IT Industry

[DaveK]

Hi guys

I am new on the chat forum.

I am currently doing the visa applications etc. Tired of the crime and BEE

What i need to know is there anybody out there in IT that could assist with a few questions:

1. Job market currently in AU

2. Best areas to settle in (for IT)

3. Skills assesments, qualifications etc.

4. Sugested migration agents to use.

5. any other info that might help

Thanks

DJK

[Guest Ninja Turtle]

Hi guys

I am new on the chat forum.

I am currently doing the visa applications etc. Tired of the crime and BEE

What i need to know is there anybody out there in IT that could assist with a few questions:

1. Job market currently in AU

2. Best areas to settle in (for IT)

3. Skills assesments, qualifications etc.

4. Sugested migration agents to use.

5. any other info that might help

Thanks

DJK

Hi Dave,

I can comment on Brisbane & Gold Coast only, as those are the only two areas I have experienced.

1. Brisbane.

- Most of the IT work is with Government.

- Employment Agents are worse than Joburg (if thats possible), unscrupulous.

- Things are very slooooow here.

- As a Saffer you will be paid the least, and required to do the most mundane work (if you are fortunate enough to find work at all).

- The technology is a bit backward compared to SA, but that might just be Queensland, maybe Sydney is a bit more advanced.

- The same Jobs are advertised by 50 different agencies, giving the impression of lots of work , but its actually not true.

- There is nowhere to park in the city, unless you try the local mafia (the casinos own all the parking garages), and it will cost you $45 for 2 hours parking... no jokes.

- Commute by train, and watch your life slowly slipping away.

2. Gold Coast

- There is very little IT work on the Gold Coast

- A few IT vendors, and the Cold Coast City Council, thats it

- My advice, look in Brisbane first, GC is a tourist town.

In general, I would advise you that unless your life is particularly unbearable in SA, I would stay put if I was you. I have been here one year, and I am now planning my move back, and I hope to return by April 2009.

It will take 5-10 years for you to reach the same financial prosperity that you enjoy in SA at present. You will lose a lot of money by selling your stuff, and paying airfaires, rent, buying new cars etc.

The emotional trauma is very difficult to manage, and if you do decide to move to OZ, get councelling before and after the move.

(Most people that have decided to move do it anyway to see for themselves, regardless of advice given, we did the same, so I would understand this)

You are welcome to contact me for further information.

PS, if you know of anybody in SA that is looking for freelance assignements in IT (in SA), then please pass thier details on to me. I am looking for sales and technical people for my business back in SA.

Regards

NT

[chrisk]

Not in Aus (yet), so can't really comment on how it's like over there, but don't be put off unless you've given it a go for yourself - it's a potentially exciting adventure, and like with everything in life there are risks... the experience will be different for each and every one... so also the challenges...

1. Job market currently in AU

seek.com.au - there's def work in IT, and have a look at the immigration website as well to see if you're in "demand"

2. Best areas to settle in (for IT)

IT is a really broad field, but the Eastern and Southern regions should be safest bet (Sydney, Melbourne, etc) if you're into software development. Have a look at the job sites as well (seek.com.au, etc).

3. Skills assessments, qualifications etc.

Australian Computer Society http://www.acs.org.au/

4. Suggested migration agents to use.

...can't comment... but first make sure you need one in the first place...

5. any other info that might help

The forum

My 2c

Edited May 19, 2008 by chrisk

[sa2auz]

Hi there

There are huge shortages in IT and a few new occupations were added this week to the MODL. Ptlabs specialises in IT assessments so you can get any intial help from him if you are unsure. Barbara at Sydney Migration is great also my hubbys company uses them. Companies like Westpac are specifically looking for Saffers. Melbourne and Sydney tons of jobs available. Check out ACS web for assesment details and do lots of homework. Precision Resourcing got us our job in 5 days were in Aus within a month. Absolutely totally love Sydney, wow, wow, wow. You could possibly get a 457 so apply for jobs and send your cv directly to companies etc and tell them you are willing to move straight away if you are serious. Have a look at seek.

