Tip :

Camera's on sale in OZ would be cheaper. But as I got mine @ bargain sale @ Tesco, I got mine at a good deal.

Shades. Fark. Please do not get your shades in Malaysia. They have lame varieties and are freaking overpriced. My Ray Bans here cost me RM700+ after discounting 40% it was still RM400+

A shop in Chadstone was selling em for AUD 100+ [and that was without sales mind you]

+1

I bought my RayBan in Chadstone 2 years ago for about AUD130 and mind you back then exchange was just ~2.3

This post has been edited by ostangel: Jan 26 2010, 12:15 PM

AGREE!!!
e-health is damnn fast!!!

no need e-health also fast
2-3days for me

e-health get in less than one day eh...lol!

doesnt matter i guess unless u in last minute?

Question aimed at haya, hihihehe, limeuu, b3ta, chris_c28, star_ghazzer and any others who might have valueble input.

Okay, question might be an understatement.

I am in my final semester, taking my Bachelor of Business (Accounting, Banking and Finance) in Monash. The whole problem is, the total length of my study duration here in Australia is only 1.5 years. And I wish to obtain an Australian PR.

Based on my conversation with a migration consultant, he leaves me with 3 possible choices (according to him):

1) I take an extra Honours year or do my Masters study.
- Yes, I qualify for honours
- I prefer not to take extra studies, but to start working and gain experience.
- I don't want to pay RM130k more, I want to earn AUD $$ instead.

2) I go back to Malaysia (I think Singapore also can), to work in a job relevant to my field of study (Accounting and Finance) for 1 year minimum, and then apply for PR (I think this is an Offshore Application).
- I don't really want to get comfortable for 1 year in Malaysia, then have to uproot myself over to Australia.
- I might have a promotion and a car here already if that's the case and it WOULD ruin teh stability of my career.
- I would have settled down with many contacts here and stuff, that I will find it a MAJOR hassle to go back to Australia where they don't usually look at your Malaysian work experience. I'll have to start as a fresh grad again (Yeah, they are rather biased in that sense. Even all my internships in Malaysia, they brush it off as "nothing".)

3) I manage to impress an employer who wants to hire me and sponsor me a working visa or a TR or something that will let me stay in Australia and work for a minimum of 1 year. 1 year is all I need.
- It is almost impossible
- But I have what other people don't - quite an impressive history of internships/training (2007 part time Barista Supervisor in Gloria Jeans, 2008 in PwC, 2009 in Securities Commission Malaysia) and I was dealing with Islamic Capital Markets/Finance in SC, where I differentiate myself from other fresh grads*.

*Giant financial institutions are really looking into jumping onto the Islamic Finance bandwagon

- Most employers immediately say "No" if you don't already have a working visa/PR/Residency, without even hearing me out/looking at my resume.

How now?

I am already applying for quite a number of Graduate Programmes with big firms like PwC, Goldman Sachs, UBS, Macquarie, JP Morgan, ANZ Bank and will continue to pump in applications into other giant financial/investment houses and banks, hoping that one of them will see something special in my application and want me so bad that they'll get me a working visa.

I know, I sound a bit cocky... sorry about that :< but I really don't fancy my options 1 and 2. Sigh....

i encountered ur situation b4 n think of 1st choice too..
i got asked about 1st choice with my teaching advisor n she adviced me to take master for 6 months only(my degree is 1.5 years n need another 6 monthsto qualify to apply PR).the duration for master course usually above 1 year n she said i can take it for 6 months then quit master. then 6 months will count towards to total 2 years i've been studying in australia...

but if u duwan 1st choice, it will be very very hard to have working permit/visa or find job because u r not PR. most of the companies will put australia citizen/pr in 1st place. they wont waste so many time or efforts to help u apply working visa except u r very very good.....

so i would choose 1st choice as study another 6 months not rly a harm n can learn more thing.even i duwan to continue study after degree(i've had enough of it)

just my 2 cents
so i would choose 1st choice

@grimm

options 1 and 2 are within you power to decide.........you decide........

option 3 is not within you power to decide, you are at the mercy of employers........

seems like the obvious way is try option 3, see if you get lucky......gonna be difficult for someone without actual work experience.........

if not, you will have to decide on either option 1 or 2.........

