I have a great job and am loving every day here!
Fiona Schoonens from Perth, Western Australia.
I moved to London in August 2006 and within 4 days I had an apartment, bank account, job and holiday plans! My transition was easy however I have heard a lot of horror stories. Some people had a lot of bad experiences arriving and trying to establish their lives which I thankfully avoided through forward planning before I left. FastrackUK really helped me.
Six months before my departure I did a lot of research and planning. I read about FastrackUK on the British High commission website. They offered support services for my relocation and recruitment services to find me work when I arrived. As they were listed on an official government website and on SeekUK I could trust that they were a legitimate business. I got in touch with them and spent a long time talking to my consultants about what I needed to arrange; working holiday visa, bank account, NI number, UK format CV, recruitment agencies and also all the aspects of living in London; finding jobs, travelling around the city, areas to live, places to check out. My FastrackUK consultant was so helpful and knew what she was talking about.
Combining FastrackUK's info with my own research meant that by the time I was ready to depart I didn't feel any nerves or stress - I only felt upset thinking of leaving my friends and family.
My first job was a Marketing Co-ordinator contract role for 1 month. The company then asked me to complete another 3 month contract in the same role. I then worked as a Project Manager for 2 months followed by a Marketing Manager position and in between I have been on amazing holidays all throughout the world.
I plan to continue living and working in London for some time yet - it is such an amazing city with so many opportunities and FastrackUK was a large part in helping me achieve my goals here.
Fiona Schoonens, Head of Marketing