specific to Brussels for Louis Vuitton.

How was working and living in Portugal? How the crisis is impacting this country?
For me it was very difficult to communicate with out Portuguese there and my life was really difficult in the beginning.When I started learning Portuguese things were better. After that I found my way for the docas and Bairo Alto and I was happier LOL In Portugal the situation is really tough, crisis hit their economy as bad as in Greece, but I saw people in very difficult living conditions, like in some areas in Athens as well.

People they have told me that they are planning to leave for Angola and Brazil as they are developing economies, I saw also young people talking and planning to go anywhere in Europe obviously they mean UK, central and North Europe. The salaries there are the lowest in Europe, even from Greece the Portuguese basic salary is lower, also many people were working with out insurance as it happens in Greece as well. The interesting thing are prices of the products /services and the rents. Are expensive in comparison with their basic income.

The worst thing which I saw there is they are doing the same mistakes with the greek government. They follow the crazy German austerity rules and they destroy their economy as they increase taxes and they cut the salaries. Unemployment is very high especially to the young people from 18 to 30 years old. Ok I will not analyze it more now about economic and crisis situation,

I can say Portuguese people are very friendly and kind ,they really provide hospitality and is a very beautiful country ,with very good food. I suggest to everybody to go for holiday and not only for the European BJJ Championship :p

What brought you back to Greece and did you try to find any job in your country? Was it difficult?
As I wrote before after Portugal I came back to Athens, as I started to search again for a position it was very difficult to find a job ,but I found one in Athens it was a commercial project contract, but as the situation is very bad the owner was clear that the contract is only for 3 months.
I said ok its nice to try to work in my country it will be another experience.

Can you tell us something about the crisis in Greece?
I can write many pages about it,I will try to describe it in general. The situation now the 6th year of crisis is very bad, especially for the young people and the people in the middle age where they are losing their jobs.

The first group can not enter the market even if they have great studies as they do not have the required experience, the second group when they are losing their job is impossible gain to the market as they are old and they do not perform the same good as the youngers etc as you can understand the situation is crazy the young people are leaving Greece and they go anywhere they can, the older people are trapped with their families in loands,debts etc ofcourse they are people where they have great connections and they live like kings these people the system never touches, they do not pay taxes they do not care to improve their companies and in general they speak for the others and never for themselves.

These people has to pay and not the majority where they are almost poor right now, as the middle class dropped with the poor , the poors are completely miserable and the funny thing of the story is that the rich people becomes richer, do not ask me how you can imagine… corruption of course is the key word for them and the governmental employees in the important positions.

So now you work in Belgium for a leading international company, congratulations! 
How did you find this job, did you apply from Greece? Did you have any other offer from foreign countries?
I found the position from Greece, internet of course. The interviews where from distance. Yes I had from Germany an offer at the same time, but I had already accept the offer from the Belgium.

Can you describe the selection process?
2 telephone interviews, one face to face with a director in greece and finally a telecoference with 3 people

I know you moved recently but can you tell me about the quality of life and overall situation in Brussells, Belgium ? 
The quality of life in my opinion is very good, Brussels is safe in comparison with Lisbon and Athens. Unemployment is around 10 percent. The city is very international you can communicate easily with English almost to everywhere. Also as the centre of EU you can meet people from all over the Europe to live and working here,transportation is very good, the authorities very organized and I am really impressed with the facilities.

Would you suggest someone from Italy to move there to start their life abroad? 
What languages are required? 
Of course I suggest someone from Italy to come and work here. I have to mention that I met many Italians here, they need English or French but if they speak Flemish(kind of dutch) they have more chances to get a position, as the Flemish regions are having very low unemployment rates.

But to be realistic in Brussels you can get a position with English or French but you need to be patient like anywhere in Europe.
I would like to suggest people that they have first to find the job and then move here, as the rents and life here is quite expensive.

What are your plans for the future? Are you and your future wife willing to go back home one day or you prefer planning your life abroad?
Our plans are to live and motivate ourselves in Belgium, I think for me it would be very difficult the next years to come back but you never know what will be happen in the future.
I am optimist that one day south Europe will be better for us to come back.

