Essay on Study Abroad Experience

I am Kurt Video T. Ocampos, 32 years old and single. I earned my bachelor's degree of Bachelor in Business Administration majoring in Management from Silliman University College of Business Administration in Dumaguete City Philippines in October 2008. I chose this course as I felt that this field was in strong demand in different industries which requires a business graduate that can understand and handle the finance section of the companies.

After graduating in October 2008, In my eagerness to stand on my own and start to have a job rather than taking the time off for a vacation, I went to Manila City which is the capital city of the Philippines on November 2008 after I acquired the necessary documents from my degree to search for work. On December 2008, I briefly worked as a Customer Service Representative for one month and by January 2009, I was employed by Philippine Business Bank as a Clearing Processor which have responsibilities in processing daily outward local checks of 7 different branches assigned on the cluster by encoding, reading, and transmitting data to Philippine Clearing House Corporation (PCHC). Ensure that all checks processed were transmitted to PCHC. The print delivery statement bundles them accordingly and is responsible for delivering the process outward local checks to PCHC in Export Building in Makati City. After four months I decided to transfer from the Cheque Clearing Department to the Branch Operation side with a role as an Accounting Assistance to the roles that I handled are printing daily financial reports, loading cash in the ATM Machines, Auditing Teller’s daily transactions, preparing month-end and year-end reports, and supporting the Assistant Branch Manager or Branch Operations Officer in the daily loads of the branch, which up until July 15, 2012, when I resigned as a Senior Accounting Assistance.

It is a great privilege for me to work in one of the most competitive banking institutions in the Philippines for more than three years during which I gain a lot of knowledge and experience that helped me in my career path. To pursue my dreams and develop my skills and knowledge, I decided to expand my horizon and gain experience internationally to which on October 2012 I went to the Middle East the city of Dubai in the United Arab Emirates to work and I have been privileged to work in a five-star hotel of Al Murooj Rotana Hotel under the Rotana Hotels & Resort Corporation which is considered the leading hotel brand in the region, in which gives an advantage as it is geographically located in the middle of the Financial District of Dubai besides the world-famous tallest building the Burj Khalifa and largest mall the Dubai Mall. Four years it gives me the knowledge and experience in working directly in the operations as an Outlet Cashier of the Restaurant and Pub.

The best thing about the company is that colleagues are encouraged to gain additional knowledge that will help them in their chosen careers by training in the different departments of the hotel after their working hours whether in Reception, Housekeeping, Engineering, IT, Food & Beverage, and Finance Department. Which I applied for and was assigned to the Credit/Collection section of the Finance department.

My training in the Credit Department started from 11 am to 6:30 pm and by 7 pm I start my work at 3 am the next morning, and full day from 9 am to 6 pm during my days off for two months straight. Our Director of Finance was empress by my dedication to learning and the quality of my work which qualifies me to receive the Colleague of the Month award by the time there is a vacancy for Accounts Receivable, I have been highly recommended and chosen for the role. My job band from a monthly salary estimate of 396.00 AUD as an Outlet Cashier to 1,188.00 AUD as an Accounts Receivable, room accommodation has improved from one room shared with three other colleagues without a toilet to a single room flat, and a fixed weekend two days off.

As an Accounts Receivable my responsibilities are to prepare invoices, make sure that accounting books are balanced, bank account and credit card reconciliations, payments have been followed up from the debtors and payments are being allocated correctly to the account, resolve guest and debtors quires, preparing month-end and year-end reports, assisting the Credit Manager in making sure that company policies and procedures are being applied for all facets of credit and collection to reduce the risks, being as an Accounts Receivable it gives me the knowledge and experience in handling the responsibilities for which I spend for four years and left on December of 2016.

Even though the company provides a ton of knowledge and opportunities to pursue my career in the Credit Department, I have to leave the company for the reason to pursue wider scope in the Credit Department and by the 15th of January 2017, I started working in InterContinental Hotels Group – Dubai Festival City (IHG-DFC). The reason why I leave the Al Murooj Rotana Hotel (AMRH) is for career opportunities namely; AMRH only handles one property compared to IHG-DFC which handles four properties namely InterContinental Hotel, InterContinental Residence & Suite, Crowne Plaza Hotel, & Holiday Inn Hotel to which the wider scope of role and opportunities that helped me boost my career in the Credit/Collection Department. Even though the work I had in my previous company has increased four times than the previous company it gives me the advantage as I can effectively complete my task with the knowledge and skills I acquire from the previous company. After one year and eight months working in InterContinental Hotels Group, I have been awarded the Certificate of Achievement for the month of February 2018 for showing exemplary professionalism in the work environment which qualifies me to be promoted to Accounts Receivable Supervisor despite the company minimum requirements is two years for the exemption work I dedicate to the team. It gives me great pride in receiving the achievements as a Supervisor because InterContinental Hotels Group is the leading Five Star Hotel group in the world which they will not just promote individuals who do not poses or even meet the global standards set by the company or even the hospitality industries.

