Employment issues - Currently

[AJ]

Put the Block of land we purchased to build the Aussie dream on, it is for sale as of yesterday

Out of work for 8 months, applied for every suitable job that has come up in that time, one interview which feedback was that it went very well not job offer.

Continuing to look for work but also planning move back to UK at the same time after 7 years, with citizenship.

Sorry to hear that but at least people will see its not just Perth as you are in Victoria.

[Rule Britannia]

Sounds pretty bad and I emphasize with you completely, and hear you loud and clear, it's just not good at all.

[Marisawright]

...my wife, 2 small children and I plan to make the move to Perth later on in the year and I am worried we will not find work.... We really want to make the move but we do worry about possibly making a terrible decision. My wife and I do not struggle in the UK, we have a combined annual income of £160K.

 

 

I would advise you to analyse why you "really want to make the move", and then perhaps create your own thread on these forums to sanity-check that your reasons are sound.

 

When I moved to Australia over 30 years ago, it was definitely a land of opportunity with cheap housing, high wages, and so many skills shortages that it was easy to get a job and progress very quickly. All that has changed. It's still a great place to live IMO, but it's not a better place than any other developed country - it's just different. It has pro's and con's like any other country.

 

Even in good times, the job market in Australia is much smaller - it's a small population, after all. Also, many companies have their head offices or regional hubs in the UK, the States or Asia and their IT is managed from there - so moving up the career ladder can often mean transferring to Hong Kong or Singapore. Even the Australian-based firms are likely to have their main data centres in Sydney or Melbourne not Perth.

[JockinTas]

This is a link to a thread that was made 7 years ago. You have to wonder about the department of immigration, you really do. Obviously the mining boom was great for a percentage of migrants but when you read this thread, things have gone back to square one.

 

http://www.pomsinoz.com/forum/news-chat-dilemmas/54795-skill-shortage-my-se-4.html

[scuffythetugboat]

Another thing, don't assume that all the jobs you see on Seek are still vacant.

[Guest]

This is a link to a thread that was made 7 years ago. You have to wonder about the department of immigration, you really do. Obviously the mining boom was great for a percentage of migrants but when you read this thread, things have gone back to square one.

 

http://www.pomsinoz.com/forum/news-chat-dilemmas/54795-skill-shortage-my-se-4.html

 

Although this time round seems to be very Perth orientated. Not seeing many posting from anywhere else.

[Que Sera Sera]

Another thing, don't assume that all the jobs you see on Seek are still vacant.

I'd actually add, or ever existed. Never believed Seek even going back those 7 years from memory.

[Guest]

Have actually got both my jobs I've had here through seek but only ever bothered applying for companies advertising for themselves. Jobs through agent a waste of time, if they exist at all.

[Marisawright]

Have actually got both my jobs I've had here through seek but only ever bothered applying for companies advertising for themselves. Jobs through agent a waste of time, if they exist at all.

 

There really isn't an alternative to Seek, unfortunately - and yes, some agencies do play games. However I have found jobs through agency ads on Seek so it's not all a waste of time.

[BacktoDemocracy]

I'm sorry to hear about your struggle to find work in Perth. I noticed that you said you work within the IT industry, what area do you specialize in? The reason that I ask is that my wife, 2 small children and I plan to make the move to Perth later on in the year and I am worried we will not find work. I work in IT as a Network Engineer (Cisco technologies mainly) and taking advice of others on these forums I look at Seek Australia weekly. My job searches only return around 70 jobs in Perth and surrounding areas. We really want to make the move but we do worry about possibly making a terrible decision. My wife and I do not struggle in the UK, we have a combined annual income of £160K. I am hoping that more job opportunities materialize in WA during the year.

 

Good luck with your move back home:wink:

You are obviously thinking long and hard about it, but to be in the same place in Aus would require income of around 300k total, say 200k and 100k plus you would probably need to reckon on another 50k to offset living cost increases, without wanting to be definitive but, to my cynical eyes, that is a big bunch of bananas to pick up in Aus, unless you have really specialist skills those kinds of jobs are hung onto like grim death by people who have put years of sucking up into getting their nose in the trough.

Do a real bunch of investigating before you throw that kind of money up, I have seen some IT people on here speak of how behind systems are in Aus, don't know how true it is.

Really get a grip of how demand is for you and whether people in Aus will give you the seniority you obviously have in uk and just how they would accept the female part of your partnership and whether she would get a senior post as well.

[Johnny]

Anyone with a stable life, a home and job in UK would be off their rockers to give it up.

 

Yet, we still get that stupid "Wanted Down Under" TV show being aired nearly everyday on BBC feeding people basically the same old propaganda. as ever about the skills in demand, the relaxed lifestyle, the better weather and the booming economy.

 

The boom years in Australia are finished, and all the signs certainly point to a very long steady decline back to reality.