Shout if you need any help, and good luck

S

[DaveK]

Hi

Thanks for the info, Ninja Turtle if i may ask what is the main reason you want to come back and you are aware that most of the Sh!t hit the fan here from November 07, power issues etc. over the last week they have moved from place to place with xenophobic (however it is spelt) today they anounced they might bring in the army to try and help stabilise things, people have been advised to not travel on certain roads, it also seems to have turned to Zulu wanting to beatup and kill any tribe thats not Zulu, in Pretoria CBD the one of the unions members want to burn buildings people were advised not to go into the CBD.

I run my own IT business here at present, BEE has become a big thing and you will battle without it to run a sucesful business, i have had adds out in 4 different JOb sites and newspapers for over 6 months looking for a mid range server tekkie, and still have not found one.

What sector of IT are you in currently?

Dave

Edited May 19, 2008 by DaveK

[DaveK]

Hi there

There are huge shortages in IT and a few new occupations were added this week to the MODL. Ptlabs specialises in IT assessments so you can get any intial help from him if you are unsure. Barbara at Sydney Migration is great also my hubbys company uses them. Companies like Westpac are specifically looking for Saffers. Melbourne and Sydney tons of jobs available. Check out ACS web for assesment details and do lots of homework. Precision Resourcing got us our job in 5 days were in Aus within a month. Absolutely totally love Sydney, wow, wow, wow. You could possibly get a 457 so apply for jobs and send your cv directly to companies etc and tell them you are willing to move straight away if you are serious. Have a look at seek.

Shout if you need any help, and good luck

S

Hi sa2auz

I did PM you, but what i really need and it is my grey area is budget figures, there are so many different peoples input on the forum and it doesn't all tie up.

If possible (i know its personal detail) could you PM or reply to me on your full monthly budget,

What does it cost you to live there as a family of 2 etc, i know everybody is different, different lifestyles etc, but there are averages e.g.

House rent 300- 550 per week

Food 3 people X

i would really appreciate it.

Dave

[Leigh MC]

hi Dave

Just to add here... I was reading an article on the IT industry in Aus a while back, and apparently they are looking at raising the salaries (permanent), because so many people are going the contract route, and earning über bucks. You can earn up to $900 per day as a contractor. Just a thought...

Leigh

[Dreams]

NT, do a LSD trip to RSA first before you move back. Maybe a move to another Aus city will be better? Good luck anyway

[Guest Ninja Turtle]

Hi

Thanks for the info, Ninja Turtle if i may ask what is the main reason you want to come back and you are aware that most of the Sh!t hit the fan here from November 07, power issues etc. over the last week they have moved from place to place with xenophobic (however it is spelt) today they anounced they might bring in the army to try and help stabilise things, people have been advised to not travel on certain roads, it also seems to have turned to Zulu wanting to beatup and kill any tribe thats not Zulu, in Pretoria CBD the one of the unions members want to burn buildings people were advised not to go into the CBD.

I run my own IT business here at present, BEE has become a big thing and you will battle without it to run a sucesful business, i have had adds out in 4 different JOb sites and newspapers for over 6 months looking for a mid range server tekkie, and still have not found one.

What sector of IT are you in currently?

Dave

Hi Dave,

We also ran a very successful (but small), IT company in SA, and we made a lot of money, because we developed our own software, and were basically masters of our own destiny. The BEE thing scared the life out of me, and I could not see why I should share a business with somebody else that I had built up on my own.

So we decided to emigrate to OZ, and bring our IP and products with and carry on 'business as usual'. However, its been near impossible to get going in OZ, for various reasons, but narrowed down to a very competetive and patriotic market. The Ozzies are brainwashed to buy "Australian Made & Owned" products, which are neither the best quality or value, but that is what they do.

At the same time friends of ours who stayed in SA and had a similar business to us, have gone the BEE route, and they now have shared thier company with a couple of black people (they have a black chairman), and it has done wonders for the company, they are now doing deals with the big players in the market like Vodacom, MTN, Government, Readymix, Holcim etc. The latest deal they have done with vodacom is worth 30 Million ZAR.

So I am looking at things from the perspective of a business owner who has taken a few steps backwards, and one of those steps is to look for contract work while trying to get the right strategy together over here, and this is where I have experienced the job market. So I basically have to try and find work as a contractor while I try to get a business of the ground without a business network (something you take for granted when you have it, and you dont realise the importance of it untill its not there).

