It seems everyone is looking for a job these days in Australia, and people who are new to the country as skilled migrants may have a harder time since they don’t already know how things work. Thousands of people come to the country each year with visas and throw themselves into the job market. Unfortunately, it can be a bit of a sink or swim experience for people who are new to Australia but don’t have the local experience that is necessary to get a job with a lot of companies, agencies, and employers. This article will provide some tips for people who are willing to do the work.
The first and probably most effective thing to try is networking. It’s an old strategy but it’s always recommended because it tends to work. It is important to find out as much as one possibly can about any differences or similarities that may exist between one’s job where one used to live and one’s hopeful or anticipated job in Australia. This is the fastest way to figure out what kinds of local experience, if any, will be required by the people in charge of the hiring process. As a result, if one is told that one needs local experience, it may even be possible to politely challenge that assumption with some local knowledge.
Being flexible and friendly is another thing to look after. People tend to hire their friends or people they already like, rather than people who may be the best candidates for jobs. If it’s possible to join a local club for playing a sport, do so. Similarly, it’s always a good idea to try volunteering for something that one is passionate about; these are quick, easy, and highly effective ways of breaking down barriers.
People are likely to hire other people when there is a trust and bond established between them, and when the relationship extends beyond someone who wants to be hired and someone who can do the hiring. Build a friendship. Pieces of paper are hard to trust, as one’s resume just drops in the mail along with dozens of other resumes. Friendships are a way to stand out.
Along with networking, people who are interested in finding jobs need to be willing to move! One might even consider a motorhome hire so one can get from one area to the next quickly without having to pack up everything and move out of an apartment or home if a good opportunity comes along.
Similarly, one should be willing to try a number of different strategies when it comes to job hunting. The old adage that 80 per cent of jobs are not made public until after they are filled may not quite be true, but it is definitely true that a lot of jobs are not put out in the papers until they are gone. Get creative! Get on the internet, and get around with people who know people. This will make the transition to employment in Australia so much easier.
