Apostle_Monkey

Hi all,

I am looking for advice and general tips, i have been browsing the web and this forum and thought it was probably best to make my own post to hopefully get some tailored info.

I am a 22 year old graduate with a with a good degree in computer forensics from a good university and would like to live in Australia and work in IT. I have been applying for jobs in Sydney and the general replies are good, but still no interview. most of the replies state that to get an interview and have a better chance of a job i should be in Australia.

My first real question is; Is it better to have a job lined up, or will i truly have a better chance if i am there.

I am lucky enough to have a friend who lives in Sydney who has graciously offered to put me up while i try and find my feet. so accommodation (to start with at least) is not a grate concern.

I have been reading many posts about people wanting to leave the UK for many of the same reasons as myself; no jobs, the state of the UK youth ie. Chav/ASBO culture, the way the country is going, and the rest. I have read many posts of people saying Australia is not as it was 20 years ago and its not for everybody. I have also read some wise people saying; do you really want to go to Australia or do you just want to get out of the UK. Obviously nobody can answer that but myself, however any like minded peoples tales of similar situations would be grateful.

I know the world 'is not as big as it use to be' and i could if i did not like it be home in a day. but its a big spend and lots of effort to go, just to find after a week it was not for me. i have lived away from home, i know i will get homesick and i also know i can make it through, i have no dependencies and no need to stay in the UK, i am young and have the chance.

I am in the midsts of applying for a Working Holiday Visa. what else will i need for oz (bar the obvious clothes etc.) and how does the cost of living equate to the UK?

Any info greatly appreciated.

JAJ

Working holiday visa may get you a foot in the door, but you should visit http://www.immi.gov.au for information on staying permanently. Which may not be possible.

HelenTD

I first came to Australia on a working holiday for a year, travelling around and doing different contract jobs. I applied for migration when I returned to the UK - it took a couple of years before my skills went on the list.

A working holiday gives you a good chance to see if you really like it, and a chance to see how you like working in Australia. It's also the cheapest way to spend some time here as all you'd need is a return flight to the UK and savings so that you can survive until you find a job and accommodation. There are share house opportunities, as well as renting your own place, but you usually need to pay a month's rent in advance plus a month's rent as a bond (deposit), plus usually a letting fee to the real estate agent. Look for other threads here for other set-up costs: utilies, furniture, etc. As a single person, it's a lot easier for you and you have this friend who will help out.

If you can't get a good job (or any job) in IT, then you would have to be prepared to do something/anything to earn money. It's highly likely that your good degree from a good university won't be appreciated here in the same way as the UK (most employers just wouldn't know one UK university from another, nor about a first or second class degree). Presumably you've seen specialist agencies on sites like seek.com.au? Work out what's the worst that can happen financially and otherwise, and work up from there.

Pollyana

On a WHV you have virtually no chance of getting a job before arrival - for the simple reason that you are competing with people already here.

Please please read some of the posts on this forum - you'll soon see Australia has exactly the same problems .

spalen

I would take a view that says there is no downside to what you are attempting to do and you may not get the chance to do it again - so do it.
Come for a year, have an exit plan back to UK. Worst case scenario - you end up working in a bar for a year, it looks great on your UK CV for a prospective employer that you took a year out, gained international experience and took a view of different culture , "matured" after Uni, etc. Best case scenario - you get a blue chip job that gives you good development opportunity in a global company and you end up looking at yourself in a mirror aged 40 thinking "bugger, I only came for a year - wonder what London is like this time of year".

There are myriad things in between - but I'd say the advantage of Asia - and yes australia is in asia in the corporate world - is that youth is not such a disadvantage.

You'd be surprised how many of the people interviewing you know UK or may even be from the UK. In sydney there are enough big blue chip companies who will recruit like JP Morgan Chase, CSC, EDS, IBM, HP, Fuji, Etc plus 00's of australian companies, the major aussie banks, etc. They all have good career paths and opportunities open. There are also myriad business partners, resellers, etc.

Always look at the worst case scenario - if you can tolerate that, then you know that you can do it and get through it.

Good luck

Apostle_Monkey

Thanks for the responces. I have decided that i will do it. like Pollyana said you will get things in australia that you will get here. but i am going with a completely open mind and no expectation, just to live and learn. like you said spalen, i am happy with my worst outcome, and would be over the moon with the best. so thanks for your imput.

the only question now is when. I have 2 windows of opotunity, now with little finacial backing or in april when i may have saved. . .

lesleys

Good luck and do use a spell checker when you are applying for jobs. Forensics of any kind must call for attention to detail and people will check your on-line presence.