worzel

Does anyone know which are the major (private sector) employers in Perth?

In particular I am looking for engineering / telecomms type firms (extractive industries etc too) with global / regional HQ's that I can send my cv to in a couple of months to see if they might want to employ me on a permanent or full-time basis.

Woodside is top of my list as they were a customer of ours at Rolls-Royce Energy. Any others?

Oakie

There are a few:

Clough,
Wood Group,
Worley,
JP Kenning,
KBR (halliburton)
Connelly Wagner.

Most involved with oil & gas/petrochem or mining. Whats your experience?

I sent out a few prospective employment letters recently but not got a huge amount of reponse, although a few companies did acknowledge reciept of my letters and CV. Give it a try, you never know what experience they might be looking for.

worzel

Thanks. Wood Group were a customer, supplier and JV to R-R Energy too so that is another top target.

I am an accountant with a very varied cv. I am prepared to work in other sectors but employers (in the UK at least) tend to want people with sector experience once you get to management level. I don't really know why. 1+1=2 wherever you work. And I would rather employee someone talented and have them learn the business that someone useless with industry knowledge.

Temp to Perm might be a good way for me to get into the company then make myself indispensable.

How about you? Engineer?

Oakie

Yep, mechanical with process industry experience. I fancy the idea of contracting to start with to get and idea of how various different places work. Or just go balls-out and start my own company, but I have to figure a few things out before I go down that route!

I totally hear you on the experience issue - there is way too much emphasis put on your previous jobs in this country. If your reasonably apt you can pick up new industry standard very quickly, so employers should spend more time looking for the right attitude!!

Good luck with it.

worzel

I was watching "A New Life Down Under" at the weekend. The Welsh guy didn't get an interview with the Post Office (his dream job apparently) and really struggled to get anything. But after a few months work as a security guard got his PO job.

I have noticed a lot of this, that on arrival no one wants to know, in case you turn tail and head back to the UK or fail to fit in with Aussie culture presumably. Similar to building a credit history in a way. So I am expecting to take any old job for a few months to build up a history then move on to something more appropriate. But if I can do that initial period in a good company then all the better.

Good luck to you too.