Some years ago my husband was offered a secondment in Sydney. Two years into married life, a new house in London and my job in publishing going swimmingly, the thought of uprooting everything and moving country could not have been further from my mind.
Though many of the fundamentals, like visas and accommodation, were mapped out for us due to his job offer (which is not always the case when you consider working in a different country) and he had his heart set on it: for me, life seemed a bit more uncertain. No job lined up, no friends, and no connections – did I really want to make that kind of move? Then, to add fuel to the fire, I found out I was pregnant a few weeks before we left – but our plans were in motion. In the back of mind I knew that this move wasn’t set in stone so if it was a disaster we could come home – but the flipside to that was I knew I wanted to make it work. People often talk about pros and cons of migration. But life is about taking risks and working in a different country is a calculated one.
Moving Down Under & Starting a New Life
Having done it, I can tell you it was one of the most positive experiences of my life. Yes, I had to arm myself with a positive mind set, quite a lot of determination and a sense of adventure But in truth, you have to dive in and be open minded to anything new, even on your own door step. And if I could live in Sydney again I would – the pros far outweigh any cons, in my opinion.
Australia offers an interesting and vibrant take on life
Sydney where I lived – was, and still is, an incredibly cosmopolitan city, with a great standard of living. Its allure is the blend of a city being in line with many major international hubs but having the cachet of being removed from much of the global hullabaloo. The country is as diverse as it is fascinating and if a city is not for you – there are many opportunities in less built up areas. It is important to check the Skilled Occupation List however; especially as this year 200 job titles have been removed from the list.
Talking to a migration agent
And talking to a migration agent is also a worthwhile thing to do, especially as applying for a visa can be a lengthy and costly process. And migration agents can make your life much easier.Just make sure you do your research before selecting a company. Best advice I can give is to select MARA approved Migration Agents. Read more about MARA here. In terms of personal growth, working abroad is win win situation, in my opinion. You have to cultivate and hone many skills; some you didn’t know you had and you learn very quickly to network effectively, both in your home and professional lives and in actual fact your network doubles – you have one in your country of origin to draw on, and one in your new home. Cross cultural experience even if the language is the same always generates new ways of thinking for you and similarly as a “foreigner” you bring a lot of new ideas and merit to the table. The benefits are reciprocal.
Business is booming
And having been back to Sydney a few months ago – business is booming. The development of waterside projects is moving fast and investment in construction is retaining momentum – so if you are skilled in construction, engineering or surveying this could be your moment. It boils down to this: if you make the decision to migrate you will do your very best to make it a success. Maybe like me you are more “fly by the seat of your pants” – but if you throw yourself into your new life and say yes a lot – I’m pretty sure you’ll love the experience. Another point to make, which I feel quite strongly about, is the world right now feels very small in many ways and divided.
Cultural Experiences
Migration, living and working in a different country, especially one as rich in opportunity like Australia opens us up to new cultural experiences and philosophies of life – which I believe make us more understanding and tolerant of each other on a global scale, and that can only be a really good thing.
To discuss your visa options, speak to one of our Migration Agents by emailing enquiries@my-oe.com. To discover an unbiased, professional and completely honest opinion of your likelihood of success in migrating to Australia, head to our Free Australian Visa Assessment Today!