As I was assessing my work experience, I realized that to be competitive, I needed to be up to date with the latest business trends and practices especially in the Western part of the world as the majority of the companies now have been globalized. As this was the main reason that I wanted to go back to school. Basing on my experience in Dubai gave me the idea that I should study abroad hopefully in Australia. I realized that I had been fortunate to be exposed to different business practices abroad majorly in the Middle East. This made the decision easier as I realized that I needed to study abroad to get the best education possible to pursue my career in Finance.

I am applying for a student visa in Australia to take up the BSB50215 Diploma of Business 096492C from South Sydney College in Sydney, Australia.

The Diploma of Business comprises 8 elective units, which include Marketing opportunities, professional development, recruitment and selection processes, financial reports, and research international business opportunities which will help me in my career or business opportunities in the Philippines. The course is designed to give us an opportunity to learn how different Australian business operates and introduces us to project management models which the knowledge we obtain can be applied to overseas countries. The course is also designed to address business needs in the workplace which will be very useful in my career in Finance or my community as u go back to the Philippines and start my own business. Higher levels of business theory and Australian business case studies, such as the Australian business culture and techniques for good meetings, balancing workload priorities, and HR functions to source new staff.

These classes will build skills and knowledge for me to administer and manage the business. Additionally, this will expose me to different cultures and standards as Australia has higher standards and a different, more professional, more ethical business culture and standard compared to the Philippines.

The standard of living in Australia is considered one of the highest in the world, it also offers excellent value for money. Living expenses and school fees in Australia are considerably less expensive than UK and USA. Australia also includes paid internships while studying making gaining work experience while working practicable and an opportunity to learn the local culture scene for my profession. An academic institution in Australia delivers practical and career-oriented training so graduates can be confident that they have the skills demanded by employers.

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The city of Sydney is amongst the top ten world cities that are highly integrated into the global economy. Additionally, Sydney is incredibly diverse culturally and at the same time expresses world-class standards in education giving me the security that I need that I will definitely be able to adapt quickly and learn the most that I can. International and multinational corporations' headquarters are based in Sydney, which gives us an opportunity to apply the knowledge and skills we acquire in the course that we choose. As a business major, I know for a fact that the community will prosper in a secure economic environment, and seeing for myself the most livable city in its day-to-day operations for the whole duration of my course (two years) will give me insight and nurture ideas that I can apply back here in the Philippines.

Based on the recommendation of the country representative agency. I believe that the school that would be best for me is South Sydney College in Sydney Australia. I am impressed with the quality of education they offer for overseas students in accordance with the Australian Vocational Education and Training sectors with affordable tuition, which is very important to us aspiring students.

In line with this, I wish to express my intent in applying for a student visa in Australia by taking a Diploma in Business. This course will help me to expand my knowledge with the course that I have graduated from and the work experience I gain in Dubai.

I also aim to broaden my knowledge of what I can do with this diploma as I know new opportunities and knowledge will be available for me upon graduation. I hope that I could grow in my career and open an opportunity in applying the knowledge that I acquire when coming back to the Philippines.

My mother is currently employed in the leading insurance agency in the Philippines which is Insular Life as an Insurance Agent and at the same time have a family business on the side together with my father. She will provide financial assistance while I am studying in Sydney and a portion will be handled by myself as I saved a fair amount of money when I was still working in Dubai, United Arab Emirates for more than six years. My parents would always encourage me to pursue and develop the course I finished in the Philippines, and they were always supportive of me in this decision even my decision in going to Dubai in 2012. In line with this, I really have to go back to the Philippines after my studies for me to be able to start my own business.

Name of Sponsor Relationship Bank Name Source of Income

Carmel T. Ocampos Mother Bank of the Philippine Island Insurance Agent

After completing my studies in Australia, I believe that I would be skilled and equipped enough to put up our own business.

Being able to continue my studies in a foreign country will mean that I have the opportunity to learn concepts in a different way. This study abroad opportunity will enable me to become a better source of international business in the future and give me the requisite knowledge and communications skills to ensure ideas and practices are shared accurately and effectively. I know that this opportunity to study abroad in Australia will be a great benefit to me in the future and that the lessons I learned during my tenure in Australia will help shape my personal and professional views.

I will also be able to open my mind to a new culture and a way of life in the Western part of the world, which will sharpen my teamwork skills as well as my ability to think outside of the box. I look forward to using the skills and knowledge that this student visa and my Australian education will make possible in order to apply international business practices in the Philippines.

Therefore, I kindly request you consider my application and help me provide an opportunity that will develop my career. Hoping and looking forward to your positive response.

While on my student visa I have to abide by the below-mentioned visa conditions:

• Condition 8105: Work Limitation (40 hours per fortnight after course commencement)
• Condition 8202: Maintaining the Course Requirement I must have maintained full-time enrolment in CRICOS registered Institution course)
• Condition 8501: Maintain Visa length Overseas Student Health Cover
• Condition 8516: Maintain continuous overall financial capacity and requirements
• Condition 8517: Maintain schooling arrangements for school-age dependents (If I have any).
• Condition 8533: Notify the education provider about my address or change of address.