As others mentioned above, you should decide between option 1 and 2 (let's just forget about 3 because realistically, your chances are extremely slim for a sponsorship).

Personally, I'd go for option 2 because I'm sick of studying after 5 years in university and would like to start building a career. Try to secure equivalent grad positions in Malaysia with a high-profile firm, as in the world of Finance/Accounting, they place so much emphasis on the reputation and profile. Apply for an offshore PR and when granted, you have the option to decide if you want to move. In the meantime, you'll have a pretty good salary and life in Malaysia rather than struggling on a bridging visa here after completing your Masters. Employers here place little value on "coursework" masters (it's a token degree), so it doesn't really help much in securing a grad position. You're better off getting First Class Honours, then doing a PHD.

This post has been edited by chris_c28: Jan 26 2010, 08:38 PM

it's all depend on what you want in your near future. What is your main objective to decide to stay in Australia. Could you sure that you can find your ideal job in Australia? I know that someone who got their PR but couldn't find their ideal job. What they're doing now as a waitress or cleaner (they own the company), run their restaurant, etc.

Actually my situation almost like you but I did a week attachment in Singapore (I know a week can't give any conclusion but I ask people in that field and try to build up networking with them), I feel that Singapore is not a bad choice. Some people might claim that working conditions in Singapore might not as good as in Australia. Anyway, it depends what you would like to achieve. I ask another person about working in these both countries, he told me that equally same. Working in Singapore, the tax is lower than Aus and you can buy your own house faster than Australia. However, the benefits after retirement not as good as in Australia.

Anyway, Malaysia also not too bad. Some people they work in Malaysia and try to apply to be located at other countries and migrate.

Grim - you can actually just choose a diploma study (somewhat related to your degree) perhaps instead of masters / honours?

it costs significantly lesser taking a diploma for 1 year and the diploma workload is also lesser... therefore during your diploma study, you can apply for a casual / part time job in the financial institutions or companies as such?

then while applying for your PR after your diploma studies, you will also have the experience and the company may hire you full time during your phase before your PR is approved?

Sorry its still choice number 1....

Option 3 is really out of the picture. A slap check required here. Until you have somewhat proven yourself in the field you are in, whether it be brokering big deals, being a peace diplomat for a country, or achieved a subtle fame in your field; chances for #3 to occur is somewhat minimal. When i mean minimal, i'm talking about one in a million sort of probability. You not only have the requirements against you, but time will be against you. (Visa length)

Let me put some of my mates situation into context.

- Out of 10 mates that HAS obtained PR, and culminated a sizable decent resume for a fresh graduate, only 8 has a job, and blimey, the earliest any of them got near to an interview was 6 months after graduation.

- The rest; Gave up after countless amounts of resumes sent out. They are living a modest life back in Malaysia/Singapore, enjoying the scrumptious food the nation has to offer.

My point is up for the lads to moot. But the key component is this. If you were down to only option 3, your chances is as good as winning Tatts.

Being a little finicky about Graduate Programs, they are one of the best paid, awesome working jobs for fresh grad. And as far as i know, only citizen's from Australia of Commonwealth gets those job. [There are always exceptions, so don't get crikey with me over it]

I really hate being the bearer of bad news, i really do. But you are not in the best of positions. The sacrifice is immense, but it all boils down to how much you desire to work in Australia compared to other choices out there. I know a broad that wanted to work here so bad, she opted for option #1. She got her first class honours and subsequently a fully sponsored PhD topic.

I am, one of the few ones that studied 1.5 years in Australia, and not being able to fulfil the minimum 2 years requirement.

I.opted.for.option.3.

I am on 457, but that's a discussion out of this thread. If you do need help with 457, just ahoy me. More than happy to help out a fellowman

This post has been edited by -Jonathan-: Jan 27 2010, 09:13 AM

To Grimm:

I totally agree with the others being that option 3 is pretty much out of the picture, especially when your aim is to get into the major institutions' grad programs. Not trying to put you off, but honestly what you have in your resume probably resembles what thousands of others have, unless apart from the internship experience, you do have an impressive eca history under your belt. Seriously, there's nothing much about being an intern dealing with Islamic or whatever, we all know what most of the interns do in Malaysia. If they Aussie firms are seriously planning to penetrate the Islamic financial market, they are better off hiring someone with proven extensive experience in this field over some fresh grads with 2 months experience in that field.
*Just a note, majority of IBs prefer double degree holders, with just an ordinary bachelor your chances are even lower. Just an example, I have a friend who got into Macquarie had impressive eca while maintaining a HD and D average for both of his comm/law degrees. Those are the kind of people you are competing against for that job.

