Am i right to have this 'sinking feeling' regarding employment?

[richard300]

Always thought it might not be simple for me to find a job in Adelaide.... As i don't have a trade (as such) or a university education.

In the UK i am part of the senior management team for a charity based Hospital/rehabilitation centre for ex-servicemen and women - I guess you could call my role facilities management, although the title i have is 'Head of support Services'

 

I oversea all of the administration and logistics for Dining/kitchen/Housekeeping/Laundry/reception/transport. And head the purchasing team as well as being the NEBOSH qualified Occupational Health and Safety person.

 

But i struggle to see how i might find a role similar in Adelaide (although i guess it would translate well to the hotel industry)??

 

So.... I figured i would have a career change (perhaps gain my HGV type licence and become a truck driver)? But this would have a cost, take time and maybe not yield a decent paying job?

 

All i seem to see is that unemployment is up and that work is very hard to find, not to mention that the fly in fly out work for the mining sector (another area i was prepared to explore) is drying up...

 

Then, to top it off - whilst watching a current episode of Wanted Down Under (an Adelaide episode) they said that South Australia are not seeking to employ any non Australian Nurses this year!!! My wife is a specialist Diabetes Nurse and we were counting on it being easier for her to find employment....

[kelbert]

It was filmed almost a year ago and they are building a new hospital in Adelaide so i wouldn't worry too much!

[Blossom]

There are plenty of hgv jobs here, but you may as well wait until you are here to train and you can't bring your hgv licence with you. It costs a lot to train for here too.

I'm assuming you are getting a visa through your wife's job?

 

I don't think your wife will struggle too much. She may not walk straight into a job, but she'll get one.

[NicF]

To me you sound like you have a lot of transferable skills that you could put to use in a number of different roles. Forget trying to look for something that is exactly the same as what you do now and think about what skills you currently have and how they can be applied in different areas. Take a look at the job sites of the three Universities at the professional staff vacancies and have a look at the required competencies for some of the roles - I think UniSA are looking for a strategic procurement person at the moment which might be a good role to look at for an example. I mention the Uni's because they have really comprehensive job specs and person requirements on the job adverts that will give you a good idea of what is actually involved in each role and what kinds of experience and skills they look for when recruiting.

 

The trick to getting a job in SA is selling yourself in to it and demonstrating to the recruiter you have the kind of skills they are looking for. Research companies that might provide similar services in Adelaide and approach them directly once you are here, whether they are advertising for staff or not - my OH got his job this way. Don't reject the idea of a fixed term contract either. Many roles are offered on a fixed term basis here and it's much easier to get a permanent role with an organisation if you are already working for them on a fixed term contract. Don't be put off if you are told you don't have local experience - in my experience this means they already have people working for them that they want to give the job to. Many bosses here seem to prefer the devil they know and would rather recruit someone who they are already familiar with.

 

I can't comment on how easy it will be for a nurse to get a job here, but there are a lot of private hospitals as well as the public ones that may have vacancies available.

[wizzywozza]

Not related at all ...... but we're from Sunny Worthing too

[Jessica Berry]

The Adelaide job market is an interesting one. I have gained jobs where I have never worked in that particular role or industry before but my resume and then my personality at interview sparked their interest and I got the job. People have different expectations, I came with the attitude that I wanted to get a job and I didn't particularly care about the salary/location/benefits/what I would be doing/who I would be working for, I just wanted to get that first job and start to build our life in Adelaide, that was my approach, other people have different opinions and that is their choice. You have plenty of skills, which I believe would be transferable, you just need to market them. Don't limit your thinking, if you are open to different jobs or industries this will help in your job seeking.

[Guest rustybin]

Tell your wife to find an agency to find her work in the private hospitals, that's what we did, my wife got a the job before we left the uk, a big weight of our shoulders

[Guest Toodolou]

It was filmed almost a year ago and they are building a new hospital in Adelaide so i wouldn't worry too much!

hi , where is the new hospital going to be please?

[kelbert]

Think its going to be in the CBD but don't quote me on that!

[NicF]

Think its going to be in the CBD but don't quote me on that!

 

This is correct. It's on the North West side of the CBD. Not sure if that bit of road is still North Terrace, but I think so. It's basically moving about a mile down the road from where it currently is

[Guest Toodolou]

thanks , so its a hospital relocating?

[guspjmh]

I can't comment for everyone, but in my experience it's been ok - I arrived last Thursday night and yesterday landed a job! OK, it's about 5k less than ideal, but it lets me cut my teeth in the local market.

[Guest Toodolou]

well done and congratulations , thats a big weight of your mind

[Guest six and paul]

Hi there, my husband works at a private school and what you described sounds like his boss the business manager, he overseas the maintenance team, cleaning , cooking teams admin etc, and handles some financial bits etc , hope helps in your search .

