DC10

I feel for you. This was my world from October - February. Don't know what field you're in, but I read somewhere that on average it takes 5 months starting from scratch to find a good admin job, and that's exactly how long it took me. As it transpired I had actually given up and returned to the UK when the magic phonecall (from Aus) finally came in (3-4 weeks after the interview!!!!)

Still waiting to hear back from a job I 'phone interviewed for in Perth back in October. Their closing line, when I asked how long it would take, was "Look Dave, we won't keep you waiting. We'll be in touch by the middle of next week".

Oh and as for the comment about agents calling back within a couple of hours... yes they'll do that, but that's about all in my experience. Time-wasting parasites of the worst kind.

But all that seems like a hundred years ago now, and it will for you soon too.

Best of luck...

moneypenny20

Believe me, when you've had xx number of thanks but no thanks, you actually look forward to not hearing the bad news.

Jensanco

Hubby had a job on the East side of Melbourne good location, guys seemed keen, a guy from part of the same company met him in London and they had an interview, hubbys previous Australian employer gave a glowing reference. Then over Xmas two guys left the company 1 of which we'd been dealing with, so the guy that took over said we can't wait til September - fair enough we said to let us know if anything changed with the company and his employment offer changed to let us know, gave him a deadline to get out there by end of March, so we dropped the price of our house right down and sold it, told the company and they told us they've given his job to someone else - this other guy is already employed there.

So we sent an email back saying how disappointed we were in them, what had happened to informing us of any changes - we'd pulled all the stops out to meet the deadlines they'd set even making a massive loss on our house!!!!

Oddly enough we haven't heard back since !

Dreamy

You did all this without having signed an employment contract? Or are you already on a permanent visa so were selling your house anyway?

Turban Explorer

I wouldn't even expect employers to necessarily behave with a signed contract. We spent a comparatively small amount preparing to move to Townsville (desperate!!) for a job Mr TE was offered (contract signed) and as the start date arrived the guy avoided him like plague and when finally pinned down (another phone number) the fob off was 'call in 2 months and you might be needed'. When pointed out that there was a signed contract the response was 'sue me'...

It's a beautiful country but there are some shoddy and cruel work practices going on. Work Fair Australia don't seem able to do much either.

SillyOldBag

Moneypenny you said more or less what I was going to say! I grumbled and grumbled and bitched about not hearing back about job applications and then I had about 4 responses in one day, all saying NO and I decided that I preferred on balance just to work out for myself that I wasn't successful Having said that I do think it's rude not to respond to applications and it would be all too easy to respond particularly by email and I think it's inexcusable not to respond folling an interview.

I'm just getting back in the swing of job applications, I became a bit complacent after getting my casual p/t job as although I'm only getting a few hours a week it's taken some of the financial pressure off but really all it does is just about keep our head above water... or at worst we're drowning slowly - is that a good thing?

SillyOldBag

That's an appalling attitude, it beggars belief sometimes. I wonder whether the UK is becoming equally bad? I shall consult my mighty bro who has been job hunting for a while and is in a similar situation to me in so far as he has had a number of years off whilst raising his kids. He doesn't have the "no aussie experience" fob off excuse though, although technically it would be true and probably as about legitimate to use it as it is here

Amazulu

There are unfortunately - same as the UK

Grayling

Of course

Turban Explorer

Mr TE has now progressed to the dizzy heights of Functions and Operations Coordinator (FOC) at the hotel we work at after starting as a bar man and taking everyone by storm! I'm actually really pleased just that he has had some self esteem restored after our rough ride in Cairns. He has to deal with staff rostering, day to day issues and discipline and is gradually altering what was (especially with the kitchen staff) a 'fit in or **** off' bullying environment into a happy team based functional one. When he took over and started treating people with respect, the staff (mixture of Sri Lankan, Filipino and Indians) were reminiscent of the abused Fritzl family slowly coming up the cellar stairs into the light!

Hebe

I have never, in all my working life in the UK, not been told by phone or letter that I havent been successful after an interview. They have always contacted me, without exception.

Amazulu

My experience was the total opposite.

Grayling

What a surprise

Amazulu

indeed

SillyOldBag

That's great that his skills are being recognised and he is at least getting to use some of them and to great effect. It does undermine your self esteem when you (a) can't get work and then (b) get work which is way below your capabilities. I'm torn at the moment between pleasure that I'm contributing financially and that feeling of "I put things on shelves". Should I be proud that I will do what it takes .... or disappointed in myself that this is what it has come to. I swither. But when all is said and done, it's a job and doesn't define who I am and the vast majority of people that I directly work with are lovely, so it could be worse.