Aus not better than London for IT - debunked
Mar 18th 2012, 11:25 am
#61
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Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 43
Re: Aus not better than London for IT - debunked
My first contract here (Surry Hills, Sydney) is on a working holiday visa with a digital agency. The pay is similar to my contract role in the UK (Sheffield) but obviously with a much higher cost of living.
My rate is $57.50 per hour, however because of the higher tax (28%) than the corporation tax I was paying in the UK of 21% I come away with about £100 more per week than in the UK.
Similar rates for almost identical roles seem to range between $50 - $85 per hour.
By the far the biggest difference though is the working culture. Friday's are generally spent at the pub (paid for by the boss), going for BBQ's and spending time in the office where the DJ set is and drinking.
You're much more likely to get a thanks for something, the people are much friendlier and morale is high.
In the UK as a contractor, I felt almost like an alien in most places. The first contract here although it's only for 3 months feels like a world away.
Yeah, the cost of living is higher but so far it seems like a much better place to work!
My rate is $57.50 per hour, however because of the higher tax (28%) than the corporation tax I was paying in the UK of 21% I come away with about £100 more per week than in the UK.
Similar rates for almost identical roles seem to range between $50 - $85 per hour.
By the far the biggest difference though is the working culture. Friday's are generally spent at the pub (paid for by the boss), going for BBQ's and spending time in the office where the DJ set is and drinking.
You're much more likely to get a thanks for something, the people are much friendlier and morale is high.
In the UK as a contractor, I felt almost like an alien in most places. The first contract here although it's only for 3 months feels like a world away.
Yeah, the cost of living is higher but so far it seems like a much better place to work!
Mar 18th 2012, 1:19 pm
#62
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Re: Aus not better than London for IT - debunked
By the far the biggest difference though is the working culture. Friday's are generally spent at the pub (paid for by the boss), going for BBQ's and spending time in the office where the DJ set is and drinking.
You're much more likely to get a thanks for something, the people are much friendlier and morale is high.
Mar 18th 2012, 2:09 pm
#63
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Re: Aus not better than London for IT - debunked
... tell us more!
Mar 18th 2012, 9:39 pm
#66
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Mar 18th 2012, 9:57 pm
#67
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Joined: Jun 2010
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Re: Aus not better than London for IT - debunked
Sure, it's quite pressured (projects need to be turned around in less than a week so the application is running for TV commercials) but it's still an enjoyable place to work.
Mar 19th 2012, 4:27 am
#68
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Re: Aus not better than London for IT - debunked
There are plenty of good jobs (and experiences) out there. Keep it up. My first job was like that here. The lunches used to go on for hours...
Mar 19th 2012, 4:28 am
#69
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Re: Aus not better than London for IT - debunked
I would have thought that part of Fridays would be a bit of a swan in the public sector! Or does the work (emergency services etc) you do preclude that?!
Mar 19th 2012, 6:01 am
#70
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Joined: Sep 2004
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Re: Aus not better than London for IT - debunked
My first contract here (Surry Hills, Sydney) is on a working holiday visa with a digital agency. The pay is similar to my contract role in the UK (Sheffield) but obviously with a much higher cost of living.
My rate is $57.50 per hour, however because of the higher tax (28%) than the corporation tax I was paying in the UK of 21% I come away with about £100 more per week than in the UK.
Similar rates for almost identical roles seem to range between $50 - $85 per hour.
By the far the biggest difference though is the working culture. Friday's are generally spent at the pub (paid for by the boss), going for BBQ's and spending time in the office where the DJ set is and drinking.
You're much more likely to get a thanks for something, the people are much friendlier and morale is high.
In the UK as a contractor, I felt almost like an alien in most places. The first contract here although it's only for 3 months feels like a world away.
Yeah, the cost of living is higher but so far it seems like a much better place to work!
My rate is $57.50 per hour, however because of the higher tax (28%) than the corporation tax I was paying in the UK of 21% I come away with about £100 more per week than in the UK.
Similar rates for almost identical roles seem to range between $50 - $85 per hour.
By the far the biggest difference though is the working culture. Friday's are generally spent at the pub (paid for by the boss), going for BBQ's and spending time in the office where the DJ set is and drinking.
You're much more likely to get a thanks for something, the people are much friendlier and morale is high.
In the UK as a contractor, I felt almost like an alien in most places. The first contract here although it's only for 3 months feels like a world away.
