What’s It Really like Trying to Find a Job in Australia? – 2015

I should make it clear right up front that I am asking the question, I am not about to answer it. I’m going to try and answer it, or at least throw some light on it, but I certainly can’t answer it from experience.

I haven’t been for a job interview since 1993 and I’ve never been for one here in Australia.

Job InterviewI have looked at the numbers before and they’ve always suggested that finding a job here in Australia is probably easier than is in most other countries.

In 2010 the result was emphatic; Australia appeared to have far more opportunities per capita than the UK. By 2012, the UK job situation had improved slightly while at the same time it was getting a little worse in Australia, but Australia still offered more jobs per capita.

Then about a year ago I wrote a post called Jobs in Australia: A 2014 Update. Job redundancy announcements in Australia were more common by this time and I suggested that any of you seeking to come to this country should consider that “Now is not the time to simply arrive and then start looking for work.

By the time I wrote Job Hunting in Australia and the UK Compared: 2014 it was clear that vacancies were massively on the increase in the UK, my figures suggested 46% up on my 2012 findings. Meanwhile Australian jobs had decreased by 11% over the same for a period.

The trend was clear.

Then last week I wrote a post called Australian and UK Salaries Compared 2015 and as I was looking at the average salaries across various skills for each of our countries, there was another number that kept catching my eye in a rather scary way.

Job vacancies

You see, if you search Adzuna for vacancies in certain skills, not only do they tell you what the average salary is for that skill, but they also let you know exactly how many vacancies they currently have listed for it.

Like this…

UK-vacancies

Australia-vacancies11,336 jobs in the UK for qualified accountants as compared with 246 in Australia?

Can that really be right? Or was it just a freak, some kind of mistake?

So I crunched the numbers.

Job vacancies by occupations Australia and UK compared:

Job Vacancies ComparedNo, not some kind of mistake or a freak, this massive difference in the number of vacancies was repeated across pretty much all professions and skills. In fact, according to Adzuna there are currently just over 1 million jobs available in the UK compared to just 130,000 here in Australia.

So, what’s it really like to find a job in Australia?

There you go, I’m asking the question again. If any of you out there have recent experience in trying to find work here in Australia, we’d love to hear about it in the comments below. Similarly I would also like to hear from any of you in the UK and the USA or wherever you might be; what’s it really like trying to find a job in your country at the moment?

I ask because as regular UK based reader djmcbell commented in last week’s post…

…we are being told that there are jobs going and wages are high, and then seemingly experiencing the opposite. Many of us in the UK haven’t had a wage rise for years – in fact many have had a pay cut – and there are far more applicants for jobs than there are actual jobs.

So the real life experience in the UK doesn’t seem to mirror what people are being told by the media and in the news. So maybe the grim-looking news about job opportunities here in Australia isn’t so bad in reality either?

It certainly looks scary though, and I can imagine anybody moving to Australia right now hoping to find work could be feeling extremely nervous. So if anyone can throw any real information at this and help answer some of the questions I’ve asked in this post, please do comment below.

Update October 2015: Re-Teaching Jobs

Reader Chris made a very interesting point about the vast difference in teacher vacancies, click here to read what he had to say.

Visa Assessment Service
{ 283 comments… add one }
  • terry January 21, 2019, 5:28 pm |

    hi bob, I’m very concerned with a the above comments as myself my wife and 3 young children are currently going through the visa process for australia.
    I’m wondering if the above comments also apply for tradies as I’m a plumber from england.
    i would presume as my trade is on the skills shortage list there would be ample job opportunities for myself but reading this post has now put doubt in my mind.
    to make matters potentially worse for myself i am heavily tattooed and was considering a 489 visa for queensland meaning i couldn’t work directly in brisbane where i guess most jobs will be. i don’t want to up root my whole life and promise the kids a better life then struggle to get a job and have to return home will be horrendous.
    any replies would be gratefully received, thank you.

    • BobinOz January 22, 2019, 8:47 pm |

      I can understand your concerns Terry, it can often be very difficult for new arrivals to find work when they get here. Tradies though like plumbers usually don’t struggle, although there are no guarantees. For what it’s worth, I know a couple of self-employed plumbers originally from the UK who live nearby here in Brisbane, they both seem to be very busy.

      I wouldn’t worry too much about those tattoos, I can’t really imagine they would be a problem, but then I’m guessing a bit on that. If anybody reading this comment has more info on both tattoos and the availability of work for plumbers, I’m sure Terry would love to hear from you. Terry, you should also do some research and the links on my page Getting a Job or a Sponsorship will help you do that.

      There is something I must mention though, my understanding is that whilst you are qualified to do plumbing in the UK, you may need to do some extra work before you can work as a plumber here. This can happen with quite a few of the trades, I know electricians have to work under supervision until they have passed whatever it is the state government requires.

      A few years back we had a very helpful guy called Nick post a few comments about his experiences arriving here as a plumber and what he did before he left the UK to make things easier. You can read the comments by clicking on the links below, I hope you find them helpful.

      https://www.bobinoz.com/living-in-australia/melbourne/comment-page-2/#comment-24608
      https://www.bobinoz.com/contact/questions-i-cant-answer/comment-page-2/#comment-21798
      https://www.bobinoz.com/living-in-australia/melbourne/comment-page-2/#comment-24569

      It’s a big decision moving to Australia, I know, and I’m sure you could make it work, but it may not be smooth running from the get go. Whatever you decide to do for you and your family, I do hope it all works out for the best. Good luck, Bob

      • terry January 23, 2019, 5:43 pm |

        thank you very much for your reply bob. your website is very informative and really helpful for people in my position so thank you for taking the time to write about it.

  • Avin November 30, 2017, 6:09 pm |

    Hi Bob and/or Ray,

    I have a question. We recently received our Australian PR. We will only be moving to Adelaide early next year.

    Is it worthwhile trying to apply for jobs from overseas as I have not had much luck other than receiving thank you replies with my applications so far? Or do I apply for jobs only once I am in Australia? I hope that I am not doing something which is not a norm.

    Any advice you provide is very much appreciated. At same time, I am staying positive and am hoping that one will come along at the right time :).

    Thank you.
    Avin

    • Mark December 1, 2017, 8:20 am |

      Hi Avin Thought id chip in, your statement suggest you have only recently received PR and that suggest the jobs you have applied for with the thanks but no thanks were prior to receiving it. Whilst undoubtedly the best is to be in the country I suspect it will make a massive difference you have PR and can state that on your application,
      Of course prior to that your just a person with a lot of obstacles for a potential employer. Now your a real prospect though of course will be far more real when in the country , Of course a lot depends on your skill set how in demand it is and most importantly you.

      • Avin December 1, 2017, 10:54 am |

        Hi Mark,

        Thank you for your reply. I have been applying for jobs after receiving my PR as well. I have also indicated in my cover letters that I have received PR and do not need any financial support from potential employers in terms of moving expenses, etc. and will be moving early next year.

        I guess as you mentioned, I just have to keep on trying and be positive although it would also help if I am already in the country. I will provide an update once I have one in due course.

        And by the way, this blog has been a great resource for me.

        Thanks again for your advice.

        Kind regards,
        Avin

        • BobinOz December 1, 2017, 4:22 pm |

          As you have mentioned Ray, I assume you have read Ray’s story a little further down below. He worked his socks off sending out many many applications before he finally landed a job in Adelaide. And he was living here, ready to attend interviews at the drop of a hat, but it still took him 3 months.

          All I can tell you, as Mark has suggested as well, is that it is much harder to try and land a job before you get here, but that doesn’t mean there’s no point in trying. The job market in Adelaide isn’t strong though, so you do have a tough task, even after you get here.

          Not impossible though, as Ray has said. Good luck, Bob

          • Avin December 4, 2017, 12:01 pm |

            Hi Bob,

            Thanks for your advice. I understand. I will write back once I have an update.

            Kind regards,
            Avin

  • Lavanya Murali September 7, 2017, 8:53 pm |

    Hi Bob,

    How are you doing? This is so great that you are helping out with all the queries so promptly. So here is one more for you. How is the job market for Supply Chain and Logistics. My husband is working as a logistics manager in Toyota, India. He has 13 years experience. We got our PR recently. We are confused about making the move. Auz is such a beautiful country but we are financially stable here in India.