Finally I am planning to continue training in Belgium as they have a good level in BJJ.

Thanks and good luck!

Costo della vita nelle altre città del mondo

Numbeo è un database che raccoglie i prezzi e il costo della vita nelle principali città del globo.

Fino ad ora sono stati inseriti 769640 prezzi in 3448 città da 90437 utenti!!! 

Ci sono diverse voci per ogni città / paese:

• Cost of living
• Property price
• Crime
• Traffic
• Healthcare
• Pollution
• Quality of life
• Travel

Buon divertimento con tutti questi dati e numeri...

... solo un avvertimento: navigare su questo sito causa un'incazzatura notevole e una voglia di fare le valigie incontrollabile!

Capire gli inglesi

La cultura anglosassone presenta sostanziali differenze rispetto alla nostra, un caso interessante è l'ambiguità di certe frasi e come spesso hanno un significato diametricamente opposto da quello letterale!

Se siete interessati e volete sapere di più vi consiglio di leggere:

• Watching the English

Pubblicato nel 2005, descrive le regole e i pattern comportamentali alla base dei rapporti sociali e della comunicazione nella società inglese.

Ho letto qualche pagina e mi è sembrato interessante.

Ref

Stop reading Facebook and read this!

Il titolo di questo articolo è l'oggetto della email che ho ricevuto 2 giorni fa.

Secondo voi di cosa si trattava? spam o pubblicità invasiva, vero? 

Sbagliato!

Era un reclutatore che per uscire dagli schemi ha deciso di mandare una mass email a tutti i suoi contatti con un titolo piuttosto originale.

Devo ammettere che l'effetto sorpresa c'è stato, e anche per questo ho deciso di condividerlo!

Hey there!

Boring day at the office? Wouldn't you rather be working with an exciting young web apps firm on a company-making, nationwide project??

My client seeks a PHP web applications developer, [...].

A salary of up to £45k is on offer for this position, along with additional benefits which I'll outline to you when you pick up the phone and call me!
Warm regards, 

Per motivi di privacy non posso pubblicare l'annuncio completo, se qualcuno di voi fosse interessato a questa posizione postata il 16/5 scrivetemi pure.

99 motivi per vivere a Londra

1. You feel really smooth when you use your Oyster

2. You WILL bump into people more than you think...

3. ...and when you do it feels like the greatest thing ever

4. When you understand the tube map you'll realise how painfully simple it is

5. Everyone knows someone who lives there

6. Online dating is totally acceptable

7. No matter what you want to do with your career, you can do it in London

8. The Natural History Museum is totally free

9. As is the Science Museum

10. And the British Musem

11. And the Tate

12. And the Tate Modern

13. OK, naming all of them would probably be cheating - but there are a whole world of free galleries and museums

14. There are 4500 pubs & bars

15. Sitting in the park on a summer's day

16. You don't have to be nice to strangers

17. There are hundreds of thousands of single people

18. You see famous people all the time

19. You feel really smug when you go back home and tell your friends about London life

20. It's one of the most ethnically diverse cities in the world

21. Whatever type of food you want, you'll find it

22. Your commute will take you past some of the most famous landmarks in the world

23. It rains a lot less than it does in the north

24. The view from Waterloo bridge looking east

25. The view from Waterloo bridge looking west

26. Drinking by the Thames

27. Yes, it's more expensive, but you'll earn more there than anywhere else

28. Topshop on Oxford Street

29. Westfield Stratford is the largest urban shopping centre in the EU

30. The Olympics showed that all Londoners can be nice when they want to be

31. Miss the countryside? There are urban farms

32. Once you know you way around there is no greater feeling than a tourist asking you for directions and you actually knowing the answer

