marconi Posted August 20, 2014 Report Share Posted August 20, 2014 Hey Guys,So the long wait was finally over in March this year and after 5 long years we finally received that all illusive visa.I'm headed for Sydney as I have family there. Just wanted to find out from you guys if anyone has made the move to Sydney recently and what the job market looks like out there.More specifically I'm in the IT industry and was just wondering what things are like seeing as my family and I are leaving for OZ on the 10th Of September 2014.Any info will be greatly appreciated! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mara Posted August 20, 2014 Report Share Posted August 20, 2014 You may get more feedback if you explain what you do in IT, as then it may be easier giving you an answer to your question. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kanniewagnie Posted August 20, 2014 Report Share Posted August 20, 2014 Best is to go onto Seek and see how many jobs are advertised for your specific field. Make sure to read the specs, as in our case, you might see 10 vacancies, but only one or two fit your profile. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SurferMan Posted August 20, 2014 Report Share Posted August 20, 2014 Marconi I work in IT, in SAP and large IT and integration projects. I can tell you on both sides of Aus it's a bit tough going but the east coast has more going on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HansaPlease Posted August 21, 2014 Report Share Posted August 21, 2014 We advertised for a .NET developer the other day and got 200 applications. (Melbourne)Most of the applicants were pretty bad. We're only interviewing one of them so far. It's tough, and there is a lot of competition, but if you are good, and have a good resume, I think jobs are there to be found. Your chances increase so much more when you've a) got a decent resume and are actually in the country. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marconi Posted August 21, 2014 Author Report Share Posted August 21, 2014 Thanks for the responses guys! @Mara, I'm currently working as an IT systems administrator. I've enjoyed 16 years of experience in that field. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tiermelk Posted August 22, 2014 Report Share Posted August 22, 2014 Marconi, I`ve also worked in that space for the last 10 years. Came over at the end of June and started in a contract position in the 3rd week after getting here. I must have applied for 150 jobs from SA and only got like 3 responses (I`m a slow learner ).The few recruiters I communicated with confirmed that the market is tough at the moment. But what are they comparing it too... or maybe I was just lucky. There seem to be a lot of short term contracts available. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SurferMan Posted August 22, 2014 Report Share Posted August 22, 2014 Marconi you may struggle a bit with that role as there are many of those. Consider pumping up your profile like adding "cloud" or SAP if you have it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monsta Posted August 22, 2014 Report Share Posted August 22, 2014 (edited) I agree with the posts so far. Its tough going for IT people!I work in Software. Several large employers have moved their development off shore in the last 2 years...e.g. Symantec.Add to that, the mining work is drying up. e.g. Westrac ( a major supplier to the mines ) fired 1000 people last year.http://www.goldcoastbulletin.com.au/business/workers-in-the-firing-line-as-westrac-plans-for-massive-restructuring/story-fnjc2dm2-1226764173161There are several other companies who have recently made large numbers of people redundant...e.g. SPC, Holden, Ford, Toyota.But there are still jobs if you have specific skills the company is looking for. For example, you have experience as an Oracle DBA or as SurferMan said, you have hands on experience with using cloud infrastructure (e.g. Microsoft Azure).Also, its VERY important to remember that when Aus gave you a VISA they were thinking long term. They don't temporarily stop giving out IT VISAs if there is a 1-2 year shortage in IT jobs. Edited August 22, 2014 by monsta Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bronwyn&Co Posted August 22, 2014 Report Share Posted August 22, 2014 This is a bit concerning as my 2 boys are studying engineering & IT. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heidim Posted August 22, 2014 Report Share Posted August 22, 2014 @Bronwyn: And a daughter in film! Scary times ahead mum!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bronwyn&Co Posted August 22, 2014 Report Share Posted August 22, 2014 (edited) Yes I know Heidi! My kids have moved so often I know they'll move for jobs if they have to. Oh the irony...My feeling is that an engineer should be able to find a job somewhere (and anyway he is keen to go back to SA)IT will bounce back because it is the future. Has to be! And anyway my youngest is obsessed.Film, hmmmm at least Aus funds a bit. Daughter is also studying business & I'm pretty sure she's a born entrepreneur.All 3 have 3 passports each, so we're hedging our bets ? Edited August 22, 2014 by Bronwyn&Co Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SurferMan Posted August 24, 2014 Report Share Posted August 24, 2014 If you have good skills in IT you will never be out of work. I know an Aussie bloke in SAP CRM, top notch skills, he works six to nine months a year, flat refuses to work a full year. He knocks clients for 2000-2500 a day plus expenses. He is a genius and worth every penny, I have hired him a few times. He takes the time to cruise Aus and the world. Then for a few weeks he up skills and lets his clients know he is available. He lives what I call da vida loco!!! Really good bloke. I have another guy out of NZ I use for my specialised SAP work and he knocks my projects 50k. a month. So B, if you have kids in IT, don't worry!!! