Boom time for jobs in India
siddlobo
| 29 April, 2008 23:28
India is booming. With a rapidly developing economy, the country is attracting both foreign capital and talent with equal ease. With a GDP of approximately 8.5% growth this year, India offers an optimism only few others can match. This has led to a profusion of jobs at all levels in a variety of sectors. It is estimated that this year alone, India will create about 1025000 new jobs, an impressive figure that’s only marginally lower than the previous year. And here’s the best news… the growth is not concentrated in just one area but has had a spill-over effect into a range of different sectors. Let’s take a deeper look at the hottest sectors in one of the hottest economies today.
Real estate: Property prices are soaring in India. In some cases, prices have doubled in less than 2 years! This has led to a spur of real estate development projects and a corresponding rise in careers in this sector. Infrastructure development has also caused a spurt in hiring activity as many real estate companies vie for infrastructure development projects that fall under public-private partnerships.
Hospitality: The increasing affluence of the local population combined with the growing numbers of foreign tourist has propelled the growth of the hospitality industry. There is an estimated 430,000 new jobs that will be created in this sector alone.
Retail: The retail sector in India is poised to see a surge in action this year. Major international players like Wal-Mart and Carrefour are set to enter the market. Transforming the retail market in India will be a challenging job and one that will offer many opportunities for locals and foreigners alike.
Health care: As the population grows, the demand for high quality healthcare increases. This sector is now booming thanks to corporations opening branded hospitals and spreading their networks beyond the metropolitan cities. This has resulted in a vast number of openings for highly qualified people in the healthcare sector.
BPO: Despite the sub prime crisis in the US, there is an optimistic mood in the outsourcing industry. Smaller cities like Vishakapatnam, Nagpur, Chandigarh are expected to be the emerging hotspots.
IT: Funnily enough, if there is a slowdown in any sector, it will be in IT. Salary at the junior levels in this sector has stabilized and there is a 3% dip in average salary for engineering positions compared with the same time next year. But there is still a huge demand for talent especially in roles as technical architects or product managers.
Finance, Banking, Insurance: If all the above sectors are growing, they will need some help from the banking industry to provide them with finances and ensure that their assets are properly insured. Hence, needless to say, the banking and financial industry is a thriving, action-packed place to be in right now.
Number of opportunities for locals and expatriates in India
As is obvious, there are a number of opportunities for locals and expatriates in India. Some of the key talents, advantages and experience that expatriates can bring with them are:
Foreign languages and understanding of foreign cultures: As more Indian companies increase their reach and conduct business internationally, more opportunities arise for the ‘bridge’ between countries. A good knowledge of foreign languages like German, French, Spanish etc and an understanding of their cultures can come in handy.
Specialist skills: From design to supply chain logistics, there are a number of specialist skills that people from the developed economies can bring and share with the Indian market.
Management Skills: Top level management and best-practices from other countries and sectors to improve and leapfrog development in the Indian sectors.
Key roles and opportunities: While most of the Western countries are in a ‘slow’ mode, Indian companies are in high drive and offer opportunities and challenges that are difficult to find elsewhere. These jobs also let you play a key role with daily access to decision makers.
Challenges to watch out for
Working in India is not a complete bed of roses though. There are a number of challenges that expatriates to India need to be aware of. Key among them include:
Work permits: Though expatriates might be able to land jobs and work permits in India, their spouse doesn’t automatically get working permits as well.
Comparatively low salaries: Even a good pay package in India will be a poor package compared to US or the West. Typically, a competitive Indian package will be about 25%-30% of an average US salary. Having said that, the value of the income will be much more than the value of salary earned in the US.
Competition: There is tough competition from a well educated middle class who will work at Indian pay. So you really need to be able to bring something different to the table.
Connections: Personal connections and networking are still the best ways to land a job in India. Without this, it might be a bit tougher to break into the market.
Despite the challenges, the benefits make for a rewarding experience. If India sounds like an interesting stop for your next job, log onto http://www.expat-list.siteblast.com/
Sidd Lobo
Freelance writer based out of Munich
Beer Festivals in Germany
siddlobo
| 23 April, 2008 00:40
Germany has long
been a shrine for beer lovers from around the world. Two of the biggest
and
most popular beer festivals in the world take place in Germany. The
most popular is Munich’s world renowned Oktoberfest which strangely
enough takes place
in September. The second most famous beer festival is the Stuttgart
Beer
Festival. There are officially two Stuttgart festivals, one in spring
and one
in autumn. And here’s the good news – the Stuttgart Spring Festival is
just
around the corner. Let’s take a look at these three big and happening
places to
be if you enjoy guzzling gallons of your favourite brew.
