EUROPE | SINGAPORE | HONG KONG | AUSTRALIA

AN EXPLORERS GUIDE TOINTERNATIONAL RECRUITMENTAs the boundaries to international recruitment have reduced our group has become increasingly focused on cross border placements. It has become something we are very passionate about : the concept of changing lives rather than just people’s jobs. Within our team of consultants 94% have lived overseas and in some cases in multiple countries. We use this experience and empathy every day to consult with our would be international candidates and are on hand at every step of the process to ensure your ride is as smooth as possible

On a practical level we have worked hard to build a client base that genuinely will offer jobs to overseas applicants, it’s important to recognize that there are plenty of tyre kickers out there! These firms will help you relocate, sponsor your visa, mobilize you locally and support you through all of this, as will we. We understand it’s a daunting task and we are here to help. Lastly, with all of these plans the foundation is in the preparation, ensuring that each party knows what they are in for and on that basis we have produce a wealth of documentation including this document to shed some light on what this life changing move can offer you.

THE WORLD AT YOUR

FINGERTIPS

WHAT IT’S LIKE WORKING IN HONG KONGHong Kong attracts signi�cant expat interest and is very much at the centre of global �nancial markets, as well as being a thriving Asian Business hub where East meets West. The City, otherwise known as “Central” has a busy hustle bustle feel to it, it is also extremely dynamic and lends itself to people looking to really forge ahead in their careers - this city is no place for slackers. There has been signi�cant interest in Asia from western �rms and investment in the region has never been greater, being on China’s door step has catapulted Hong Kong in this sense and its ease of doing business, availability of talent and boom economy makes this is a great environment in which to really boost your career whilst enjoying the cultural experiences of doing business in China, and all of this in one of the worlds lowest tax regimes.

WHAT IT’S LIKE LIVING IN HONG KONGFor some it is a city that never sleeps, the social life is a million miles an hour with the vast array of districts clubs and eateries for others the lifestyle can be very laid back with the surrounding countryside parks and outlying islands where an array of outdoor activities can be enjoyed. Commonly referred to as a “concrete jungle” Hong Kong is actually majority green with tropical forests, vast parklands all a few MTR stops from the Metropolis. Hong Kong is highly seasonal with highs getting into the early mid 30’s and the winter season into single digits, people �nd this refreshing unlike some of Hong Kong’s SE Asian neighbours. With a high % of expats, often of a similar mindset, its easy to make friends whilst at the same time you will de�nitely feel enveloped in the Asian community which is on your doorstep everyday both locally in Hong Kong as well in the many countries and cities on your doorstep.

HONG KONGFAST FACTS

GDP – HK$326 billion (2010)

POPULATION – 7,061,200 people (2010)

SIZE : LAND MASS – 1,104 km2 (426 sq miles)

RELIGION – Religious freedom however, Christian, Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism, Shik, Muslim, Jewish, Hindu and Bahá'í.

LANGUAGE – Chinese, Cantonese and English.

PEOPLE BREAKDOWN – 95% of the people of Hong Kong are of Chinese descent, 5% other.

AIRPORT – Hong Kong International Airport.

MAIN INDUSTRIES – �nance, accountancy, sales and marketing, IT, human resources, legal, telecommunications,

logistics and engineering.

WHERE IS IT – Hong Kong and its 260 territorial islands and peninsulas are located in the South China Sea,

at the mouth of the Pearl River Delta.

WEATHER – Monsoon in�uenced humid subtropical climate, just short of being a tropical wet-and-dry climate.

VISA LAW – Foreign workers must obtain working visas to be able to work in Hong Kong.

03 HONG KONG

COST OF LIVING - HONG KONG

EXPENSE TYPE MONTHLY ANNUALLY

BILLS

TRAVEL

FOOD

INTERNET

RENT - ROOM / HOUSE SHARE

ALL PRICES IN HKD

* Additional 300 per household head • Assumes within 20kms of workplace Per head

RENT - 1 BEDROOM

RENT - 2 BEDROOM

RENT - 3 BEDROOM / HOUSE

MOBILE

CABLE TV

1500

500

1000

300

6000

15000

25000

35000

200

400

18000

6000

12000

*

•

3600

72000

180000

300000

420000

2400

4800

NOTES1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Similar to Singapore property can be extremely expensive and location means everything. People in HK REALLY pay for convenience, travel for half an hour and you will save yourself a fortune.

Household bills in Hong Kong are inexpensive, air con in the summer can really hike up your power bill.

Landlords will usually want a fairly large deposit and leases can be up to 2 years.

Even though Hong Kong is part of China, you need a separate visa to cross the border.

Hong Kong has 17 public holidays per year, but if the holiday falls on a Saturday it is not carried to the Monday.

The majority of homes in Hong Kong do not have ovens, as most Chinese cooking is done on a hob, like Singapore eating is very common and inexpensive.