Yeah, the cost of living is higher but so far it seems like a much better place to work!
Mar 19th 2012, 1:44 pm
#71
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Re: Aus not better than London for IT - debunked
I have never been so exhausted in my life, even operational 12 hour shifts are better cos its adrenalin fuelled, this is just head down adding up figures.
Queensland is getting reconstructed but we aren't half putting some hours and some effort behind the scenes into doing it.
My part of the team is also responsible for putting out the activation notices about Federal and State disaster relief whenever there is a major event. Hours of work on each one, we have had at least seven this year, and thats before the one launched today which could possibly become nearly as widespread as the flooding/TC Tasha last year.
http://www.cabinet.qld.gov.au/MMS/St...medium=twitter
Last edited by Pollyana; Mar 19th 2012 at 1:46 pm.
Mar 19th 2012, 11:58 pm
#72
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Re: Aus not better than London for IT - debunked
Trust me that comment would not go down well at work; you have absolutely no idea. We're there till 5-6-7pm most nights, 12 hour days are common. This year so far I've been doing 6 day weeks. The boss cancelled the Christmas party cos he wanted us to finish as much as possible before Christmas, and while there have been three leaving do's lately on Fridays they haven't started till 5 and then only the senior staff got to go. We can't get paid for overtime so it builds up till you have to take a day off in lieu of pay - at which point they get a temp in for a day so you have to clear your desk or lose all your stationery!
I have never been so exhausted in my life, even operational 12 hour shifts are better cos its adrenalin fuelled, this is just head down adding up figures.
Queensland is getting reconstructed but we aren't half putting some hours and some effort behind the scenes into doing it.
My part of the team is also responsible for putting out the activation notices about Federal and State disaster relief whenever there is a major event. Hours of work on each one, we have had at least seven this year, and thats before the one launched today which could possibly become nearly as widespread as the flooding/TC Tasha last year.
http://www.cabinet.qld.gov.au/MMS/St...medium=twitter
I have never been so exhausted in my life, even operational 12 hour shifts are better cos its adrenalin fuelled, this is just head down adding up figures.
Queensland is getting reconstructed but we aren't half putting some hours and some effort behind the scenes into doing it.
My part of the team is also responsible for putting out the activation notices about Federal and State disaster relief whenever there is a major event. Hours of work on each one, we have had at least seven this year, and thats before the one launched today which could possibly become nearly as widespread as the flooding/TC Tasha last year.
http://www.cabinet.qld.gov.au/MMS/St...medium=twitter
(I have some idea which is why I suggested the nature of the job meant that
it wasn't all Friday afternoon boozing!)
Still, I suppose some people thrive in that sector and find it interesting and it will look good on your CV. I know what you mean about 12 hour shifts providing adrenalin. The other side of the coin is that some government work can be not challenging enough.
I haven't been paid overtime in 15 odd years - but then as professionals I suppose we get other perks.
IsGraham: as for London and Melbourne 'swanning' I tend not to booze away like before because I have a family now and want to get back to them.
Mar 20th 2012, 10:18 am
#73
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Re: Aus not better than London for IT - debunked
If your having to work to much, find something else. One bad employer doesnt represent a country as a whole I reckon.
Mar 20th 2012, 10:28 am
#74
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Re: Aus not better than London for IT - debunked
I still don't see any general difference between the countries...and as a consultant who sits on client sites I've always had the benefit of being able to see plenty of other people's workplaces as well as my own. For me it's always, Aus and UK, been a case of effort as required - that can mean leaving at 1630 or leaving at 2000 or later.
Mar 20th 2012, 12:27 pm
#75
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Re: Aus not better than London for IT - debunked
I would say its time to find another job, theres lots out there. In any of my jobs in aus I never had to work overtime or do a long 12 hour day, or a 10 or 11 hour one either. Even though I work in IT where systems can go down and need urgent maintenance I found people would be out the door at 5pm sharp regardless of what work still needed to be done. It was a very different attitude to the stay late and work weekends that I was used to in the UK.
If your having to work to much, find something else. One bad employer doesnt represent a country as a whole I reckon.
If your having to work to much, find something else. One bad employer doesnt represent a country as a whole I reckon.
I still don't see any general difference between the countries...and as a consultant who sits on client sites I've always had the benefit of being able to see plenty of other people's workplaces as well as my own. For me it's always, Aus and UK, been a case of effort as required - that can mean leaving at 1630 or leaving at 2000 or later.