Heading back to the UK after 18 months of a living nightmare,

[Xenon4017]

Just have to dig a bit deeper and research will show that many Australians who have lived here all their lives and have the experience are treated exactly the same way.

 

Indeed. A woman we know was applying for a position internally. She works nights and on the interview day she went home, had a shower then went back to work for 9 a.m. Then she got told that the HR is too busy to interview right now, they'd have to reschedule. The following day they told her the position had been filled.

 

It's outrageous when you think about it. And that's how they treat someone who already works for them.

[paul1977]

So tell my why on page one of all online job applications why does it ask you for status ( PR/citizen) and underneath that visa type..?

[Xenon4017]

So tell my why on page one of all online job applications why does it ask you for status ( PR/citizen) and underneath that visa type..?

 

That's easy. Because so many people apply for a job who can't legally work here. The firm is liable if they take them on. So, to try to weed out applications that can't possible succeed, and to protect themselves from prosecution, this question is fairly prominent on the app form.

[flag of convenience]

And it is harder to do than people think! I've spoken to heaps of poms who say that is the one thing they struggled with the most, making decent friends! People just seem to be too wrapped up in their own lives.

 

Not just Poms but others and from within different ethnic groups as well. At least they have each other to fall back on. Numerous Aussies that have lived a time abroad also. OZ is rather a competitive society where friendship is more to do with networking or being seen as possible consumers.

[flag of convenience]

You probably wouldn't think of a shop worker as a career. There was a time when you could walk into any bar in the world and be served by an australian.

 

There has become a far too much put on a career in recent times. Wasn't that .long ago folk just had a job. Only saw a few went into professions and work was not the means to living. Folk much more content as well. A less competitive society, time for hobbies and converse on issues wide ranging. 40% of London lived in a council house/flat, in London, from memory when Thatcher got into power in late 70s....A London Cabbie won Brain of Britain, folk where not obsessed by affluence as least in UK.

[flag of convenience]

Yep, pretty much.

 

"We're moving to a high skill high-paid workforce where everyone has a 4x4 and a pool and no one has to collect the bins".

 

That's a lie too.

 

"who spends thousands and a lot of effort to emigrate with the intention of helping Australia grow"

 

Ooops, there's another.

 

What we are doing is moving into a increasingly unfair and divided society. A society where the corporate dictate the will of government and far less job security.

Every aspect is looked at in how it can be turned into a profitable concern regardless of what. Of course ordinary folk emigrate to further their economic chances. It will be more of a lottery I expect who actually does manage to do this with the competition and numbers involved.

[akiralx]

There has become a far too much put on a career in recent times. Wasn't that .long ago folk just had a job. Only saw a few went into professions and work was not the means to living. Folk much more content as well. A less competitive society, time for hobbies and converse on issues wide ranging.

Yes, the career as a competitive ascent is a recent phenomenon, when people now value themselves or their selfworth by their job. No need to do it - I tend to value myself by other things: my interests, relationships etc. I've plenty of worthwhile things to do in my life where work gets in the way. I was amazed at a large recent company event (NAB) where about a third of employees said their motivation at work was beating the opposition. Not providing a good service to clients, or increasing their financial worth - just a competition in beating other financial providers.

[akiralx]

How is preferring to employ a local over a British migrant racism?

 

Because you're selecting based on nationality rather than aptitude for the role?

[akiralx]

I see this as no different to giving preference to people who live closer, rather than those who need to commute.

 

Does anyone seriously recruit based on distance from the workplace?

[Xenon4017]

Does anyone seriously recruit based on distance from the workplace?

 

Maybe not in Geelong, but in Brisbane they do. It isn't the main criteria, obviously, but if you've got two similar candidates, one who lives an hour the other side of the river and one who's 15 minutes down the road, who do you think will be less affected by the traffic? Which one can you call in for overtime on short notice or for a short shift?

[Incata]

Does anyone seriously recruit based on distance from the workplace?

