Expatriate Forums in Australia

Australia JOB info · Guest Home Country: countryx

Finding a Job in Australia

Since the very beginnings of Newcomers Network in 1999, one of the most popular questions I have received from newcomers has been, how do I find a job, a career or work? This article summarises the many stories, challenges and triumphs collected since then and I sincerely hope it provides you with effective strategies and ideas for your exciting future. It has been written for people who have moved to Australia from overseas (either as an expatriate or a repatriate) but the information is equally valid for people who have moved from one suburb to another.

Most of the information relates to finding work in a city....if you have some expertise on finding work in regional and rural areas, please contact us so we can publish some more information here.

Throughout the article I will use the word 'job' to refer to the next 'work' role you have that is either part of your overall career plan or something that you will do until the opportunity you are looking for is found. There are many publications suitable for career advice, resume preparation and interview techniques. This article will address issues specific to newcomers.

Getting Prepared

Even if a move has been accompanied by a new job with an employer, there are times when either you or someone close to you will need to find a new job. The first question to ask yourself, before you leave your previous location is 'What am I really looking for?' This may be difficult for you to answer and if you need help, then I would encourage you to pay for some professional advice through a qualified career counsellor. I spent three and a half years working out that 'Newcomers Network' was what I wanted to do....perhaps if I had sought some proper advice I could have spent just an hour or two!

For some people, without a good understanding of the job market in the new location, the culture that exists, the 'gatekeepers' that you need to go through to reach a decision maker, defining what you are looking for can be difficult. It may not exist. If you have been a leading financial analyst in Tokyo and you are looking for a similar level of responsibility and activity in Australia, you may not find it. If you have done some preliminary research before you leave, you can find out, with a few emails through your current networks and some internet research, how the same (or a new) industry 'works' in Australia. Perhaps it is time for you to consider a new career direction if a similar job is not available...maybe now is the time to explore a career that you have 'always wanted to do' but never quite got around to doing it.

I have heard many stories of people finding their next career move in Australia through a contact overseas. This is another good strategy to use before you leave because you are given a direct introduction to people who are 'international friendly.' Ask for contacts anywhere in the Asia Pacific region. These companies will be expecting someone with international experience and they will understand the value, currency and opportunity that you can provide - and perhaps be a little forgiving if you find it difficult to settle into a new culture in the first 12 months.

Some people think that they need to do their job research when they arrive because they need to meet with people face to face - or they decide that after a busy lifestyle, they will take some time off and then start looking. This is not a good strategy because I have found that the people who are most successful usually find a new job within three months from the day they arrived. Start planning before you leave or as soon as you arrive. Remember that you won't be busy full time researching for a new job, so there will still be days when you can relax and explore your new environment.

Professional associations, trade bodies and representative organisations often require you to be at a certain qualification level before you can move into a similar job in Australia. Find out what rules you must abide by and additional training you may need so that you can book in to this before you arrive. See if you can complete it part time whilst you are doing some other work. If you decide to 'give away' your previous career and start something new, possibly even buying a business, I would encourage you to secure a job (even if it is only an entry level position) in that new field so that you can see what it is like from the inside before you make the financial commitment in what may be a largely unknown new market.

Allocate a a 'job search budget' to cover professional advice (make sure you confirm its usefulness before you agree to payment - speak to other people who have used the service first), event attendances, coffee or lunch (many people meet for coffee in Australia to discuss a job opportunity), public transport or parking fees, childcare whilst you attend meetings, suitable clothing, shoes and personal grooming etc.

Useful Australia Jobs resources

1) Follow some of the many links through

http://www.investaustralia.gov.au Consider sending an an email to the relevant Business Chamber for your existing country and ask them for more information and which companies you could approach that could benefit from your experience and industry background. Please give them an indication of what you are looking for too (or include a copy of your resume and career goals).

