moneypenny20

Not sure I could afford the commute. There you go, I'm proving PB is right, I don't really want to work. If the secondment fits in with the Uni work and it's a good move, go for it.

pumpkin blossom

Do you apply for every single job? Cleaning etc? Have you been to places like petrol stations, taxi companies? I do believe that if you want A job then you can find one. Most of us however (myself included) want half decent wages, good hours etc. That is why you tend to see indians driving taxis and not often Aussies. They are prepared to do the crappy hours just to have a job.

I by the way drive an hour each way to work. Many people tell me I am mad, but I want to work. (and don't want to live where I work).

Sorry if I offended you, but I still think it is true.

moneypenny20

Yes, I've looked into those occupations. I do not have the money to finance the licencing of cleaning (yes, all the cleaning jobs I've seen require either detailed experience - not just ability to clean my own house) or taxi driving. I am a female living on the Gold Coast, my family would sooner die than even consider me driving a cab around). I haven't yet seen any jobs going for petrol stations.

Every day I am online with the job sites, some weeks there are zero jobs that I am in any way shape or form able to apply for. Other weeks I am able to apply for up to 10. Every week I get turned down because I am either over qualified, under qualified, the wrong age, sex, etc etc etc. I am applying for both part and full time.

Yes you offended me and probably anyone else attempting to find work in this current climate. But I'm sure you're right and I'm just not making the right amount of effort. I truly enjoy not being able to afford to do things, go places. I love telling my daughter that she cannot do certain things at school because I'm too fricking lazy to find a job. The joy of telling her that her sister may have to pay for her formal is beyond words.

Oh and my daughter is 17 and has been applying for every part time job going for two years. She's not yet found someone to give her a go. I'll tell her she's not trying hard enough either.

ordinaru

I see on seek.com.au that in Melbourne there are like 1,422 job in Hospitality, and 1,520 in Retail & Consumer Products. How is it then with the lack of jobs? Maybe it's the location?

Bermudashorts

I think it isn't true.

I do indeed think that OP might as well give it a go, seeing as though he is unemployed where he is and has the visa already etc.

I had a childhood blighted by parental unemployment and they could not get a look in no matter how hard they tried. Also, whilst I have not experienced such trouble myself in recent years, I graduated in 1992 (which was also an economic downturn) and had a hell of a time finding my first break. I tried very hard, my entire day was consumed with jo applications and whilst I did not give up on my long term aspirations, I also looked for anything to pay the bills. I remember two of the jobs I went for included operating a knitting machine for a family owned company and working on a butchers stall on the market. They interiewed me, but didn't get a look in as they didn't understand why a young maths graduate would want those jobs.

It isn't true that there is work for anyone who wants it and the suggestion that there is, is one I find very offensive. Lucky you that you have never experienced unemployment.

moneypenny20

It could well be. There will also be a number of those positions in more than once, require specific licences, xx years of experience etc.

For example, the other day I went through Seek asking for ALL new jobs, permanent and part time in a reasonable commutable area, there were about 350. Once I removed the highly qualified - doctors, nurses etc, then removed those that had gone in multiple times, then those that having read the criteria realised no matter how I worded my resume, I'd be binned immediately, then those that had slipped in and were actually no where close, then those that should be simple - waitressing etc but insisting on xx years experience, I was left with five jobs. There are hundreds of others in the same position as me. What are the odds? Eventually I will get something, I refuse to believe it won't happen.

All I am saying is that regardless of what people say about if you want a job you'll get one, it's not easy for the vast majority.

Out of those few thousand jobs you found, say 3/4s of them require licences and years experience, of the part time ones, how many of them will be in easy travelling distance from where you'll be living? Having a part time job for say 15 hours a week, but having to travel over an hour each way to get there, plus spend more money on transport than you will actually get paid will you take the job if offered?

Hey what do I know, apparently it's easy and it could well be for you. If you have nothing where you are and you want an adventure, try something new then go for it. I love it here, my family are very happy here. Utopia it isn't. It's hard work.

upyerfud

I've said this before but lets do it again:
The vast majority of jobs on SEEK are either duplicate postings, sometimes up to six times, are no longer available, are only being posted to comply with legislation but are already earmarked for internal applicants, or several other reasons.
A quick look today shows 139,121 vacancies on SEEK alone. Do we really think an ecomony with 5% unemployment has that many genuine positions to fill?
I left a very well paid job in oil and gas 2 months ago by choice, took 4 weeks off and have applied for probably 30 jobs in the last four weeks. I'm now at the point where 2 companies may be about to make me an offer. Thats with very good, directly relevant qualifications and experience, based in Perth. The recruitment industry in Australia is both extremely slow, and unprofessional as regards even replying to applicants. Yes there are a few very good ones but they are far outweighted by the rest.
Getting a job in Australia at the moment is very difficult and anyone who thinks different needs a reality check.

ordinaru

I see, thank you for your responses. I wonder how come Australia has such a strong immigration program if there aren't too many jobs available, what is the catch here?

