Re: Another work (or lack of work) horror story.......
 

In fact personally this is not an issue for me yet. I haven't had any kids, so I will be looking (in two weeks!) for a graduate position that will offer me training and prospects for promotion. I don't mind working full time, long hours, weekends (preferably not all of the above!) and even starting on a low wage if I can just get my foot in the door.
For me the problem is that my qualifications & three years experience are in something that I want to move completely away from. So whilst I am a graduate, and have lots of skills to offer, I will effectively be starting from scratch in my new career, whatever it is. (I'm flexible!) So for me the challenge will be getting a foot in the door for an interview, and then persuading them to give me a shot - when i am well aware I might be up against people with much more specific & recognised qualifications. So I will be working hard on my CV! I already have a new suit, hair cut when I get there and then lots of dedicated applying & networking. Wish me luck, I know I'm going to need it.

Re: Another work (or lack of work) horror story.......
 

The Bloke, your post did read like you was slagging the lady i may have read it wrong mate my appologies please do forgive me. we are all normal & make mistakes, so if & when we ever meet i owe you a beer

arthur

Re: Another work (or lack of work) horror story.......
 

I get $15 an hour and I don't work weekends or fridays.

It is a crap wage as steveo says but what can you do when you live in the promise land don't want to work lol.

I am a qualified teacher and hairdresser and I want to do neither. I came to live not to work my arse off like I did in the UK.

Good luck to the job seekers it is very hard to secure employment over here if you just want a small part time job

hugs Lace xxx

Oh sorry and good luck petal

Re: Another work (or lack of work) horror story.......
 

Hi,

I had the same thing while looking for a job. I was a PA in the UK and worked for the VP of an international company for 5 yrs. Had great refs etc. I applied for loads of jobs on Seek.com and also out of the paper and through agencies. I had a few interviews and at a couple of them I thought "I've definitely got this job". One of the interviewers was even asking me which desk I would like to sit at ! Anyway, didn't get any of them and the reasons were always the same "You don't have any experience working in Australia". How the F*** are you supposed to get this experience if no bugger will give you a job! In the end I applied for a job at a car rental place in Scarborough. I used to work for Eurodollar in the UK years ago and quite liked it so I thought it would be quite an ok job. Not much thinking involved. Anyway, the bloke said that the hours were shifts. I said fine, but I can't do Sundays because (like Tracey) it's the only day off my OH has. He said that wouldn't be a problem because he'd get someone else to do Sundays. Asked him what the wages were... $14 per hour. I must have looked shocked as I just couldn't believe it! Anyway, he said he'd give me a ring, asked when I could start etc. A week later and no call so I called him and he said I didn't get the job because I couldn't do Sundays! I asked one of the girls at my son's daycare about the wages and she said that is under the minimum wage.

To the lady who was on about accounts jobs, a friend of mine does accounts and has had a couple of good part time jobs since she's been here while the kids are at school. You do need to know MYOB though.

Jo

Re: Another work (or lack of work) horror story.......
 

I get paid $14.86 jo so that can't be under the legal wage as the company I work for is IGA and they (as you know) are a massive supermarket. If there is not much thinking involved then you would expect the wage to be low. Just the way it is petal :p

I hope you find something soon

Iv'e seen loads of accounts jobs in the paper here.

lace xx

Re: Another work (or lack of work) horror story.......
 

You will have a similar problem when returning home. Prior to leaving for Canada I had spent 10 years in central London at a global telecoms company as a board level PA. I didn't work in Canada as my visa didn't allow me too. 4 years away from the UK and nobody would touch me with a barge pole. 18 months of applications and I finally got a job as a PA to a Trust Board member at my local hospital at a wopping salary of 16k a year.

Re: Another work (or lack of work) horror story.......
 

I know a housewife on this site who works at Coles.

Not only is it surprisingly 'well paid' for what she does the loading she gets for the occasional weekend or weeknight actually means that as she does an hour or 2 here or there, she says 'well that's the phone bill paid, that's the gas bill paid'.

She seems very content.

Re: Another work (or lack of work) horror story.......
 

it's quite a lenghty process to be employed by coles. you have to do a 40 minute assessment online during some part of the process. this then gives you a feedback report, which describes your performance on the cognitive ability test, which you print off and keep. i am currently waiting to hear back off Coles, and i am now officially in their 'talent pool' :D the process so far has taken about 2 months....................so, it is not an easy task to get employed by coles it seems :)

Re: Another work (or lack of work) horror story.......
 

