Finding a job - Where to start!

[Ajay]

One of the most common questions from people wanting to migrate to Australia is around how to secure employment. Given that this is one way to gain entry without needing to pass the dreaded points test, it's no wonder that it generates so many questions. Here's some advice:

Internet

Subscribe to the internet job sites - especially www.seek.com.au which has masses of daily traffic. There are others (www.mycareer.com.au and www.careerone.com.au) and it is worth looking at these as well. Even though all the jobs say that you must have the right to work in Australia in order to apply, apply anyway! There is a real and serious skills shortage in Australia, and even if you can't be considered for that particular position, you might well be in with a chance on another. I personally know of at least 3 couples that have found a sponsor this way in the last couple of months.

Contacts

Keep in close contact with anyone that you know that has already made the move - especially those that you've met through a forum like this one. We are an invaluable network of people looking after our own - nothing would make most of us happier than being able to help others who want to join our growing ex-pat community!

Company Websites

Lots of companies advertise their positions on their own website (to avoid agency fees), so if you are in a field that is electronically savvy, look up some websites in the industry and look at the "Contacts" section - there is often an employment link somewhere around there. If not, don't be shy to find out who the HR Manager is and make contact with them directly - even if there isn't a job advertised. This is especially true if you have technical / telecomms / IT skills - they are in very short supply. The worst that can happen is that you get turned down - and there's a chance that you just might get an interview.

Agencies

Many of the bigger agencies can sponsor you directly - and often do this. Again, this is especially true in the more technical fields, but certainly not unheard of in other professions. They offer the sponsorship and then contract you out to their clients. Get in touch with the bigger players (www.hudsonresourcing.com.au, www.hays.com.au, www.chandlermacleod.com.au) and try to find someone to champion your cause.

ABOVE ALL

Be persistent! Don't give up! Show some of the famous SA tenacity! It is absolutely possible to secure employment in Australia while still in SA. I did it, and so did many others. It isn't necessarily easy, but it is certainly not impossible. Hang in there and just keep at it.

Please feel free to PM me with any specific questions, or else just post a message. I will do my best to respond, as I'm sure many others will too.

Good Luck!

[Spider]

Hi there

My boyfriend and I are so keen its unbelievable, but its hard to figure out firstly where and how to start i.t.o. forms, but then the looming word... employment.

I have Honours BA Industrial Psychology, with the odd diploma...whilst he has BCom in Marketing and Management and almost done with is Honours in Brand Leadership at Vega. Our undergraduate degrees happen to be through SA based Australian universities - Monash and Bond...

some people go cold turkey, but finding work cuold take forever...its daunting...this all seems so much to comprehend, and i'm sure its just the beginning and it settles down but ja...

And obviousy we want to be together, so...

[Ajay]

Hi Chandi,

It is daunting - you're right. But if you want to be here - and it sounds like you do - you're gonna have to take the bull by the horns and go for it!

Have you and SO got any working experience in your fields? If so, you can consider trying to find a sponsor. If not, or if limited, then why don;t you investigate going the Skilled Independant route, and then look for work once you get here. The job market here is radically different from SA - and there are jobs to be found. It may take a while - the biggest hurdle is the local experience issue - but even with that, you should secure something - you both have good qualifications.

Feel free to ask me any more questions, or PM me with specifics!

Cheers

Ajay

[shingez]

Hi Ajay

I 've just come accross some advsie that you gave to someone like me and thought maybe its worthwhile to conact you. I am living in Zimbambwe and am a holder of Bsc Psycholgy Deploma in Training Management and am working towards completing my MBA with UZ. I have a descent job as Human Resources Manager but you know here in Zim, life is tight. With such a job I am failing to break even. Please assist with information regarding sponsors, jobs etc.

Regards

Shingez

[Ajay]

Hi Shingez,

The advice that I would give you is essentially the same advice that I give to everyone - as laid out above. Subscribe to some job sites, and apply for those that appear to suit your skills and experience.

You may want to identify employers that are in the same business sector as you currently operarate in and then target them specifically - industry experience is always welcomed.

Good luck!

Ajay

Hi Ajay

I 've just come accross some advsie that you gave to someone like me and thought maybe its worthwhile to conact you. I am living in Zimbambwe and am a holder of Bsc Psycholgy Deploma in Training Management and am working towards completing my MBA with UZ. I have a descent job as Human Resources Manager but you know here in Zim, life is tight. With such a job I am failing to break even. Please assist with information regarding sponsors, jobs etc.

Regards

Shingez

[Bulawayo]

Hi Ajay

We have been offered a sponsorship for a job. We were first told to complete the 47 ES and now they are saying complete the 147, what is the difference. What is a good rate of pay per hour for a Turner Machinist.