2) Purchase a copy of the major daily newspaper on a Saturday as this is the most popular paper for advertising jobs

3) Other careers based websites include

Employment Programs is in the People and Community Advocacy Division of the State Government's Department for Victorian Communities
http://www.employment.vic.gov.au

Australian JobSearch national vacancy database
http://www.jobsearch.gov.au

Australia's Job Network - provides job search support and intensive support through Job Network Members
http://www.jobnetwork.gov.au

Australian Workplace website - information on jobs, careers, training and guidance for job seekers
http://www.workplace.gov.au

My Future - Australia's online career service that provides a personal career decision making tool, facts about occupations, courses, salaries and articles - a joint initiative of the Commonwealth, State and Territory Governments
http://www.myfuture.edu.au

Private websites
http://www.worklife.com.au
http://www.careermastery.com
http://www.visitoz.org for a working rural holiday

4) On websites like

Seek http://www.seek.com.au,

My Career http://www.mycareer.com.au,

Career One http://www.careerone.com.au etc,

make sure your register to receive jobs when they arrive...don't wait until you remember to check back on the website...most job resumes are forwarded within 24 hours of the job being advertised (if you want to compete with the first round of candidates. Jobs that are on there after their 'due dates' may be difficult to fill and you may have more success with these.

5) You can find contact details for organisations via the telephone book -
see either

the Yellow Pages
http://www.yellowpages.com.au or

the White Pages
http://www.whitepages.com.au

6) Have a look at some of the resources and links via Austrade http://www.austrade.gov.au

7) For business related information, and more general information, you can visit Business Melbourne http://www.businessmelbourne.com.au

Cool

The 'Moving Back to Melbourne' article may be helpful to you http://www.newcomersnetwork.com/mel/oursay/ouradvice/mbtm.php

9) You may be entitled to additional assistance from AMES - Adult Multicultural Education Services http://www.ames.net.au or a local Migrant Information Centre and you can also obtain a variety of other information and support via some of the links on our 'Intending Migrants' page of the website (including the Beginning a life in Australia settlement kit from DIMIA available for each state) -

Gumleaf · Guest Home Country: countryx

Ignore all those goverment and "quasi" goverment sites unless you want the lousiest lowest paid jobs in Australia .. or want to do fruit picking .. they are free for employers to list on .. an indication of how "tight" they are.

"Seek" is ok .. thats it!

My advice (from 30 years of working in Australia) ... buy a newspaper!
Get a mobile phone .. join a free job placement centre and use thier phone to call ads from the paper. Use thier comps/printers to make resumes too.

Wink

AJB · Guest Home Country: countryx

Hi Guys,

It's probably worth also checking out NowHiring.com.au. NowHiring is a complete online employment solution for Australian Job Seekers, Freelancers, Employers and Recruiters. You can post resumes for free, and the site has an application management system - where you can monitor the status of your application!

Check it all out at www.NowHiring.com.au

Very Happy

Worker · Joined: 20 Apr 2006 Posts: 1 Home Country: australia

Another website that has recently launched is DayWork.com.au.

DayWork is an Australian job search website that only lists part time, casual, temporary and other short term contract work.

It's a great place for travellers on working visas to find work as well as those recently arriving in Australia and and are looking to build on their work experience.

Check us out at http://www.daywork.com.au

Very Happy

tantheman · Joined: 02 Aug 2006 Posts: 0 Home Country: australia

Hello!

everyone...

i recently got a new job through a new Website.

http://www.jobsgarage.com

http://www.jobsgarage.com.au

cheers

saraa · Posted: Fri Apr 27, 2007 2:15 pm Post subject:

I recently found work in my line of work-hotel industry- in Australia by going through a great recruiter. The recruiters name is AD Innovative Recruitment. Before I found this recruiter I went through a number of differant avenues to no avail because I couldn't find sponcorship. This recruiter works with 5* hotels and offers sponsorship. Please feel free to contact me if you want more advise on the experience. I'm living the dream Wink

pboden00 · Posted: Fri May 18, 2007 10:43 pm Post subject:

Hi Saraa

I'm moving to Perth in 2008 and i currently manage a restaurant over here in the uk, how did you come to 'live the dream' as i would love to do my job in Oz after being over there this year.

Thanks

Paul

pboden00 · Posted: Fri May 18, 2007 10:43 pm Post subject:

Hi Saraa

I'm moving to Perth in 2008 and i currently manage a restaurant over here in the uk, how did you come to 'live the dream' as i would love to do my job in Oz after being over there this year.

Thanks

Paul

pboden00 · Posted: Fri May 18, 2007 10:43 pm Post subject:

Hi Saraa

I'm moving to Perth in 2008 and i currently manage a restaurant over here in the uk, how did you come to 'live the dream' as i would love to do my job in Oz after being over there this year.

Thanks

Paul

kay_82 · Gender: Joined: 18 May 2007 Posts: 2 Home Country: NULL