    • BobinOz September 9, 2017, 12:17 am |

      Thanks for the compliments, I only wish I had the knowledge to answer your question. Unfortunately I don’t know about specific job markets for certain skills, but I do know that the job market here is generally quite difficult for new migrants.

      Hopefully somebody else will see your comment and know what it’s like trying to find work in those specific skill sets, but if you read some of the other comments already made here, you will see that the job market is quite tough at the moment.

      It’s a difficult decision, especially if you are doing well in India at the moment, because there is a possibility that things might not go smoothly here. Good luck though, whatever you decide to do.

  • Dan August 19, 2017, 11:35 am |

    I just wanted to share my story as it may give those reading this website a little hope that good things do happen.

    In the months leading up to my departure from the UK I sent many speculative emails to companies I thought I might like to work for but I received no replies.

    I landed in Sydney on a Thursday in June and on that same day I received a reply from one of these companies asking me to come for an interview. This was six months after I sent them an email – the day I landed in Sydney!

    I called them on the Friday morning and went in for an interview at 5pm on Friday afternoon. They called me back at 19:45 to offer me a job starting the following Tuesday. I still can’t quite believe the timing.

    So to all of you looking for a job, do all the right things, make sure your CV and online profile is as good as it possibly can be and keep trying. Good luck!

    • BobinOz August 20, 2017, 8:27 pm |

      Fantastic news and as you say, great timing. Thanks for posting your story, I’m sure it will be very encouraging news to many people.

    • Susan Crossley September 5, 2017, 2:25 pm |

      Hi Dan, I am in a similar situation to you as I am several months away from moving to Australia but I would like to start sending out emails about jobs now. I am very encouraged by your success so thank you for sharing. I am curious how you addressed your situation in the emails before you actually moved? Did you just say you were moving and did not need to be sponsored and give them your arrival date? I will be going on a partner visa, so I won’t need to be sponsored. I’m hoping that will be attractive to employers. Also, how long before you actually moved did you start sending out the emails? Were you sending emails directing to apply for specific open positions or just introductory emails with your qualifications? Thank you again for sharing and any additional insight.

  • Alex June 18, 2017, 9:07 pm |

    It’s impossible now to find a job Australia. Many shops shutting down, plus up significant prejudice to the workforce. Skilled people such as Doctor’s degree graduate doing cleaning position and restaurant count for a huge amount in number. Unbelievable reality and so…..

    • BobinOz June 19, 2017, 8:33 pm |

      Well, the job market here might not be good, but I really don’t think is that bad Alex.

      • Zinko Akhine August 18, 2017, 7:20 pm |

        Well, Bob, you don’t have a doctorate and you are not looking for a job as a non-UK citizen. This is the reason why you “don’t think is that bad”. With all due respect, you live in a different reality.

        You can try to send a Resume as ‘doctor’ (in whatever) with a non-UK background to any job vacancy you seem it would fit in. Try it a hundred times. Then wait till you get some feedback. Finally, tell us your conclusions from your _real world_ observations. I bet my two cents that you will not get a single feedback 😉

        • BobinOz August 20, 2017, 8:03 pm |

          No, I don’t have a doctorate, but I do live in the real world which is why I wrote this article warning people of the difficulty of finding work in Australia at the moment.

  • Alex C June 9, 2017, 5:51 pm |

    I’ve been in Australia for almost 2 years, migrated from the USA. No such luck finding a job. I lost count of the number of jobs I’ve applied. Of course, I think it is harder here in Adelaide, so maybe I should just give up and look elsewhere. Maybe Sydney? Luckily, I have enough money to survive 3 years, so I’m ok, but I am beginning to panic. I have my work visa, updated resume, permanent address here, Australian phone, etc etc, but yet, after all the interviews i’ve had, nothing! It seems as if I’m not the only one suffering. Finding a job was so much easier in the US. Never searched for more than 1 week. I hope Australia wasn’t a mistake.

    • BobinOz June 12, 2017, 7:32 pm |

      Yes, it’s a tough job market at the moment, even tougher in Adelaide. I think I read somewhere quite recently that 80% of all new jobs created in Australia are in Sydney or Melbourne, so yes, maybe it is time to look elsewhere.

      Of course, the problem with Sydney and Melbourne is the housing is so expensive.

      I certainly hope you find something soon and that Australia doesn’t turn out to be a mistake for you.

    • MD August 30, 2017, 10:09 pm |

      Dude, get out of Adelaide while you still can… that place is jobless, and on top of that, Adelaide has some heavy in-grown networks which includes only people who went to the same schools (I mean high schools, not even universities)… and these networks are the only things that seem to matter.

      I wasted 4 months trying to get jobs from engineer, technician, construction laborer, gas-station attendant, street-hawker (marketer). I only got two interviews:
      1) For a gas-attendant jig where 40 people turned up for an intricate group interview (WTF)
      2) For a street-hawker jig where another ‘group interview’ was held by a bum in a seedy office, with a collapsible bed.

      Needless to say I didn’t even get those jobs. I moved to melbourne, got a technical job within a month.

  • Ray May 19, 2017, 4:26 am |

    So we are now here in lovely Adelaide for more than a month now, we’ve came across battling our way to rent our small place and slowly practicing to be like a “local”, it’s been a busy and great few weeks so far for us. Moving to a country is really not an easy task and moreso finding a job. I was able to interview different people from different countries and a migrant same as me, and they have been here for more than years and loving it. Some of them are cleaners for years, drivers, uber drivers, or odd jobs as you would know. They have been referred by a friend, tried their luck time and time again until they have cracked any job. It made me realize that if they have survived the start up stage why won’t I! (fighting spirit)…

    For the last 5weeks of continuous applying, I was able to get 2 interviews for an IT post and a lot of Thank you letters as well, oh yeah it’s frustrating and you would have doubt on yourself, but hey! nothing is easy, as I said, others have made it and why can’t I (just to be optimistic). I even paid for a $100 AUD to have my resume and cover letter be on a AU format (it helped in a way I got more email this time).

    So, the ride continuous….

    • BobinOz May 19, 2017, 7:33 pm |

      Yes, many people have done it before, no reason why you can’t do it now. Sounds like you are getting well and truly stuck into job applications and I’m sure you will find something at some point.

      Obviously your preference would be for a job in IT, but it seems you are also aware that no job offer, even if it’s not in your chosen field, should be dismissed out of hand. Sometimes it’s better to do something different for a while to get the money coming in.

      Good luck with your search Ray, do let us know how it goes when you have any updates.

      • jessica September 1, 2017, 6:47 am |

        Please im looking for guidence im Indian from Bangalore my mobile number is 8884310986 my name is jessica marian coleman if yourl could consider me please sponser me

    • Deepak June 30, 2017, 1:24 am |

      Hey Ray/Bob,

      I’m planning to come to South Australia in 489 because the points for 189 and 190 for IT is drastically increasing and I don’t satisfy that criteria. Since I’ll be moving there with my wife, will it be fine to come together or come alone, try settling down 1st?

      Also,how about the jobs in Adelaide? Specifically IT ? Are you even getting calls? Cuz ppl tell me that Adelaide is a waste of time and money.. which is psyching me out now.

      Thanks,
      Deepak

      • BobinOz July 2, 2017, 6:56 pm |

        Adelaide isn’t great for jobs and there is a lot of talk about that in the comments on my page about Adelaide, you may want to take a look. There is no right or wrong answer about whether or not you come with your wife at first, only you can decide how you play that one.

        Maybe somebody else might have more to say about that one though.

        • Ray July 6, 2017, 7:03 am |

          Bob,
          After almost 3months of going back and forth, sending hundreds of application, receiving thank you letters and losing faith, i was able to land a Job Offer! I was a System Administrator and got a lower position job as a servicedesk. Nevertheless, i am so glad to land this opportunity and it’s a door to more opportunities once you have the local experience..

          For IT people out there, i could only speak for Adelaide. They are a lot of Agencies that could help and assist you looking for a contractual job. Private companies are now moving to cloud infrastructure, most that i went to interview are private companies looking to add resource on their managed services field.

