themod53

I'd suggest budget for unexpected costs, we got hit for and extra 2k when our personal effects arrived.

We get into Sydney on the 1st of September, seemingly like everyone else! Excited, yet apprehensive. No jobs as of yet, just going with the flow and seeing how things pan out.

Sounds like you had a bit of a rough time there lady R. We see those nasty neigbours programs all the time on TV at the moment. Its a sign of the times im afriad! We've lived in the same place for 3 years and I couldn't even tell you my neigbours names, but I do know what music they like!

Thanks Lady R, I really do appreciate the advice, I guess I would be happy to start off with a foot in the door job, routine, normality and integration is my initial goal. If i had to take a job that didn't pay what I perhaps was expecting then, I'd have to take the hit knowing at that 6 months later there would be a ROI on taking something that usually wouldn't have appealed. At the end of the day if I have to do it that way to get 'local experience' then that's what I’m going to have to be do. In your opinion from an digital ICT stand point, Perth is a lot smaller market than say Sydney which would make it slightly more completive for migrants? Does it make a difference what visa you have regarding employability?

Cheers Vicky, Again totally agree with your comments, until your on the ground everything you know is going to be theoretical. However, with the wife originally coming from Sydney at least I have some metrics to base assumptions on. Job propects on paper look good, but again until you're on the ground doesn't really count for much. That's what i'm finding, CV looks great and we'd love to have you in for a chat but not until you're onshore. BTW - Love a little bit of on the fly issue management!

Thanks Lady R and Flag of conv, I agree with both, we are not expecting to be an easy transition, perhaps I shouldn't really be focussing on forum posts (as mentioned before, its great hearing about other posters experiences) and just enjoying the moving experience rather than worring about stuff we are yet to experience! Although, being a project manager by trade I have to look at all the risk involved with the move and try to mitigate as much as possible. I guess it's the employment horror stories that really scare the hell out of me, for example 'Local experience' this may not come into play as some facets of IT are truly global (SDLC), you build software the same way in the UK as you would do in Australia or USA. I dont know, I'm just panicking as I've only got 5 weeks to go. Sorry for the dribble I'm writing at the moment, just never been a position of the possibility of not having a job.

Thanks EKF, That's useful information, We're actually heading to Sydney. Although, I know what to expect as holiday there, spent protracted periods playing cricket, but never actually worked in Australia. Wife is Aussie and keeps telling me everything will be fine and to just embrace it. Constantly ringing in my ears is her advice 'not to compare anything'. Funnily enough, when she first got to the UK 4 years ago she thought in her own words 'London is way out of control expensive'. Salaries less than London rates? Is it not dependant on the sector you work in? From the research I've so far done in regards to my profession, salaries would seem to be on par exceed what I'm currently picking up in London (based on a fluctuation of the exchange rate of up to +/-15%). This may not universal but through initial scoping and due diligence that was my conclusion.

Hi all, It’s great to hear about experiences and the trials and tribulations some of you have been through on your journey. I'm hoping that it all works out you in the end. We have done a fair bit of research and feel we have covered most bases. However, there is always the fear of the unknown, holiday after holiday to a location doesn't really set you up for the ‘monumentalness’ (think I just made that word up) of a life changing move. When you say expensive? Where abouts in the UK have you moved from? London is stupidly expensive. We live in central London, and pay what would be around the $600 rent a week on a small 1 bedroom flat + an additional $180 a month council tax on a month. Savings ? I know this is slightly a personal question but would be good to know what people initially budgeted for the move (excluding flights and visa costs) When you say substantial how much are you talking? If I'm honest, I'm having a few sleepless nights about the rapidly approaching move. I'm very excited 'but'.... I can't work out the 'but' at the moment. Perhaps it’s just the fear of unknown and never being out of work previously/having to start from scratch somewhere new, etc...

I've just had a beer at lunchtime in the pub opposite the office, £4.50 for a pint. That's just a standard pub in Victoria, London.

London - I'd like to know where you can pick up a beer for £1.72???

$11.50 for a corona in the Subiaco hotel, Perth! Remember having to ask the guy to make sure the price correct! :elvis:

We've also been looking at rental prices, I guess it's all comparitive, location, etc... However, it actually looks slighty cheaper in Sydney for a like for like rental with a comparitive loction / proximity to the city. $600 to $700 a week for a 2 bed with a yard and 5 mins from the beach. Compared with £390 a week for a one bed shoe box with a view of a garden in Putney zone 2.

