FAQs

Please use these FAQs to help navigate round the site. If you can't find the answer to your question, send us an email through the Contact Us tab and we will reply as soon as we can. Thanks

1. Overview

1.1. What is Globiles?

Globiles is a private community of international professionals around the world.
Globiles is a meeting point offering members guidance on their international careers -

Job opportunities, searchable by location and keywords, apply online
Globs of insight on managing job search, interviews, visas and other stuff
A panel of volunteer Career Advisors to give you one-to-one guidance
Contact opportunities with other globiles
City and event guides to places you may visit or live in

Membership of Globiles is free and by invitation. We welcome any international professionals who are offering or looking for information or guidance on careers.

Limited read-only access to certain pages on www.globiles.com is currently granted to non-members.

1.2. How is Globiles different from other social and professional networks?: Globiles is focused on helping its members' international careers, especially in the early stages, through sharing job offers, providing a searchable database of information and advice from members, to one-to-one personal guidance from our Career Advisors. You don't have to know a member to share his/her insights and ask for guidance.

Our aim is to build a high quality community of international professionals so we review all uninvited registrations before activating accounts. We also review all member posts and comments on the site.

Another unusual feature of Globiles is that members get rewarded for their contributions through Membership Points, which for members at the Pioneer level convert into a share in the financial success of the community.

1.3. Why is Globiles only in English?: Currently the site is in English as the common language in which many globiles tend to communicate in with other globiles of different nationalities. That said, some job offers we share are in other languages.

1.4. How do I become a member if I don't have an invitation?: If you do not already have an invitation, you can apply to become a member by completing the registration page and telling us why you are a globile, this could be the URL of your LinkedIn profile, the name of your business school or a short explanation of your international qualifications. Alternatively you can email us on newmembers@globiles.com. If we agree your profile is that of an international professional, we will activate your account and let you know.

1.5. Why is my location not accepted by the registration form?: We have included hundreds of cities but we may have missed your favourites! We continue to add locations at the request of members - please send us an email at globiles@globiles.com

1.6. How do I get started?: Once you have registered, please upload a photo and add places you have been or want to go to by editing your Personal profile (on the My Profile tab top right). Add networks and languages and, if you are looking for a job, complete your career experience in your Professional Profile importing your data from LinkedIn if you want to.

Also think carefully about your bio or tagline which you can edit at any time - your bio is searchable by other members so is a way of making yourself known to other members on careers, topics or places that interest you.

1.7. Navigation - how can I look for information and advice on specific topics?: Search on keywords or use the keyword tags which will display information on the topic you are looking for. You can also use the locator tabs at the top of each page to adjust the geographic scope of your search by place and by level (Place, Territory, Region).

1.8. Why can't I find the place I want to read or write about?: We have aimed to include all countries in the world grouped under broad regions, usually sub-continents. Please let us know if you would like to suggest modifications.

The structure is intended to be practical rather than hierarchically purist. For example, we have listed the Caribbean islands at the country/territory level even though some of them are part of other countries; we have shown Hong Kong SAR as a separate territory from the rest of China given the density of globiles in that location even though they are the same country.

1.9. Privacy - how are my personal data protected?: We are committed to protecting your personal data and comply with the Spanish and EU data protection legislation. When you register, you authorise Globiles (see Terms) to show your name, location, flags (places you want to share) and bio (introducing you to the rest of the community) to all other members. On those pages publicly available, including Jobs Market and Member Forum pages, your name, location, places/flags and tagline/bio will be visible to non-members.

You also authorise us (on registration as a member) to allow other members to view details of your professional profile and, if you register for a job offer, to release your contact details to the member who has posted that opportunity.

In the case of Career Advisors, the individual member profiles are also visible to non-members.

We will never share your data with third parties other than as stated above, nor use your personal data for other purposes other than to develop the Globiles community.

1.10. How can I make suggestions and give feedback?: We are sure you can tell us how to make the site more intuitive and helpful to you, please use the feedback tab or write to us at globiles@globiles.com

2. Globs Return to top

2.1. What are globs?: "Globs" is our own twist on the word "blog". They are collective discussions that start with one member's post and can develop into a series of replies and questions from other members. Our objective is to curate a store of useful, peer-reviewed knowledge and advice on career and other topics of interest to globiles.