          I got some advises also from head hunter or agencies, if you are on a higher position right now and applying for a low position. Chances are 90% they won’t accept you to take that low position and you will get a “thank you letter” because from their experience, higher position applicants tends to leave right away because they are still actively seeking their original position. And results to bad image on head hunters or agencies.

          So, just keep on sending emails and applications, it’s frustrating but don’t be too hard on yourself, it will come. Your chance to take that final cut will come, and getting more interviews would hasten your interview skills. And yeah, that $100 resume that i paid for is all worth it, i had more invite when i used the Australian format that they gave me.

          I’ve been following Bob since last year and just reading some posts here are pretty scary and would not want you to migrate. I tried my luck, just be prepared for anything monetarily as Australia is not a cheap country. Do your research ahead of time before doing the big move (rent, food, internet, electricity, gas, etc.) Do your budget draft ahead of time, there are good sources of price list. For goods there are coles, kmart, online to do your initial budget.

          Good luck to everyone and just keep on knocking, it will come….

          • BobinOz July 6, 2017, 7:33 pm |

            Fantastic news Ray!

            Just goes to show that with a good fighting spirit and perseverance, things can work out. A positive attitude helps as well, and you’ve certainly had that. It’s also a good idea to be realistic with your expectations, as you have done.

            Like you say, the important thing is getting that first job, even if it’s below what you would normally do, because it is a start. It means you’re in the system, you’re getting local experience, and if you do a good job then, more often than not, other opportunities will start to appear.

            Congratulations to you, I hope your story inspires others to keep on keeping on. Good luck in your new job, Bob

    • Susan September 5, 2017, 5:08 am |

      What company did you have redo your resume in Australian style?

  • EM May 7, 2017, 11:03 am |

    Hi Bob, thanks for your blog! It has been a helpful read, especially the comments section. Just wanted to share my experience in the job hunt. I migrated from Malaysia to Melbourne as a junior lawyer earlier this year. I obtained my law degree from an Australian university, have the relevant qualifications and overseas work experience. But after so many email rejections for solicitor/lawyer positions, I find that what I lack is the Australian working experience as some commenters have pointed out below. I am very lucky to have found a casual job as a secretary in a law firm within 2 weeks of arriving, though ideally I would love to be employed as a lawyer. Most job ads require an experienced lawyer to have an existing practicing certificate but I can’t obtain one without being employed as lawyer! It’s a hard circle to break into and I think the key is patience. So to my fellow job hunters: don’t give up just yet. The Australian dream is within reach, but we’ll just have to be patient.

    • Mark May 7, 2017, 1:10 pm |

      Well said in the example of ‘hang on in there’…I know the profession you are around well. Your experience your having would likely be the same in America and UK as a minimum of countries I have been in. That’s the profession your are in or rather looking to break into, not the country. …Its generally always the same in other countries mentioned, it may not be so difficult in Malaysia but certainly is in the ones mentioned allowing for a few local quirks of rules in different countries. Chicken and egg scenario almost…Sadly most of the big legal firms want the experienced advocate for their clients. Sadly that’s where most of the raw recruits head for. The smaller outfits may likely be a better start for you. Or offer to work with an attorney as an aid, seconder, call it what you will. You just have to crack the circle and it will let you in I promise. . ,

      • BobinOz May 8, 2017, 6:44 pm |

        Very interesting to read of your experiences EM as well as Mark’s thoughts on this. Time and time again, I’m afraid, that requirement of ‘local experience’ just keeps on cropping up. As you have both suggested, the task is to break that circle and once you do, I think that’s when doors start to open.

        Let’s hope that happens to you, and everyone else who is trying, sooner rather than later.

  • LadyJ March 28, 2017, 9:32 pm |

    Hi,

    My husband and I have been enquiring with different resources including a Migration agent to come over and live in Australia with our two sons. Our youngest is now 5 and we have been trying to get as much information and advise on how to move over. We both have direct family who are citizens in Darwin, Melbourne and Brisbane but were advised that the only away to come over is for one or both of us to find employment that matches our skills and experience and have an employer sponsor us. We have registered and applied on recruiting websites but do date have had no success. Any advise on how else we will be able to come and apply for jobs and advise on how to improve our chances of employment over in Australia while applying from South Africa

    • BobinOz March 29, 2017, 11:43 pm |

      Securing a sponsored job here in Australia whilst you are not yet in the country isn’t easy, it’s actually very hard, but is not impossible.

      I’d do know of a website that will help you though, you can get to it by clicking on the red and black banner towards the top right hand side of every page of this website which has a magnifying glass and says ‘sponsored jobs search’.

      You can browse the numbers of vacancies by professions, but if you want to actually apply, you will need to join this site. It’s a paid membership, but only costs $10 or $20 per month depending which option you choose. It will definitely give you the edge, and I know the person who runs this site, she is doing a fantastic job.

      It’s worth a go, I’d say, it’s the best way I know of quickly finding jobs that are available with sponsorship. Good luck, Bob

      • LadyJ March 30, 2017, 12:16 am |

        Its hard to remain positive with hiccups and bumps along the way trying to get to Australia but I will definately register and get to the job sponsorship site right away. I appreciate you getting back to me so quickly. Thank you Bob.

      • Susan Crossley September 5, 2017, 2:28 pm |

        Hi Bob, thanks for all you do! Maybe I missed it, but what website are you referring to where you can register to see about jobs?

        • BobinOz September 5, 2017, 8:52 pm |

          There is a red banner on the right-hand side of every page of this website towards the top. It has a magnifying glass image and the words ‘sponsored job search’ on it. It is specifically to search for jobs that come with sponsorship, I see from a comment you made earlier that you don’t need to be sponsored.

          So it’s probably best that you use the links on my page Getting a Job or a Sponsorship. Good luck, Bob

  • SUMIT PRABHAKAR March 9, 2017, 12:21 am |

    Hi Everyone, I must say all comments have been very helpful and gives us bit of reality check to would be migrants like me .. Guess getting job easily is long over in all developed economies .. though still wanted to check if any one has idea for Job prospects in Financial advisory/Investments..

    • Jon July 16, 2017, 9:56 pm |

      Hi Sumit (and Bob),

      I’m an Aussie born and bred, lived in London for 5 years (and had the same trials and tribulations over there that many speak of here). I have just been reading this blog out of pure interest.

      It’s a bloody great blog, Bob! I’m originally from Brisbane too – you picked the best city to settle in mate 🙂

      Back to you, Sumit. In Australia, Financial Planning (or Financial Advice) is dominated by several large banks and a few independent financial organisations. You need a license to operate as a Financial Planner in Australia (the license is called an Australian Financial Services License – AFSL). You can look at becoming a “salaried” Financial Planner for one of the big banks or financial services companies (Commonwealth Bank, ANZ, NAB, Westpac, Macquarie, AMP, IOOF, AON Hewitt). Also, many Financial Planners set up their own business and operate as a type of franchisee under the license of a Financial Planning Dealer Group (an AFSL holder). This could be a means for you to come to Australia and start up your own business right away.

      Here’s a recent article that lists all of the AFSL holders in Australia: https://www.professionalplanner.com.au/licensees/2017/05/09/the-australian-financial-planning-market-full-licensee-listing-55649/

      Try taking a look at some of them to see if there are job openings…or if you’re interested to have a go at your own business, find out what the process is to set up a Financial Planning practice under their AFSL.

      Jon

  • Harshit February 28, 2017, 11:09 pm |

    Hi Bob,
    I am from India and I was planning to do my 2 years master’s degree from Monash University before appllying for PR. Me and my partner both have 3 years of work experience in IT. I have already received an offer from Monash(which is pretty easy to get) but I will be paying 62k as my fees + additional cost of living. Your blog is great and it really helped me a lot but it has put me in a fix. Considering the current job market in Australia I am reconsidering my options. Is it really going to be worth spending that kind of money as an international student? I do not want to do odd jobs. My course comes under SOL and I will graduate from an Australian university but even then the situation seems very dicey. You think it will improve any time soon?

    Any advice in this matter will be of great help.
    Thanks.

    • BobinOz March 1, 2017, 11:43 pm |

      I’d need a crystal ball to answer this one with any kind of accuracy, and I just don’t have one. I can understand your concerns though, it is a lot of money and there simply are no guarantees of a job or even PR at the end of it. So it’s a risk, a gamble, it might pay off, it might not. Only you can decide if it is worth the punt for you.