Stuttgart Spring Beer Festival
This is an annual fair that will be taking place in Stuttgart from April 12th to May 5th
this year. It will be happening
in the traditional fair grounds of Stuttgart’s Bad Cansstatt district.
This is
a slightly smaller version of the autumn festival but none-the-less,
it’s big
enough to attract the attention of beer lovers from across Germany and
Europe.
Some of its key attractions are its live bands, huge Ferris
wheel, roller
coasters and of course the unending flow of freshly brewed beer. All in
all, a
fantastic way to get ready for the beer season.
More information: http://www.stuttgart-tourist.de/
Stuttgart Autumn Beer Festival
This is the second biggest beer festival in the world, second only to the Oktoberfest. This year,
it will be taking place between September 26th and October 12th
in Bad Canstatt, Stuttgart. This festival, also known as the Bad Canstatter Volksfest
started in 1818 when King Wilhelm 1 sponsored the festival after years of
hunger. Today, it attracts millions of visitors and houses seven huge beer
tents.
Key attractions include the world’s largest mobile Ferris wheel, tons of
roller coasters and rides, the French village where visitors enjoy a touch of
French food and music, a grand parade which traditionally takes place on the
first Sunday of the festival, fireworks on the 3rd October (which is
the German Reunification Day) and of course, an unending supply of beer.
More information: http://www.stuttgart-tourist.de/
Oktoberfest, Munich
When one thinks of Oktoberfest, images of crowded beer
tents, huge beer mugs handled by big bosomed women in drendils and men
in lederhozen come to mind. All of which is true. But no words can truly
describe the experience of thousands of people crammed in a huge carnival
atmosphere enjoying the lively Bavarian music and its equally popular brew.
Each year over six million visitors throng to the Oktoberfest to be part
of this heady experience.
This year the Oktoberfest starts on September
22nd and offers its visitors a rollicking time till the end on 7th
October. Key attractions include live music, costume parades, fun fair rides
and roller coasters and an open-air music concert. If you’re looking for an
experience you’re not likely to forget, head for the Oktoberfest this
year.
More information: http://www.oktoberfest.de/
Sidd Lobo
Freelance writer based out of Munich
See also here for a list of other Beer festivals:
http://www.beerfestivals.org
Global Survey of Expats
easyexpat
| 10 April, 2008 17:45
HSBC Bank International today unveils an ambitious project to conduct the largest ever survey of expats.
The project aims to give more than 2000 expats across four continents the opportunity to have their say on what life is really like for people living and working away from home. The survey will look at opportunities that come with starting a new life in a foreign country away from home, and the challenges and difficulties that they may face at home and at work.
The survey will also reveal how new technology helps expats start their new lives and manage their professional and social affairs. It will also find out how expatriate children’s lives differ from the lives of the friends they leave behind.
Paul Say, Head of Marketing and Communications at HSBC Bank International, said: “Living in foreign countries means expats often don't have the normal outlets to express their point of view about their unique lifestyle. This project aims to gather these viewpoints and capture them on an unprecedented scale. As well as giving voice to the expat population, the study will provide new insight on their needs which will help HSBC Bank International to improve its services and products for its customers.”
To make your opinion heard, please visit www.offshore.hsbc.com/survey
Feel free to complete the survey. In the future, you will see, on EasyExpat's blog, exclusive interviews and access to results for the expat community.
Apartheid in Europe? How Belgium is divising
easyexpat
| 04 April, 2008 12:28
Europe was founded on principles of tolerance and freedom of
movement for the population and the business. Brussels was lobbying the
European Community to become the host of most of the European
institutions and is now broadly seen as the capital of Europe.
Therefore, it is awkward to see that it is actually in the country
symbol of Europe (one of the sixth founders), and mainly in the
neighbourhood of the main city, that we observe now all the signs of
communitarian and racism.
One country, 2 languages, no unity
There are 3 linguistic communities in
Belgium: Flanders (with 6 millions inhabitants - but not all speaking Dutch), Wallonia (3.4
millions), Brussels-Capital (1 million) and some Eastern cantons speaking German (70,000). Contrary
to what you might think, the country is not bilingual, but apply two
strict monolingualism: in Flanders, the official language is Dutch,
in Wallonia the official language is French. only Brussels-Capital
(city of Brussels + additional neighbourhood) is officially bilingual.
In order to make things more complex, Brussels is inhabited by more
than 80% of non-Dutch speakers, but is located in Flemish territory.
The
"lingual" border follow a line that can start from about Tourcoing (in
France) to Maastricht (in the Netherlands). Initially, at the birth of
Belgium, in 1830, the country was meant to speak French, as it was the
most important language at the time, and symbol of modernity. However
from that early date it ignored that actually 60% of the country was
not made by French speakers. This is the law of 8th November 1962 that
fixes the boundaries and the 19 counties in the Brussels-Capital Region.
