MISSION:

Find a Job in Australia

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Nadine Myers is the Founder and Director of Nab That

Job in Australia!, and Australian Migrant Job Application

Expert, assisting migrants from all over the world to

successfully secure employment in Australia.

Nadine is also the author of the eWorkBook, "Australian

Resumes: Secrets Revealed!", as well as several articles,

in various publications and websites, on applying for jobs in Australia.

Nadine is degree qualified in Business Management through the University

of Queensland, Australia; with further studies in Organisational Psychology,

gained through the University of London, UK.

Nadine has more than 10 years work experience gained in Australia and

Internationally in Human Resource Management and Recruitment, across

several industries, including Tourism, Engineering, Government, Health

Care, Engineering, Manufacturing and Finance. Nadine has expertise in

assisting people to achieve their career dreams, and decided to specialize in

the migrant market after several years experience working with this market

and realizing that there was not a known company or service specifically for

assisting migrants to be more successful when applying for jobs in Australia.

Nab That Job in Australia! (www.NabThatJob.com) not only assists migrants

to prepare their resume and cover letter for the Australian job market, but

also provides a monthly newsletter with free tips and guidance to assist

migrants through their process of applying for jobs in Australia. Nab That

Job in Australia! has also partnered with reputable migration agencies and

other migrant specialists so that www.NabThatJob.com is a ‘one stop shop’

for migrants and potential migrants to Australia.

COPYRIGHT © Nadine Myers, Nab That Job 2008 – All Rights Reserved

MISSION: Find a Job in Australia

CONTENTS

1. About the Author

2. Introduction

3. Australian Recruitment and Migration Expos

4. Job Search Websites

5. Recruitment Agencies

6. English Language Skills

7. Australian Visas

8. Migration Occupations in Demand List (MODL)

9. Successful Self-Marketing

10. Plan a Trip to Australia

11. The Hidden Job Market

12. Develop a Job Search Strategy

INTRODUCTION

There are definitely some secrets to successfully landing a job in

Australia, otherwise you’d have one already, right?

This eBook will not only prepare you for applying for applying for jobs in

Australia, but it will also help you to develop a successful job application

strategy to ensure that you successfully secure employment in Australia.

I have set this eBook out to showcase the key points that you will need

to know when applying for jobs in Australia and how to be successful in

your endeavours to secure employment. You will learn what the secrets

to finding a job in Australia are, and also WHY they are necessary for

landing a job in Australia. This will allow you to take a completely new

approach to your Australian job search and your job applications, and

ensure that you achieve success from now on.

I believe you’re worth that job and life that you really want in Australia,

and I can’t wait to assist you in achieving it!

So…what are you waiting for? Let’s go and Nab That Job in Australia!

AUSTRALIAN MIGRATION AND RECRUITMENT EXPOS

If you haven’t already made the move to Australia and need to find a job

before you get there, Careers Fairs are a highly effective tool to take

advantage of.

Careers Fairs offer you the chance to meet with Australian employers who

are willing to sponsor foreign nationals and who are actively looking for

skilled candidates who are willing to migrate to Australia.

ACTION POINT: Do a Google search for Australian recruitment expos and

Australian migration expos in your country to find the dates of the next

events and make sure you attend.

You can also explore the following websites:

Down Under Expo - http://www.downunderexpo.com/

Opportunities Australia - http://www.expo-australia.com/

Working In - http://www.workingin-australia.com/categories/41

Australia Needs Skills - http://www.immi.gov.au/skillexpos/overseas.htm

JOB SEARCH WEBSITES

In Australia, as with most of the world now, jobs are most likely found on

job search websites, and less likely to be found in newspapers. These days

the average person has at least one computer at home, or at least has

access to the internet through their workplace or internet cafes. The

internet is fast and convenient. Gone are the days of going down the shop

to buy the paper, trawling through the pages of jobs in the classifieds

section, writing a cover letter (by hand!) and photocopying your resume to

enclose in an envelope then taking it down to the news agency to purchase

a stamp. Then finding a post office box to ensure the letter goes in the post

before a certain time to make the post that day. You would then wait

several days, if not weeks to finally receive a reply in the mail to say that

you have not been successful.

These days, jobs are sent to your inbox and you can apply by the click of a

button. How times have changed!

Not only is advertising job vacancies on-line convenient, fast and effective,

but it is also a lot cheaper than advertising in a newspaper. Therefore

Australian employers these days tend advertise their job vacancies through

one or more job search websites.