So all in all its been a period of contrasts, OZ is a great place to raise children, but ultimately you need to earn a decent income to provide anything for your kids, and that is definitely easier for me to do in SA.

The other thing to realise is that life in Australia for kids is extremely sanitised. Children are molly coddled to a great extent. They are protected from danger at every turn, and I sometimes feel that kids should have the freedom to play and get hurt and gain experience. However the issue of liability always rears its ugly head, so simple things that kids would be able to do in SA (like jump on a jumping castle), are regulated over here (only 8 kids at a time, supervised, and the operator must be qualified, have a license, and have insurance). The result is ... you guessed it, very few jumping castles, and certainly not at a birthday party, because the parents dont meet the criteria to operate the device.

Kids are basically not allowed to do anything unsupervised, becuause of the liability issue, and the fact that there are a lot of paedophiles hanging around schools, and drugs are also a big problem, so kids are restricted here by rules, much like their movements are restricted in SA by crime.

Its a strange place, kind of wanting to protect you from injuring yourself, and not letting you do anything risky. I like to ride superbikes (fast)... cant do that here. Every Sunday morning the cops are hanging out at all the places where the bikers go, showing videos of how not to kill yourself on a bike, making sure nobody has any fun.

In SA, you go out and do your thing, you are tasked with the responsibility of doing the right thing. If you kill yourself by being stupid, your genes are removed from the gene pool, and everyone is better off. Here the you can reproduce, no matter how stupid you are.

Anyway, I am rambling, could go on for hours, but you get the drift by now.

Cheers

NT

[Guest Ninja Turtle]

NT, do a LSD trip to RSA first before you move back. Maybe a move to another Aus city will be better? Good luck anyway

Hi,

Thanks for the advice, I am certainly going to make very sure about what we do and when, but I am in contact with quite a few people who have returned to SA from abroad, including OZ, USA and UK, not one person that I have spoken to that has returned is unhappy in SA. They are well aware of the problems and challenges that the country faces, but they are still happy to be home.

I think you are much more likely to accept the things that are not right in SA, when you have lived abroad and had it tough. Most of the people who want to leave SA are not aware how tough it can be to start again in a foreign place.

I have no doubt that I will miss OZ once I am back in SA, but this is not my home.

NT

[Sean Udal]

There are people in South Africa who earn per hour what others earn in a month.

Australians prefer the Tall Poppy Syndrome - Wikipedia: by cutting the tops of the tallest ears of corn, meaning that he must always put out of the way the citizens who overtop the rest." Egalitarianism is important, and so a person who earns a low income in South Africa can make a decent living in Australia. i.e Teachers.

If making lots of money is important, then South Africa is the answer, as it has lots of risk takers who will glady

live the good life at the expense of others.

I can no longer live with the injustice, and break down of morality around me.

Greed, Power, and a break down of society is not the Christian way of living.

In the end of the day: "Different strokes for different folks"

[Veronique]

Hi guys

I am new on the chat forum.

I am currently doing the visa applications etc. Tired of the crime and BEE

What i need to know is there anybody out there in IT that could assist with a few questions:

1. Job market currently in AU

2. Best areas to settle in (for IT)

3. Skills assesments, qualifications etc.

4. Sugested migration agents to use.

5. any other info that might help

Thanks

DJK

Hi Dave

I am also new to the chat forum. I have been living in Brisbane with my kids for 6 months and we love it. My husband left later and joined us three months later due to work commitments. I can only speak for ourselves in answering your questions.

1. Job market currently in AU

Brisbane is booming at the moment and there seems to be a lot of advertising for jobs. However, having said that, my husband is battling to get interviews for jobs as the employment agencies seem to be apathetic. If you can target companies directly you will probably have a better chance of getting employment. Thats his next option, otherwise we will have to look at Sydney; but going back to South Africa is not an option. Our South African neighbour is in the IT industry and works full-time as a contractor. He seems to have enough work to keep him busy. Brisbanites have no sense of urgency which is very frustrating as we are used to the fast pace of Jhb. We have met several South Africans here and most say that obtaining work takes an average of 6 months. Start making contact with companies before you arrive and set up interviews.