Welcome to the thread Hazel, great to hear from other to be migrant in the same boat as us. Agreed the thought of being without a job really scares me as I've not been out of work in 13 years. Thanks Cathy - all knowledge shared will be beneficial when we touch down. Yes this rental pack sounds intereting, will take references from UK landlords? Character references from friends / former employers? When you mention utility bills do you still refering to the most recent paid up bills from the UK?

Hi K8Bug79, That's great news that such a big move can be done on a budget as you expressed in your post, and your situation is totally different from our as we have no kids in tow. Congrats for making it work for you, also glad to hear you picked up a job you like. The Digital IT sector is rather buoyant at the moment, or so I have been led to believe. We'll just have to see when we arrive I guess, if it all goes belly up then back to the drawing board. Also sorry to hear about the landlord! unfortunately they seem to be everywhere! Seems to me it's all about baby steps when you first land. At first necessities and build from there once a job is secured, etc.... Actually really glad there are so many people who are willing to give good honest advice on this forum. What would people advise as real do's and don't when you first arrive? We've done as much as we can so far from the UK, like setting up bank accounts, sorted shipping, tax numbers etc... Paid off all bills and credit cards. I know this may sound like a simple questions, but do you notify government bodies like the HMRC when you're leaving the UK? It's not something physically looked into at all and only just occurred to me this morning! Apart from Friends and Family, is there anyone else I would need to inform on leaving the UK for the foreseeable future/for good?

Thanks for the reply's - Wow 50K in two months, I can honestly say that we haven't budgeted 20k for a car! personally, we've made a concious decision to move close to the city so we wouldn't need a car from day 1. Only after sorting a job do I feel it would be feasible to buy a car, unless a really good deal come up and then could justify the expenditure at that point. I'm guessing the job location factor would come into play if outside of the city and not being commutable by bus / train, a car would rapidly move up the priority order. However, I would then have a job so the expenditure on a car wouldn't really be as much of an impact on the budget as not having a job, if that makes sense? The budget would then would be managed via incoming salary rather than the initial expenditure from savings. 3 fat cats - I would have to agree, its all about management of expectation over the first couple of months, we'll need to live within our means! We can't initially expect to eat out 3 to 4 times a week without jobs, I wouldn't do that in London without a job, it's all semantics really - either that, or will end up living with the in-laws if we blow our savings.

Hi all, I know questions regarding ‘Budgets’ have potentially been answered a 1000 times over, but looking for some clarification / advice from people who have previously made the move from the UK to Sydney. I have searched high and low through previous posts and found snippets of information but not enough to satisfy my curiosity. In brief, we’re (the wife and I are) moving over to Sydney at the start of September 2014, neither of us have jobs lined up as of yet, and would doubt if we would able to pick anything up before we get there. However, I have started to pro-actively make contact with a number of recruiters. ‘Hallelujah’ there is interest (always a bonus) but not until we are actually onshore. About us - Wife is Australian (33) professional Make-up artist and me (36) an ICT / Digital Project Manager. I have a subclass 100 visa. Ok back to budgeting, we've saved around $40K, which would give us in the region of $6k a month for a budgeted period of around 7 months for rent, living expenses and other bills without jobs. High on the risk register is the possibility of a couple of month’s unemployment. Though, I'm really hoping to pick up something within the first 2 to 3 months or hopefully sooner. Hoping to hit the ground running as we feel it would be easier for me from an integration perspective, wife has friends, family and social things she’ll be able to slip right back into. Will be looking at renting Eastern Suburbs / Randwick / Inner West. Flights and shipping are all paid up and all other known incidentals have also been covered off. It’s just budgeting for the bedding in period that has me a little stumped, mainly due to not having any experience of moving countries to measure and plan against. If I'm honest with myself, I’m not quite sure what I should worried about really, perhaps it’s the apprehensive nervous energy as the clock ticks closer to the move date. As a PM by profession and nature, I love to plan and have to scrutinise my budget, assess risk and make sure we have a contingency plan in the case of things not going according to plan – of which life seldom does. Moving’s not like planning for/delivering a software build project :cute: that’s easy!!! Also looking into joining a local cricket club and perhaps looking to take up some of the more indigenous sports like surfing and AFL to meet people. Guessing the purpose of this post is to hear about other forum member’s experiences, trials and tribulations with a move of such epic proportions/budgets/bedding in period, and any advice they can give to someone just about to make the move. Thanks in advance

Me 36, wife 33 when we move over in August.

