Finding it hard to secure work in Adelaide

[Justine79]

Hi All

 

I moved from Ireland with my hubby and son on his 457 visa nearly 2 years ago. In my first year I completed Cert II and cert III in Business and Administration along with MYOB payroll, accounts receivable and payable.

 

Now I have been in the process of seeking work, have sent off some many applications, which I have been to 2 brief interviews, but got no call back. I find this so frustrating as I have got no work experience in Australia, and the employees are not interested in my previous admin job in Ireland.

 

How do I go about seeking employment with no Australian referees and I can't use my College lecturers?

 

 

Just wondering if any of you on here are having trouble securing work. I'm looking for receptionist/admin work.

 

Thanks for your feedback, much appreciated.

[Diane]

Have you registered with some temping agencies? That's usually a good way to start building up some local work experience and thus references for future stuff.

[Justine79]

Hi Diane

 

Have registered with some, but they are coming back saying I need work references from two referees from Australia. The only referees I have are my lecturers from doing my business courses and i can't use them.

 

Hopefully something will come up soon, i'm not giving up.

[Hughes'Roberts]

Hi All

 

I moved from Ireland with my hubby and son on his 457 visa nearly 2 years ago. In my first year I completed Cert II and cert III in Business and Administration along with MYOB payroll, accounts receivable and payable.

 

Now I have been in the process of seeking work, have sent off some many applications, which I have been to 2 brief interviews, but got no call back. I find this so frustrating as I have got no work experience in Australia, and the employees are not interested in my previous admin job in Ireland.

 

How do I go about seeking employment with no Australian referees and I can't use my College lecturers?

 

 

Just wondering if any of you on here are having trouble securing work. I'm looking for receptionist/admin work.

 

Thanks for your feedback, much appreciated.

 

 

 

Hi, Have you got references from any of your jobs from Ireland? A reference or some contact details for people for the potential employer to contact may be a good idea.

 

Have you tried these websites: Seek.com.au, Indeed.com.au (I had this one on my phone and was constantly checking it) Careerone.com.au, MyCareer.com.au, Jobsearch.gov.au, Jobsearch.com.au

 

My background is Insurance, the agency I used was an agency that specialised in this industry however there are a few around Adelaide that cater for admin/receptionist.

 

Try the above websites if you haven't already done so and check it as there update daily.

 

Good Luck with your searching and keep positive, you will find something.

 

Nat :-)

[Lily Rainbow]

Have you tried doing some voluntary work?

[likesshopping]

Hi I agree with Lily Rainbow - I had similar problems finding work...then I did some volunteering at the local hospital and then got the first job I applied for as I had a Australian ref.

 

Hope you find something soon

 

Sarahx

[Toni]

Have you tried doing some voluntary work?

 

Try Volunteering SA they have a large membership based of not for profit organisations that need assistance. I used to work for them many years ago now and saw a lot of people come through who got the experience & references they needed to get them through to a paid job. It's also putting back into an organisation that needs the help.

[Rabeah]

It's really difficult to enter the admin sector here in Adelaide. It's more a closed sphere for people knowing each other, this typical 'its more about who you know than what you know'.

It's also hard to get a food in the door of admin, 'cos Aussies love this kind of 9-5 work type which means migrants fail to secure there more often, but I don't think it is impossible when you stay persistent!

The tips with voluntary work are great.

[jockoz]

Sent you a pm justine

[Keith & Linda]

Sent you a pm too justine, good luck.

[Guest Kennymclachlan]

Hi Justine, I'm surprised to hear about the referees being an issue with the agencies. One thing that employment and temping agencies are used to within Oz and that's migrants registering for work. To tell you that they can't register you due to a lack of Australian referees is worrying and my recommendation would be to just avoid those that say such a thing.

 

In my expereince in this industry, the referees are contacted via email directly by the agencies anyway as part of the checks.

 

Lily Rainbow is spot on with her suggestion of doing some volunteer work if you are in a position to do that. Adelaide is definitely a place where 'who you know' counts. Particularly in sectors such as Admin and HR. Also, ensure your Resume is not putting them off. I'd be happy to give it a lookover for you if you wish.