33. The fancy double doors on the Jubilee Line

34. Markets. So many markets

35. London gets less rain per year than anywhere else in the UK - just 700mm, compared to 1200mm in Cardiff

36. People who live in London live 5 years longer than the national average

37. Every band who tours plays in London

38. You can just hop on a train to Paris when you get bored

39. It's home to some of the most famous sporting venues in the world - Wembley, Twickenham, Lords, Wimbledon...

40. Home is always just a few hours away

41. You can never be bored with TimeOut telling you what to do

42. Nightbuses. You can always get home thanks to nightbuses

43. The top deck on nightbuses: the party continues

44. Stunning views from The Shard, The London Eye and Primrose Hill

45. EVERYONE goes for drinks after work

46. You can always drink without worrying about how you're going to get home. NO ONE drives

47. Want to still feel like a student? Move to Clapham

48. Infernos

49. When it rains it never lasts that long

50. Running along the river makes running much less depressing

51. When you watch the Apprentice you'll be able to recognise everywhere they go

52. If leaving uni is making you feel old, moving to London will make you feel young again

53. There are a seemingly endless number of high-end burger restaurants

54. Getting angry at tourists who are getting in your way is weirdly liberating

55. Boris

56. Curries on Brick Lane

57. Laughing at the word 'Cockfosters'

58. In depth conversations with taxi drivers

59. Warehouse parties where no one looks twice if you enter wearing a horse's head

60. You're always going to meet someone who is stranger than you

61. Free gigs - up and coming bands that can either be sh*t or become mega superstars

62. Sample sales

63. Vintage markets

64. Boris bikes

65. There are endless exercise fads for people who hate the gym - e.g. sober disco dancing

66. It's a great place to be single

67. It's a great place to be in a relationship

68. Musicals

69. Fringe theatre/ performance art: where else can you see a woman crack an egg using her lady parts? OK, maybe Bangkok.

70. When you live here, you can do all the tourist things during off-peak times

71. Retrace favourite film character's steps: Notting Hill, 28 Days Later, Harry Potter...

72. Christmas markets the size of your uni town

73. Top hairdressing schools = free hair cuts galore

74. Book exchanges = free books

75. People back home will think you're really tough for living in London

76. Museum Lates - you can get drunk AND learn

77. Zoo Lates - you can get drunk AND look at animals

78. You can watch a play at the Globe for a fiver

79. There’s always a house party

80. There’s always an after party

81. There's always a new street, a new park , a new pub to discover

82. Love hipsters? East London is your Mecca

83. Hate hipsters? Move to South London. They're too scared to cross the river

84. When friends visit you feel really smug about how scared they are

85. The Queen lives here

86. You'll almost certainly bump into Prince Harry on a night out

87. When you leave work your town is coming alive not winding down

88. There are outdoor swimming pools all over the city

89. Fourteen-and-a-half million tourists visited London in 2010, ranking London the most visited of all European cities. They can't all be wrong

90. Wherever you go on holiday it will feel cheap by comparison

91. We have buildings called things like the Gherkin, the Shard, the Cheesegrater and the Walkie Talkie

92. The circle line pub crawl has 27 pubs

93. We throw a great party...

94. You'll fall in love on the tube around 17 times a day

95. Everyone passes through London at some point, so you don't have to visit anyone

96. You can go out on any night of the week

97. In the summer it's always hotter in London than anywhere else in the country

98. There are more hot people here than anywhere else

99. There are a LOT of airports if you need to get away

Reference: studentsbean

Cercare lavoro all'estero dall'Italia

Il mio amico Simone mi chiede:

...è possibile cercare un lavoro a londra mentre si sta lavorando in italia ?
quindi, come fa uno che ha un lavoro, ma vuole spostarsi e cambiarlo, a trovare i colloqui prima di recarsi a londra, così da concentrarli in una settimana di ferie?

Premessa
Partendo dal presupposto che si stia cercando un lavoro qualificato / specialistico è necessario

1. parlare un inglese fluente, altrimenti non supererete la fase di colloquio iniziale
2. avere un CV appetibile e un'esperienza significativa 

Perchè mai un datore di lavoro dovrebbe assumere un italiano, che sta in Italia, se può trovare una persona che sa fare le stesse cose sul suolo inglese (o dovunque sia)?