2. Best areas to settle in (for IT)

I think Sydney would provide the most possibilities for IT positions.

3. Skills assesments, qualifications etc.

A Migration Agent will assist you by assessing your qualifications and will be able to inform you what type of visa you could apply for. Try and go for permanent residency, there are a lot more benefits and it will give you peace of mind.

4. Sugested migration agents to use.

We used Hitchcock and Associates and they were brilliant. No one else was able to help us and they came through for us. They have helped several of my family members and friends and they were all very happy with their services. I have heard that they are inundated with people wanting to leave and won't even meet with you unless they think you have a chance. They are based in Sydney but have an office in Pretoria, Sandton, Durban and Cape Town. Their website address is http://www.hitchcock.com.au .

Good luck!

Veronique

*Removed by Host*

[Biker]

Hi,

I'm also in IT, but totaly different field and read your comments with interest.

I'm not going to deter you from coming back to SA as you have already made up your mind on that. And I can also not fault your motives for you made it clear that you have your eye on the money and as a capitalist, that is primarily what you are after and certainly SA is ripe for the picking.

As you rightly stated, BEE is what helped your friend's company and it is something you will NOT survive without. Expect to have 80% of your business be black (by government requirement) and that possibly only 40% of your business knows what to do. The rest is dead weight you have to carry for the sake of doing business. And then you will also have to be able to suck up to corruption/fraud etc.

That said, you can make millions and buy a big mansion and have 24 hr security guards, get a car with smash proof and hi-jack proof features. You need to get a gun too. And despite all that, I hope that your wife or children doesn't get hurt in the process, cause when that day comes, no money in the world will ever be able to fix a woman raped or bring a childs dead body back to life.

Speak to Alida from this post... just so you know what is waiting for you.

http://www.saaustralia.org/index.php?showt...14370&st=30

[benp]

Hi DaveK

Can you be more specific about your skill set. As we know, IT is wast, and some areas are doing extremely well, while others are real dog.

Also, the advice people give here is very subjective, so use it for what it is, other people's experiences, some negative some positive, (but always given in good faith, at least that's what i like to think).

Ben

Edited May 31, 2008 by benp

[DaveK]

Hi DaveK

Can you be more specific about your skill set. As we know, IT is wast, and some areas are doing extremely well, while others are real dog.

Also, the advice people give here is very subjective, so use it for what it is, other people's experiences, some negative some positive, (but always given in good faith, at least that's what i like to think).

Ben

HI

Disaster Recovery, BCP planning, DR planning, Anything technical on networks, Design infrastructure, Active directory, any hardware or software issue with any Microsoft program or network, Cisco routing, MCSE Technical training, IT Manager, DNS, DHCP TCPIP, Exchange, SQL, Network wan & lan administration, network migrations and swings, network auditing, anything but programming.

Dave

[Ajay]

Hi Dave,

I worked within HR in the IT industry in SA for 15 years and move here, to Sydney, to do the same thing in 2005. I'm now working for a group of companies that comprises of a migration agency, labour-hire business and a recruitment division.

The IT industry in Sydney is extremely buoyant and the skills shortage is severe. As a result, salaries are escalating rapidly. We are seeing a massice increase in the demand for integrations skills, ERP implementation skills, Project Managers and developers. The hardware / infrastructure / network side is less in demand, but still in shorter supply than is ideal. Disaster Recovery is an area that is starting to pick up, specifically within the banks. Most of the big bansk, including Westpac, St George and Commonwealth Bank offer sponsored 457 visas to suitable candidates, so you might consider that as an option.

Perhaps the biggest challenge you will face will be in becoming an employee again, as opposed to a business owner. I beleive that this is one of the obstacles that NT has struggled to overcome. It isn't for me or anyone else to judge, but I was also a business owner in SA and have accepted that I am now in a different position - it's an initial struggle, but no real issue for me. I think it has a lot to do with mindset and where you are willing to compromise. I was willing to compromise materially and on my career position. I wasn't willing to compromise on my children's future or their safety. I can (and have, within 2 years) get my material possessions back and can work my way back up the ladder. I can't give my kids back their innocence or their lost future. My husband was unemployed in SA for a few years in SA as a result of AA / BEE. Fortunately, my career success made it a bit easier to bear financially, but emotionally it destroyed him. Here, he has a great position, with massive growth potential and is rapidly climbing his own ladder again.