[scuffythetugboat]

There will be more booms in the future along with more busts. Perth is famous for it. No one seems to listen when you say it.

[northshorepom]

You are obviously thinking long and hard about it, but to be in the same place in Aus would require income of around 300k total, say 200k and 100k plus you would probably need to reckon on another 50k to offset living cost increases, without wanting to be definitive but, to my cynical eyes, that is a big bunch of bananas to pick up in Aus, unless you have really specialist skills those kinds of jobs are hung onto like grim death by people who have put years of sucking up into getting their nose in the trough.

Do a real bunch of investigating before you throw that kind of money up, I have seen some IT people on here speak of how behind systems are in Aus, don't know how true it is.

Really get a grip of how demand is for you and whether people in Aus will give you the seniority you obviously have in uk and just how they would accept the female part of your partnership and whether she would get a senior post as well.

 

Also from my observations (which may not be correct as it's not my industry) there appear to be many fewer IT contract positions here, and they are much less lucrative

 

I know lots of IT people in the UK and they are nearly all contractors. Despite whinging about IR35 they still make very good money, generally 2x what they'd get as a permie. Which is why they do it.

 

Aus employment & tax law doesn't allow nearly so many loopholes so contractors appear to be a much rarer breed - and don't get the same multiplier as they would back home either.

 

So if your 160K GBP includes contracting I would be even more careful than most of the above have said

[JockinTas]

There will be more booms in the future along with more busts. Perth is famous for it. No one seems to listen when you say it.

 

Seen plenty of boom and busts in the over 30 years we've been here. Always managed to get by as we saved hard during the boom times. Now comfortably off during retirement. WA probably feeling the bust more than anywhere else.

[stevej]

It seems weird sometimes listening to what people earn and what they think they need to survive. We are a family of 4 in the uk and household income of around £26K. We get by comfortably, we don't have lots or spare cash but the kids don't go without. It's all relative I guess.

[Hitmanfc1000]

Hi and thanks for your reply (and the replies of everyone else! I really appreciate it, and value all of your opinions. I'm also sorry to post this on your thread, I should have started my own really).

 

I worked as a Service Desk Analyst, and Desktop Engineer prior to studying Networking Technologies. I really enjoyed those jobs. I have a BSc Hons Degree in Networking, and currently studying for an MSc In Advanced Networking through OU part-time. I also have many valid Cisco Certifications such as various CCNAs and CCNPs, and others such as ITIL foundation etc. As far as I'm aware these are all recognized worldwide, unless anyone can tell me otherwise?

 

It sounds like you have given Australia a good try, and it's been a successful attempt as you are returning to the UK with a higher skill-set than originally left with:wink:

 

My Wife works as contractor within financial markets and apart from taking a few weeks off between contracts, has regular work most of the year due to many years of experience. She does earn the bulk of our income. I work mainly as a permanent employee, but have also worked as a contractor previously. We have both been applying for jobs in Australia from the UK (not much hope I know!). I have applied for hundreds of jobs over the past year, and only received a few direct replies, all from agencies. One agency worker was originally from the UK, who I have stayed in contact with. He advised that I would be able to gain employment in Perth, Australia but only if I was currently living in Perth. He also told me that the job market isn't great currently in WA, but when I arrive to give him a call. My wife has had more luck. She was called late one evening by an agency asking her if she had considered working in Sydney. The job role was similar to her current employment position with a salary of $175k. Unfortunately, my wife was not interested in the position because she made it clear to me that she does not want to live in Sydney. We have been to Australia twice since 2012, 3 weeks each time. We traveled to Perth on both occasions, stayed in Joondalup and Rockingham. The 2nd trip was to validate our visa, open an NAB account and do some research. I think we have really only ever considered Perth as the part of Australia we want to live because we loved it both times we visited. The weather was great, beaches were not overcrowded, houses were amazing etc I would be willing to try other States in Australia, but I don't think my wife would consider it.

 

Also, if we do make the move it will only be me working for the initial period. From the jobs that I have seen advertised, my potential salary could be around $120k for a permanent position. I know that this salary is much lower than our joint salary in the UK. We would look to buy a property for around $700k but would only need a $400k mortgage. Then I would need to pay bills, buy food and everything else. Am I daydreaming by thinking that on a $120k salary we would be able to afford all of this? Should I look at other areas of Australia, or not even think about moving? We spent so much time, and money obtaining the visa, it would be upsetting for us if we never even gave it a good try. I should add that we are not basing our decision on income in the UK vs income in Australia. With my wife taking more of a backseat, we know that we will be worse off financially. We would be going for more of a lifestyle change, more than anything else.

 

Thanks you, and I wish you all the best on your return to the UK:wink:

[calNgary]

. With my wife taking more of a backseat, we know that we will be worse off financially. We would be going for more of a lifestyle change, more than anything else.