Globs are tagged into categories to make search and retrieval easier (see right hand margin). You can also bookmark your favourite globs, which can be retrieved through My Favourites on the right hand side of the Globs page. The globs you are participating in are also easily retrievable by My Conversations.

You will receive an email for any new replies on globs you have posted or have replied to unless you opt out by changing the button "Follow This Glob" from YES to NO.

2.2. How do I post a question or share advice to other members?: Just click on the Create New Glob and a new screen will open. Use tags to help others easily access your insights. Choose at which geographical level (City, Country/Territory, Global) you think your glob should be displayed. We may modify the level you have chosen if we think it is relevant to a wider (or narrower) readership. If you are writing for an audience within a city or region, make sure your location (in the left hand margin) is set to that place before creating your glob.

You get 10 points for sharing your insight in a new glob and 1 additional point for each member who Thanks you for a glob (or a useful comment added to the glob). If your advice is about places to eat, drink, shop or sleep at or a place to visit in a specific city, please post in City Guide.

If you think we have missed out a topic that you would like to see on globiles, then get in touch and let us know on globiles@globiles.com.

2.3. How can I create a glob in a place that is not my current location?: You need to toggle the city location dropdown in the left hand margin to change to the place in your profile where you want to post the glob - if the city is not included in the list, click on Other and enter the name of the city. Bear in mind that this is not necessary if it is a glob with global relevance since it will be posted to all countries.

2.4. What can I write about?: Everything that is relevant, interesting and respectful to the globiles community. We only ask that our members bear in mind that we are a multicultural community so avoid stereotypical or offensive language. Differences of opinion are normal amongst globiles but we want them to remain just that and not be transformed into personal abuse or unhelpful discussion. (more in our Terms).

2.5. How do I attach a photo to a glob?: Photos bring a bit more life to globs and make them that bit easier on the eye. Click on the green tree in the row of icons above the Description box and choose a file, then upload it. You can change the size of the photo in your glob by using the Appearance tab.

2.6. Saying thanks: If you have found a glob you have read useful, please click on the Say Thanks button to thank the author of the glob (or of a reply). That member will receive an additional membership point for each Thanks.

3. Jobs Market Return to top

3.1. What jobs are shown in the jobs market?: Our jobs market is updated daily and currently contains around half a million jobs from around the world. We show all jobs that have been posted by members, but we also share job offers from other employers through a third party database. Members' and partners' own job offers are displayed first, in reverse chronological order, then the shared job offers from other employers, again in reverse chronological order, so do look beyond the first page.

3.2. How do I search the jobs market?

Given the volume of job offers available, the best way to find what you want is to use a combination of the following three filters -

Location - broadening or narrowing the geographical scope by using the location finder (city, territory, region)
Your Professional Profile - restrict the search to the sectors, functions and job types you have selected in your Professional Profile
Keywords and phrases - use keywords or phrases to search the titles and content of the job offers - if you are using phrases, you must enclose them in "speech marks", also letter combinations such as "hr" (which without speech marks picks up words such as "through") and "MBA".

If you are not able to filter the jobs to your satisfaction, let us know what the problem is and we will look for a solution. We are still refining how jobs are filtered.

3.3. How do I avoid having to put in the same search each time?: You can save your search by clicking on Save Search. This generates a popout box which asks you to name your Saved Search which will then appear on your Job Market page each time you log in. It will also ask if you want to receive email alerts for each Saved Search (default is yes, uncheck for no). You can edit name, parameters or email alerts on any Saved Search at any time.

3.4. How do I know when a new job offer has been posted for one of my Saved Searches?: You can set up a weekly email alert for new job offers by editing the Saved Search. You can cancel these alerts at any time.

3.5. How do I apply for a job posted on Globiles?: Alongside the description of the individual job offer, you will see an orange button. If the orange button contains the words "Apply online", when you will click on it, you will be redirected to the page where the job offer is advertised and you can apply at the employer or agent. If the orange button contains the words "Register me for this job", it means that the job offer has been posted by another member and that by registering for the job, your name and contact information will be registered with the member who has posted the job as being a potential candidate. The member posting the job will be sent an email to tell him/her that you have registered for the job.