I would agree with Xenon, excellent spoken and written English is paramount when apply for a new job! I'm kind of in the same position, having contacted a number recruitment agencies directly and the occasional digital agency, of which most, if not all - have pointed out 'no recruiter will want to or take a look at my CV until at least a couple of weeks before I arrive in Australia!' If your not in the country or at least a week or two away from being so, the CV goes straight in the 'No' pile. Good luck - personally, I would wait until you are a week out, or until you are in Australia. Being there opens up a lot more recruitment options from what I am told! I've also been led to believe that migrants with certain visa types are more attractive to employers than others? Is there much truth in this? Has anyone had any first hand experience?

Can range from £1.90 small to £3.20 for a large here in London. Small strong flat white from Pret £2.30 $3.50 seems a bargain

Would certainly be interested in a kick about here and there - in Sydney from September.

Hi Fortytwo, We also arrive in Sydney in August - Think we get there on the 31st. I'm 35 and also work in the Web / Digital world but mainly on the project and programme management side of things nowadays. The wife is 33 and a makeup artist but is originally from Sydney. Pretty much in the same boat as you two, neither have a job lined up as of yet but that's half of the adventure. We're looking to start out in Paddington / Woollahra / North Bondi and see what happens in the first 6 to 10 months. I heard the digital market was pretty hot in Sydney at the moment and would continue to grow over the next couple, exciting times!!

Hey Dejani, I'm not hit Australia as of yet but will do in August - I had been looking at ICT PM roles / Digital PM roles in the Sydney area, of which the salary range seems to go from 90K up to 140K dependant on previous experience, project types, etc... Making the assumption that $90k is just under £50k, taking into account today exchange rate, back here in the UK (London) that would be around the ave salary for a Mid level ICT PM.

Ironman, That's a shocker and sorry to hear that myfriend! Where are you originally from, if you don't mind me asking? Crazy - I know ethnicity discrimination happens - if you've got the rights skills and a fit with the team it shouldn't matter what ethnicity you are! Bit of a shocker to say the least.

Hi Chortlepuss, I too am an ex developer now IT project manager (13 years’ PM experience), mainly focusing on the mobile / digital SDLC, having worked on enterprise / infrastructure and business change projects in the past, have a vast and varying experience delivering solutions for organizations all round the world. What I don't get is this 'No local experience crap!' Yes, culturally we Brits are slightly different from our Aussie brothers, they work with dollars rather than pounds and laws & legislation differs, plus all the other work place variables you have to be prepared for when up start a new job. This phrase 'Local Experience' As an occasional hiring manager across my project teams, I personally would not bothered for 'local experience' when hiring - as long as they have the rights to work, the required capabilities, are willing to adapt and fit in with the team! They're going to get the job - Enough said really! I believe if you're good at your chosen profession, have the criteria / proof / certs to back it up, and as an experienced contractor you adapt quickly to a new work places taking on board new business / cultural / project environments. I can't see why 'no local experience' would go against you! (The process and management of delivering digital software project does not differ from the UK to Australia, nor does the software languages or development frameworks used). I would have thought that the experience gained working for big world renowned companies in London, New York or 'wherever it may be' would put someone in good stead for roles in Australia? (I could be wrong and perhaps I'm just making a big assumption? Taking a blinked approach?? Maybe just taking it for granted that it's relatively easy to pick up IT PM contracts in London. From a career perspective I'm hoping our move to Sydney in August is the right one. (Moving on a subclass 100 visa) My conclusion would be that project management frameworks and mythologies - whether that be PMI, Prince2, waterfall, AGILE practices like 'SCRUM' Extreme programming, TDD etc... principles of the PM body of knowledge remain the same, no matter how many years of 'local experience or overseas experience' one may have! Granted, methodologies are often adapted differently at an organisation level but the understanding of the methodology framework remains the constant. If this exacerbating precursor 'No local experience' bullshit is stopping talented individuals from gaining employment or stopping them being put forward for roles they could do blindfolded with their hands tied, there's something quite wrong! On the flip side, I'm really looking to embrace the challenge of securing a job and cultural aspect of working in Australia. Sorry for my long winded post! once I get started, I get started! I'm just a passionate PM ITgeek :eek: who's hoping the PM market in Sydney will be a fruitful one.

Hi, Got my grant two weeks ago - took exactly 8 months and 12 days. Like you we did it ourselves and didn't bother with an agent! Didn't hear anything directly from a my case officer throughout the application, only interaction we had with the case officer was when I asked questions! As long as you have supplied all the required information, doubt very much you will hear much from a case offer if at all until a decision has been made. I would make the assumption, the only time you will actually hear from the CO is when they require more information - It's just a long waiting game unfortunately 8 to 9 months. though, In my experience I would recommend firing off indirect questions as to how your application is coming along every couple of months.