We are very keen, can one come to Aus and apply from there my wife will follow later. Our daughters will finish there studies in SA as the one has only got 1 year of her degree then she will probably join us.

[Ajay]

Hi Bulawayo,

Congratulations on your husband's offer - you must be very happy indeed!

I'm not familiar with the visa classes that you are speaking about - the only sponsored visa class that I know is the 457. I will look into these for you though and will post you a lengthier reply on that later.

Regarding the rate - you will need to do some internet research on that to make sure that he is getting a fair offer.

Cheers

Ajay

[Rison]

There is also an "Adelaide Make The Move Campaign" supported by the Department of Trade and Economic Development (DTED). The campaign is aimed at attracting skilled employees across the entire spectrum to take advantage of job opportunities in South Australia. It attracts both interstate and international candidates, and often ex-South Australians who wish to return. Note: No cost to applicants.

See this link http://www.tannermenzies.com/page/jobs?id=10285

[MANDYL]

Hi Rison - thks immediately sending in my husband's cv. TRA received, main application for 136 Visa lodged acknowledgement received September 2006. Have done the IETLS at least. Trying to go sooner it seems the 136 Visa takes forever !

[M&Z]

Hi Ajay

We are nearing the end of our visa application (136 PR) - we are at the stage where our CO has requested IELTS. That is booked for 6 December and hopefully it won't be long before the ball is really rolling after that. We were wondering if you had any contacts in Brisbane that would perhaps 'sponsor' our move over? We obviously won't need them to become sponsors, but if we can get a couple of comapnies to approach for a job initially, then perhaps one of them would be willing to pay our costs over. My husband is a Maintenance Engineer (fitter) with experience in marine engineering, hydraulics and CNC machine maintenance. We hope to settle within Queensland south. Any advice will be greatly appreciated.

[Wataboyki]

Hi Ajai,

Maybe you (or anyone else) have some advice.

How does one find South African's in senior decision making positions in the mining industry in Australia? It seems that most Australian recruiters and HR-people are very exact in what they want, whereas South Africans are more flexible. I do not have mining experience, but this is where the action is, and I do have a lot of "transferable skills".

Thanks,

Gerhard

[palm]

www.expo-australia.com

Jhb - 29 & 30 Mar 2008

Cape Town 5 & 6 Apr 2008

Excellent way to jump start the process of going to Oz

[*Andrea*]

Hi Ajay,

My husband and I both work in the casino industry and have sent our cv's to as many casinos in oz as i could find....

It seems to be ratehr difficult in getting a senior or management position in Oz as an outsider... do you ahve any other suggestions for us please?

Thanks

Andrea

[Cramer]

Hi Andrea

Click Here you will be pleasantly surprised

http://seek.com.au/jobsearch/index.ascx?Da...earchfrom=quick

[Leigh MC]

Thanks for the post Ajay.

My boyfriend has been sending in CVs for a coupe of months now - using all those sites you recommended, and more.

He's getting pretty despondent at the moment, as most of them don't even reply with a 'no thanks'.

He thinks it's because he has no degree - but he has about 20 years experience! I suggested he phone some companies as well - instead of just sending his CV... follow up with a phone call.

I reckon if I was an employer, I'd appreciate getting a call from an applicant - instead of faceless/voiceless CV on my desk.

Leigh

[*Andrea*]

Hi Andrea

Click Here you will be pleasantly surprised

http://seek.com.au/jobsearch/index.ascx?Da...earchfrom=quick

Thanks I checked out the site - plenty jobs yes - but they all want someone who is currently in the country..... but we will keeping looking thansk!

[Annelie Siemens]

Hellloo,

Seeing as I'm new on the forum, I'm reading alot, and then replying to anything and anyone......

the below posts where posted in 2006....but still interesting.....I just want to know if the info below still apply???

And maybe this is a bit cheeky, but my Hubby is a Systems Network Administrator(IT), if anyone knows of vacancies available or can sponser us, that will be great.

We are in the process of getting our VISA, I'm writing my IELTS on the 7th feb, hubby already did his...and the papers go in to the Goverment. We are dealing with LiveInAustralia and they have been stunning....we are applying for a 175 visa, and I have read that it might take a bit longer to get them approved then a sponsered visa, and we REALLY want to start our new life in OZ asap. We cannot wait to be part of a country/community, where you can feel safe, and feel that you are building the country, and indirectly your future.....

THank you for the info again, and if anyone can help or even just give me some more info that will be greatly appreciated.

Regards

Annelie :-)

[Scalci]

So read these posts, and just made my mind up, I want to move to Australia, so I will use all your links and start the process. I am not sure if I am too old, will still read that.

[Nadine R]

Awesome tips, Ajay. I agree with them alll, and particularly the part about staying positive and not giving up - this is so key to finding a job in Australia!