3.6. I am an employer or recruiting agency - how do I post a job offer?: Posting a job offer is currently FREE. To post a job offer, you need to be an individual member. Once your membership has been activated, you can post a job offer. You click on "Add Job Offer" then register the name of the employer or agency ("Add New Employer") which will be displayed in the job offer. If you are an agent, you can create multiple employer names for your clients. You can then post a job offer under that name by completing the job offer form.

Use the Advanced Filters to specify full/part-time and minimum language and professional experience, and to add alternative locations.

4. Career Advisors Return to top

4.1. What is a Career Advisor?: We launched the Globiles Career Advisor panel in March 2012. The panel comprises entirely of volunteer members, who are prepared to share their experience and insights to help other members in their careers. Career Advisors earn membership points if their nomination to the panel is accepted and further points following positive feedback from each member they help.

Our current panel includes men and women based in North America, Europe, Asia and Australia, speaking French, Dutch, Italian, Portuguese, Russian and Spanish.

4.2. What is the scope of a Career Advisor relationship?: Our guidelines are that a Career Advisor, once he/she accepts a request from a member for guidance, should have an initial conversation with the advisee to discuss the topic on which the member needs help, followed by one or two follow up emails and possible a closing discussion, if both feel this is warranted. The discussions can be by phone, Skype or in person, by mutual agreement.

The topic on which the Career Advisor provides guidance could be anything from starting up a new business, through moving sectors/employers/countries, to questions around business schools or postgraduate education.

We would not expect the series of communications to extend beyond 3 months in normal circumstances as guidance is intended to address a specific question rather than be an ongoing mentoring or coaching. That said, we leave it up to the members to agree other arrangements if they wish.

We would emphasise that Career Advisors are NOT expected to find a member a job. The Career Advisor can offer guidance on what to do and how to do it, but each member is responsible for his/her own job search.

Per our Member Terms, neither the Career Advisors nor Globiles accept any responsibility or liability for the consequences of actions taken by a member in response to guidance provided by a member of the Career Advisor panel.

4.3. What are the obligations of a Career Advisor?: The only obligation of a Career Advisor is that once he/she accepts a request to provide guidance to a member, based on the information provided in the request, he/she uses his/her best efforts to guide the member on the topic requested within the guidelines provided.

While we expect the Career Advisor to accept at least one request each year, there is no obligation for the Career Advisor to accept any specific request, or to accept more than one advisee at any time. Based on the member requests, and the preferences expressed (we ask members to give us up to three preferences from the panel), we will consider current commitments and match to advisor experience. Once we have completed that screen, we contact the Career Advisor who we consider most appropriate to the member's request.

We understand that there may be requests where the Career Advisor does not feel he/she can add much value to the requesting member. We also understand that there may be times when the commitments of the Career Advisor may be such that he/she does not wish to accept any requests, and we respect these personal decisions.

4.4. How do I become a Career Advisor?: We welcome self-nominations from any member who is willing to offer guidance on the basis proposed. Please complete our nomination form at Career Advisor Nomination and we will get back to as soon as possible.

We are currently looking to expand the panel to 25 members for 2013.

4.5. How do I get guidance from a Career Advisor?: You should decide what topic you need guidance on, the more specific you can be in your request the more we should be able to help you in finding the right person to guide you.

You should complete the Request Form, stating the question/issue and the language(s) you are comfortable with. If you have taken a look at our panel members, you can also express up to three preferences. We will aim to align your request with a panel member and contact that member with your request. Please do not contact Advisors to make the request directly as they will simply forward the request back to us.

Please also read the guidelines in 4.2 above so you understand what is included and excluded from a Career Advisor relationship.

5. Networking Return to top

5.1. How do I see if there are other members I know?: When you click on the Networking tab you will see a list of members in your location along with their language and career networks (you can change the location by using the dropdown menus for City, Country/Territory and Region. You can search using keywords which will be based on the members' names, profiles and bios/taglines.

5.2. How do I establish contact with another member?: Use the Send Message button by the member's name (if there is no Send Message button, the member has opted out of receiving messages). You will need to complete the name of the member. The message will be sent to the member's email address. Private messages are limited on a monthly basis by your membership level based on the Membership Points you have accumulated (currently 5 for Explorer, 10 for Navigator). Pioneer members can currently send unlimited messages to other members and have access to group addresses and can send messages to all members of a network, city or country.

