Job Hunting Tips in Australia?

By: Khondoker Hafizur Rahman on 11:16 PM

Unfortunately I didn't have much job seeking experience to offer good
advice. Out of all the Singaporeans I came to know here in Perth, I was
the only one who found my job in the most in an uncanny manner so it
might be hard for others to replicate. So I can only offer my 2 coconuts
worth from my observations of what the others did. I hope there are
some reading this who are willing to contribute your secrets in
completing your respective perilous quests of landing yourselves a job.
For an inspirational story about job hunting, read the story of one of my mates here.





Before I go about this, I have to comment about your comment about job
hunting is proving to be more difficult here. I am not sure on what
basis you come to this conclusion but take it from me, just discard this
mental barrier and focus on what you have to do because it does nothing
for you except to hold you back further and prove yourself right.

I'll share with you the standard items.

1. Job links - You've gotta take a look at the list our Singaporean daughter Seianko compiled here.
   Among the list, you'll find leading job websites such as seek.com. That
   may be a good place to start off if you have nothing on the plate now.
2. As you did not suggest what kind of
   jobs you will be looking for, it is difficult to pin point some avenues
   closer to your targets. Obviously, many 'simpler' jobs will not even be
   listed on the Internet. You may find some on the local newspapers or
   sometimes only on community newspapers. If you are looking for a high
   level job, companies may even bypass the Internet and rely on
   headhunting agencies instead. So, be sure to target a particular
   industry or sector so that you can start researching the most probable
   sources to find job links.
3. Be assiduous. When you are jobless in a
   new country, your job is to find a job. Go ahead and take a few days or
   even weeks off to enjoy and adapt to the new environment if you wish
   but once you are ready, get your head down and treat job seeking as your
   day job. From this day onward, it's shape up or ship out. Set up a job
   seeking time table and stick to it religiously. Be disciplined, accept
   no compromise.
4. "Aussify" your CV. Try reading this to get an idea.
5. Write a customised cover letter for a
   particular job. While this is a really annoying chore, consider it as a
   courting process. A guy who uses the exact approach for every single
   girl he encounters will end up with only his right hand on Christmas Eve
   night. Unless your marriage was arranged, you know exactly what I am
   talking about. So apply the same nimbleness to your job hunt.
6. Cold calling. My friend Stephen got his
   new job by calling his old school where he received his training for a
   chat. It gave him an opportunity to find out the situation in his school
   as well as a chance to update his potential employer his current status
   and qualifications. Stephen found out that there was no vacancies by
   the end of the call. In a couple of weeks' time, Stephen returned to
   Singapore for a visit and received a call from the training centre. He
   was told that they were expanding and needed someone as the role of a
   trainer/lecturer. An interview was scheduled as soon as he returned to
   Perth and he clinched the job. It isn't uncommon to do cold calling in
   Australia. Some even turn up personally in companies to hand their CVs
   over the counter. These 30 seconds impressions may last longer than we
   expect.
7. Approach companies directly even when
   no vacancies are listed in their websites. If you are experienced in a
   particular field and can offer plenty to their company, tell them
   explicitly in your cover letter. Or better, email their COE and give him
   a critique about his company's products and give suggestions to improve
   their product or services. Meet up for a chat if there is an
   opportunity.
8. Networking. Different strokes for
   different people so choose your poison - joining religious groups,
   cults, brotherhood, bikie gangs or just go fishing, whatever that you
   feel comfortable with. Hey but once you are in, don't forget to ASK. If
   you are too shy, just wear a T-shirt declaring, "No Job to Tithe" God
   will deliver.
9. By default, nobody will call you for an
   interview. Thus, never fail to contact the human resource department of
   the companies if you have not received a response within a week or two.
   This is a common practice in Australia. Don't worry about appearing
   like a pest because employers will rather take in an enthusiastic pest
   than a self entitled gentleman.
10. Tell everyone you have a conversation
    with that you are looking for a job. Yes - even the cashier at the
    supermarket if you will. You never know who knows who and when someone
    is looking for someone.