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bigvan07 Posted August 25, 2014 Report Share Posted August 25, 2014 Think I better start skilling up in SAP 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SurferMan Posted August 25, 2014 Report Share Posted August 25, 2014 That is the top end blokes, but man they nail it good. I don't envy them, they put long hours in, the same NZ bloke I just mentioned, well I made him and his teams work around the clock, average 100 hours a week for 17 weeks on the trot, and in the run up to go live...they worked over 135 a week, sometimes pulling 30 hour shifts straight. I rotated the onshore A team with the B team in Auckland with the C team in Kolkota in overlapping 18 hour shifts... I slept 4 hours a day to lead from the front, cos I don't believe anyone can expect their people to pull those hours and not support them/be in the trenches with them. I broke a few of them (disclaimer, no humans or animals were permanently harmed) but in all we went live without a single of the 1.5 million customers affected. Well done to those men and women who led the project to a shattering victory!!! They all got 2 weeks off and a thick bonus. So it's not all roses, you are sometimes asked to contribute superhuman effort, but I pay for that with a smile. Those are the people that I say I are combat hardened. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ORC Posted August 25, 2014 Report Share Posted August 25, 2014 A south african friend of mine in NSW is a regular senior tech engineer doing support for one of the larger IT services companies and he's earning about $130K. No special skills.If it helps, get in touch with smaller recruitment companies. It's a lot easier if you're in Australia as a lot of them will tell you. Even now I get emails from contacts asking to let them know when I have my visa then they'll get the ball rolling. The important thing is take the steps to get the visa, then from there get onto seek, establish contact and once you have the visa, keep in touch with them, some may never respond but you'll find some that do response and want to engage.I'm still on my journey so it's a while away for me but hope this helps somewhat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bronwyn&Co Posted August 25, 2014 Report Share Posted August 25, 2014 I have another guy out of NZ I use for my specialised SAP work and he knocks my projects 50k. a month. So B, if you have kids in IT, don't worry!!!Surferman he's still in year 11 but taking IT & IPT snd Science - hoping to study IT in about 18 months. He's got a Paypal acc & trying to fo a bit of banner designing for gamers too, for pocket money. Hopefully one day I can ask you for some (direction) tips for him...B Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SurferMan Posted August 27, 2014 Report Share Posted August 27, 2014 Fire away B, if I can help it's yours to have!!! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kanniewagnie Posted August 27, 2014 Report Share Posted August 27, 2014 This article keeps me positive wrt IT ( source from the "working in Aus" newsletter http://www.workingin-australia.com ) "Australia's IT industry facing impending skills shortageGreythorn, an Australian IT recruitment company, has released a report showing that the IT industry is facing a potential huge skills shortage over the next five years. Key findings show:A 66% decline in just three years in the number of under 30s working in IT (18% of workers were under 30 in 2011, compared to 6% in 2014).66% of Australian IT professionals would move internationally if the right opportunity came up.Fewer graduates are entering the IT industry, and more graduates are considering leaving the industry.Greythorn's Asia Pacific managing director, Richard Fischer says: "With an ageing population and fewer young candidates entering the IT industry, Australia could face a crippling skills shortage by 2020." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HansaPlease Posted August 27, 2014 Report Share Posted August 27, 2014 Interesting article, although I would take it with a huge helping of salt. Any recruitment company has a vested interest in getting more candidates on board. They don't care who gets a job and who doesn't, they just care that they have more available candidates than jobs, so it's in their interest to make the market seem better than it is. Not saying there's no truth in it, just that it may be biased. The fact that 66% WOULD take a job overseas means nothing if those opportunities don't actually come up. We had a snap poll last week in our department and 100% of us WOULD walk out tomorrow if we won a few million on the lotto! Doesn't really mean much. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monsta Posted August 27, 2014 Report Share Posted August 27, 2014 Interesting article, although I would take it with a huge helping of salt. Any recruitment company has a vested interest in getting more candidates on board. They don't care who gets a job and who doesn't, they just care that they have more available candidates than jobs, so it's in their interest to make the market seem better than it is. Not saying there's no truth in it, just that it may be biased.I think its accurate... things go in cycles. Its bad now, but that forces people out the market. Eventually too many will leave.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SurferMan Posted August 27, 2014 Report Share Posted August 27, 2014 IT is like a marriage in some respects, ups and downs. You need the right constitution to make it work. I don't believe the skills shortage for one bit...in Perth I have mates who were managers on more than 200k now begging for work at a 100k... Now before you all panic, these are middle of the road managers, little to no tech or functional skills. I steadfastly maintain that an eclectic mix of tech, func, and leadership skills will get you over the line 9 out of 10. Horses for courses. Have a hot skill, have a saleable ass..lol it's up to you to read the market and stay in demand....even old sea dogs can command top dollar. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bronwyn&Co Posted August 27, 2014 Report Share Posted August 27, 2014 (edited) I steadfastly maintain that an eclectic mix of tech, func, and leadership skills will get you over the line 9 out of 10. Horses for courses. Have a hot skill, have a saleable ass..lol it's up to you to read the market and stay in demand....even old sea dogs can command top dollar.So necessary skills are a saleable ass & the gift of the gab then? Sounds about right for most careers Edited August 27, 2014 by Bronwyn&Co 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SurferMan Posted August 27, 2014 Report Share Posted August 27, 2014 B,That's about my summary right there in fact. And in all the time I been in IT, going toe to toe with the MBA boys (no offence) and the like, NOTHING beats cold experience and hands on ability. What really makes a difference in the later years is the ability to exploit EQ and to read body language in a room. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.