Ask Steph

So I noticed somewhere around March or April that I've been endorsed for some of my skills- and I'm very grateful to the new contacts and ex-colleagues and friends who have taken the time to endorse me. I've also noticed - and I shall keep names out of it - that some of my skills ( which I do have) have been endorsed by people that could not possibly have experienced or witnessed those skills. Because  I know them in a completely different sphere than the skills they have now endorsed. For example. I know some SQL . I know it because I learnt it by working on an Oracle database while being a Business Analyst at Discovery Health . Unless you have worked with me at Discovery ( and even then , I did a lot of different things at Discovery Health) you wouldn't really be able to endorse my SQL skills. I also know a fair bit about databases and database management. Not all of it by direct experience mind you, but because in working with DBA's over the years I have pi...

I am a very happy person this week. This week has landed me 2 exceptional experiences - both of which are firmly cementing in my mind that coming to live, and work in Australia was the best decision we made. I cannot wait to apply for citizenship. Don't get me wrong - my heart aches endlessly for my family and friends back in South Africa, I will miss and lament those gorgeous African Highveld thunderstorms and sunsets . I just cannot get away from our enormous good fortune in this wonderful country though. Firstly - I've had some really good news about being accepted into a program called GAP - sponsored in the most part by the State Government of Victoria . Which helps businesses to identify marketing opportunities and do research into the American or Chinese markets. Second - I've had the unforeseen pleasure of applying for an American visa as a result of the first bit of good news - and was cheerfully surprised at how streamlined the process is . Entirely online...