 

Good luck and, if there is one piece of advice I could give you, it is be persistent! It can be a slog getting work here in certain sectors but just don't give up. Once you have your foot in the job market door, you're pretty much sorted.

[fahi]

Hi, I'm also in a similar scenario, arrived 5 weeks back with a pharmaceutical sales background over 10 years and applied for number of positions advertised in medical sales. Unfortunately, the response I got from many agencies was "Whilst you do have pharmaceutical experience overseas, unfortunately our clients require local experience for their vacancies and consequently we are unable to assist you in your employment pursuits".

Some other agencies suggested me to shadow a sales professional who is already in the industry. But, without any contacts in the local market,I find it hard.

[Diane]

Hi, I'm also in a similar scenario, arrived 5 weeks back with a pharmaceutical sales background over 10 years and applied for number of positions advertised in medical sales. Unfortunately, the response I got from many agencies was "Whilst you do have pharmaceutical experience overseas, unfortunately our clients require local experience for their vacancies and consequently we are unable to assist you in your employment pursuits".

Some other agencies suggested me to shadow a sales professional who is already in the industry. But, without any contacts in the local market,I find it hard.

 

Have a look at this thread on the parent site PIO http://www.pomsinoz.com/forum/news-chat-dilemmas/198134-has-anyone-not-had-job-success-2.html -there is some really good advice from a poster called llessur on page 2 of that thread

[sduffy]

Poses the age old question how can you get local experience if no one will give you a job.Think the worsening economy is strengthening the protectionist mentality.

 

My 18yr old daughter is desparately trying to secure casual employment to assist her with uni costs,she has applied for over 100 jobs in the last few weeks and has had a series of knockbacks,including kfc and Maccas,because she doesnt have specific food experience,yet she worked in K Mart for over a yr,so has plenty of customer service and other skills,very deflating and frankly making her quite depressed.As someome i think may have mentioned earlier,young and cheap is the name of the game,daughter applied to one of the big stores here, her application was rejected online within 5 minutes,weeks later finds out from friend who works at store several 15 and 16 yr olds have just started there.In terms of continuity and good customer service i think it is a rather shortsighted.

 

What riles me is that i have come across so much customer service complete incompetence in the last few weeks it is unbelievable and yet my daughter who is a very competent young woman cant even get an interview.

 

At the moment certainly wondering if the old adage going to Oz for better prospects for the kids rings true,all her school friends back in Uk have now all gone to very good unis and all have casual jobs.Hope things will improve thats for sure, not just for our family but for others struggling,not securing work fairly quickly not only destroys your financial security, but is a massive blow to your self esteem.

 

Sunshine doesnt put food on the table is certainly a very true saying .

 

Sue

[Lily Rainbow]

Hi sduffy,hope your daughter manages to secure some work soon!I got a careerone update last night.Not sure where you live but The Barn at Mclaren Vale are looking for casual wait staff atm?

[Meadows]

Hi Sue

 

I could not agree with you more, my 21 year old son is still looking for an apprenticeship for the last 2+ years. So far after all his TAFE courses, he could do an apprenticeship in electrics, or welding or refrigeration and air conditioning, or electronics, or graphic design and currently carpentry. That does not include the engineering and electrical courses he took in the UK. As you said, employers are only interested in under 18 year olds so they do not have to pay an adult wage. I too, came out here with the impression that he would have more work opportunities than in UK but so far- there is no difference. I agree with your quote "sunshine doesn't put food on the table"

[jim and adel]

Hi, I'm also in a similar scenario, arrived 5 weeks back with a pharmaceutical sales background over 10 years and applied for number of positions advertised in medical sales. Unfortunately, the response I got from many agencies was "Whilst you do have pharmaceutical experience overseas, unfortunately our clients require local experience for their vacancies and consequently we are unable to assist you in your employment pursuits".

Some other agencies suggested me to shadow a sales professional who is already in the industry. But, without any contacts in the local market,I find it hard.

 

What you're experiencing is, unfortunately, very common. However, there's a member on here (I can't remember who) in a similar occupation who, from what I've read of their comments on various threads, has been told by agents it will be easy to get a job when they come over - might be worth doing a key word search and contacting them for further info and to tap into their agent network.

 

Jim