 

My previous employer did. I nearly ended up in A&E when my jaw hit the floor! It should be up to the candidate, not the employer, to decide how far is "too far" to commute. It was not the most enlightened company I have ever worked for...

Edited December 18, 2013 by Incata
spelling

[Guest]

In the UK I employed a women who commuted from Spain - I was about to offer her the position when I heard she had been interviewed by the company for a different team so I was keen to know why they had decided not to progress. It seemed the only concern was her location - it was nonsense especially as this was in Glasgow and at least half the team live in London.

 

I gave her the job and she was first class In fact she is still working in Glasgow, different company and still commuting from Spain!

[Xenon4017]

In the UK I employed a women who commuted from Spain - I was about to offer her the position when I heard she had been interviewed by the company for a different team so I was keen to know why they had decided not to progress. It seemed the only concern was her location - it was nonsense especially as this was in Glasgow and at least half the team live in London.

 

I gave her the job and she was first class In fact she is still working in Glasgow, different company and still commuting from Spain!

 

It can work, but I'd hazard a guess that she works in a specialist role, and not on the tills at Tescos. I'd also guess that she travels by plane, and that she tries to arrange her schedule so as to minimise her traveling time by judicious use of overnight stays in local B and B's. (I bet she doesn't eat the lorne sausage in the breakfast though)

 

But, in the main, long commutes are a drag on the people who do them. For specialists who want to live in the country but work in the city, they have no choice. But quite often, people travel across town for a job which is similar to jobs around the location where they live. In those cases it's just a matter of time before they find a similar role nearer to them. They know it, and employers know it.

 

If you don't have a long list of suitable candidates apply for a job, you relax this criteria. But if you've got plenty to choose from, you've got to apply some criteria and this one at least has a logical basis, unlike the excuse we've seen on the board "No Aussie Experience". Or even worse, "No Qld experience" (WTF??!!). What comes next, "Sorry, you've got no experience of Burpengary"?

[Guest Guest 47403]

Because you're selecting based on nationality rather than aptitude for the role?

 

So it's not racism then!

[Guest]

It can work, but I'd hazard a guess that she works in a specialist role, and not on the tills at Tescos. I'd also guess that she travels by plane, and that she tries to arrange her schedule so as to minimise her traveling time by judicious use of overnight stays in local B and B's. (I bet she doesn't eat the lorne sausage in the breakfast though)

 

But, in the main, long commutes are a drag on the people who do them. For specialists who want to live in the country but work in the city, they have no choice. But quite often, people travel across town for a job which is similar to jobs around the location where they live. In those cases it's just a matter of time before they find a similar role nearer to them. They know it, and employers know it.

 

If you don't have a long list of suitable candidates apply for a job, you relax this criteria. But if you've got plenty to choose from, you've got to apply some criteria and this one at least has a logical basis, unlike the excuse we've seen on the board "No Aussie Experience". Or even worse, "No Qld experience" (WTF??!!). What comes next, "Sorry, you've got no experience of Burpengary"?

 

It was somewhat specialist yes - but not so much that I couldn't have got a local - indeed I had many, she was the best person i interviewed. Lets face it the salary on the tills at Tesco wouldn't make it worthwhile for someone to FIFO.

 

I work a couple of days in London each week at the moment and the rest of the week at home. My boss has just told me he doesn't mind if I stop coming to London and work from home all the time. The way people work is changing - in fact when I handed my notice in in Australia there were some discussions around me continue the job from the UK. It didn't happen in the end, my boss was up for it but HR were too rigid to accommodate.

[Guest]

RACISM MY A@@, some people dont have a clue and start shouting racism or whatever before they even think.

 

Some people due to many reasons just dont fit what the other is looking for and its as simple as that so I would say get over it. Society is getting too soft, if you dont expect any favours then you will be fine.

[Xenon4017]

Lets face it the salary on the tills at Tesco wouldn't make it worthwhile for someone to FIFO.

 

I'm sure someone will post a link to FIFO checkout roles in mining towns...