The most popular and utilised websites for searching for jobs are as follows:

▪ SEEK – www.seek.com.au

Australia’s number 1 job site

▪ Career One – www.careerone.com.au

On-line job listings from newspaper advertisements

Other websites you could try:

▪ Job Search – www.jobsearch.gov.au

Government run jobs database

▪ Jobs Jobs Jobs – www.jobsjobsjobs.com.au

Australian job search website

▪ My Career – www.mycareer.com.au

Job search and employment opportunities in Australia

▪ Positions VACANT – www.positionsvacant.com.au

Innovative employment site advertising jobs in Australia since

1999.

▪ JSeeker – www.jseeker.com.au

Search engine offering jobs from job boards, newspapers,

classified ads, and company websites

RECRUITMENT AGENCIES

There is much debate in using recruitment agencies to find employment in

Australia when you are applying from your home country. A lot of

recruitment agencies in Australia will not consider candidates who require

sponsorship, and will not go out of their way for foreign nationals as it is

harder for them to “sell” the candidate to the employer when they require

sponsorship. Recruitment agencies therefore prefer to consider local

candidates for positions, unless the employer has specified that they are

willing to sponsor overseas nationals.

I therefore do not always recommend using recruitment agencies in

Australia if you are applying for jobs from your home country.

However, if you decide that you would like to apply for jobs through

agencies, I can provide you with some tips so that you get the most out of

recruitment agencies.

Tip #1 Do not apply for several jobs that are advertised with the one

recruitment agency. Once you have applied for one job your resume goes

into their database and will then be searchable for them to consider you for

other jobs. Recruiters are generally not impressed when a candidate sends

through applications for several jobs - particularly when the jobs are

different in nature – as it can give the impression of desperateness –

something you want to avoid at all costs!

If you see more than one job you would like to apply for, apply for the most

suitable role, then do a follow-up call to the relevant recruiter to advise

that there are several roles you would like to be considered for (and have

the list with the job codes ready for them). This will also allow you to

develop a relationship with the agency and they will remember you when

your name comes up again.

Tip #2 Follow-up your application with a telephone call. Again, this

helps to establish a relationship. When a recruiter knows you on a more

personal level they feel more obliged to help you. I can tell you this from

first hand experience from being a recruiter! The candidates who phoned

the most often were more likely to get a job because they were always

fresh in your mind and in a way you just want to get them off your back!

Even though this is kind of pestering, even if you are not the most

appropriate person for the job, you will be more likely to be considered for

the role.

Tip #3 When you see a job you want to apply for, make the phone call

to the recruiter to find out more about the role and find out whether your

skills would fit the bill. Again, you are establishing a relationship, and this is

also an opportunity for you to find out whether the employer would

consider sponsoring an overseas national.

ENGLISH LANGUAGE SKILLS

Language skills are a very important aspect of your job application.

Whether written or spoken, you will be a more competitive application if

you have advanced English language skills, particularly if you will be

working in a position which requires customer liaison or extensive

communication skills.

Many migrants to Australia come with qualification after qualification,

however their English language skills have much to be desired. Rather than

studying a second degree or MBA, I recommend you put the money and

time into improving your English language skills. The issue that many

migrants face is that although they are highly qualified in their field, due to

their below average English skills, they are unable to gain a position in their

field and quite often will have to settle for a role within a different field,

such as hospitality. I see this a lot in Australia, which I think is really sad.

ACTION POINT: If you native language is not English, go to: www.ielts.org

(International English Language Testing System) and have your English

language skills assessed to find out whether your level of English requires

improvement.

For more information on IELTS, click on the below link to watch a short

video clip:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p1UeGt-OtWE

VISAS FOR AUSTRALIA

If you are not sure which Australian visa you qualify for, a great place to

find out is at the Australian Immigration website:

http://www.immi.gov.au/. Here you will find a “Visa Wizard”, which will

help you find the Australian visa most likely to meet your specific

circumstances.

The types of Australian visas that are currently available are set out below

with links to the Australian Immigration website for more information.

WORKERS

Employer Sponsored Workers

http://www.immi.gov.au/skilled/skilled-workers/index.htm

For people with recognised skills seeking to work in Australia after being

sponsored by an Australian or overseas employer.

Professionals and other Skilled Migrants

http://www.immi.gov.au/skilled/general-skilled-migration/index.htm

This program is for people who are not sponsored by an employer but who

have skills in particular occupations required in Australia.