Steve

I agree that $15 an hour is fine but not when its spread over the year and you are not paid for school hols (no work there obviously)or being genuinely poorly and off work and also if the hours were only 27 and not 37. Work that out and its a pittance. Yes i know you could get another job in the hols or just to make up the hours but then you would get taxed very highly on a second job and in reality if you can only find a job with these crazy hours they offer, how the hell are you supposed to get another job to sqeeze in to fit the first jobs hours?? I finally got a job for 2 days but can i hella find a second one to fit in with the other 3 days. I dont get paid for hols and i have to pay childcare as well. My income doesnt cover my childcare and i am out of pocket so dont anyone dare tell me i am picky or choosy i am however pissed off because i want to work and the employers are so greedy that they only employ casuals so they dont have to pay all the benefits. I can understand small businesses doing it but large ones like Woolies and Coles make me sick!!!
I know i am not good at expressing myself but i hope you get the gist of my post. Oh and btw 18 years ago when i worked here i do not remember ever having a casual job, I went to college and got jobs to fit in with that AND they were permanent. So whats changed?:curse:

Georgina

Re: Another work (or lack of work) horror story.......
 

Exactly. A lot of people are happy with casual work as it fits in with their lifestyles. It would be good if you were a student or housewife looking for a bit of extra cash. Certain people on this site would have you think that casual is a form of slavery but the reality is very different.

Re: Another work (or lack of work) horror story.......
 

I'm a house wife and in the uk i worked, i came here thinking i could get a part-time waitress job, i did'nt want a big career again. As it turned out i needed oz experience and qualifications! I did'nt stand a chance in hell of getting a waitresss job, so i tried and tried to get a admin job. I have over 10 years experience, but alas this counts for nothing as i have no oz experience.

So after my big search i nearly gave up, but then found a house keeping job in a local resort complex. I'm slow at it at the moment and i wish i could go faster as my hourly rate would be better.

I think that there are a lot of men and women that just want to find a job, any job! My only advice is to keep sane and keep trying. I would love to work at coles or myers but i am stuck with making beds and cleaning bathrooms.
And to top it off i'm a contractor, so no hols pay no benefits, saying that i'm wrong some nice guests left me a 6 pack of beer yesterday, so some perks if only small ones.:p

Re: Another work (or lack of work) horror story.......
 

Hi Jo

Thanks. What is MYOB - In Pommy land it means Mind Your Own Business :blink:

Cheers
Tracey

Re: Another work (or lack of work) horror story.......
 

Exactly that, it's an accounting package, I do believe that you can get it in the UK also.

Re: Another work (or lack of work) horror story.......
 

I noticed this thread last time I was on, and was suprised to find it buried so far down the list, such is it's importance of how to get on in Aussie.


How can people expect to land here, and live a dream, without being able to work. Within this thread is a condensed version of the majority of work seekers expirences, complete with Aussie reaction, courtesy of the Gruff response of The Bloke. I really disliked the way The bloke put his argument forward, but have to concur his points are 100 pct correct. He is probably Man Managment, I'm a shop steward.

One of the reasons that retail employers will insist on new Casuals working Saturdays, is to reward existing employees, as almost a loyalty bonus, So the new Casuals bear the brunt of the most unsocial hours. It's the Retail way of letting Casuals work their way up the ladder.

Almost all new jobs are now Casual, for the most part they are crap jobs, however they dont pay as poorly as one would expect, with supermarket employees, easily able to earn circa 24 bucks an hour for Sunday and public holiday work.

At Aussie post, we were told all new employees, would be taken on as Casuals, The turnover of these new employees is phenominal, at circa 60-70 pct a year as they have no protection, and are given the worst hours. When you consider they work aside people doing the exact same job as permanent employees, With the permanent employees getting Sick pay, holiday pay, and higher super, its like rubbing salt into a gaping wound. When you consider you can have a Casual, who may well have been phoned up to come in at 2am and it's now 1 hour later at 3am, and the Casual is getting 21 bucks per hour on easter sunday, whilst the fulltimer is getting 45 bucks per hour because he is on the public holiday rate @ 2.5 times the basic rate, then it's easy to see how sickening it would be for those casual employees.

