Category: Uncategorized

Find a job these days isn’t easy. (Any job is easy but a job that suits you, and would be happy to stay and in a great company isn’t)

Finding a job in a different country doesn’t make it any easier.

Finding a company to sponsor your work visa and offer you a job isn’t anywhere close to easy.

When I decided to move to Australia, it took a lot of consideration and thinking. I’ve been through a lot in the past 12 months and that is why I have to decided to share my story. When I first graduated, I searched for jobs in Singapore for 9 months and many times I was rejected because I needed a working visa/permit or I wasn’t physically in the country for an interview. Hence, when I decided to move to Australia, I knew it wasn’t easy.

I started sending my resume in October 2016, decided to quit my job back in Malaysia in December 2016 and moved to Sydney in January 2017 and that’s when the serious hunt starts.

Looking for a job is full time – bear in mind. Updating your resume/CV and revising it a million times, cover letter, emails and applications. Everyday, I would be searching and applying for jobs for 6 hours per day and in would be sending and applying over 30 jobs. #lifeishard (Some applications even require you to sign up to their system and do an online test which takes more time)

I was lucky to be able to schedule interviews at least 3 a week and I take my interview sessions as a practice and always improve how I present myself the next time. but after 2 months of applying and interviews I finally got an offer. (with the help of a very awesome recruiter)

With the process of applying visa and waiting which took 4 months, I received my visa and I’ve been working for 2 months.

Time flies.. …

With this, many people have asked me how the process was and what are the steps needed for the visa.

First you’d need a job offer, without the job offer you can’t apply for a work visa.

Second, the company that offer you a job has to sponsor and pay for your visa. (but that doesn’t mean you don’t pay anything)

Third, the agent (usually appointed from the company) will then collect your documents and lodge your application

Forth, you wait till the nomination approval is given – this means the approval for the company to sponsor is given but does not mean your visa is granted. In some cases, agent will only lodge the visa application after the nomination application is given, but in my situation, both were lodged at the same time so when we received the nomination approval, we did not have to submit any visa application since it was done earlier.

Fifth, visa is granted and you may start work anytime.

Fees and Cost 

If you ask around the agents, different agents will tell you a different cost of the visa, it various between $8k to $20k (depending on what the agent fee is and all that document cost and jazz) but that is up to the company to agree to pay for it.

A company can’t randomly say they want to sponsor even if they are willing to fork up the money because they have to be in the list or to be “nominated” – this means, they are allowed to hire overseas and sponsor their visa. Hence during the Visa application there is two part of application

1. Visa Employer Nomination
2. Visa Employee Application

Visa Employer Nomination is applied from the HR of the company and Visa Employer Application is applied by you (employee). That means with every document and application there is a fee. Something that I didn’t know and nobody has inform me prior to this.

Visa Employee Application Fee various from agent and time (thanks to the government) but what I had to pay and fork up;

• Application form $1,750
• Agent Fee $1,650
• IELTS test $330
• Health Check $323

That comes up to a total of $4,053 (rough estimate of RM15,000) that has to be paid for the visa before the agent starts any work what more the application. This fee doesn’t include your flights here, accomodation, transport, food and allowance and anything else that you would need BEFORE you start working to earn any income here. So this is something that you would need to keep in mind and to some people it may be mentally stressful.

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8 days after we lodged our application, Prime Minister announced that the Working Visa 457 would be abolished and everyone freaked out. The same morning, I emailed and contacted both my recruiter and the agent to ask if I would be affected and what would this mean.

New rules;

• Instead of Work Visa 457, it is now called Short-Term Work Visa or Medium-Term Work Visa depending on skills
• Instead of 4 years visa granted, new visa would only be 2 years grant
• Previous 457 visa allows unlimited renewal each time visa expires, new visa (Short Term Work Visa) only allows one renewal with no approval guarantee ( I was told there would be a review )
• Previous 457 visa can be applied with no working experience, new Short Term Work Visa would require a minimum of 3 years working experience.

Some people applied offshore and they are lucky enough to be able to stay in their home country while applying for jobs overseas, waiting for visa and all that jazz before coming over here hence they reduce waiting time and during the waiting time, you will not be allowed to work unless if you obtain a working holiday visa or any visa that permits you to work.

Many people told me they envy my non-working days but I can honestly say I did not enjoy it at all. I couldn’t do anything to have income, not even part-time of freelance (legally). That was my biggest obstacles but after torturous four months of waiting, I finally started work and I did not regret anything at all even if I had to be jobless of 9 months.

p/s. based on my personal experience.

