Finding employment

[Venette]

Hi

My name is Venette and I am currently still in SA. My younger sister and I am though considering to move ourselves down under. We are both accountants and are rather nervous about moving all that way without having a job waiting for us there. We are having problems finding an agency that specializes in placing sa professionals with Australian employers. If anyone has a suggestion as to possible agents or places to find such an agent, it would be great help.

[Ajay]

Hi Venette, and welcome to our little virtual community. I hope we'll help you with some information for your decision.

There aren't any agencies that specialise specifically in placing SAffers. However, most of the big ones (Hays, Hudson, Michael Paige) should at least be able to offer you some advice non what kinds of jobs you could expect, based on your skills and experience.

Also, register with www.seek.com.au and looking at the jobs advertised there. Many people have managed to find a sponsoring employer using this method, including some of the hosts on this forum.

Feel free to pop any more questions here - you'll always receive a response!

Cheers

Ajay

[Riekie]

Welcome Venette!! Hope you get all your answers on this forum - we're here to help, and we'll try our best to get it right!

[Dedrei]

Welcome Venette. I am an accountant as well. We are moving to Cairns, Queensland in about a month's time. We did get a 457 visa with the type of work my husband does, he is a motor mechanic.

Accountants are also very scarce in Oz. What I have been doing is research some firms and check on their websites and apply from there to an email adress of them. Sometimes you here something, sometimes not. I have applied for a job now already for when we arrive in Cairns, and would you believe after a day or two the partner emailed me back and was quite interested, from there I have had a exhausting interview with him yesterday over the phone and it sounds like they are quite eager. This being a big CA firm in the town, and seems all a bit daunting to me and still can't believe that they were interested in me.

Maybe start with the big 4 audit firms in oz and work from there. Michael Page's website is also a good start, apply for the jobs if you seem able to do it, you never know what might happen. Just explain to them that you are still in SA and looking for possible sponsorship in Oz on a 457 visa or other visas.

Shout if you need any more info.

[chatterbug]

Hi Venette,

I don't know what your situation is or what visa you would qualify for but assuming that is all sorted out and you qualify to enter Australia I don't think you'd have a problem to get a job in Australia. The problem is many employers would want to know that you are already here and have the right to legally work in Australia. Employment agencies compete against each other to place people just like in SA and for them it is sometimes just to much trouble to do things whilst you are still over there.

What I'm trying to point out however is that there is generally a shortage of skilled candidates in Australia. I work in the industry (HR and recruitment) in Brisbane and I know for a fact that there is a shortage of skilled and qualified accountants over here.

I must say however there are many examples like Dedrei's where your perserverance might pay off. Use the advice that the others gave above, but I think that if you could support yourself to get here and survive for a while - I have no doubt you'd be able to secure a job in no time.

Good luck!

Edited March 29, 2006 by chatterbug