      Good luck though, whatever you do in the end.

  • agrimreaper February 6, 2017, 10:16 am |

    I have been following the comments since I arrived in Melbourne early 2016. Given that there are many demoralised people, I would to share my experience and hopefully it will provide some light at the end of the long tunnel for you all.

    During the 1st 3 months of arriving in Melbourne, I didn’t think much that finding a job will be difficult. I wasn’t picky as long as it was in my related field of work. However, as time passed, I kept sending out applications but was further demoralised when I wasn’t called up for interviews. I decided to look for other fields of work, got a few interviews, but never got the job. After 5 months of sending out application daily, I decided to take a 2 week break, as I was frustrated and demoralised.

    After that 2 week, I resumed my job applications, but by a stroke of good fortune, I was called for an interview, and subsequently a 2nd interview. Eventually got good news that I got the job, and I was so glad that I finally landed myself a full time job of a related field. I guess my perseverance paid off. After 6 months and close to 600 job applications, I finally got a job. People reading this, don’t give up.

    In order to keep my mind occupied during that 6 months, I signed up as a volunteer and also, took up ad-hoc delivery jobs.

    • LP February 6, 2017, 1:50 pm |

      Thank you for sharing your experience. That light at the end of the tunnel is much needed for many of us reading Bob’s web page.

    • BobinOz February 6, 2017, 6:26 pm |

      Congrats on landing that job agrimreaper, your persistence has clearly paid off. Thanks for posting this, I’m sure it will encourage many people.

      • agrimreaper February 7, 2017, 6:57 am |

        My pleasure. I really hope that people do not give up and at the same time provide some positivity here.

        Some tips that some of the recruiters gave me, which I thought would be good to share:
        1. If there is a phone number and if it states that they don’t mind speaking to you if you have questions, pick up the phone and make conversation with the recruiter, and find out more about the role and discuss your experience in relation to the role. From there you will sort of know whether you will be shortlisted for their next stage of the hiring process.

        2. Follow up with the recruiter maybe every 2-3 weeks – it may annoy them, but at least they know who you are and it something appropriate comes up, they will most likely remember you. Don’t forget that recruiters do get a commission for every job that successfully match up.

        3. Networking – this is something very difficult especially if you are new to the country and don’t know anyone. Take up courses (e.g. General Assembly) and meet people. Or join a professional organisation (e.g. PMI Melbourne Chapter) and mingle during events. I know this is easier said than done. I have personally took up courses and met people, but unfortunately for me, I didn’t really have much leads from it. However, I believe if you keep trying, you should be able to find someone somehow. Volunteer work may also let you meet people – met some really nice people who were willing to provide character reference but chose to go with my ex-managers instead.

        • BobinOz February 7, 2017, 8:14 pm |

          Good tips, thanks. I think LinkedIn is an option for networking for those not yet here.

          • agrimreaper February 8, 2017, 7:59 am |

            Linkedin is a good tool for online networking in these recent years. Before I came over to Melbourne, I updated the country in my profile, and started looking at roles listed in the job portal of Linkedin. Started adding Melbourne based recruiters as well. Of course, it is usually easier to look for a job when you are already in the country, but I know there are some times that people do get jobs before they arrive. Always about the right timing of things… when the stars align basically.

            • Ray February 9, 2017, 11:56 pm |

              Thank you for coming back and blasting this positivity to all, as we haven’t heard any for a while…very uplifting! 🙂

              • Ray May 19, 2017, 4:21 am |

                So we are now here in lovely Adelaide for more than a month now, we’ve came across battling our way to rent our small place and slowly practicing to be like a “local”, it’s been a busy and great few weeks so far for us. Moving to a country is really not an easy task and moreso finding a job. I was able to interview different people from different countries and a migrant same as me, and they have been here for more than years and loving it. Some of them are cleaners for years, drivers, uber drivers, or odd jobs as you would know. They have been referred by a friend, tried their luck time and time again until they have cracked any job. It made me realize that if they have survived the start up stage why won’t I! (fighting spirit)…

                For the last 5weeks of continuous applying, I was able to get 2 interviews for an IT post and a lot of Thank you letters as well, oh yeah it’s frustrating and you would have doubt on yourself, but hey! nothing is easy, as I said, others have made it and why can’t I (just to be optimistic). I even paid for a $100 AUD to have my resume and cover letter be on a AU format (it helped in a way I got more email this time).

                So, the ride continuous….

  • Robert Ashton February 2, 2017, 3:39 pm |

    Dear Bob,
    So a little background, I am originally from the US and moved to South Africa in 2009 to be with my partner. I brought with me 10 years of managment experience in several industries, as well a solid customer service base of skills from my hometown Las Vegas.Needless to say I was head hunted and had all sorts of career opportunities with Forbes top 100 companies on large accounts. When we got settled here in Perth I tried for 9 months straight searching jobs, listening to friends, then I thought okay I will search for a part time job, and pursue my master’d degree, indeed I found a part time job as a concierge and have recently finished my masters from a decent Australian University. I once more am applying for jobs that are full time and that I can have an opportunity for growth even applying for jobs well beneath my qualifications in the hopes of just getting a foot in the door to prove myself again. Unfortunately it seems I’m getting the same responses as before. Im actually now unsure of what to do, I purposely chose an Australian University to give my experience a bit substance, and I chose a part time job that would allow me to engage in much more than saying hello.

    • BobinOz February 2, 2017, 9:19 pm |

      One of the biggest complaints here at the moment seems to be that there are so few full-time jobs around, everything seems to be part-time or on a contract. People are working 20 to 30 hours a week, but they want more.

      I don’t know what the answer is Robert, other than move to either Sydney or Melbourne where the vast majority of the work seems to be. Perth is certainly struggling at the moment, thanks to the downturn in the mining industry.

      I think the only answer is to keep trying, after all, you just need one decent job offer and everything will be right.

      • Robert Ashton January 11, 2018, 11:16 am |

        Just wanting to check in. Well I am almost a year on from this last message and sadly to say I’m still struggling through, though I keep applying for positions and even positions that are entry level into new industries and even in industries I’ve been with the same exact results… an email stating that I was not successful or no response at all. I do have to say my family is doing well so the struggle is worth it. I also want to say that once something does come I will report back as it is important to see someone get through their slumps.

        • LP January 11, 2018, 2:12 pm |

          Thank you for keeping in touch, Robert. As a frequent reader of Bob’s I’ve found that this is a very rare place where those of us planning to go to Australia or are already job hunting in Australia can share knowledge and experiences.

          Resilience must be an adequate attribute of yours. Keep searching and do not give up.

          • BobinOz January 11, 2018, 10:16 pm |

            Yes, thanks for keeping us up-to-date Robert. I have heard that the job situation in Perth is improving slightly of late, hopefully that’s true. As LP says, stick at it, hopefully something will show up.

    • agrimreaper February 7, 2017, 7:30 am |

      In your situation, it is a probably a case of location. I have an acquaintance who decided to migrate to Adelaide, couldn’t find any work for 6 months, and decided to move to Melbourne as he eventually found a job in Melbourne.

      If you prefer to continue staying in Perth, probably good to continue to persevere and don’t give up.

    • Robert Ashton December 12, 2018, 1:18 pm |

      Well, Here I am again almost another year later and what can I say, not much has changed. I am still looking though I have reduced the amount of application from 20 a month to 5 a month. It got too tasking, writing new cover letters and changing my CV to suit the jobs’ description at 20 a month it was a lot of work that yielded 2 external job interviews and 2 internal interviews in which (thanks to social media) I came to find the jobs went to a mates friends friend, with no experience. If there is any advice I can share, it is: if you haven’t moved don’t do so until you have a job that you can grow in and are happy in. The 2nd is network, you can have all the credentials, experience, letters of reference and work with major corporations at the end of the day the rejection feedback I have received was : “you don’t have local experience”, “your are over qualified and would easily be bored”, or you are a perfect match to the position but we give our internal candidates preference. After all this because my partner is doing well in his job and our son is flourishing, its enough for me to keep trying though I can say there are days I just want to give up. So anyone whose reading this : DON’T GIVE UP!

