Kamie26

One of my MIL's best friends owns her own recrutmate agency / consultancy. If you want me too, I'll find out what exactly she specialises in and if its anything related then, I'll pass you her details and tell her to expect your call.

Oh forgot to add that she is based in Brisbane, so I don't know if thats any use.

Bix

Not a good suggestion.

DIAC do carry out random checks on various visa types.
The small company I worked for had 8 sponsored employees over the years and 75% were randomly checked by DIAC.

The 475 is a timed visa that will be reviewed eventually so there will be no hiding the fact you've flaunted it's requirements.

Deancm_MKII

Career changes nowadays are quite common. Gone are the days when it is a 'job for life' or people stay in the same career for life. Quite common to see 3 or 4 different careers by the time people are 40. For employers the bigger issue is job hopping and the average time a person spends working for the same employer is in the range of 18 months - 3 years.

Deancm_MKII

Why work for a living when you can network and socialise for a living?

slapphead_otool

I would agree, but having said that when I apply for a role that even slightly deviates from my background I get knocked back.

Typical conversation with an IT recruiter:

Hi slapphead, have you ever implemented Cognos 10 on top of Oracle 11g in the HR side of the insurance industry?

Strangely enough when I bypass recruiters I have no problems, which tends to suggest recruiters are risk averse and don't think outside the square.

Turban Explorer

And besides I've got a CV for each type of job!

Swerv-o

I'm hearing this. Through what was largely no fault of my own, just a litany of shitty circumstances, I have ended up in pretty much the same boat. A chequered CV that doesn't quite fit in with any one thing, and makes me look like a person that can't settle. Sadly, it's taken me many years of intermediate jobs to get back to where I should have been in the first place.

<sigh>


S

Deancm_MKII

If you went to a restaurant and ordered steak and chips, and they served you fish and chips would you pay for it?

It's not so much that recruiters are risk averse. It's more like HR are risk averse and they are the ones that are paying the bill. Especially with technical roles as HR are clueless when it comes to IT (many recruiters are too). It's an even bigger problem with the modern applicant tracking systems where unless the skill keywords are clearly displayed in the CV, HR won't even look at it. The human element has been taken out.

This generally does not happen when dealing with the line manager as line managers are usually technically switched on and can read between the lines. Unfortuantely, too many organisations are far too process driven (by HR) and recruiters are now not even permitted to talk to the line managers out of fear of losing a client.

A good idea is to use a recruiter that has been around for a while and has developed good contacts and relationships. HR will listen and they can circumvent.

In all reality, what credibility does an early 20's kid have when it comes to career consulting? They haven't had time to develop a network and are too easily brushed off by HR. The agencies that hire kids are usually the body shops and best to avoid. Their business model is to throw enough shit at the fan and hope some of it sticks. And this is where recruitment gets it's bad name.

slapphead_otool

Agreed, but in many cases due to highly specific requirements the only people who are considered for the job are, to put it bluntly, liars.

Take my earlier example of a recruiter asking for 5+ years experience with a product or technology that has only been around for a year!

What is more important - background knowledge in the industry, knowledge of the business area, knowledge of the product or solution, or experience at successful delivery. I would say the latter, but I have given up dealing with most agents.

One emailed me today, having read my CV on their database, and wanted to talk to me about an infrastructure role. I have never worked in infrastructure, and nothing on my CV would ever suggest that I had. And yet Ali has been trying to call me and is now emailing me about an opportunity with a Leading Infrastructure Solutions provider.

Deancm_MKII

I agree with you whole heartedly, however it is the client who pays the bills and at the end of the day, if the recruiter doesn't give the client what they want they a) won't get paid and b) will lose a client. This is why it is best to deal with an experienced recruiter that has a good relationship with the client.

As for your example, if it was a direct requirement from HR then the recruiter should have explained that it has only been around for a year and suggested alternative bridging skill-sets. If it wasn't a direct request from HR then the recruiter is an idiot as it wouldn't have taken 5 mins of research to find out.

A good recruiter is worth his (or her to be PC) weight in gold. The problem is for every good recruiter there are a thousand Ali's. Best rule of thumb is to steer away from the major agencies and deal only with specialist boutiques or solo operators. These are the guys with the real experience and industry connections.

There's also no harm in questioning the recruiter on their experience. It's a two-way street and it's only fair that if you are going to put your career in the hands of a recruiter that they have the experience and credibility to help your career rather than hinder it.

paulry

I hope you we all get jobs soon. Almost 8 months unemployment here. The idealist in me has been thoroughly subdued and I'm now applying for very low level jobs. Not got to the stage of applying for shelf stacking jobs just yet but never say never.

Meanwhile, in other news: Wifey received a "too good to be true" offer of a job last week without even having a face to face interview with the prospective employer. One was set up but the interviewer was off sick on the day so Wifey only met the apologetic staff when she arrived there, followed by email exchanges the following day and the offer. It turns out that it was a real one because yesterday Wifey signed the paperwork and starts work the week after next.

unfair dinkum

I can't believe how many of you guys are unemployed. that's just shit! I don't know how I'd cope if I was unemployed here

Hope things pick up for you...bloody Australia!

Swerv-o

Yeah, that is a bit concerning.

I found myself in the pub with a mate last night, and found myself without much positive to say about the place too. Starting to wonder if perhaps it's time to look for somewhere else...


S

slapphead_otool

+1 Australia isn't doing something right here if we have bright and qualified migrants who are struggling for extended periods to find work.

Its not just once isolated case either.

I hope things do pick up.

HelenTD

Anyone got any data comparing migrant experiences in finding jobs in different capital cities? WA has lowest unemployment rate, I think. For God's sake, the place needs some more personalities as well as skills, move west.