And do not forget that you are still NOT eligible for PR as yet, this will serve as a major disadvantage to you, as there are many others who have already fulfilled the requirements competing against you. Based on 2009's recruitment, most firms still prefer locals especially when they have reduced their intake. So far the Big4's have loosen their recruitment for international students, but they are very specific in that you must already be eligible for PR application as they will not sponsor you or anything.



This post has been edited by jae: Jan 27 2010, 05:05 PM

I wouldn't like to waste the 6 months doing nothing and waste money. If I were to continue studying, I would pursue the Honours wholeheartedly and come out with first class

Thanks for the input!

Right. Noted, thanks.

The thing is, I'm afraid after coming back to work for 1 year, I wouldn't want to uproot myself to go back to Australia. I would've built my contacts, get all comfortable, and would have probably invested in a car and get used to the working lifestyle here =/ Not to mention when I go back to Aussie, chances are they won't really look at my 1 year experience and will probably lump me together with the fresh grads.

And someone told me that offshore applications are getting more difficult to be successfully assessed.

I thought employers here value masters like crazy? Lol. I don't know if the employers here know the difference between a coursework masters and the other masters which requires writing a thesis. Hmm... the employers over here strike me as very ignorant as they don't even know the diff between a UK grad's "honours" and an OZ grad's "honours".

Thanks for the valueble comments anyhow!

What I want is to enter the Australian workforce in my field (Accounting/Finance). I don't care how small my company/firm might be when I'm starting. However, of course I would aim and try my very best to get into the big firms. If only small firms will accept me, its ok as the remuneration there is still quite high.

My main reason for going to work in Australia is to see if i like it there, then i could relocate my whole family there. Malaysia's future is bleak, looking at the politics where there are child fights all over the papers and in the news.
Even if I don't like it there, I would seek to work for around 5 years, and bring back all my moolah and convert it to RM to kickstart a good life here in KL where everything is about money money money.

Nope, wouldn't consider taking a diploma. I mean, it wouldn't have any value added. If i'm going to pour my money into more study, it would be in something that would be higher than my bachelors. But yeah... looks like its choice number 1 - which would cost me RM130k more

Thanks for the slap check. Yeah, the sacrifice would be immense. I mean, you lose 1 year of working life - 1 year of experience, 1 year of salary (tradeoff cost) and also have to spend RM130k for that honours degree (unless i get sponsored).

Wait! You are one of the few that studied 1.5 years. And you opted for option 3. What happened? Did you get it? Rawr! How did you do it?

My eca is okay and I'm averaging on about 3HDs and a D per semester. But the problem is those people with double degrees and honours. So that means almost nobody with a normal bachelors will be able to find work there? So, all freshies who enters those firms are about 22-24... interesting...

Yeah, my major disadvantage is my PR. That's why I'm looking at which options would give me the best route to securing a PR + not waste my time and parents money. Gah! Bloody big banks



OKAY guys, additional info.

Lets say I'm not looking at JPM, GS, Credit Suisse, Macquarie, UBS, McKinsey, Barclays and all those biggies. Probably I'll aim for one of the big four banks/big four audit firms or some smaller financial firms like Suncorp and Esanda or stuff like that. Will my chances be a little higher for option 3?

*I feel so much like buying an OZ pr now. A friend just told me a lot of ppl are doing it. Just pay 15k, settle. Kautim all *

If you like to live in Australia, then you would have no qualms about uprooting yourself and making the big move. Sacrifices are necessary, so I don't understand why you cannot start a good career in Malaysia given you have a waaaaay better chance of getting into a top firm. Who's this "someone" telling you offshore applications are more difficult? The assessment is based purely on your nominated occupation and qualifications. As you have Australian qualifications, that will not be a problem. However, your nominated occupation may be an issue as it's not an "in-demand" occupation, so even if you're applying onshore, it doesn't speed up your application unless you get sponsorship.