      • BobinOz December 13, 2018, 7:43 pm |

        Very sad to hear that, after all this time, you still haven’t found suitable work yet. I had thought the job situation had improved a bit over the last 12 months or so, but from a previous comment you have mentioned you are in Perth, so maybe things haven’t changed too much over that side?

        Sometimes, unfortunately, as you’ve found out it’s not always what you know but who you know when it comes to getting a job.

        Good advice as well Robert, it is always best to try and secure a job before you move out here, although I think anyone going to Sydney or Melbourne might have better luck taking a chance, there are more job vacancies in those cities for sure.

        Also, as you say, don’t give up! Hopefully, not giving up will work out for you sometime soon. Fingers crossed for you.

  • Linda January 25, 2017, 5:08 pm |

    A hopeful note: The only people who are going to comment on this post are ones who could not find a job. The ones who DID find a job are out there having a happy life and not posting comments on blog posts like these. Stay positive!

    • Ray January 26, 2017, 7:09 am |

      I second to that! “Old Timer” bloggers that are looking for a job and a better life may have found their “break” and might be busy to visit Bob’s site again. 🙂

      Don’t lose hope, in every country there is a struggle for a job and doing the “big move” is times 10 of a challenge…

      We’ll be in Adelaide by April and promise to update my adventures… 🙂

  • Faith January 17, 2017, 11:13 pm |

    I arrived in Australia two month ago hoping to find work. I went everywhere in person and applied online I have a degree and experience but I was ready to start from zero applying for any odd jobs I have applied for sales job and few others but I actually can see people give more value to australian based experience and specially if you are not aussy you are expected to try like a million times harder to prove yourself. It’s fact I am still looking a job in Perth but everywhere you go you hear same thing WE ARE OVER STAFFED so I would actually thinking of why I moved here in the first place such a crazy place to live at the moment it drives you crazy. How could anyone can’t find odd job in a two month time I don’t see myself living here at all specially dealing with the HAVE TO AUSSY thinking it’s insane for immigrants. I wish people open up their mind and embrace multiculturalism more and give more opportunities for new arrivals and specially if you have odd accent or your English is not good enough then hey you are going to have it harder so yes I am trying so hard to fit in which is insane

    • BobinOz January 18, 2017, 1:54 am |

      This isn’t about Australia not embracing multiculturalism, it’s ALL about there not be enough jobs to go round.

      • Vinnie May 23, 2017, 5:18 pm |

        Here, here!….I’m an ‘Ozzi’ drafter with over 45yrs local experience in the commercial building industry in Perth & I’ve been trying for the last six months! After about 30+ applications (i.e only jobs that fitted my skills/experience) I got 3 written knockbacks. That will give you an idea how hard it is for locals….BTW figures from the Bureau of Statistics reveal a net 2805 people left WA for another part of Australia in the three months to the end of June 2016 — almost 30 a day. Good luck people!

        • BobinOz May 23, 2017, 8:05 pm |

          The stats about people leaving Perth don’t surprise me Vinnie, they seem to be suffering more than most over that way at the moment. Hope you find something soon, or maybe you might end up having to go east as well. Good luck to you, Bob

        • Cropix October 4, 2017, 9:19 am |

          Vinnie, I may have a solution for you. I am currently in process of obtaining 189 visa(mehanical engineer). Hopefully I will get it (fingers crossed). So let’s make a deal. When I arrive in AUS we will open a building design consultancy (HVAC, electrical design etc.) together. Why hope that someone else will give us job? Why not create them ourselfs? Deal mate? 🙂

          • Jan January 20, 2018, 9:21 pm |

            Hi Cropix.
            I’m also mechanical engineer from HVAC field and I struggle in Brisbane for 9 months. I’ve been on several interviews but no luck. Even though I have 5 years of Australian working experience. I haven’t been without a job for so long. I can’t get even a simple job now.
            Maybe I should write the CV in Aussie format as Ray suggests but I didn’t find who did it for him?

  • Programmer December 18, 2016, 9:52 pm |

    Hi Bob,

    Firstly, I would like to thank you for this website. I found a lot of useful information for me there.
    Just a question regarding the job market. Do you think that the bad situation you mentioned below is similar also in programmers/software engineers related jobs (from your point of view)?
    Anyway, my tip based on found information by googling is that the best place to get a sponsored IT job is in Sydney.

    • Bassem Kattan December 19, 2016, 6:10 pm |

      I would suggest looking at seek.com for the most up to date job listings.

      • BobinOz December 19, 2016, 8:10 pm |

        Well, I think you’ll find that Sydney is probably the best place to get any kind of job in Australia, with Melbourne comfortably second. Those two cities, I’ve been told, are where the vast majority of new employment opportunities are.

        As Bassem Katten as suggested, the best place to look to see where the most opportunities are for you is through the job listings, I have three such links that will help you on my page called Getting a Job or a Sponsorship.

  • JobDroid December 9, 2016, 10:39 pm |

    Thank you so much for sharing such an informative blog. It will be very beneficial to newbie who are willing searching professional jobs in Australia.

  • LP December 9, 2016, 3:31 am |

    Hello Bob and everyone reading these lines.

    It has been more than 18 months since this original post and 200+ comments on the subject. Job searching is definitively the issue regarding the move down under.

    I wanted two share these two articles from the Wall Street Journal regarding the prospects of the Australian economy:

    http://www.wsj.com/articles/australia-growth-data-raises-prospect-winning-streak-is-ending-1481072765?mod=e2tw
    http://graphics.wsj.com/risks-to-australias-economic-miracle/

    Any perspectives on these issues from someone reading this blog? It would be great if we could exchange experiences.

    Kind regards.

    LP

    • BobinOz December 9, 2016, 6:55 pm |

      Yes, the negative GDP figures that came out the other day were the second worst for 25 years and it’s only it’s only happened three times before during that period. We’ve never had two consecutive negative quarters during that time though, so we’ve not been in recession. The previous three negative quarters were after the global financial crisis, then in 2011, following Tropical Cyclone Yasi along with the flooding of Brisbane and other parts of Australia. The third time was way back, just after Australia introduced GST.

      This one appears to be out of the blue a bit, but there was talk it may have been helped along its way by the complete electrical blackout suffered by the entire state of South Australia during a rather nasty storm. With Christmas coming up in this quarter, most believe the figures will be better and that we won’t go into a recession.

      These are quite worrying times for Australia though, the economy just doesn’t seem that good, although it has also in suggested that Australia has two economies. The good economies of NSW and Victoria, and the bad economies everywhere else. Who knows what will happen in 2017, but I’m sure everyone is hoping that things take a turn for the better.

      • LP December 10, 2016, 1:43 am |

        Thank you, Bob. Excellent input.

  • kinley dorji December 5, 2016, 7:12 pm |

    i am very interesting to do work in overseas and also i have three and half years experience in Hptel industry. so i would like to apply in any job in Australia.

  • LucaT November 16, 2016, 10:46 am |

    Great read, thank you. I want to move over with my girlfriend for a year visa, we are 24. In your opinion, what’s the best place for jobs? Course we like to socialise and want beaches etc, all that is a bonus.. We are not that well off, we are worried about the cost of living etc.. just basically want to know a good place for jobs and not crazy accom prices , any help or links greatly appreciated!!

    • BobinOz November 16, 2016, 6:10 pm |

      Jobs aren’t easy to get these days, the Australian job market at the moment is not good. Probably Sydney and Melbourne would offer the most opportunities, but they are also our most expensive cities.

      Maybe Gold Coast or Darwin are worth a try, both can be a bit touristy and therefore it’s possible sometimes to get some casual work. Do your research first, that’s essential, my page called Getting a Job or a Sponsorship can help you with that.

      Also, be sure to read my posts Working Holiday Visas and Backpacking in Australia

      Good luck, Bob

  • Sara October 15, 2016, 4:42 am |

    Hi. I am a CA & a PR holder of AU Perth. I got my visa in 2012 & i am planning to move to AU now. Could anyone please let me know whether this is the right time to move in to AU. I am bit confused because of recession in AU at present. I have to enter AU by 25th of October. My visa expires in 2017 June.

    • BobinOz October 17, 2016, 5:14 pm |

      No, it’s not the best of times, but that very much depends on what kind of work you are looking for. Perth is suffering more than most though. Depending on your personal situation I would have thought it was worth a go though, it would be a shame to let your visa to expire.