 

I work a couple of days in London each week at the moment and the rest of the week at home.

 

And that's kind of my point. Why do you work at home? Because you can, and it avoids a pointless commute. Other roles simply have to have a physical presence. It's just not acceptable to have people rock up late because the traffic was bad. Inevitably, concientious employees with a vulnerable commute end up starting off earlier and earlier. Soon their theoretical 1 hour each way has, with experience, turned into 15 hours per week.

[flag of convenience]

RACISM MY A@@, some people dont have a clue and start shouting racism or whatever before they even think.

 

Some people due to many reasons just dont fit what the other is looking for and its as simple as that so I would say get over it. Society is getting too soft, if you dont expect any favours then you will be fine.

 

No, society has become if anything too self absorbed. But you are correct in saying expect no favours and you'll be fine.

[akiralx]

RACISM MY A@@, some people dont have a clue and start shouting racism or whatever before they even think.

 

Some people due to many reasons just don't fit what the other is looking for and its as simple as that so I would say get over it.

 

I would assume an employer is looking for the best candidate to do a role - if they recruit based on the nationality of a candidate that would be classed as unlawful by an employment tribunal, in the UK at least...

[flag of convenience]

I would assume an employer is looking for the best candidate to do a role - if they recruit based on the nationality of a candidate that would be classed as unlawful by an employment tribunal, in the UK at least...

 

A fair assumption but with many variables. All to often the candidate has already been selected and it is a formality. You would not be aware of race or age an issue.

[Guest]

I will second that, many jobs are advertised over here but they know who will fill the role before its even advertised. I have missed a few jobs due to this but actually got the job i am in now due to the same reasons. So the longer you have been here the more contacts you have and then find it easier to get offers. breaking in i guess can be hard, however in my industry people from all over are here and help their mates so it doesnt matter where you are from. its more of, who you know.

[mikeandjayne]

All the best mate, I'm in HR and there are openings in Melbourne. It's a pretty fluid market place in terms of temporary gigs, but they lead to the openings I guess.

 

Good luck

 

Mike

[vidtek]

Just have to dig a bit deeper and research will show that many Australians who have lived here all their lives and have the experience are treated exactly the same way. They just have so many applicants its like tatts picking out the ones they want and they have given up contacting all applicants.

 

We criticise people for playing the race card but we are just as good at it when things do not suit us.

 

In the 90's I had a business in partnership with a Sri-Lankan. Our place was a mini United Nations we had 2 English, 1 Scottish, 1 Anglo-Burmese, a Frenchman and an American Red Indian as well as 2 Aussies. We installed electronic equipment into Hotels and Night Clubs all over WA, large-screen projectors and PA systems etc. There was never a hint of any rancour between my staff because of their race, just whose turn it was to clean the toilets.

 

I picked the job applicants not just on technical skills but on things like how they'd fit in with the rest of us and also if two candidates were near enough equal in most things, I picked the oldest candidate as I have found older people to be much more reliable in the main; when working to a deadline a reliable workforce is essential.

 

Tony

[fairystar32]

I have actually made more friends in the 4 yrs living here than in the UK and most are Aussies. I do have kids though, so you do meet mums at school. I made great new friends at the end of last week. You can meet people anytime in your life.

 

I agree and if anything has become even more so. Much in Australia revolves around family and house. Little in the way of chance encounters at least in comparison with Europe even on a casual basis. Ideal country to become a hermit in or at least a place for those that enjoy a large degree of solitude.

Edited December 22, 2013 by fairystar32

[flag of convenience]

I have actually made more friends in the 4 yrs living here than in the UK and most are Aussies. I do have kids though, so you do meet mums at school. I made great new friends at the end of last week. You can meet people anytime in your life.

 

As they state we all have different experiences. Also the term friend is to my experience rather over used. (like Facebook oh I'm so popular having 200+"friends")Knowing folk is not friendship but no matter. I would be interested to know though how you would know they are great new friends if met only the end of last week?

Hardly earned their strips in that short a period surely?