If you are reported for abusing the private message system, Globiles may terminate your ability to use this application.

5.3. How do I invite a friend to join Globiles?: You can send an invitation to anyone who you think would enjoy being a member (successful invitations earn you 10 points). All you need to do is to click on the Send an Invitation link on the top bar and insert the email address and message you want to send in the form provided. We will then send an invitation with your name in the message title ("Ollie Smith invites you to join Globiles")

5.4. How do I use the network tags?: There are networks covering language groups and also professional interests (eg Marketing). You can see who is in a network by clicking on the network tag. Use the location finder to broaden or narrow the geographic scope of your search. Your own networks are displayed in the right hand column. You can join or edit your networks in your Professional Profile settings.

5.5. What opportunities are there to network in person?: We have started to hold member meet-ups around the world, including London, Singapore, Beijing, Sydney, Paris and Madrid. These are often been organised at the initiative of local members. As the member communities in each city grow, there will no doubt be more member events. Please fee free to make suggestions and/or organise events locally.

6. City Guide Return to top

6.1. What is City Guide?: City Guide facilitates the sharing of members' favourite spots in a city. We use a Google map to show the location of the shared spots, which are organised into broad categories of Eat and Drink, Shops, Things to Do and Accommodation.

6.2. How do I find places?: You can use the map to locate a place under the category you are looking for, and clicking on the relevant map pin which will open a description of the spot. You can also look at the lists we include below the map of most recently posted spots. If the City Guide is empty in your location, please help us by adding your own spots.

6.3. How do I share a spot I like?: Use the orange button Add New Spot and complete the name, category and address of the spot you want to share. Once you complete the address and hit Enter, the location should be displayed on the map. You can also share the URL, pictures and any description including telephone number and reasons to go there. You get 10 membership points for each spot you share plus 1 point for each Thanks you get from members.

6.4. How do I comment on a spot someone else has shared?: You can comment by using the link within the box opened when you click on the map pin.

7. Events Return to top

7.1. What is Events?: Events allows members to share upcoming events of any sort in a city. For ease of access we have included some categories of events, such as Concert or Conference.

7.2. How can I find an event?: Use the locator tabs to select the region, country/territory (and, if relevant, city) where you are looking. Events will be listed in chronological order and, for added ease, a calendar of the current month in the right hand column shows days when there is a posted event. If you click on an individual event, this will open to show more detail and ask if you are going. You can send a message to the member who created the event as well as telling the member if you are going or not.

7.3. How can I add an event?: Click on the orange Create New Event button and a new event form will open on your screen. Choose a name for your event, and add date (and if necessary end date) and start time for the event. Insert an address so that the map can be shown which locates the event for other members. Choose the type of event to help members. Add a photo to make it look interesting.

8. Membership Points and Levels Return to top

8.1. What are membership points and how do they work?: In order to reflect the contributions of members who have invited friends or posted some advice or provided guidance to other members, we award membership points. The accumulation of points allows a member to be promoted to a higher level of membership which then offers privileges and rewards.

8.2. How do I accumulate membership points?: You are awarded 10 points when you join. You then earn 10 points for completing your profile and for each new member you successfully invite. You also earn 10 points for each post you make in Members Forum, City Guide, Events, new job offers, and 1 point for each time you get thanked for your post. Those volunteer members whose nomination is accepted as a Career Advisor also get higher levels of points, plus bonus points for positive feedback from their advisees.

8.3. What are the different membership levels?: You join at the Explorer level, and once you have accumulated 200 points you rise to Navigator level. Navigators have an increased private message quota of 10 per month (versus 5 per month for Explorers). 500 points gets you to Pioneer level. Pioneers have no cap to the number of private messages they can send and will share in the economic success of Globiles from 1 January 2013. They also enjoy complimentary Globiles-branded luggage security tags.

9. Member Offers Return to top

9.1. What are Member Offers?: Member Offers are opportunities to buy products or services from partner companies who have offered discounts or other benefits to members. We welcome approaches from third parties interested in providing offers to the community of globiles. Please contact us through the Contact form or by email on globiles@globiles.com.