From my personal experience, coursework Masters are not valued highly. Top firms often ask about your research projects and the like, so an Honours or research Masters/PhD student will definitely have something more interesting to talk about. Having done research at university shows that you have a certain level of maturity and developed critical skills in analysing information and are able to form a thesis on it. Put a top Honours student next to a Pass + coursework Masters student next to each other and I bet the Honours student has done something way more interesting in the course of his studies than the other.

How the hell do you "buy" a PR for $15k? I have not heard of such things. Probably fraudulent.

Anyway, if you're so desperate for a PR, assuming you'd give up everything for it, then just go option 1, study hard and ensure you have enough funds to stay on while waiting for your PR. It's really your call because if you're desperate for a PR, you'd do anything to get it (I've known people like that).

This post has been edited by chris_c28: Jan 28 2010, 09:34 AM

Golden rule in life, never ever buy your way into anything (*with exceptions). It's a very superficial thought.
The buying of PR issue came out in the mainstream news. It was started out mainly by the Chinese (China) community intending to make money. They conjured out fake identifications, fake certificates, and all relevant fake documentations required for a PR applicant to get his/her PR. Every-thing leaves a trail and this has no exception. Don't ever do it, as you risk being deported and not allowed back in Australia. Don't ever try to outsmart the authorities here, or do anything against the law/constitution or be a non-benign factor in this community. If there is one thing I've learnt in my years here, they will not hesitate to bump you out and black list you if you are a non-resident in Australia.

There has been a perpetual stream of thread creation on Honours credibility and on why it is relatively two step or more better than a degree in Australia around this section of the forum.



My 457 :


Without divulging more into Post-Studying in Australia in a Studying in Australia thread, let me end this by saying to all prospective students and current students in Australia; It is one thing to prepare studying in Australia, but do not scribble out the fact that where you work, and how you work will be reflected by your term (time) "Studying in Australia". I am sure a few alumni's here that is already working will vouch that their time studying here has somewhat influence their culture, subsequently has a role to play in their out look at people and work environment.

it is not really waste. even you not complete your master full duration,you still can get the cert for how long you have been studied for example 6 months..
and you can continue back your master when you need it...
but i know how you feel tht you don plan to continue study..i also same with u

The thing is, I'm not sure at the moment if I would like to live in Australia. Malaysia is home to me, but my parents strongly encourage me to migrate. They say my brother will have a brighter education future there and the whole family might move there. And they keep telling me stories and forwarding me e-mails from their friends who lament about all the shit in this country and where its going - to the dumps - and how they managed to settle down in Australia now and are all living happily.

For me, I'll wait it out this final semester. See if I really want to move there. I mean, its terribly nice living there. But that does mean I won't be seeing my friends and relatives that often anymore. Sigh. I keep telling myself - I'll go work for a few years, and if I don't like it, I can bring home my war spoils and kick start a rather comfortable life here after converting AUD -> RM. Okay I might be too money minded now, but I can't help it. I'm from an average family from a small town in Msia who hasn't had many luxuries. And I have a huge loan to tanggung AND my brother's future education to tanggung before I can even build up my own family.

Yes, I know all about how good an Australian Honours from a reputable university is. I've attended several talks from lecturers and the industry leaders from here. Honours is so beneficial to the point that it is a little scary. The whole problem is, Malaysian employers don't know how to differentiate Aussie honours and Brit honours.

RM15k. Friend told me, and I was merely joking anyway

Yeah I know not to mess with the Aussie authorities. It was just a passing thought. Haha. I wouldn't do it.

Nice... you got to be the only one who knew their system in and out. No wonder they sponsored you. They NEEDED too. If only I can get that chance, I'd go for it even if I'd have to work a 100 hour week. Thanks for all the information and tips. I really appreciate it, and I think it should be on the first page of this thread.

Hmm. I don't mind continuing if I am funded/sponsored. The whole problem is the financing required - and how much would it benefit me - that's the main question. I seriously don't mind being a student. I like being one in fact xD
Students life > Working life

ya but for me, don plan to study anymore..(it makes me sick somehow )

btw u r now in final semester?