      Good luck, Bob

  • Abhijeet Sen October 12, 2016, 9:41 pm |

    I am here since Feb 2016. I have job as I came here on an assignment from my company based in India. However, last 2-3 months I am looking for a local job. Market is damn restricted. One of my friend, who is contractor, is living here for last 8 years, is looking for job. He could not find it either. He says never ever he has seen such a bad market. Seems like Australia is under recession but Government wants to hide it. Worse continued migration is further straining job market. This is definitely not correct time to come here. Atleast wait till Feb 2017 before arriving here. Christmas/New year is bad time to look for job.

  • MAHESH NAIK October 12, 2016, 8:27 pm |

    Dear all,

    I have been in Perth for 8 years. Lost my job in June 2016. Got a couple of weeks temporary job in between. Havent been able to find any job since then. It is already 4 months now and I am not able to find a single job yet. Please dont get deceived by the Government charts and figures about employment and most wanted lists. The ground reality is there are very few jobs for a vast pool of unemployed able bodied men and women, educated and uneducated ones. It is a very tough time for any new migrants here. My advise is if anyone wants to migrate to Australia, wait for market to correct itself. Have patience. This is not a right time to come here at all. The ones over here are struggling to find jobs right now. For single opening there are countless people applying.

    Regards,

    Mahesh

    • BobinOz October 12, 2016, 9:03 pm |

      Perth has probably been hit harder than anywhere else in Australia by the downturn. Hope you find a suitable job soon.

  • Leisha September 30, 2016, 1:11 pm |

    I am an Aussie currently looking for work and have turned to the online world, where I am having some measure of success with American companies. I can say with absolute certainty that Australian employers are way too fussy. To do the simplest of jobs they require an endless list of requirements and ‘must haves’, and even when you meet all of these extensive requirements and spend hours putting your resume together and giving them what they ask for (often requiring having to answer an extensive list of questions), they don’t even bother to call you and tell you-you haven’t been successful.

    I’m not really sure what’s going on because I’ve never had trouble finding a job and have always come and gone with my employment as I choose (I have never been made redundant or asked to leave), I know for certain that I am a hard working and honest employee and produce the desired results every time. So why is it now so damn hard just to get someone to ‘allow me to apply’, let alone submit an application and hope for an interview?

    I have found that American companies have more of an “if you want to do it, we want to hear from you” attitude. They also have a positive vibe that supports people stretching themselves, and provide tools online for people to have the best chance of success. They don’t require endless lists of ‘must haves’ and years of experience just to apply for the most meagre of positions. They test your skills, and if you have what it takes? They give you work. The same kind of online companies in Australia usually have a ‘one strike and you’re out’ policy and are incredibly strict on who is even eligible to apply. It’s as though they actually go out of their way to DISSUADE people from applying. It’s pathetic.

    There is very much a ‘negative’ vibe when it comes to seeking employment in Australia, it’s almost as though employers are more about telling you what they DON’T want, rather than what they want; and they are more focussed on ‘dissuading’ people rather than ‘encouraging’ people.

    It’s an elitist mindset, and it isn’t warranted. I feel for migrants when it’s hard enough just for a ‘born-and-bred’ to get work in Australia these days.

    Something has changed in Australia, it hasn’t always been like this, and it has to change.

    • Ray October 1, 2016, 4:34 am |

      Hi, Leisha.

      This message as I read it line by line shatters all the hope that I got. I may be not there yet but as an emigrant and hoping to make the big move by March of next year, I have to pack more HOPE and be ready for anything. I am still optimistic that somewhere we’ll all have our own place in the industry, we just need to be there the right place and the right time.

      I’ve heard of some good news to other friends of ours and some bad. But it’s out there believe me. It’s just a matter of time before we bag one of ours. It’s not a paradise moving from one country to the other like me, but i’ll gamble on it…..

      Our friends are from Adelaide, (which suffers most of unemployment if not the whole AU it maybe on SA) got some decent office IT jobs, and some are still having a hard time cracking the code.

      Which part of AU are you located right now? and which industry are you in?

      Still.. Hoping for the best for everyone!

      Thank you and hope to hear good feeds next time on this thread…

      regards,
      Ray

      • Leisha Young October 1, 2016, 11:40 am |

        Hi Ray,

        I am in the administration and executive support industry. I have extensive experience as an Executive Assistant, I also have experience with website development and maintenance.

        A good place to start looking is in government. There are always jobs coming up but they are very competitive (many people apply). In my experience, many immigrants have found work in government.

        Oh BTW, I’m from Melbourne.

        Best of luck to you, I’m sure you’ll find something eventually; stay positive.

        Cheers,

        Leisha

      • luna October 1, 2016, 3:32 pm |

        Hey Ray,
        Don’t lose hope. My husband has moved to Perth in July and spend 3 months looking for a job. He was very upset and lost motivation while searching for jobs. There were no calls and we were thinking that maybe this was not the right time to move to Australia. Even getting odd jobs were difficult, however after much distress he has finally got a job. I think persistence and a positive attitude helps. We were rethinking our options of moving however it hopefully looks positive for us. Don’t lose hope. Sometimes it’s just pure faith that can help you. Like many others, he was told that it would be next to impossible to get anything but you need to continue looking out and trying as hard as possible and take chances. From what he says, Perth is a little laid back but there are people he has met who have been in Perth for many years and love the place. Hope this message is a silver lining in the dark clouds. I am also going to be looking out for opportunities next month and hopefully it will be a positive job search for me too. This is what I hope for :-). Good luck to all and keeping my fingers crossed!

        • BobinOz October 2, 2016, 10:18 pm |

          Yes, there is always hope, but without doubt the job market has changed here over the last couple of years as Leisha has said. So in addition to that hope, especially for new migrants, it’s a good idea to have sufficient funds behind you to get you by until the such time as when you managed to secure an income.

          It does also depend very much on what you do, I’ve noticed that people working in IT, for example, seem to have better success in the job market, so it is definitely worth doing your research to see what opportunities are available for what you do before you get here.

          The best way to come to Australia at the moment, in my view, is through the sponsored job option. That visa may not give you as much freedom as PR would, but at least you know you will have got work to go to when you get here.

          Let’s hope this situation improves soon, and good luck to everybody looking for work, I hope you find something soon.

          • Ron Jeremy December 15, 2016, 8:16 am |

            I can confirm that IT (either consulting, network/server administration, or security) is on the downfall as well. The million times repeated “it’s not important what, but who you know” cannot be more true. Companies are not interested in internationally recognized certificates, education and hands on experience. The reason is pretty straightforward — a conflict of interest. Skilled and eager-to-work “new joiners” are potential threat to everyone, especially their superiors. Obviously, in a recession like this, nobody is willing to take such risk. The second thing is that the reason many applicants do not get any response is that the vacancies on job servers do not in fact exist. It’s a virtual reality AUS government profits on (not the AUS taxpayer though).

            To the “full of hope” and naive ones (I was one of those too), the grass is not greener here, as people are presented all over the world. AUS is a rat hole no other than the country you live in. It has it’s own upsides and downsides. The bubble will burst soon, and it is better to stay away from it.

            BTW, more than one year without a job while on an “unlimited” 457 visa in Melbourne, VIC. A spouse-dependent visa the AUS government paid for (AUS taxpayers respectively). Nobody cares if I repay it or not (taxes etc.) That’s insane!

            • BobinOz December 15, 2016, 9:32 pm |

              With many of our jobs being taken by computerised machines, from the checkouts in supermarkets and hardware stores, automated carparks, ticket machines for public transport and major sporting venues, and the upcoming prospect of driverless transport, if IT jobs are down, the very skill required to replace all those jobs I’ve mentioned, then where on earth are we going to get any new jobs from in the future?

              Scary times, and as much as our kids love their iPhones and gadgets, I think this technology stuff might come back to bite them more than its biting us now.

          • Sam March 24, 2018, 8:09 pm |

            This is the best response highlighting the current job market. Just to summarise some key points.
            – Australia is not UK or US. Its pretty backwards compared to the other two.
            – Do not come to Australia if you don’t have a confirmed job offer. Rest is just a game of chance, and you might end up with one of the most horrific, and costly experience in your life
            – it’s hard to even find unskilled work, as employers demand a long list of “must-haves”.
            – and finally don’t trust the governments migration scam. They just want your money if you have any. There is no shortage of skills, even in IT.