That's my experience and my 2c worth. Each person has a unique experience though, so weigh up all the options and see where you are willing to compromise and where your priorities lie, and then make a decision that makes sense for YOU. That way, it won't ever be the wrong one.

Good luck

Mandy

[Ilse]

Hello DJK,

we are from Jburg and in the process of applying for our Visas. My husband is also in IT (SAP) and we have done the skills assesments etc...

The company that helped us is ASA and I can really recomend them.

http://www.australia-migration.com/

We are going to Perth as the market for SAP is good now. Please make sure about the format in which you have to do your job references for the skills assesments. Read through any info on that. I think I have a format for that. Please let me know if you need it.

Greetings

Ilse

Hi guys

I am new on the chat forum.

I am currently doing the visa applications etc. Tired of the crime and BEE

What i need to know is there anybody out there in IT that could assist with a few questions:

1. Job market currently in AU

2. Best areas to settle in (for IT)

3. Skills assesments, qualifications etc.

4. Sugested migration agents to use.

5. any other info that might help

Thanks

DJK

[Biker]

I just returned from holiday in Sydney.

Once people heard I was there, they all wanted to interview me even though I had no intention of looking for work.

There was mention of a job in Perth for $145K (this included super) which is very good for a SAP consultant (which I am too btw). This was about the only offer I'd seriously would have considered if they would do me a 457.

I have decided against anything else in favour of getting my PR over and done with. I can pretty much guarantee your hubby will not be without a job for long once there. And depends ons his years experience, but snr consultant should not settle for under $120K in Sydney (IMHO).

If I had a PR last week, I'd have a job by now without even looking for one!

[Leon]

It was with interest to read this as my wife is in IT (Business Intelligent) and she is working as a Contractor here in Perth. The IT market is not that big in Perth and you need to be careful not to burn bridges as word travel fast. Having said that there is a shortage of skilled people and a person could earn anything from $60.00 to $100, 00 per hour pending your skill set, qualification and experience. Companies here appoint people predominately on Contracts which is normally driven by a specific project (being in the mid of the Resources boom) that should not be a problem. Lots of work around just buys the West Australian on a Saturday and you will see. Don't be afraid to do contract work at first, it is a way to get your foot in the door. My wife is doing contract as it pays more and with me being on permanent she can afford to do that.

We both started on 3 month Contracts in 2005 and you quickly move on from that. The trick is to get your foot in the door and work the best you can. You will be surprised with the results and awards. You will be evaluated on your performance and not whether you have the correct colour or not. Just my 2c worth.

[Biker]

Wish I could be there now.

I've been contracting since 1996 and only had 2 perm positions since that time. One was 9 months and the other 1 year. My main aim is exactly that, to get my PR (as oppose to 457) with the aim to go contract again.

[AllisonW]

Help!

The IT situation does not sound good at all in Brisbane? This is making me think that we should relook our decision to go there? We liked the lifestyle but still wanted to have our careers.

Guidance?

Al

[Leon]

Allison,

Sydney and Melbourne are the IT hot spots in Oz. Perth are small but growing fast. Got no knowledge on Brisbane unfortunately. Government IT (Federal) is big in Canberra. Adelaide from when we investigated in 2004 rather small might have grown by now. Not sure if any of this will help you?

[sa2auz]

You can have an amazing lifestyle in Sydney, its not just a city. The city is like jhb but clean and modern and high tech and then 30 minutes out you have the most amazing suburbs with millions of trees (Aussies are tree huggers) and you feel really rural with lots of hills etc. We stayed 30 minutes out and had wallabies and the most amazing wildlife in our garden. Salaries depend on the company, my hubbies company is not a top payer but they are brilliant with work life balance, awards etc, he has never worked overtime or on weekends - also depends on your department though. My hubby is also in IT.

Good Luck