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Sorry, you don't have South Australian experience

Guest potjieslasher

By Guest potjieslasher
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Guest potjieslasher

Guest potjieslasher

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We have been here for over 2 months and whilst looking for work, I am getting a standard rejection that I don't have South Australian experience. Before leaving the UK I was the Business Development Director & CEO with experience in technical sales & marketing and operations management. When applying I am realistic in my expectations, we did our homework before we came, knew that December was a slow month and didn't expect to get a similar role straight away. So I have been looking at either business development roles which is equivalent to technical sales roles in SA/marketing roles/operations roles specific to my field but time and time again it is the same rejection statement without even speaking to me.

 

Looking at other states, this does not seem to be such a problem. We love living in SA and my wife is about to start a new job here, so we are reluctant to move to another state for the sake of my job.

 

I have considered volunteering to gain South Australian experience but am keen to know if someone else has done that and if it was successful? Also if anyone else knows how to get around this, I would really appreciate to hear it.

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Keith & Linda Newbie

Keith & Linda

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sorry to hear of your problem and really hope you get a successful resolution soon, I can only think of offering a potential employer your services for free or half pay, say for say a maximum of the normal probation period of 3 months (still better than sitting on your bum for 3 months). you keep looking for other work during this period (as sometimes is it easier to get a job if you have a job), if you do get a job offer then this may force the hand of the people getting your free services to come good or at the end of the 3 months if you get the job, great if not you have SA experience!

May be a stupid suggestion, but if I think of a better one I will post it.

Good luck

Keith

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Tamara (Homes Down Under) Newbie

Tamara (Homes Down Under)

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We have been here for over 2 months and whilst looking for work, I am getting a standard rejection that I don't have South Australian experience. Before leaving the UK I was the Business Development Director & CEO with experience in technical sales & marketing and operations management. When applying I am realistic in my expectations, we did our homework before we came, knew that December was a slow month and didn't expect to get a similar role straight away. So I have been looking at either business development roles which is equivalent to technical sales roles in SA/marketing roles/operations roles specific to my field but time and time again it is the same rejection statement without even speaking to me.

 

Looking at other states, this does not seem to be such a problem. We love living in SA and my wife is about to start a new job here, so we are reluctant to move to another state for the sake of my job.

 

I have considered volunteering to gain South Australian experience but am keen to know if someone else has done that and if it was successful? Also if anyone else knows how to get around this, I would really appreciate to hear it.

 

Howzit!

Welcome.

Sorry to hear about the difficulties.

We have a senior management friend who recently parted ways with his company. He made a massive effort to expand his network of Linkedin contacts and ended up with interviews and a job in a really short space of time. This followed a series of refusals through the "normal" channels.

Maybe Jessica Berry on here can give you some tips?

Just a thought.

 

Tamara

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Jessica Berry Newbie

Jessica Berry

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Nov/Dec/Jan are generally the slow months for gaining work. Statistically on average it takes 3 months to gain work (obviously this is an average and some people will find work quicker than this and for others it will take longer, and for migrants new to the country it may take longer). Generally speaking, the higher up you are, the less opportunities there are in Adelaide, so more competition for the roles and the longer you may have to wait for the jobs to come round. The Adelaide job market is an interesting one. I have heard many weird and wonderful ways people have gained work, there is also an element of luck and being in the right place at the right time when it comes to jobs. It is often a case of not what you know but who you know, so building networks is important especially at such a senior level. It is important to market your resume to the job you are applying for and understanding what recruiters in Adelaide will be looking for in that specific industry/role.

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jim and adel Newbie

jim and adel

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I agree with the other responses but assume that as a business development director you'll already know the importance of building a network and developing relationships anyway. Two months in means you arrived pretty much as things were slowing down ready for Christmas and summer holidays. Once kids are back in school in a couple of weeks' time, you should stand a chance (still good to think about volunteering etc).

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Guest ColinOz

Guest ColinOz

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To me that is just a way of telling you I don't like the color of your skin or the place in the world you were born, by the way volunteering is as fun as working with the added value of not getting paid :biglaugh:

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Jessica Berry Newbie

Jessica Berry

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I agree with the other responses but assume that as a business development director you'll already know the importance of building a network and developing relationships anyway.

 

I know what you mean Jim, but I got caught out once so now I don't assume anything ha ha. I once put someone forward for a job and assumed because the person seemed switched on that I didn't need to have the chat with them about lets call it interview protocols and boy was I wrong. It didn't reflect well on our organisation, so I haven't made that mistake again! :goofy:

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soo_the_panda Newbie

soo_the_panda

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I second the suggestion to get networking on LinkedIn and go to some networking events. See what BusinessSA and AdvantageSA etc have to offer in terms of seminars, networking breakfasts etc. See if a couple of people in your industry will meet for a coffee and chat from LinkedIn (worked for a Northern Irish friend of mine who took the owner of an SA company for coffee and did freelance work for him - still does 3 years on). In Adelaide all the cliches about 'it's who you know' really ring true.

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Guest Chelseadownunder

Guest Chelseadownunder

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Sorry, you don't have South Australian experience

I had the same frustrations when I got here and could not find work as a financial planner for four months from November to March. This is despite having 16 years experience and the Australian qualification to be a planner. Things did slow down around Christmas but I did start to get concerned when I was approaching 4 months. I ended up just knocking on the door of AMP and got a job that way.

I am concerned that in Adelaide (Not sure if its the same Australia wide) it can be difficult to break into certain roles particularly if you don't have SA experience.

Jobs are advertised where they have already head hunted people on linked in etc...

Cant say this for every profession because my wife landed a job in 30 minutes as a hairdresser.....

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Keith & Linda Newbie

Keith & Linda

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I was told 'You need to have a job in Australia to get a job in Australia'.

BTW, have you read this article?

 

http://indaily.com.au/news/2013/07/08/hello-goodbye-skilled-migrants-leave-sa/

 

It does seem a little more of a pronounced attitude in SA, I don't really hear of it where I am in Qld, but that may just be in my line of work, construction.

Try posting the question on 'poms in oz' and see what response comes back from the other states.

 

I wish you all well and don't give up the dream.

Keith.

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jim and adel Newbie

jim and adel

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I might actually have some work for potjieslasher but having trouble contacting him. I have asked the moderator to forward my details but have heard nothing!

 

It strikes me as a little ironic when a thread is started (seven weeks ago) by someone who specialises in business development - which is all about relationships, establishing and maintaining contacts, networking etc - who's struggling to find work, and who then doesn't seem to be around so that people can make contact ... :biggrin:

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