People who live in the Mid-Levels, a residential area overlooking the Central business district, commute via the mid-levels elevator, which is elevated and covered. At 2,624 feet (800m), it's the longest outdoor escalator system in the world. It takes 25 minutes from one end to the other.

Maids, nannies, cooks and cleaners both full time and part time are a part life in Asia - and this can be very inexpensive.

Most telecommunications companies offer residential and business services, international direct dialling (IDD) and broadband or dial-up Internet services.

In general Asia can be the land of the haves and have nots, pricing for almost everything is based on that - you can pay very little or a great deal depending on your tastes!

WHAT IT’S LIKE WORKING IN SINGAPOREFor a many reasons Singapore has become the APAC headquarters for a number of International Blue Chip �rms, looking for a base in the region. The country is safe, clean, the infrastructure is world class, pay and tax rates are favourable and Singapore sits right in the middle of Asia making travel very easy. Singapore has a myriad of Industries on which the economy is built, it’s a banking and �nancial hub of Asia, being one of the biggest ports in the world and the gateway to Asia the logistics and shipping industry is huge to mention a few, all of this infrastructure hence construction Telco and IT are booming as well. All of this makes Singapore a great place to further your career especially given the well documented shortage of talent. In general you will �nd Singapore more laid back than Hong Kong, English is the �rst language for most people and regarded as a soft landing from a cultural perspective as well as base from which to do business in the region – which most people do.

WHAT IT’S LIKE LIVING IN SINGAPORESingapore has something for everyone and vast investment has been made to make this possible, in recent years. Everything in Singapore works like clockwork, the infrastructure – underground, Banks, phones, IT, its one of the safest places in the world, one of the cleanest and the sun combined with Caribbean like milky skies makes for a very aesthetically pleasing environment in which to live. Being slightly more open than other Asia countries on immigration Singapore is a true melting pot of cultures which adds spice to the country when it comes to languages, food, clothes and of course culture. You have every possible sport on offer and weather in the late 20’s early 30’s to enjoy it, for the party goers Singapore is highly social arena with 1m expats and a vast array of entertainment establishments some of which keep their doors open to the early hours. A major bene�t of Singapore is its proximity to other countries in this colourful region and most people are frequent island hoppers, that is when you aren’t relaxing by the pool facilities that most condos offer.

SINGAPOREFAST FACTS

GDP – 309,400million SGD (2010)

POPULATION – 4,987,600 (36% foreigners)

RELIGION – 9% Taoist, 42% Buddhist, 15% Muslim, 15% Christian, 4% Hindu, 15% Others (i.e. Shik and Confucian)

LANGUAGE – English is regarded as the main language in Singapore and is used in education, business dealings and administrations.

Malay, Chinese (Mandarin) and Tamil are also widely spoken.

EXPATS – Majority British, Irish, German, French, Australian, New Zealand.

PEOPLE BREAKDOWN – Population of 5,076,000. Singapore residents comprise of 3,771,000. 74% Chinese decent, 13% Malay, 9% Indian, 4% Others.

SIZE – Total land area of 647 km2 and 193 km of coastline.

AIRPORTS AND TRAVEL TIME – Changi Airport (Main International Airport) 30 mins from CBD in the East and Seletar

Airport 20 mins North of the CBD.

MAIN INDUSTRIES – Shipping, banking, tourism, electrical & electronics, chemicals, oil re�ning.

WHERE IS IT – South East Asia, between Malaysia and Indonesia.

WEATHER – Uniform temperature and pressure, high humidity and abundant rainfall. The temperature hovers around a range of a

minimum of 23°C (73.4°F) and a maximum of 31°C (87.8°F)

VISA LAW – Foreigners must obtain one of the following to work in Singapore: Permanent Residents Pass, Working Permit,

Employment Pass, S Pass or Holiday Work Visa.

05 SINGAPORE

COST OF LIVING - SINGAPORE

EXPENSE TYPE MONTHLY ANNUALLY

BILLS

TRAVEL

FOOD

INTERNET

RENT - ROOM / HOUSE SHARE

ALL PRICES IN SGD

* Bills are likely to be an additional $50 per person per month

RENT - 1 BEDROOM

RENT - 2 BEDROOM

RENT - 3 BEDROOM / HOUSE

MOBILE

CABLE TV

150

50

150

40

1000

2000

3200

4500

40

70

1800

600

1800

*

480

12000

24000

38400

54000

480

840

NOTES

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

Rent is based on property outside a 6km radius. Note property in Singapore can be both very reasonable and very expensive, a far greater extreme than most cities.

Most people in Singapore travel at least 30mins into work, the country is no more than 40mins from south to north!

The difference between central Singapore and the periphery is as much as double.

Schooling can range from 6,000 SGD to 20,000 SGD a year.