Ciò nonostante ho letto di diverse storie di persone contattate mentre erano in Italia, a cui è stato offerto un posto di lavoro in UK o in altri paesi stranieri, quindi non è una cosa impossibile, tuttavia risulta molto meno probabile trovare lavoro quando si è a 1000km di distanza!

Come cercare lavoro?

Il mio consiglio è di farvi pubblicità online tramite Linkedin e le job board (e.g. monster.co.uk).

Registratevi, pubblicate il vostro CV e aggiornatelo spesso in modo che salti all'occhio ai recruiter.

Io stesso ho ricevuto delle chiamate mentre ero in Italia, prima di partire, ma la maggior parte delle volte erano posizioni di call center tecnico, magari in Irlanda.

Inutile dire poi che dovrete darvi da fare cercando annunci che facciano al caso vostro e spedendo CV.

Il processo di selezione

Solitamente i colloqui a distanza avvengono tramite una prima telefonata per verificare il vostro interesse e tastare il terreno da parte del reclutatore o delle risorse umane, in seguito vengono organizzate una o più telephone/skype interviews.

Se tutto va bene verrete invitati a un colloquio dal vivo. 

Probabilmente non vi rimborseranno il viaggio, ma se dovessero farlo, buon per voi!

Come trovare lavoro senza licenziarsi in Italia?

Semplice, mandate CV, fate i vostri colloqui telefonici e se vi offrono un colloquio dal vivo e il ruolo vi convince andate a farlo!

Prendete 2 giorni di ferie e buttatevi! Inutile dire che questo approccio non vi costerà poco, dato che prenotare i voli con pochi giorni di anticipo può essere un salasso!

Ovviamente se riuscite a combinare due colloqui nella stessa settimana meglio ancora... ma è una cosa piuttosto improbabile, coi tempi che passano.

Storie di vita

Due ragazzi con cui ho studiato sono stati invitati per un colloquio a Londra, gli è stato rimborsato il volo e a uno dei due è stata fatta un'offerta molto appetibile. Si parla di profili con 4-6 anni di esperienza nel campo dell'ingegneria del SW e della consulenza IT.

Conclusione

Per me è stato facile andarmene e trasferirmi all'estero e cercare lavoro in terra straniera. 

Mi rendo conto però che per altri può risultare difficile l'idea di licenziarsi e buttarsi all'avventura.

Cercare lavoro dall'Italia è, a mio parere, MOLTO difficile, ma di certo non impossibile.

Non solo per la difficoltà nel venire invitati a un colloquio ma specialmente per l'aspetto psicologico dietro la vostra ricerca di lavoro all'estero.

Mi spiego.

Se non ve la sentite di tagliare i ponti e bruciare le navi partendo per la vostra nuova vita avrete sempre un approccio molto light alla ricerca del lavoro all'estero, perchè dopo tutto un lavoro già lo avete in Italia, avete gia una stabilità e chi ve lo fa fare di impegnarvi al 110% nel mandare CV e cercare contatti.

Quindi unendo le già basse probabilità di trovare datori di lavoro che siano disposti a assumere un'italiano in Italia a un atteggiamento mentale pigro (passatemi il termine), le probabilità di farcela sono estremamente basse.

Detto questo, in bocca al lupo a tutti!

Lavorare da Pret A Manger

Per chi non lo sapesse la paga minima nel Regno Unito, detta anche minimum wage, è 6.19 £ / hr.

Visto che il settore della ristorazione è preso d'assalto i datori di lavori tendono a pagare il minimo sindacale.

Un' interessante eccezione è Pret A Manger, una catena molto famosa in UK, che offre 7.50 £/hr. 

Date un'occhiata al loro sito e, se dovesse fare al caso vostro, preparatevi a fare un colloquio!

http://www.pret.com/jobs/

In bocca al lupo!

Ps. se pensavate di lavorare da Starbucks, lasciate perdere, pure li la paga è minima!