However all is not lost, in the last month, at our facility, we have been so short staffed, they Management has done the unbeleivable, they took two casuals on and made them full time permanents, this is against the holy grail of the new work place reforms. Apparently it's happening right around Aussie at present. What this means is, If one is prepared to run the gauntlet, of crap treatment x crap money x the worst work, then you may well get rewarded. I dont know why The Bloke Dissed Apost sorters, as most "full timers" at our facility earn well over 55,000 grand per year, with a couple that earn over 60,000, (they do 8 hours overtime per fortnight, and overtime is unlimted at present) plus circa 12,000 - 15,000 Aud per annum, depending on length of service, in super, thats how our two new permanents are probably going to get rewarded. It's also why we have plenty of tradespeople and other professions working in post.


I'm banging on a bit here, my whole point in posting, is to realise the dream, one has to go and find the money to fund it. The inner cities is generally where the money is. Base jobs at crap unsocial hours is where most jobs are, Its all part of the Assimulation system.

I think thats enough for now, I daren't say how some potential pommy employees are getting entrapped and laughed at by Aussie employers and interviewers, by letting them run off at the mouth, at how they are going to change their new workplace, with their superior experience in what is obviously an inferior country ... Beleive me it happens, it's expected and it causes Aussies a great deal of mirth.



There you go, same as what the bloke said, only in more detail


:beer:

BTW, if your in the right place, it is easy to get a job here, if your willing to work the crap hours.

Re: Another work (or lack of work) horror story.......
 

It's really easy to learn. I'm doing a homestudy course just now in bookkeeping and MYOB and I'm finding it really easy to do.

I've done accounts most of my working life, but thought that a bit of Australian study may help when (IF :D) I look for a job.

Re: Another work (or lack of work) horror story.......
 

I am not going to comment on any post or opinion of The Bloke, but as he brought me into this by mentioning my job at Aus Post, I feel I should put the record straight :)
I did work as a Christmas mail sorter - it was a different job from any I had done before, it wasn't the kind of job I was after - I was looking for fulltime, admin-type, office based, but I took the Aus Post job cos it was offered to me and I needed work. And it was hard work, my health was awful and the heat in the Northgate sorting depot made it worse, but I stuck it. I learnt a lot about Aussie workplaces, met some fab people, learnt some different work practices, and found my own card to The Bloke stuck down the back of a machine that broke down on Christmas Eve - posted in the UK October 16th when I left my flat in Brighton!! They talked about perm work, but didn't like my visa (temporary spiouse) and didn't like my typing speed (not fast enough per minute). I met some great people who loved working for Post and had been there donkeys years, and I gained a lot of respect for people who work at jobs running around and carrying heavy mail sacks in 38 degree + heat.

I don't regret a minute of it although it was hard work of a type I wasn't used to - it gave me an Aussie job on my resume, it showed I was willing to try something different, and it gave me a start in Australia. If you are desperate enough for a job, wherever you are, there is usually something - it may not be the hours/pay/job sector that you want, and you may move on quickly - as I did - in search of something more to your liking - but there is usually something out there that you can do.
I have begged, grovelled, down-graded myself, and am still selling myself short at interviews, because thats what is working for me, and that is what is keeping me employed.

BUT - and yes its a big but, as with everything, everyone's experience is different, and in many cases, with those of you that can't get jobs, a lot of us who are employed find ourselves thinking "there but for the grace of god....."

Re: Another work (or lack of work) horror story.......
 

Thats true Polly, I had an awful time, when I left the Gas and Fuel down here in Vic, I took the redundancy package, after 16 years and felt comfortable for a time, then I reverted back to what I knew best, which was typing, courtesy of 8 or so years as a telex op in the UK. So I did casual Data Entry, as the only bloke at age 40+, on piece rates amongst a whole heap of filipino females, and other new migrants. Took 6 months before my established contacts got me a job, luckily for me at Apost, via word of mouth.

If I were unemployed today, I would either do a bar course, or a PCA course for orderly work in hopefully a Psych hospital.

Re: Another work (or lack of work) horror story.......
 

Hi Ozzieeagle
Your post was very nice and informative btw. But whats a bar and PCA course please? Also my hubby wanted to work at APost but was informed he needed to have a motorbike licence. Do you know how or who to contact if you want a job in the sorting office? Or do they expect you to have a licence just in case they want to send you out and about?