Transport accounts only for public transport and does NOT account for the use of taxis. Taxis however are very cheap and easily attainable without having to call for them in advance. A car is not necessary in Singapore as public transport is very convenient and owning a car in Singapore is a major undertaking. The most widely used public transportation would be the trains (also known as MRT), buses and taxis. There are also boat ferries that can take you to neighbouring islands. Travel to locations within Asia are extremely affordable.

Maids nannies, cooks and cleaners both full time and part time are a part of life in Asia and this service can be very inexpensive.

Meals and groceries prices above are based on economic household shopping. There are a large variety of locations where groceries can be bought however the price ranges may also differ. Supermarkets such as “Fairprice” usually offer the most affordable prices.

Healthcare Services provided by Singapore’s hospitals are highly regarded and both public and private hospitals are equipped with the latest medical equipment. Medical insurance is often provided by the employer.

Singapore nightlife can be very expensive or very cheap with a wide array of local eateries, its common place in Asia to eat out with some families hardly every cooking indoors.

WHAT IT’S LIKE WORKING IN LONDONLondon is a cosmopolitan, vibrant, up-beat and busy city to live and work in. With a population of over 15m including the suburbs and commuters it is undoubtedly one of the worlds super cities.

Well known as one of the worlds major business hubs and the �nancial hub of Europe London is bustling with enterprises of all shapes and sizes, from the thousands of street traders to every blue chip �rm in the world, all of whom will have a major centre in this city. Whilst doing business in London is easy, you have access to all of Europe’s 300m people, English is the widely used language and there is nominal red tape, it is also highly competitive and very sophisticated, a great place to raise your game and compete with some of the best in the world, the scale and opportunity readily available in the city offers unlimited careers for ambitious individuals.

WHAT IT’S LIKE LIVING IN LONDONLondon is ideal for city lovers but is equally great for families and people who like the less up-tempo buzz of the city. Just outside the CBD there are some quiet and more serene areas to live close to parks, lakes, �elds and greenery for those who may prefer a quieter lifestyle. Even though London has a surrounding of old buildings and restored architecture, the modern lifestyle in London gives the city its vibrant atmosphere with many entertainment opportunities. London has an immense multicultural population with residents from all countries, cultures, ethnic groups and ages. It really is a 24 hour city and the land of convenience and this lifestyle, along with slick apartments or suburban living has its price! For the art, history and culture lover London really has it all and proximity to other parts of the UK and Europe make it a fantastic base from which to explore.

LONDON - UNITED KINGDOM

FAST FACTS

GDP – 446 billion (USD)

POPULATION – 7,556,900 people

RELIGION – 58.2% Christian, 15.8% no religion, 8.5% Muslim,4.1% Hindu, 2.1% Jewish, 1.5% Sikh, 0.8% Buddhist,

0.2% Other. (8.8% undisclosed)

LANGUAGE – English (Although due to the multi cultural population, other global languages are spoken)

SIZE – Area of 607 sq miles (1,572.1 km2)

AIRPORTS AND TRAVEL TIME – Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, Luton and City Airport (for commercial and business aviation) all approx

30 mins travel time by train from the CBD.

INDUSTRIES – Banking and �nance, international trading, shipping, Healthcare, International business, import/export merchandise.

WHERE IS IT – South east of England on the Thames river.

WEATHER – Mild and wet, with generally low temperatures although summer months are warmer. June to September

are the warmest months at an average of 15.5°C (60°F) whereas the coldest months are December until March

with average temperatures of 1.1°C (34°F)

VISA LAW – Most residents of EU countries are eligible to work in the UK but may need to undergo assessment.

07 UNITED KINGDOM

COST OF LIVING - LONDON

EXPENSE TYPE MONTHLY ANNUALLY

BILLS

TRAVEL

FOOD

INTERNET

RENT - ROOM / HOUSE SHARE

ALL PRICES IN GBP

* This increases at 100 pounds per person per month

RENT - 1 BEDROOM

RENT - 2 BEDROOM

RENT - 3 BEDROOM / HOUSE

MOBILE

CABLE TV

200

120

150

25

600

800

1100

1500

30

40

2400

14400

1800

*

300

7200

9600

13200

1800

360

480

NOTES1

2

3

4

5

6

The accommodation costs on the left apply to housing 30 minutes travel time away from the centre.

The bills and accommodation costs do not include council tax. All housing areas have a different council tax code, therefore they will have different rates but note that inner city council tax in London can be quite expensive. Be aware of this when moving to the UK, even though there are exemptions, these are mainly for individuals such as students, etc.

Television license in the UK costs 145.50 GBP a year. Different methods of payment include monthly, quarterly and annually. It is important to note that if you plan to watch television, through the TV, computer or mobile phone without a TV license, you can be �ned 1000 pounds if you are found and checkups are regularly made with detector vans.Even though Hong Kong is part of China, you need a separate visa to cross the border.