      • Leisha Young October 3, 2016, 3:49 pm |

        Oh Ray, I just had a thought.

        If you’re not particularly fussy about the KIND of work you do when you are just establishing yourself in Australia, there’s a huge demand for couriers and Uber drivers.

        Many of these companies also have options to lease appropriate vehicles for this kind of work.

        I’m considering doing it myself. Just for a change, and to have a bit of freedom in my working life.

        If you’re keen to get a job as quickly as possible, I reckon this is a great place to start.

        If you just Google ‘courier jobs’, and the state you’re living in/moving to, there are several job sites that cater to this field of work.

        If I can think of anything else, or see anything else, I’ll post it on this page…assuming that’s okay Bob? It’s your blog after all, and I don’t want to take it over, or take it in a direction you don’t want it to go in.

        Cheers,

        Leisha

        • Ray October 6, 2016, 6:57 am |

          Thank you for all your replies Leisha, Bob and Luna. We are assuming of a monthly expenses of 2,300 AUD (with the 300/week house rental), by the way this expense is computed on numbeo.com site based in Adelaide. And we’ll be bringing around with us a 4-5 months worth of funds to bank on. Hopefully I could land any odd/IT jobs on that given duration just to get us along.

          As hard as the job openings are, would you guys happen to know a good quarter or month in which there are more job openings around?

          If by chance, my local work here would allow me to work in Adelaide remotely. Anything I need to file in AU locally? tax, etc.? will the government allow that for an immigrant? I am still rendering IT services here in our country and not in AU?

          Thank you for all those who would answer….

          • BobinOz October 6, 2016, 8:51 pm |

            Ray, I don’t think there is a good month or quarter for jobhunting, not that I’m aware of anyway. And yes, you will have to pay taxes, and you will need to register a few things when you get here, but I think you’re getting ahead of yourself.

            I have no idea what the regulations are about working remotely.

            @Leisha, of course, please feel free to comment and help out as much as you want, I love it when people help others here. Many thanks, Bob

          • Stephen October 6, 2016, 9:07 pm |

            Hi

            From what I have heard over here it’s best to avoid Oz Summer holidays/Christmas i.e. December/January.

            There are jobs, but just less. Hope it helps.

            • Ray October 7, 2016, 3:29 am |

              Glad to hear from you Bob and Stephen, ill take note of your advice. You are helping tons of people here.. glad that I have bumped to a very active and informative site! Thank you everyone!

    • Jon November 2, 2016, 8:10 pm |

      Yes Leisha I hear what your saying….and Recruiters as always seem to be the main offenders in “1 application submitted &/or/however in this unsuccessful and forever more instances”…..it is just blatant don’t even get past a 2nd time their applicant/tracking pathetic un natuaral selection/screening devious biased software.
      It appears this has been going on in the US as early back as 2014 according to a blog I just read and it sounds pretty damn disadvantaging almost bordering on criminal like.

      • Leisha November 2, 2016, 8:27 pm |

        I agree Jon! The biggest problem is that the ‘system’ fails to actually identify ‘quality’ applicants, and simply favors people who ‘tick the boxes’ so-to-speak.

        If there’s one thing that has become patently obvious in the last decade, it’s that official credentials mean nothing! It’s the individual that counts, and some people just have what it takes (despite their credentials), and some people don’t (despite their credentials).

    • Jon November 2, 2016, 8:19 pm |

      Hi.
      Google “why do people make it so hard for people seeking employment”…..and at the top of the list click on the blog quora and have a read of how they treat unemployed people over in the US who are looking for work…….it sounds exactly the same as what is happening here now too.

  • Todd September 15, 2016, 8:10 pm |

    Great article. Arrived in Geelong in January. Skilled independent Visa. Had started applying for occupational therapy jobs August of 2015. No responses. Applied for over 30 open positions. One of the large employers invited me in a couple of times to network. No interviews however. Started packing to move back to the States and got a call back. 6 months and $60,000 later I have contract position. Took a long time to get an “Aussie friendly resume” together and the registration process could not commence without a job offer. Could not get an interview without a registration number. Kind of a fatal loop there, lol. Now I am halfway through 6 months supervision period (even with 17 years experience, hahaha) and finally settling in. Brutal process, but starting to get sorted.

    • BobinOz September 16, 2016, 8:12 pm |

      It does sound like a very tough process, but it also sounds as though you have got through it, or are at least getting through it.

      Many people have said to me that it is so hard to get that first job, but once they do, it all falls into place. I certainly hope it does for you Todd.

      Many people have also said that once you get your first job, well, one job leads to another. It’s getting on the ladder that’s hard.

      Good luck, Bob

    • Jack October 12, 2016, 3:28 am |

      Hi Todd / Bob.

      Todd – I’m interested in your experience as an OT. I’m a social worker in England (adult mental health but worked in physical disability as well) and am looking to emigrate to arrive mid-2019.

      Here in the U.K. I’m employed by the NHS although social workers can also be employed my local authorities. I work closely with OTs here.

      I’m wondering if you have any experience of working alongside social workers in Australia? I’ve done some research and it seems they’re mainly employ in health authorities or by hospitals.

      I’ve tried really hard to find out about social work in Aus and opportunities etc. It’s on the skilled migrant list and there seems to be demand for mental health social workers. But there is scarce information online really (unless I just haven’t found the right places to look).

      I guess any info you or anyone else can give me about social work in Aus would be of great use. I have already contacted the Australian Association of Social Workers who will be doing my skills assessment.

      Well done to you Todd for your success in job hunting and thanks to you Bob for such a fantastic and informative website.

      Cheers.

      • BobinOz October 12, 2016, 8:49 pm |

        Hi Jack

        Thanks, glad you like my website. Hopefully Todd will see your message and get back to you soon. Good luck with your plans, Bob

      • Todd October 12, 2016, 9:03 pm |

        Hey Jack,

        I work with a number of social workers in the acute hospital here in Geelong. It is a public hospital in a large system. The social workers to my knowledge focus on services, carer issues and some counseling following trauma.
        Communicating with the professional association is a good way to begin. They may be able to connect you with a member in the location and practice type you are interested in. The OT association connected me with an Australian OT that was moving to the US so I could be some support to her.
        I would also stress the importance of resume writing for Australia and understanding selection criteria when applying for a position. I recently interviewed again at my current employer for a permanent position. All new resume and another round of selection criteria. Some help from coworkers and I have just accepted a permanent position. When you consider how much you will invest in the move, paying for resume help really should be on your radar. Good luck.

  • Harry September 9, 2016, 3:22 pm |

    Hi. Bob… Hahaha, just playing with my phone and came across this chat room, and just had to comment, Im 48 now been in Adelaide for 8 years and from the start being a dad of 3 found the whole move hard from the uk… But you know what… Yes it’s crap jumping through loop holes all the time and that’s what it takes.. Time and yes money, but in the end light does start to shine, and to my fellow Brits, yes Australia is crap when you get here… Only because of obstacles, but I say this one step at a time, because work is needed to move the wheel, but it can be moved.. So what if you make a little income out of what you do, so what if some don’t like it, aus or any country move is not for everyone, when in Rome do as they do… I’m a self employed ac and gas technician and had to jump through a lot of hoops, once there everything else falls into place, hard work it is for all occupations, but for my family 1 boy and 2 girls, best decision I made, yep Adelaide may be on the bottom of most peoples list but for everyday living and access to whatever you what, not many places in the world can give you that.. Cheers

    • BobinOz September 9, 2016, 6:46 pm |

      Absolutely agree Harry, it can be quite difficult for new arrivals to settle down and in particular, to start earning money. Once that does happen though, everything else does fall into place. But it can take some time before you get there and often there are quite a few hoops to jump through.

      Adelaide, from what I hear, suffers more than most with unemployment, it can be very difficult to get a job there. Self-employed can often be the way to go, it’s clearly the way you have gone and I have as well up here in Brisbane. Australia strikes me as a country that does support self-employed people, it seems pretty easy to set yourself up and the local community likes to support small local businesses.

      I think it’s the way to go for those who can.

