Frustrated in Brisbane

[Gonzy]

Yip this is a vent and Yes I’m very very grateful to be in Australia. But here's my little story so far........

Been on the work hunt for just under a year, right in the middle of the GFC, and if you’re wondering the F is not Financial

Just completed some research on a folder on my computer called "Work"

• Submitted my resume and cover letter to more than 350 employers/job ads

• Completed 23 Selection Criteria

• Have more than 30 variations of my resume and covering letter

• In depth research on Companies ................... 55

• Received acknowledgement in one form and another... 40%

• Average emails and calls returned by recruitment agency/employer .........30%

• Telephone Interviews...8

• Interviews 12 8 in telecommunications and 4 in marketing events

I was employed as project manager; company downsized and moved what little they had to Melbourne, Brisbane office run from Sydney. Company had a very bad name in the industry and still does... guess which company I got my first job with.... Yip this one...

So trying to get work in this industry now is virtually impossible ...... nice one... But hey ... still upbeat and hopefully the universe will be kind and still very grateful I’m in Australia........................ really

But coming from South Africa we are resourceful people and I have developed other skill sets... like working at one of the largest telecommunications companies in the world, that could help.... senior manager in marketing... so off I went and completely adjusted my resume, in fact I have more than 30 editions and variations maybe I should write a book.

Events Sponsorships and Exhibitions have to be one of the most clicky industries here in Brisbane and Gold Coast... went for 4 interviews with different corporations , interviewees all young ladies, so again no chance as I was the wrong gender or maybe wrong accent or maybe too old, despite having global experience with mega events. The service and integrity in Queensland, in this industry has to be one of the worst I have ever encountered and the excuses.... well that’s another story ..........But hey ... still upbeat and hopefully the universe will be kind and still very grateful I’m in Australia........................ really

These are my findings and somehow could help a little;

People don’t return your calls or emails, you have initiate and pursue all the time... Apparently you have to be in their face... All the time

Recruitment agents are not your friends, they don’t make money from you, but from the company they've been hired to represent

Don’t put (or avoid); initially... South Africa, permanent residence or any other visa, your age in your resume, this advice coming from a professional resume consultant

Avoid career websites like Seek and Career One...Many, many of the jobs advertised are fake or regurgitated, and many recruitment companies just want you on their database for their figures and use... Careful here

Try to go directly to the company that's advertising and speaking to people working there...

On the bright side!

I have read more books, audiotapes and videos in this time than in my complete lifetime... really cool

I have come to appreciate what it’s like to be on the other side of fence... it has humbled me

I will continue to hunt for work no matter what..

:> .... Still upbeat and hopefully the universe will be kind and still very grateful I’m in Australia........................ really :>

[LeeInOz]

Just completed some research on a folder on my computer called "Work"

• Submitted my resume and cover letter to more than 350 employers/job ads

• Completed 23 Selection Criteria

• Have more than 30 variations of my resume and covering letter

• In depth research on Companies ................... 55

• Received acknowledgement in one form and another... 40%

• Average emails and calls returned by recruitment agency/employer .........30%

• Telephone Interviews...8

• Interviews 12 8 in telecommunications and 4 in marketing events

:> .... Still upbeat and hopefully the universe will be kind and still very grateful I’m in Australia........................ really :>

I am saddened to hear you trouble finding work but I would like to make some suggestions.

Stay postive

Firstly get someone else to read your resume. South Africans tend to style them different to here or USA

Selection criteria is really loved here, so get to know how to answer in an Australian way

I dont believe mentioning South African is a problem, but I agree not to put any focus on that. Anyway after 10 seconds they will know you are a foreigner in a interview.

How will you cover previous employment and education without this being obvious?

Many companies like South Africans for being hard working thorough and honest.

Seek etc, I agree with you

Agents are the same here as RSA, all they want is as many names on a list to take to employers. Try the newspapers

I got my job by word of mouth and then was interviewed, so teh guy who inteviewed The last time our company interviewed ( I also applied) there were 48 applicants and only 2 were vaguely qualified and 2 were the correct skills, the rest were taking a flyer. All got a sorry letter but it took weeks.

When I mentioned I was getting worried about not find ing a job a guy asked me who have you spoken too. I realised I was doing all the online checking and not much talking and asking. I then mentioned to every single person I met I was looking for a job. I was offered a few that were not in my line of work, but went along anyway. Suddenly I had 3 offers in 2 days, 1 temp.

The GFC has impacted worse than I though possible. Many of these people were in their own business and giving up because of income issues.

I asked someone to read mine and they made several suggestions I used.

If you want an unbiased opinion of it send me a PM and I will review it and who knows.

Mike

[ChrisinBris]

Couple of questions :

Which company did you work for in SA? (Just curious as I worked for MTN)

What is it exactly that you would like to do?

I will keep you in mind if I see any openings.

Regards

Chris

[HouseInOz]

Great to see how fellow (ex)South Africans try to help! Absolutely fabulous!

[HouseInOz]

"Selection criteria is really loved here, so get to know how to answer in an Australian way"

Please expand on this - what is selection criteria and Australian way??

[bcv]

Couple of questions :

Which company did you work for in SA? (Just curious as I worked for MTN)

What is it exactly that you would like to do?

I will keep you in mind if I see any openings.

Regards

Chris

Hi Chris,

I am currently looking for a job in the Mobile Telecommunications field in Aus.

Would really appreciate some advice.

Regards

BCV

[HouseInOz]

Great to see how fellow (ex)South Africans try to help! Absolutely fabulous!

Anybody knows what this means? ......... Selection Criteria ...... The Australian way? .........

[ChrisinBris]

Hi Chris,

I am currently looking for a job in the Mobile Telecommunications field in Aus.

Would really appreciate some advice.

Regards

BCV

My background in Telecoms was to do with Finance and the finance part is why I am in Australia at the moment, so unfortunately I don't have any contacts here.

Will keep on the lookout for you if you are interested. PM if you want to connect...do you have a LinkedIn profile?

Cheers

Chris

[21yearsoutofrsa]

Selection Criteria is a process used almost exclusively by the Queensland Government as part of it's recruitment. (Possibly by other State governments)

Effectively it is a document provided by a candidate of how their experience fits with the requirements of the role advertised. Even the Queensland Government has realised that these 20 page documents meant that it was not recieving applications from good candidates as it took far to long to prepare. Now typically they look for a covering letter that will within 2 pages extract from your CV the relevant parts to the role.

Selection Criteria got so bad that people were offering professional services to prepare candidates documents on their behalf. It became an industry in its own right and from my discussion with people that went through the process the Selection Criteria was actually used to ensure that certain candidates were the only ones that would be selected for the roles advertised and the selection criteria were groomed for their skills. They effectively became a method to EXCLUDE candidates, rather than ensure that the best candidates were put forward. This will be hotely denied by the Queensland Government.

The practise may still be used on occation but it is now becoming more of a rarety in Queensland. When it does come up the process is very restrictive. There will be a list of role requirements and the candidate is required to show how they meet the requiirements.

eg the role requirement may be "demonstrated knowledge of public service processes". The candidate will now have to disclose how they have gained knowledge and how they have used public service processes. Displaying how you can learn them is not good enough (see how easy it is to exclude a candidate. That one just excluded anybody that had not worked in the public service before.)

This is a book that has examples in it http://www.selection-criteria.com.au/selec...riaexposed.html See what I mean about people commercialising the process. Note how it is addressed to the government job seeker.