The Oyster travel cards in London are very handy and have no limit to the amount of times you travel to zones 1 and 2 in London, however if you plan to travel further out your travel card will only be valid up to zone 2 so it is important to purchase a ticket to the destination beforehand. Travel cards from zones 1-6 are available but are more costly (approx 40GBP a week). If you travel without the correct card or fare, you may be subjected to a �ne. They also do not cover some of the over-ground trains so must be acquired depending on the individual’s preference of travel.

Travelling around Europe from London is extremely easy and even long haul �ights are made easy with Heathrow Airport being a major global hub for the airline industry. Low cost carriers such as Easyjet, Aer Lingus, Ryan Air and Monarch are the most commonly used to travel to Europe as their airfares are the lowest on the market. Coaches and Trains are also available to carry out short weekend trips to the countryside or beach resorts such as Brighton or Bournemouth and are very affordable.

Banking in the UK is very ef�cient and accounts are attained very easily for residents as well and overseas, relocated workers.

SYDNEY - AUSTRALIA

WHAT IT’S LIKE TO WORK IN SYDNEYWages are typically higher in Sydney as it is the economic hub of Australia and has one of the highest earning business districts on the continent. The quality of life in Sydney and the regional hub the city has become has witnessed high levels of immigration making for a cosmopolitan, eclectic environment. The work life balance for which Australia is renown creates a fairly stress free culture where working hours are likely to be far less than Asia or London for example, the racy, dynamic career path and huge earnings tend to take second place v family time, social life and hobbies, all of these being great reasons to attract millions of talented expat workers. At the same time the scale of the city and booming natural resources sector as well as Australia’s positioning in the region certainly do offer opportunity for ambitious people.

WHAT IT’S LIKE TO LIVE IN SYDNEYSydney is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful cities in the world to live in, surrounded by the magical harbour, never cold, normally breezy with lots of sunshine and Caribbean type skies. Living in such an environment puts a smile on peoples faces and a feeling of happiness permeates the country. The famous Aussie outdoor lifestyle manifests itself in many ways, sport, al fresco eating and drinking in the thousands of street cafes, bars and restaurants and entertaining friends. This is a big part of Australian life with the famous BBQ as well as enjoying your days on the many stunning beaches. Sydney is otherwise known as the city of Villages, dozens of small communities offering something to everyone but all sharing world class amenities : travel and infrastructure, a safe well policed environment, great shopping, great schools and communications. The party life in Sydney is incredible and with the vast array of cultural amenities – museums, galleries, park and gardens it has something everyone, backpacker, career person or family alike.

FAST FACTS

GDP – 4.429 million (calculated in USD)

POPULATION – 4,575,532 people

SIZE – 2058/km2 (5,330.2/sq miles)

RELIGION – 64% Christians, 24.5% no religion, 3.9% Muslims, 3.7% Buddhists, 1.7% Hindus, 0.9% Jewish and 0.4% Bahai.

LANGUAGE – English.

PEOPLE BREAKDOWN – The median age of Sydney residents is 34; 12% of the population is over 65 years old.

AIRPORTS – Sydney (Kingsford Smith) Airport, located in the suburb of Mascot in Sydney.

MAIN INDUSTRIES – Property and business services, retail, manufacturing, health and community services.

WHERE IS IT – South Eastern Australia, Oceania, continent between the Indian Ocean and the South Paci�c Ocean.

WEATHER – Warm summers and mild winters. Rainfall is spread throughout the year.

09 AUSTRALIA

COST OF LIVING - SYDNEY

EXPENSE TYPE MONTHLY ANNUALLY

BILLS

TRAVEL

FOOD

INTERNET

RENT - ROOM / HOUSE SHARE

RENT - 1 BEDROOM

RENT - 2 BEDROOM

RENT - 3 BEDROOM / HOUSE

MOBILE

CABLE TV

200

120

200

30

1000

1800

2200

3000

50

100

2400

1440

2400

360

12000

21600

26400

36000

600

1200

NOTES

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

The property quotes on the left are indicative of decent fairly modern property outside the best suburbs but within a 20km journey into town. Most landlords will want you put down a bond equivalent to one months rent.

Bills include gas water electricity. You don’t pay rates or service charge.

Schooling can be expensive, expect to pay 20k PA per child in school. State schools are good.

Sydney is a well connected city with great public transport, however if you do want to drive cars can be expensive especially European ones, car bills are inexpensive.

Food in Sydney is fairly expensive, eating out can be reasonable with lots of local food courts.

Alcohol can be expensive and entertaining in general can be expensive.

Clothes and household goods are readily available and reasonably priced.

ALL PRICES IN AUD

* Additional 100 per household head • Assumes within 20kms of workplace Per head

*

•