Amongst those limits, the law defined 6 counties in the area of
Brussels, 10 along the lingual border and in the German areas, where
inhabitants can address the local authorities in their language,
disregarding whereas they are located in Flanders or in Wallonia.
Nowadays, in addition to the language complexity, there is an economic
reasons that push the Flemish part of Belgium to demand for more
autonomy: unemployment is 17.7% in Wallonia (20.9% in Brussels) but
only 6.43% in Flanders. And because of fund transfer within the
country, the Northern territories (with a local Flemish government) are actually subsidising the French
speaking areas in the South (with a French-speaking government).
Linguistic discrimination
Since the last election, with the government of Yves Leterme (or the
body he tried to form following the victory of his party at the
national election in 2007), the Flemish appetite has proven to be
hungrier than ever.
The Flanders government has voted, since last
May, a new text aiming to remove the French names from Flanders:
amongst the 39 cities that were hisorically named in both languages,
the road signs will appear now in Dutch only, i.e Bruges will be only
Brugge (easy), Courtrai will only be Kortrijk (more difficult) and Montaigu only Scherpenheuvel-Zichem.
In
the area of Brussels-Capital, the cities of Brussel-Halle-Vilvoorde
(Dutch), Bruxelles-Halle Vilvorde-(French) or BHV represent a
district formed by Brussels (bilingual) and Halle-Vilvoorde (Flemish).
Historically, there was always facilities to speak French in the latest
2 areas (one knows that Flemish speak better French than Wallons
speak Dutch). However recently, due to vows of Flemish
authorities, it seems that nobody will understand you if you speak
French in any official building (as the city hall) - or at least it
looks like they understand perfectly but cannot speak it. However there
is no problem to discuss the same matter in English.
Since
December 2006, the Wooncode (Flemish accommodation law) states that it
is necessary to speak Dutch - or at least willing to do so -
in Flanders, to be able to apply for a social accommodation (council
flat). In addition, in some areas in Flanders such as Zaventem,
Volvoorde, Zemst or Hoeilaart, the sale of land to promotion price is
now reserved to Dutch-speakers (which means also, for the Flemish
community, people born in Flanders) or people following language
courses in a registered school.
In March, the local authorities
of Liedekerke (22km from Brussels) have decided the non Dutch-speaking
children from 6-12 will be excluded from the playground areas. Other
decisions have been taken such as to forbid any mention of French on
the outside boards in cities of the bilingual zone of Halle-Vilvoorde
(you cannot display A VENDRE on you property anymore and must write in
Dutch TE KOOP, but apparently you can show SALE or any other language but French) or to punish children
who speak French even in playground at schools located in Flanders.
Other example, in Overijse, the local council have decided to suppress
the French writing part of the monument engraved in memory of 2 French-speaking
Belgian who escaped during World War II.
Condemnation from the UN and European institutions
Of course the Flemish authority decisions have raised more and more suspicion outside but also inside. De Morgen,
leftist Flemish newspaper, express concerns and talk about linguistic
apartheid alike situation. In the last week of March, Marino Keulen,
Minister in charge of interior affairs in the Flemish government, has
cancelled the rules set in Liedekerke. He is already under pressure as
the Council of Europe is currently investigating as some
French-speaking mayors in the Flemish areas have not been officially
recognised by Flemish authorities as they failed to address letters in
Dutch only to their French fellow citizen. The Council of Europe has
already condemned tree times (1998, 2002 and 2005) Flanders for its
treatment and discrimination towards the French-speaking community. The
United Nations has published recently a report stating that the fact of
reserving council accommodation to certain category of the population
based on place of birth and language was ethnic and regional
discrimination.
The European Court of Justice has also published a report
stating that the 30th March 1999 law of the Flemish parliament, setting
a healthcare system reserved to inhabitants of Flanders or
Brussels-Capital only is actually against the European freedom of
movement. In 2004 the rules were changed in order to include those
living in other countries... but always excluding inhabitants of
Wallonia. Since then, no change.
Belgians have humour... but until when?
Most
of the jokes of April's fool were addressing the political and
community divide in Belgium. Thus, a Wallon Minister explained in the
newspaper La Dernière Heure, that he intended to realize
"French corridor" in Flanders, by buying back the parts of the E411
motorway located on Flanders territory to allow French speakers to
drive from Brussels to Wallonia. On the French TV RTL-TVI, the news
displayed a report showing the in the Flemish city of Meise they
decided to test a way of cutting all phone conversation in French. A
test that will be extended in all Flanders territory if successful.
Again a joke, but that shows what is the main concern of Belgians
nowadays...