I would just like to add a couple of extra tips - some of our clients have found jobs in Australia through using LinkedIn as a networking tool to dig out those wonderful 'hidden jobs'. Interviews were gained from overseas and one client in particular found sponsorship after heading out to Australia for some interviews she had set up through LinkedIn. You can read her story here.

Another couple of job search websites that may interest people who are looking for employer sponsorship in Australia are: Sponsorship Australia (http://www.sponsorshipaustralia.net) - a website that advertises only jobs that are offering sponsorship to overseas nationals; and Australia Nursing (http://www.australianursing.net) - a website catering to overseas nurses, advertising all the jobs in Australia that are offering employer sponsorship.

There is also a great group of downloadable guides available on the subject of finding employer sponsorship in Australia that is great for people who don't know where to start, want to give themselves the best chance possible of finding a job in Australia and like to follow step by step instructions! The package includes a guide on how to use LinkedIn to gain interviews and seek out hidden jobs as well as other strategies that are focused around targeting the hidden job market in Australia. Click here to learn more.

All the best to everyone seeking jobs in Australia, and may you find success!

Kind regards,

Nadine

Edited July 10, 2012 by Nadine R

[Gizmo]

Something that may be of help - if you are getting a lot of rejections, call the company up to get feedback. Ask them where your experience was lacking and where you need to focus for future applications.

After getting a lot of rejections initially, I did this and found out that I had been applying for completely the wrong level (the Aussie levels are very different here in my field). I was hoplessly overqualified for the jobs I was applying for (being overqualified doesn't get you the job - employers see it as a potential upset their structure and teams - imagine being way more experienced than the person you would report to - not good).

Anyhow after that, I started applying for jobs at the correct level and ended up with three job offers in less than two weeks!

[RosFam]

I am in the process of trying to find a job from SA and am finding the going slow. I have a PR and have registered on Seek and Linked IN and am trying to develop networks to assist in the process. What I have found so far is that everyone in Oz (Sydney specifically) are very friendly and keen to help .... at first. There seems to be a definite lack of follow through after the initial niceties. When dealing with Australians I am never sure how much I can ask for and what is considered rude or impolite. Short of cornering people and pinning them down , I am not sure how to get straight answers from them about my prospects....

I am also struggling with the job specs that are written in such a easy manner that I think I can do them all

Any advice ?

[PrissyMissy]

We are currently in NZ, and planning to go to Oz in June /July 2013 - my husband has been applying for jobs since Sep 2012 - he has had dozens of agents/companies call him - same answer every time - you are not in Australia. But he has been assured that he will get something within a few weeks once he lands, as he has an extremely good CV (he is in senior management IT+)

A total waste of time to apply for work while in South Africa or anywhere else - we have been told this over and over by agents and companies alike.

If you are willing to be earning basic salary AUS$30-60 000 - you might get sponsored. But if you are looking above this range, forget about getting any call backs once you send your CV out.

When you do the calculation from SA - AUS$60 000 does seem a lot - but then you have to sacrifice lots and be prepared to live differently to what you did in SA while you were earning the same amount (especially if you owned a nice house in a good area).

It is very frustrating, sometimes you have to bite the bullet and go without employment and hope for the best.

Just my 2c.

[Guest May]

I applied diligently for myself in finance then my husband and 2 weeks within leaving he got something in IT so it's doable and luck. Keep the faith, I now am in Brisbane and he in Sydney.

[howzitmarc]

Hi Ajay

Just read your thread and was wondering if you could assist here.

I have recently posted a couple topics about our ridiculous long five year wait on a 176 visa, with no timeframe to guide us we have no idea how much longer to wait.

My wife and I are both degreed with her being a National Marketing Manager for a major retailer here "Mr Price" and myself as a Key Account Manager for a multinational pharmaceutical company. We both have senior well paid jobs however when we try and apply in Australia we get a familiar response of no Visa no job, or no residency no job.

How do we go about getting a job offer and being able to get over there without having to wait for another five years. I am even willing to fly over for interviews if need be but I need to get one first!

Please advise

Thanks

[AlBrough]

Something that may be of help - if you are getting a lot of rejections, call the company up to get feedback. Ask them where your experience was lacking and where you need to focus for future applications.

After getting a lot of rejections initially, I did this and found out that I had been applying for completely the wrong level (the Aussie levels are very different here in my field). I was hoplessly overqualified for the jobs I was applying for (being overqualified doesn't get you the job - employers see it as a potential upset their structure and teams - imagine being way more experienced than the person you would report to - not good).

Anyhow after that, I started applying for jobs at the correct level and ended up with three job offers in less than two weeks!

Many thanks for this advice. I will keep this in mind!