Thanks you, and I wish you all the best on your return to the UK:wink:

 

We did the same when migrating, knew we would have less money as i was not going back to full time work but we came for the lifestyle, warmer days, drier weekends etc. 10 Years in and we have no regrets, it worked for us.

 

Cal x

[kevsan]

My two penneth....

 

If you want to work in financial markets in Aus you are pretty limited to Sydney, and to a lesser extent melbourne.

 

I live and work in Melbourne for a Global IT company who are still recruiting, predominantly in Mel, Syd, Canberra, Adelaide & Brisbane (nothing in Perth as far as i know) (our competitors are doing the same), I was lucky in that i worked for the same company in the Uk and following a speculative conversation with the South Pac Ops director they transferred me.

 

Between this though, I trawled the net, and company websites and their profiles on linkedin to directly approach people with a speculative CV. This yielded genuine results and interviews as well as an offer. I only used Seek as a route to see which companies were recruiting.

 

Currently on our website there are 84 Australia based roles that are publicly advertised... Including a couple of networking roles (although these are Sydney & Brisbane). I work on a client site in the CBD in Melbourne and the pom next to me works F/T for a contracting company, although they specialize in testing, and they are crying out for people.

 

So there is work, if you know how to find it, and taking a chance by sending off a decent CV to a bunch of people even if they are not actively advertising does pay off.

 

As for the comment that alot of the kit and approach is a few year behind cutting edge, this can be true, but it also means opportunities to get involved in upgrade and transformation projects, which is partly why i got the job i did.

[roverallover]

I am just wondering if I am not alone on this topic of conversation, I have now been unemployed for nearly 5 months and it does start to nag at my heels now, potentially I have applied for well over 200 roles, of which the majority of them I have not even had reply's ? how does that work, I have been here 9 years (too many) and yes I am heading off...but it would be interesting to hear of anyone else with similar experiences on the job market(Perth, WA)

 

In the same boat; out of work over 12 months, solid career history, good track record, MEd and MBA and get no response to job apps - no one gives feedback. Feel like I have the plague. Going back after 12 years and a bit "tired" of one dimensional Australian lifestyle (never thought I'd say that!)

[Hitmanfc1000]

Anyone with a stable life, a home and job in UK would be off their rockers to give it up.

 

Yet, we still get that stupid "Wanted Down Under" TV show being aired nearly everyday on BBC feeding people basically the same old propaganda. as ever about the skills in demand, the relaxed lifestyle, the better weather and the booming economy.

 

The boom years in Australia are finished, and all the signs certainly point to a very long steady decline back to reality.

 

Thanks for your reply. My wife and I really enjoy watching 'Wanted Down Under', we have just finished watching the new series, and the revisited episodes LOL. Is it not true then that the lifestyle is more relaxed, and that you have better weather?! The weather was great both times that we visited for holidays. Many of the couples who made the move down under, and who appeared on 'revisited' for an update, appear to be extremely happy, and the decision worked out well for them. We know that the TV series does try to paint a rosy picture of what moving to Australia/New Zealand might be like but we can't help but enjoy watching it. I think it's because we do always think that we would prefer life in Australia (mainly for the better weather, and nicer houses) and when we see families that have successfully made the move, we think 'why can't it work for us also?!':wink:

[Hitmanfc1000]

We did the same when migrating, knew we would have less money as i was not going back to full time work but we came for the lifestyle, warmer days, drier weekends etc. 10 Years in and we have no regrets, it worked for us.

 

Cal x

 

Thanks for your reply. This is really encouraging, and it's great to hear that you made the move, and made it work:smile:

[Hitmanfc1000]

My two penneth....

 

If you want to work in financial markets in Aus you are pretty limited to Sydney, and to a lesser extent melbourne.

 

I live and work in Melbourne for a Global IT company who are still recruiting, predominantly in Mel, Syd, Canberra, Adelaide & Brisbane (nothing in Perth as far as i know) (our competitors are doing the same), I was lucky in that i worked for the same company in the Uk and following a speculative conversation with the South Pac Ops director they transferred me.

 

Between this though, I trawled the net, and company websites and their profiles on linkedin to directly approach people with a speculative CV. This yielded genuine results and interviews as well as an offer. I only used Seek as a route to see which companies were recruiting.

 

Currently on our website there are 84 Australia based roles that are publicly advertised... Including a couple of networking roles (although these are Sydney & Brisbane). I work on a client site in the CBD in Melbourne and the pom next to me works F/T for a contracting company, although they specialize in testing, and they are crying out for people.

 

So there is work, if you know how to find it, and taking a chance by sending off a decent CV to a bunch of people even if they are not actively advertising does pay off.

 

As for the comment that alot of the kit and approach is a few year behind cutting edge, this can be true, but it also means opportunities to get involved in upgrade and transformation projects, which is partly why i got the job i did.

