medon

Hey everyone!

Just moved to Australia last November (from Scotland) and so far it's been ok. Unfortunatly I seem to be having the same problem as a lot of other people on this forum in that I'm looking for admin work on the Gold Coast.. ugh! Anyway that's not the point of this post...

What I am hoping for is just some general advice about the job prospects for some different subjects which I am thinking about studying. (I have a BSc Ecology but it hasn't really opened up many doors!). Basically I am completely clueless at the moment and am thinking about a variety of subjects which interest me. So really just any thoughts from anyone who has experience in the following would be greatly appreciated! I just don't want to do two more years of studying to find that I am in the same situation as I am now!

Landscape architecture
Environmental management
Environmental planning
GIS
Biotechnology
Biomedicine

And my back up plan is nursing.. not something I know you should get into if you don't have the passion for it, but it is something i have always thought about doing and I assume they will always be in demand..

Or if there is anything else anyone can think of that may be a good choice for me, please feel free to give me your thoughts! I just want to get a decent job!

jam76

Hi, I'll give you my perspective on this 'issue'.

I am a secondary applicant on a 457 (employer sponsor) visa, ergo a free agent and in my particular case no background for any wanted/needed skills.

I live in Adelaide and it has the highest rate of unemployment of all the state capitals so I have been told.

Daunting and fearful were the words I used when I found this out. How the hell am I gonna find work I'd say to myself especially when reading these forums by people stating constantly that they cannot find work and they lived in bigger capitals like brisbane or melbourne. Sometimes these forums are a godsend and other times they can put the fear of god into you.

I would say 'suck it and see' don't let any one elses posts get you down or stop you from motivating yourself. If you think you will fail then you probably will.

Anyways, I'm rambling...

Point being... persistence pays off, although in my case I applied for a job a few weeks back and got it on the first attempt. Working for a huge insurance company. Luck? Nope motivation and tenacity. Get your resume 'australianised' and then apply apply apply. You may hit the odd brick wall but don't give up.

I came here expecting to shovel pig sh*t in a pigpen or glass collecting in a bar after reading some of the posts on here but I got a job that matched my skills and experience in customer service. So much so I'm thrilled!

I hope this has motivated you somewhat or at least a little and I wanna wish you all the luck in the world!

jam76

Oh one last thing...

Register with EVERY agency out there and check seek.com.au everyday. Even if its temporary or casual work, once you have aussie experience you might find it opens up a few more doors regardless of the job you end up doing!

NigelWaring

In 1974 it took me six months to find my first job. I'd turn up for job interviews to be told that the job had gone. Many jobs we advertised written applications only. I discovered where to get the local newspaper early, just after midnight I wrote an application to a 'written applications only' advert, decided to hand deliver it and was waiting at their office around 7:00 a.m., at 7:45 a.m. the Personnel Manager arrived, he accepted my written application and told me to hang on, 15 minutes later I had an interview and at that interview he offered me the job subject to reference checks, job was confirmed about two hours later. I was in that job for quite a few years.

Years later I had moved to I.T. I listed myself with more than 300 agencies, at the time I was studying for the MCSE, six exams, each time that I passed an exam I sent them a revised resume, completed the MCSE then Microsoft said OK do it all again for the new version of the software, I did and sent more revised resumes, eventually quite a number of agencies got to know my name and I had so many job offers that I could be selective, I was able to work in good jobs right up to retirement.

Don't give up, aim to apply for at least ten jobs a day even though you know that most of them will be a waste of time. You have to be persistent, some day someone will urgently need a person just like you. It is terrible and demoralising to be unemployed, it is also much harder to be considered for a job if you are unemployed, get an early morning job if necessary, plenty of cleaners and similar are required, you've still got time for interviews.

RCoight

This is very important. I've seen far too many CVs from candidates who clearly send out their one CV to every job they apply for and hope for pot luck.

Tailor your UK CV to the Australian market (generally they are shorter) and then tailor your CV to the specific role you are going for. It makes the task of sifting through CVs much easier if a candidate takes the attributes you've put in your advert and lists exactly what experience they've got for thos specific attributes.

medon

Well thanks for all the replies, though they don't exactly answer the question that was asked!

No matter! When you say 'Australianise' my CV the only specific thing that has been mentioned is making it shorter. Mine is 2 pages - is this the right length? Any other tips to make it seem more 'australian'?

And anyone with any info regarding the subjects I mentioned would also be very appreciated! I just don't know the situation here at all, and only knowing about 3 people in this country makes it hard to find out!!

bcworld

Do you mean the UK CVs are generally shorter? Aussie CVs are typically much longer in my experience, with up to half a page written about each job in the candidates work history.

Pollyana

Apart from nursin,g your other areas of interest are pretty specialist and though there maya be one or two people out there in the fields, they certainly aren't things that spring to mind as "common topics" on BE.
There is a Nursing forum HERE which might be some help to you.

RCoight

That's because I was emphasising a point someone else had made, as quite a few people are likely to read this topic out of interest even if they don't have the same specific query as you.

You'd get more value out of a full-time recruiter (I only do it incidentally as part of my main job) but I'd say:

- don't bother with the 'spare time and interests' bit
- relate it specifically to the skills the company is asking for
- if you're from overseas, emphasise the bits which show you can / could integrate into a different (ie Australian) work environment
- (much more of a personal preference this) use clear, plain English and go easy on the Management bullsh*t.

I have usually found UK CVs to be too long eg I was told immediately upon arriving by several consultants to chop mine down to size, and I know other people in other industries to have been told the same.

jam76

Medon..

Check this out... this most certainly played a part in me securing an interview first time around.

http://britishexpats.com/forum/showt...esume#post5933 930

Geelong Gent

Agree with all above (last point especially as most Australians who attend local MBA courses just don't get it anyway).

I would also cut out anything that gives reason for personal bias to exclude your CV (no matter what the law is)

Remember to take as much time with covering letter as you would the CV.

I also agree Australian CV are shorter but tend to cover more specifics - ie detail in specific jobs what your tasks and achievements were. Job titles mean nothing really - most of recruitment time is by laymen HR bods screening - if you dont show a specific skill set on their list your out. So if they ask for "Open Heart Surgery" don't put OHS.

On all cases I would follow up with telephone call and be ready to expand your case for being the right person for the roll. (work on telephone manner ideally with someone you trust to ensure your not portraying the wrong messages).

NigelWaring

This does not apply when you are registering with an agency, there isn't any specific role. Certainly do that if you see a specific job advertised but be careful not to contradict previous CVs.

RCoight

I always insisted on tailoring my CV to a specific role before I let the agency send it out...though I accept not everyone can do this all of the time.