Dorothy

They do have jobs available. Skilled jobs - like the one that got you your visa in the first place. You weren't assessed as HR manager so you could work at a petrol station. Australia has enough unskilled workers and the migration policies reflect the need for skilled workers.

Scottoir

to our hungarian friend and anyone else..

i don't drink, and am not a pubby.. but as you probably know pubs are a great place to pick up work.. go to your local and put the word out..

(particularly for seasonal work in the right areas)

dont get tired of calling in on local independent small businesses.. its often the second or third time that you can get lucky... preferably on foot. not big chains - independents..

ive picked up numerous jobs in the past by offering my - keen but largely unskilled - services for one day a week for nothing.... stick it out for a couple of months and the very least you get is the experience the ads ask for, and a reference... i have done this in total 7 times in 20 years. 4 times of which i was paid for the first shift and got paid work. twice i stayed for experience, and twice it amounted to nothing.

telesales and charity collection are jobs that i personally hate to high heaven, but are relatively easy to get a start in the capital cities.. if you are prepared to cold call people or ask them for a donation then you can be working within a few days (that is my experience over a ten year period in perth, sydney, darwin, brisbane and newcastle) $10-20per hour - commision

if you want to work in hospitality you'll need to do a responsible service of alcohol course.. its only a day course. theres also similar short courses for making coffee and taking bets (TAB).. once you have done a couple of days training, thats when you try and get a free work trial.. once again best results are with independent sole traders.. you need to talk to the decision makers £14-18 per hour

retail;

coles, aldi, big w, target, bunnings etc are all worth applying for whether you want it or not.. often the hours will let you look for something else.. best time to look is when they take on seasonal casual staff.. out of 10 casuals normally 2 or 3 will end up on a perm contract.. no experience required. $18-21 per hour unskilled

mcdonalds, subway, etc - no exp required

if there's a boutique shop or specialist outlet you want to work at then volunteering is your best bet.

labouring/construction;

this is not just for the boys.. if you have a green card and ppe you're legal. theres a fair bit in cbd's and very little elsewhere at the moment. there nothing stopping you rocking up to a building site near you, asking to speak to the site manager, labourers are normally sourced thro a local agency. take the name of the site manager on site and use that name with the agency "Joe Bloggs from xyz told me to register with you etc.."

similarly you can work on the roads.. they are often more likely to take on females.. similar process with 2/3 day courses including traffic control and green card.. casual only.. but you can earn 700-800 a week - unskilled

there is a fair bit of job snobbery out there.. if you don't mind getting dirty then the world is your lobster, and there is hope

ordinaru

so if you were to start all over again, what city would you choose? a major city (melbourne, sydney) or a small one (townsville, cairns)

Beoz

There are plenty of bar jobs anywhere. Are you beautiful? Even better.

Your tickets will mean very little without experience. You will be just like another graduate looking for a foot in the door. With experience, especially in a specialised field, you will be sought after.

Scottoir

id say that all depends on what makes you tick.. what are you looking for?

if you want excitement and opportunities then id suggest one of the capital cities

if i was younger than i am now and i wanted to find work and meet people quickly, then id go (as i have done several times) straight for the heart of either sydney, melbourne or brisbane..

if i was desperate for work id be going round all the big city centre backpackers and speeking/befriending staff.... (kings x, central, surry hills, manly, bondi etc.) these people will invariably have their finger on the pulse.

this is also a great way to grab a ride going north or south.. it will be safer and more fun to travel with people.. there are plenty of people who will be looking for the same stuff as you...

RenShen

I have had quite a lot to do with Volunteering Gold Coast lately. Its a great organisation and if I were in the position of looking for work again, I would definitely register with them and do some volunteering. They run very good training seminars too which you have free access to.

There are a lot of organisations that source their volunteers from VGC. Its not just wildlife sanctuaries and charity shops. There is office work, promotions, all sorts on there that could possible lead to employment or at least improve a CV.

ordinaru

thank you for the link, very helpful
still my problem remains: if I intend to change my qualification, but I don't have tons of money to support, just for a short period 3-4 months maximum, what would you advise me to do; as far as I see the trades take up to 3-4 years until you get a wage
any suggestions? I am thinking about retail or hospitality, but I wonder how many jobs are really available, since you say that seek.com.au is not the most reliable source to judge