 

Thanks for the tips, I will definitely attempt the more direct approach that you suggested, to see if I have more (any) luck. :smile:

[Marisawright]

Also, if we do make the move it will only be me working for the initial period. From the jobs that I have seen advertised, my potential salary could be around $120k for a permanent position. I know that this salary is much lower than our joint salary in the UK. We would look to buy a property for around $700k but would only need a $400k mortgage. Then I would need to pay bills, buy food and everything else. Am I daydreaming by thinking that on a $120k salary we would be able to afford all of this?

 

A couple could live very comfortably on $120k anywhere in Australia, except inner Sydney. I think the concern is more about whether you would actually realise that salary.

 

I think the important thing is to budget for 9 months without work when you first arrive. If you've got that money in the bank and are prepared to spend it to get settled, then you'll be fine IMO.

[BacktoDemocracy]

Thanks for your reply. My wife and I really enjoy watching 'Wanted Down Under', we have just finished watching the new series, and the revisited episodes LOL. Is it not true then that the lifestyle is more relaxed, and that you have better weather?! The weather was great both times that we visited for holidays. Many of the couples who made the move down under, and who appeared on 'revisited' for an update, appear to be extremely happy, and the decision worked out well for them. We know that the TV series does try to paint a rosy picture of what moving to Australia/New Zealand might be like but we can't help but enjoy watching it. I think it's because we do always think that we would prefer life in Australia (mainly for the better weather, and nicer houses) and when we see families that have successfully made the move, we think 'why can't it work for us also?!':wink:

The only thing that I would add is our personal experience in Brisbane is that breaking into work at a senior level equiv to job in UK is difficult unless you're skill is in real shortage, it seemed to always be the local who got the senior job even if they were less qualified, I really think you have to factor in a lengthy period for getting re-established, I'm talking from experience of my wife who was charity chief exec in UK, spent first 4 years as general dogsbody with mining co doing fifo and then state manager for a backward Aus wide charity and then turned corner when she got CEO of a basket case hospital charity which she pulled around.

I was older but a chartered building surveyor but I never got beyond temp jobs doing repairs, couldn't even get a job doing a firms relocation to new premises, it went to a local.

And although the weather is great there are times when the heat dictates what you can do just as much as the cold and the rain.

If I was doing it again I think I would not sell up here but leave mysellf an escape route back again, one factor which we found galling was the Aus reluctance to accept anything other thanAus qualifications and experience, it was like there is only one way, the Aus way.

I think if what you want is the sun ,sea, beach, big house, swimming pool lifestyle and that is going to tick all the boxes then Aus will probably fit the bill but I feel that for some people that is not enough and that is when the allure of the UK starts to rear its head.

[Rule Britannia]

I would have to agree with you on the only way is the Australian way, I'm quite sure our Universities are of good standing, my wife and I arrived here in 2007, we thought at the time we have just had enough of London and jobs were pretty tricky to get at that time, so we did leave and bought ourselves a one way ticket to Perth, moved into our pretty reasonable home with pool ect, bought a 4x4 as you do, and then we both got good jobs, I worked in Government on a permanent basis, as my wife told me to tick the box stating I was a Permanent resident, and worked in Gov for two years, they then found out about the p>r I explained all to them, that I had made a mistake and they sent off my info to the main man in Government to see if i would be allowed to continue, by the time it was all sorted out, I then got my p.r. and was then informed the Treasurer has allowed me to keep my role, I was then asked if i wanted to accept a redundancy as they were going down the path of Work Performance, please give me a break, I have worked in the city of London for many years, I know when I'm being played, so played the same game with them and gained an extra six months and they then paid me out after much deliberation and nonsense...this was the beginning of how silly things are done here in Perth.

 

Gained another role with a large org and guess what, yes my manager was from the UK, Racist, Alcoholic and on anti-depressants....nice! absolute nightmare to work with, so had no alternative but to leave, I wish at the time I had taken the matter further, as I was informed I would have won (big time)

 

Then I have been in and out of Government contracts ever since, what a laugh! every one and i mean every one is all about their levels, ie i'm a level 5 or i'm a level 6 and so on and so on, it's all a big power struggle with silly little people running to their own managers telling tales on their co-workers, how backwards is that.? sorry i'm sounding a little bitter here...lol all the nonsence that goes with it, Selection Criteria, please give me a break, what on earth do they think people did at Uni, and don't bother telling them who you've worked for even if it is the Biggest Organisation in the World, they just don't care, and it means nothing to them, However, In London, it means something to them for a reason, you don't work for these organisations if your an idiot...

 

POMs indeed, where the hell does that come from, it is the Australians who are the POMS not the English, prisoners of her majesty's service ect they need to get it right (i am having a laugh here)