      As you say, once things settle down it’s a great decision to move here, especially for the kids.

      Cheers, Bob

  • Dgba September 5, 2016, 8:31 am |

    Dear Bob,
    Could you tell me regarding the job situation for structural engineers in Cairns. Im arriving hopefully next Feb on the 457 visa. I’m told that my husband would be able to work on this visa though I am the main applicant.
    We are relocating from Manchester. Besides the weather and beaches, what are the striking differences that would be a negative in your eyes?

    • BobinOz September 5, 2016, 5:22 pm |

      I don’t know specifically what the job market is like in Cairns at the moment, but you can research it through my page called Getting a Job or a Sponsorship.

      I suppose one striking difference between Cairns and Manchester is that Manchester doesn’t have crocs 🙂 I spent a week in Cairns this year though on holiday, I was hugely impressed, I’m sure you will have a fantastic time there and great lifestyle. Good luck, Bob

  • Ray August 31, 2016, 4:58 am |

    Dear, Bob.
    How is the market in Adelaide in terms of work this 2016? we are to migrate next year (March) do you think this is the best time to move in? I would love to know from your insight of what month usually has more market for people like me looking for work.

    Thank you Bob

    • BobinOz August 31, 2016, 5:05 pm |

      South Australia appears to be suffering more than most in Australia with unemployment, as at May 2016, the highest in this country at 6.9%.

      If you check my main page about Adelaide and in particular the comments, you will see that lots of people are struggling to find work there. So no, this isn’t the best time to move, but that does, of course, depends largely on your skills, qualifications and work experience.

      If you read some of those comments on that Adelaide page, you will see what I mean. Good luck, Bob

      • Ray September 2, 2016, 11:50 pm |

        Bob, Thank you! We are to move next year March and optimistic enough and welcoming the challenges in looking for work. I’ll look for any odd jobs available just to get us along.. I am an IT by profession, but who knows what may happen.

        Bob, we were granted PR visa 189. My wife is the main applicant and I am the dependent, we have a kid coming with us. I wonder, since my wife is the main applicant can she NOT work for the meantime and just stay at home? and I being the dependent would be the one to work for us?

        Will our visa be revoked if she doesn’t work at all?

        • BobinOz September 4, 2016, 8:18 pm |

          This isn’t a question I am able to answer, simply because the law here states that technical questions about how visas work and what you can and can’t do under specific visa subclasses can only be answered by MARA registered migration agents.

          When you were granted your visa, you should have also been provided with the full terms and conditions of it. I think you need to read it and fully understand it so that you know what you can and can’t do when you get here.

          I’m sure doing that will put your mind rest on many matters. Good luck, Bob

  • AbS August 3, 2016, 11:54 pm |

    I will certainly agree with writer that finding a job in Australia is not at all easy. I am an experienced IT manager having extensive Global experience. Since landing a PR almost 6 months ago, I have not received even a single call while I might have applied to hundreds of them if not thousands. This is despite fact that I already have more than 1+ year working experience in Australia. It seems that there is some sort of unwritten discrimination, which is applied on people who are not white.

    • BobinOz August 4, 2016, 7:06 pm |

      It’s a tough job market here at the moment, irrespective of the colour of your skin. I’m not sure it is fair or correct to assume that you have not yet found a job because you are not white. I do hope you find work soon though, Bob

      • Abhijeet Sen August 4, 2016, 7:15 pm |

        Hi Bob

        I am bit surprised in that AUS is not going through any recession and despite that situation is so grim. Had there been recession, it will be impossible to find a job. Furthermore, what is more perplexing is fact that AUS government is allowing full steam migration basis priority list, which perhaps is not at all indicates that current dynamics in actual job market. It is a dangerous time bomb that government is creating for future generation. If things continue this way, time will not be far off when AUS migration gets questioned publicly.

        • BobinOz August 5, 2016, 3:42 pm |

          I spoke to somebody once who worked in recruitment and he told me that the government’s skills lists are always about three years behind the times, they simply don’t reflect whatever shortages the country is experiencing now.

          I don’t know if that’s actually true, it was just this guy’s opinion, but I’m sure a lot of people would not disagree with him.

          • Anish Gupta December 1, 2016, 8:45 pm |

            Hello Abhijeet and Bob,

            I am currently precariously placed as I want to migrate to Australia but it seems I will not be able to find a job, or it seems highly unlikely to get a job reading the comments here. My profile is as below and I am willing to migrate on the basis of work visa to Australia post which I hope to apply for PR in the upcoming years.

            4 years B.E. full time (Electrical Engineering) 2007-11
            3 years Technology Support Analyst (Nomura Services India Pvt. Ltd.) 2011–14
            2 years MBA (Human Resources) 2014-16

            Kindly help me over what job prospects I can hope for in Australia for myself, and if there is a ray of hope, what should be the best way out for me to apply for Australia based jobs which include sponsoring foreign candidates.

            Any help would be much appreciated. Please help.

            Regards,
            Anish Gupta,
            +91-9583752887

            • BobinOz December 1, 2016, 11:58 pm |

              As this post indicates, getting a job is difficult in Australia at the moment, even harder for those who are abroad or have just arrived here from abroad. I can’t help you, I don’t work in recruitment. Good luck though, Bob

              • Anish Gupta December 2, 2016, 12:38 am |

                Hello Bob,

                Appreciate your reply. Maybe you can’t help me directly, but your indirect help will be much valuable.

                Specific to my profile, I would like you to guide me over career and job prospects in Australia. If you reply in positive that they are, your help in letting me know how to go about job search for my profile would be much valueable to me. For your reference, my profile is as under:-

                1. 4 years B.E. full time (Electrical Engineering) 2007-11
                2. 3 years Technology Support Analyst (Nomura Services India Pvt. Ltd.) 2011–14
                3. 2 years MBA (Human Resources) 2014-16
                4. Working in an Indian Government Public Sector Undertaking GAIL (India) Limited in the role of Executive Trainee (HR) from May 2016

                Regards,
                Anish Gupta,
                91-9583752887

                • Mark December 2, 2016, 8:58 am |

                  Hi Arnish I think you are perhaps making this more complicated than it needs be…the website is not about a recruitment service one, its just an aid to it.
                  So to slim the question down if you need sponsorship for a visa you will need to apply to the various companies that you think might make good use of your services…Only you can do that. At the same time as doing this your responses from them will guide you as to the worthiness of your approach…If you just want to apply for a visa then you need to ask a MARA agent your chances off a visa on a stand alone basis then if you can get that…Get yourself here and apply You are always going to be less favoured applying if you are outside the country and nowhere to live here , no base no roots than someone who is here. .

    • Leisha Young September 30, 2016, 1:25 pm |

      Hi Bob,

      Fear not, it isn’t the colour of your skin, it’s an arrogance in the recruitment sector.

      I have never had trouble finding work as a ‘born-and-bred’ Australian, but these days? It seems impossible to even secure an interview for the most meagre of jobs, and the list of requirements that employers require dissuades half of the market from even applying, let alone getting to interview stage; and this is incredibly frustrating when you know you could do the job with your eyes closed, and have years of experience in the field but you don’t have the ‘Certificate III in Document Management’….or some other such nonsense that really isn’t necessary, and can easily be learned on the job.

      I don’t know what’s going on, but I really do feel for anyone who has migrated to Australia and trying to find even the simplest job.

      • BobinOz October 2, 2016, 10:27 pm |

        I wouldn’t disagree with anything you have said here Leisha, and I think it’s an arrogance that has been allowed to grow simply because there is an oversupply of people looking for work. Employers can be picky and that’s what they are doing.

        This happens when 400 people send in their CVs for one job and somebody has to plough through them all to whittle it down to a manageable number. To do that they may well just form a list of quite unnecessary requirements and then flick through all of those CVs throwing out everyone who doesn’t have all of them.

        Like yourself, I also feel and sometimes fear for new migrants coming here without work because I think many of them will struggle and their dream could become a nightmare. Just because a job appears on a skills shortages list doesn’t mean new arrivals can find a job in that skill easily and I can see why that can be so misleading to some people.

        Research before getting here is essential, my page Getting a Job or a Sponsorship will help with that. Good luck to all, Bob

        • Leisha October 3, 2016, 3:30 pm |

          Absolutely!

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