Thank you in advance
Georgina

Re: Another work (or lack of work) horror story.......
 

I think he means the course you have to do before you can do bar-work in a pub etc here; yep, thats right, no casual bar work until you've been on the course.

To be a postman you need a bike licence as they all ride bikes. You wouldn't need one for sorting office work, hopefully Ozzieeagle can tell you more. Which State are you moving to?

Re: Another work (or lack of work) horror story.......
 

Hi Pollyanna

We are already living in Melbourne and have been here for 7 months. My hubby has got a permanent full time job now but believe you me it was touch and go for a while as all the jobs he had before were casual and we thought we were never going to be able to get a mortgage. He would still like to do post office work though.

Cant believe you need to do a course just to do bar work! :huh: Next they will be telling us we have to do a course just to work at Woolies! Still dont know what a PCA course is though...Ozzieeagle can you enlighten?
Georgina

Re: Another work (or lack of work) horror story.......
 

you should try france mate-3 years to get anything- and i'm bilingual!!
i would do a secretary job for crap money- you would'nt get in over here!!

Re: Another work (or lack of work) horror story.......
 

Personal Care Attendant, (PCA) there should be courses in your local paper, normally it's aimed at people wanting to work in Aged Care, However you can avoid the wiping bums type of work, by moving into orderly work, or people shifting. I'd aim for a Psych hospital, because I know lots of psych nurses and I'm married to a Psych nurse. It's a long road getting the right job out of this, and it basically comes down to contacts or getting yourself known. Simple fact is Orderlies are employed in Psych hospitals, and they take new people on to replace those that leave, and new employees required to have PCA certificates.


With Aussie post, you have to go to the following URL, let me know how you go with this, because we take on mail sorters all the time, and if the forms you fill in dont cover mail sorters, I will find our how we are sourcing them.


http://www.auspost.com.au/BCP/0,1080...7EMO19,00.html


Give Adecco a ring as well, its on the Apost site BTW Messenger post is probably the best courier work out there at present, but I wouldn't advise it as all courier work is inherently crap.

Re: Another work (or lack of work) horror story.......
 

A very Real view of casual hours and how workplace reform has affected the way people are employed.

I think the reality of casual work is that it suits very few people, although it seems almost the majority will soon be employed that way. For a start how many people have the sort of life where they can drop eveything and suddenly be at work in a few minutes notice, I'd suggest the reality of that for anyone with children is obvious. Who can pay a mortage when you dont know what you will earn week to week?

Yes some days you may get more money for being casual, but thats disappering too, penalty rates dont apply in many jobs now as the OP has described. Now take supermarkets where they do still exist, has anyone been in a coles/wools on a sunday, there are no workers in there over the age of about 16, they simply employ kids at $9 for those days.

Re: Another work (or lack of work) horror story.......
 

We understand where your coming from. Were in the same boat. always thought we'd get through it, but now absolutly broke, cant pay the bills, rent, or anything as of friday just gone.

My hubby has applied for near on 70+ jobs, some were just cold calls, emails and letters, but the rest were advertised. so far he has about 2% of actual replies, how bad is that? or the jobs have actually been filled, even though they have only just been advertised!

We believe that whilst yea his qualifications were more than enough to satisfy TRA, it seems like the companies here dont recognise them.
He has also tried other types of work, but no luck, theres always something, being it a fork lift licence needed, or a licence for retail or computers....so much for the better life, and the point that i heard so many australians were changing careers, hmm dont see that myself, unless you are well off to be able to leave work and pay for courses.

He even went to a job agent, only to be told they cant help until he has been on benefits for 3 months, then they will take another look...p*ss poor in our opinion.

so from looking at the skilled work, right they way to a bum job he still hasnt got anywhere, we also believe that they do prefer to employ ozzies over "foreigners".

so where do you go and what do you do? he is now contemplating relocating, as if relocating to the otherside of the world wasnt enough! and Brisbane, supposedly the best place for employment! hmmm yea ok, what ever.

we hope you are all having much better luck than we are.

Re: Another work (or lack of work) horror story.......
 

That's awful :(

What job does(did) he do ?

Re: Another work (or lack of work) horror story.......
 

By trade he is a printer, qualified in sheet and web printing.
He qouldlike to work as a computer tech, however all companies want qualified techs. we were hoping that 10years experience in working on computers in spare time and weekends would be enough, but app not.