[ken&wendy]

The new RAH will be on North Terrace - in easy walking distance of Adelaide Railway Station, but won't be open till 2016.

 

Check out SA Health's website.

 

http://www.sahealth.sa.gov.au/wps/wcm/connect/public+content/sa+health+internet/health+reform/the+new+royal+adelaide+hospital

 

Also check out the govt's Notice of Vacancies for nursing jobs (and others). Most vacancies are only open to those already working in government, but those which have an "ADVT" after them are open to everyone.

 

http://www.vacancies.sa.gov.au/

 

Good luck.

 

wendy

[Guest sargent77]

I can't comment for everyone, but in my experience it's been ok - I arrived last Thursday night and yesterday landed a job! OK, it's about 5k less than ideal, but it lets me cut my teeth in the local market.

 

Well done on job. I've had my concerns over the jobs market after reading the forums but I suppose it can't be any worse than in South Wales and the rest of UK. We are currently going through our visa process.

[Guest Toodolou]

The new RAH will be on North Terrace - in easy walking distance of Adelaide Railway Station, but won't be open till 2016.

 

Check out SA Health's website.

 

http://www.sahealth.sa.gov.au/wps/wcm/connect/public+content/sa+health+internet/health+reform/the+new+royal+adelaide+hospital

 

Also check out the govt's Notice of Vacancies for nursing jobs (and others). Most vacancies are only open to those already working in government, but those which have an "ADVT" after them are open to everyone.

 

http://www.vacancies.sa.gov.au/

 

Good luck.

 

wendy

 

Wow , they certainly have some plans for the new hospital from watching the video!!!

 

Thanks for the links

[jaws77]

I've been here 6 months and haven't been able to get any work.

[zebedee]

I've been here 6 months and haven't been able to get any work.

 

Sorry to hear that, that must be really tough. ACS - Australian Computing Society = IT type work? And you are down in Goolwa? Just putting two and two together and getting five, but almost all IT work seems to based in or near the CBD.

[Guest BurgessFamily]

Sorry to hear that, that must be really tough. ACS - Australian Computing Society = IT type work? And you are down in Goolwa? Just putting two and two together and getting five, but almost all IT work seems to based in or near the CBD.

 

I have to agree here, if you are looking for IT work in and around the CBD and putting Goolwa down as your address it will be a big negative for many employers/agencies. That is unless your skills clearly stand out from the crowd.

[zealander]

I have to agree here, if you are looking for IT work in and around the CBD and putting Goolwa down as your address it will be a big negative for many employers/agencies. That is unless your skills clearly stand out from the crowd.

And they say that SA is an equal opportunity place to live. Shocking to read that you may be segregated or frowned upon for where you live, would living in Auldana with the same skills see be getting on for an agency or employer over those form Goolwa. what if I was from St. Peter's?

[Guest Adelaide_bound]

And they say that SA is an equal opportunity place to live. Shocking to read that you may be segregated or frowned upon for where you live, would living in Auldana with the same skills see be getting on for an agency or employer over those form Goolwa. what if I was from St. Peter's?

 

Its not segregation or being frowned upon - its over an hours drive from the CBD What's not equal opportunities about that? OK, its your choice to drive for around 2.5hrs a day (if you are lucky with the traffic), but as an employer I'd rather have someone who isn't knackered from such a massive journey working for me. St Peters? No worries - you could walk to work no issues, so I'd be a happy boss. Common sense really one would think.

[Guest ColinOz]

And they say that SA is an equal opportunity place to live. Shocking to read that you may be segregated or frowned upon for where you live, would living in Auldana with the same skills see be getting on for an agency or employer over those form Goolwa. what if I was from St. Peter's?

 

I think it has less to do with where you live and more with where you are from and if you are what they call "the perfect cultural fit"

 

But if you believe that your location is the problem just change it on your CV and be on time for the interview:smile:

Edited February 3, 2014 by ColinOz

[Keith & Linda]

And they say that SA is an equal opportunity place to live. Shocking to read that you may be segregated or frowned upon for where you live, would living in Auldana with the same skills see be getting on for an agency or employer over those form Goolwa. what if I was from St. Peter's?

 

Throughout history, in general, people have moved to where the work is, and employers have employed those that live local, no change in that and no harm in been reminded of how it works.

[Guest Claire-n-tel]

There are many reasons why one candidate may be picked above another even if otherwise there is little to pick between them. I have chosen a candidate before who would be driving their own car to work as opposed to traveling by the (often sporadic) local buses.

 

Sometimes thats just the way it is, if a company receives 300 aplications, 100 of those on CV the applicants fit perfectly, they are unlikely to interveiw 100 people so will start culling in some other way, ie less experience, live more than 30/50/100km away, difficult to contact (ie not available by phone etc etc