You guys should know by now that I love Bobbi Brown skincare and makeup. From their foundations to their cleansers and makeup removers. People always do ask me, “Is it really worth it?” 

So today, I’ll be reviewing the Bobbi Brown Extra Repair Moisture Cream and let’s see if it’s worth every cent to everything it claims to be. 

Just to make it clear for new readers; I have dry combination skin with sensitive skin (Rosecea). The annoying oily T-zone and dry cheeks. Weird right? That’s why moisturisers are tricky where it can’t be too heavy or too light. I don’t really mind layering my skincare at night, but during the day is what I need to look out for. 

I have always thought that the Bobbi Brown Extra range is for dry, dehydrated skin or aging. So when I was given a try on this moisturiser and a few other of the range. I was surprised how it turned out! 

First things first – the scent. I love the scent. It reminds me of lemongrass and citrus. Can’t really get a hang of what the scent is as there is quite a few ingredient in there (which we will get into it later). If you’ve smelt and used the Bobbi Brown Extra Balm Rinse, it is similar to that, but less tangy. 

I love how it comes it their sleek simple packaging. Although the tub is a downside. But it’s made of glass and it’s sturdy. With the inventions of spatula, I no longer need to dig my nails into the tub. LOL 

Let’s see what does it claim to do?

What it is:
 Extra Repair Moisturizing Cream contains all the benefits of Bobbi’s cult-favorite Extra Repair Moisturizing Balm but with a lightweight, luxurious cream texture that’s perfect for layering and prepping skin for seamless foundation application.
Who it’s for: It’s ideal for normal to extra-dry skin types and perfect for those in humid climates or anyone who prefers a lighter feel for their cream.

Formulated WITHOUT:
– Parabens
– Sulfates 
– Phthalates

Active ingredients: 

-Glycerin and Sodium Hyaluronate: Plump and smooth the appearance of fine, dry lines. 
-Shea Butter: Provides a protective barrier against moisture loss. 
-Omega-Rich Sunflower Oil: An ingredient packed with essential fatty acids that provides moisture without a heavy feel. 
-Triple Emulsion Technology: Gives the cream its lightweight texture while still allowing it to be incredibly moisturising.

Other ingredients: 

What’s my verdict?

The Bobbi Brown Extra Repair Moisture Cream is made for those with normal to dry skin and humid climates. That means, it’s suitable for Summer/Malaysia/Singapore countries where the heat and humidity is terrible. My skin loves it as it balance out the combination skin, locks in the moisture for the dry areas without obvious dry patches showing out, my foundation lays on properly and sets nicely and the oily T-Zone does not shine like diamonds. It shows that there is anti-aging properties but I wouldn’t say much about that, because in the end, how do you judge if anti-aging properly does work? 

The moisturiser isn’t the heavy creamy thick kind of texture but rather a gel kind of cream, it glides on my skin without any tugging and spreads evenly. It absorbs really quickly with no greasy or layer of shine over it. I was surprised even when I layer my skincare at night. I had a semi-matte baby skin look, which was what made me love it! 

The Bobbi Brown Extra Repair Moisture Cream cost RM335 for 50ml. 

Is it worth it? Yes, even though it’s on the pricer end. But it is considered to be a higher end luxury skincare. 

Would I recommend it? Yes. 

Does it claim what it does, I would honestly have to finish the whole tub or at least 3-6 months of constant use in order to review if my skin got immune to it, and if they were any after-effects. But so far, loving it. This made me wanna try the rest of the Bobbi Brown Extra Repair Range. Have you guys tried any yet? 

Till then, Remember! You’re never ugly, only if you’re lazy! 🙂

I am not your crazy fanatic that would purchase 100 colors and swatch them for you. As much as I would like to assist you but I do not have the financial privileged to do so.
I picked up two colors from the comfort matte range.

Thryst – slightly pinkish red

714 – darker red

One thing I’ve learned, DO NOT TRUST the color on the packaging box. Because sometimes they have been exposed to light and the color on the packaging fades. For example, 714 looks slightly orange but it isn’t.

Swatches

As you can see 714 had an orange undertone but has a brighter red finishing to it.
UD also has the metallic finish liquid lipsticks, but I didn’t purchase any of it because it isn’t something I could wear on a daily basis.

As compared to the other liquid lipsticks, UD has not failed in terms of pigmentation and it comes with the standard applicator which is pretty easy and handy to apply it on. It takes quite a while to dry up to a matte finish (about 5 mins) so there’s no worries about the lipstick drying on the tube or applicator on a daily wear but of course nobody leaves it open for a long time. There wouldn’t be any guarantee on that. 

Anyone tried it yet?