Re: Another work (or lack of work) horror story.......
 

Well I hope everything comes good for you both. :)

Re: Another work (or lack of work) horror story.......
 

I'm female and I work full time with a six figure salary. 3 of my (female)friends are the same and one is $200k+

There are plenty of jobs out there but it is very much a case of who you know.

In Perth, 80% of the jobs are never advertised.

You need to get in with a good agency and prove your worth.

Re: Another work (or lack of work) horror story.......
 

Cant guarentee its the same in every company but cetainly in the company I work for, our casual/contract employees are paid 20% more then staff employees to off set the holidays and sick leave.

When we employ a new starter we offer the option of staff or contract.

If the person opts to go contract, their salary is based on the formula of (staff salary)/2080 multiplied by 1.2 to get the hourly rate. And given that contractors are expected to work 45 hour week rather than 40 hour week for staff, they can make quite good money.

The majority of folk in Perth opt to go contract rather than staff for just that reason.

Re: Another work (or lack of work) horror story.......
 

I take it you dont work at coles then:p

Re: Another work (or lack of work) horror story.......
 

My mate works at Coles and is doing very well in her casual job.:p
My wife actually wants a job where she doesn't have to think and quite fancies it herself.

If working parttime meant casual I'd be happy to do it - if I get paid then that ticks the box for me. I work as a volunteer firefighter at all sorts of inconvenient times and obviously I do it for free.....jesus. I should move to SA and get paid.

Re: Another work (or lack of work) horror story.......
 

Allways been the case. When I was young:huh: , I always used to wonder where all the high flyers got their jobs as there didn't seem too many in the papers. Then I realised that it was networking, agents, mates and luck.....

Re: Another work (or lack of work) horror story.......
 

Totally understand. My ex husband and I came to Brisbane in 2000, he had been working in direct marketing in London, quite well paid. Took over seven months to find something here, despite trying everything, and that was a far more junior role on about half the money. And he is Brisbane born and bred, went to public school here (it's very much old boys network alive and kicking in qld, what school you went and who you know still very much counts) and was only in UK for five years ... so what hope do the Brits have?!!!

Re: Another work (or lack of work) horror story.......
 

We'd be happy to have you ;)

Re: Another work (or lack of work) horror story.......
 

Well i have a "contractors" job as a computer tech, but so far one job a week, which just about pays the petrol lol. also was offered another computer tech job today, but what they wanted and what they paid was unrealistic. However, i have finally been offered a job, again in computers, have had no choice but to take it, though i woud prefer to stick with the guy i have signed a contract with, but no work means no bills get paid, its a tough situation, loyalty over quick fix!
i have also found a job that i have applied for that is my history and experience down to a tee, the downside...its in new zealand, though this appeals big time, do i want yet another huge move and huge costs so early since moving to Aus.
I also contacted out local governament about my plight, however i got a reply stateing they are nt an employment agent, and stats show only 3% are unemployed ..... Full Time.. that is. and he cant see why i am struggling!

Sometimes i do wonder why i came here, all the promises Howard was giving, but once were here, there are no promises. Theres a niche in the market, employment agency for skilled migrants

Re: Another work (or lack of work) horror story.......
 

Theres a niche in the market, employment agency for skilled migrants

you might be onto something!!!!

Re: Another work (or lack of work) horror story.......
 

Both my boys work part time at Bakers delight, 16yr old on 10 bucks and 17 yer old on 12 bucks, if your 21 and casual you get 20 bucks thats not bad for a front counter staff.

Jo

Re: Another work (or lack of work) horror story.......
 

Clerical agencies like Select are pretty good. Both my son (18 at the time) and hubby when he first came here, got some temporary work. So long as you can work a computer and know your way round the MS Office suite there seems to be plenty of basic admin work out there. It pays the bills until you can get something permanent. Son had a 6 week placement at Brisbane Water while he waited for Uni to start. Hubby had a placement at Qld govt. The agency ask you to do a competency test and once they have used you a couple of times and know they can trust you to turn up to jobs on time etc you're in.

Re: Another work (or lack of work) horror story.......
 

$20 is about £8? I'd say that's bloody good for working in a shop! No offence to people who work in shops, I've done it myself, but in the UK I think you'd consider yourself wellpaid on £7, and plenty work for less.