Book Review: A Career in your suitcase

For many expatriates and those of us supporting them this book has been a staple on the ‘must-read’ list ever since it’s first edition in 1998.  This is the 4^th edition, not just reprinted but fully revised and updated. 

In this edition original author and prolific expat writer, Jo Parfitt, has been joined by career development expert Colleen Reichrath-Smith in a re-branded version that will speak to many in situations of career transition. Expat partners, global migrants and those considering a portable career doing work they love will find this book invaluable.

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What's new for CIC members?

NEW eBook

• The Careers and Job Searching in Australia eBook is for those of you who are moving to Australia and who will be looking for work.  Covering aspects such as how resumes or interviews might be different than in your home country and also reminding you of some of the key things you need to be doing to gain a new role in Australia.

Saved Webinar

We’ve uploaded the saved version of February's Thrive in Tough Times webinar into the Resource Library under audio as it is a recording you can listen to.  There is also a link to the slides so you can look while you listen if you prefer.

• Thrive in Tough Times discusses the challenges faced in the culture shock stage and how you can build resilience and thrive through those tougher times until you begin to feel more "at home'.

'All the world is singing Lady Gaga -with different accents'

Pico Iyer  FIGT 2013

It’s the dangerous illusion of closeness, according to Pico Iyer.  The world appears to us as homogenous.  Commonalities like popular culture and the English language draw us together as though we are all the same, and culture or nationality don’t make a difference. 

Hearing Pico speak at the recent FIGT (Families In Global Transition) conference, and being surrounded by so many people from around the world who share common interests and concerns for Families in Global Transition, I could almost have agreed. 

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Cultural Integration

I’m traveling to Washington in March, to speak at the ‘Families in Global Transition’ conference.  This year the theme is Cultural Integration and the Illusion of Closeness.  I will be speaking about Cultural Intelligence and how it contributes to cultural integration – more details below.

In the lead up to the conference, I’ve been thinking about cultural integration; what it really means and whether or not we have it in the workplaces and the social groups I am involved with here in Sydney. 

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What's new for CIC Members?

Latest Resources

Country Information – Australia

We’ve uploaded a number of new articles on Australian culture that incorporate some dos and don’ts.

• Cultural Intelligence for Australia
  Considers CQ in relation to adapting to Australia and helps you to identify the aspect you may need to work on most.

• Australian History
  A brief overview of early Australian history with links for further investigation and learning. 

• Australia: Society and Religion
  Statistics and information about the ethnic groups in Australian society and the religious beliefs.

• Australia: Communication
  Covering language, Australian slang and body language

• Australia: Building Relationships
  From greetings and pleasantries, to how friendships are built, what is considered polite including table manners.

• Australia: Entertainment and Celebration
  Looks at the holidays and special occasions in Australia, entertaining friends, both at barbecues and eating out at restaurants and cafes.  Tipping and gifts are also covered in this section.

• Australia: Sport and Leisure
  Giving you some of the background to one of the big areas of Australian culture with links so you can get the local knowledge.