Business People

http://www.immi.gov.au/skilled/business/index.htm

For people to come to Australia for a business-related visit. Also for people

to establish, manage or develop a new or existing business, or invest in

Australia.

Doctors and Nurses

http://www.immi.gov.au/skilled/medical-practitioners/index.htm

Information and visa options for doctors and nurses who want to work in

Australia.

Regional Employment

http://www.immi.gov.au/skilled/regional-employment/index.htm

Information about options available to encourage skilled migrants or

temporary entrants to live and work in areas outside of Australia's major

cities.

Australia Needs Skills Expos

http://www.immi.gov.au/skillexpos/index.htm

Expos are held around the world to help meet the current skills shortage in

Australia. Skilled workers can register to attend an expo in their region to

meet with employers and state and territory governments about

employment in Australia.

Air and Sea Crew

http://www.immi.gov.au/skilled/air-sea/index.htm

Information about visas and entry requirements for air and sea crew

coming to Australia.

MIGRANTS

Family Members

http://www.immi.gov.au/migrants/family/index.htm

There are a number of migration options for fiance(e)s, partners, children,

parents and other family members of Australian citizens, Australian

permanent residents or eligible New Zealand citizens.

Returning Residents

http://www.immi.gov.au/migrants/residents/index.htm

Visa options for current or former Australian permanent residents, or

former Australian citizens to re-enter Australia.

VISITORS

Tourists

http://www.immi.gov.au/visitors/tourist/index.htm

For people to visit Australia for holiday, sightseeing, social or recreational

reasons, to visit relatives, friends or for other short-term non-work

purposes.

Working Holiday

http://www.immi.gov.au/visitors/working-holiday/index.htm

For people aged between 18 and 30 from arrangement countries to have

an extended holiday supplemented by short-term employment.

Special Activities

http://www.immi.gov.au/visitors/special-activity/index.htm

For people to participate in specific professional, cultural or social activities,

or to receive medical treatment.

Transiting through Australia

http://www.immi.gov.au/visitors/transit/index.htm

Information for people transiting through Australia for 72 hours or less.

Event Organisers and Participants

http://www.immi.gov.au/visitors/event-organisers-participants/index.htm

Visa requirements assistance for event organisers and participants when

travelling to Australia for conferences, meetings and special events.

STUDENTS

Student Visa Options

http://www.immi.gov.au/students/students/chooser/index.htm

Information on student visas and how to apply.

Student Guardians

http://www.immi.gov.au/students/student_guardians/index.htm

Parents or relatives can apply for a visa to stay in Australia as the guardian

of a student who is studying in Australia.

More Information for Students

http://www.immi.gov.au/students/student-information.htm

Information on bringing family, working while studying, visa conditions,

extending your stay and changing course or education provider, document

checklists and arrangements if an education provider’s approval to deliver

courses to overseas students is removed.

Student Visa Assessment Levels

http://www.immi.gov.au/students/student-visa-assessment-levels.htm

Find out about student visa Assessment Levels.

Sponsored Training Visas

http://www.immi.gov.au/students/sponsored/index.htm

For people who want to come to Australia through a professional

development program or to undertake workplace based training.

What's New?

http://www.immi.gov.au/students/whats_new.htm

Changes to Migration Regulations for Student visas.

RELATED TOPICS

Visa Entitlement Verification Online (VEVO)

http://www.immi.gov.au/e_visa/vevo.htm

The department has an online facility that enables visa holders to enquire

about their immigration status. This facility is also available for registered

Australian Organisations.

Education Providers

http://www.immi.gov.au/business-services/education-providers/index.htm

Australian schools, colleges and universities can find information about

their obligations to international students when offering them a place in a

course.

Education Agents

http://www.immi.gov.au/gateways/agents/index.htm

Education agents can find information on how to lodge visa applications for

international students who want to study in Australia.

EMPLOYERS

Skill Matching Database

http://www.immi.gov.au/skills/index.htm

Helps match potential skilled migrants with skilled vacancies in Australia.

The database contains the educational, employment and work details of

skilled migrants and includes many who are interested in living and working

in regional Australia.

Employer Sponsored Visa Options

http://www.immi.gov.au/skilled/skilled-workers/index.htm

Lawfully operating Australian employers can sponsor and employ skilled

workers who have recognised qualifications and skills/or experience in

particular occupations required in Australia.

Doctors and Nurses

http://www.immi.gov.au/skilled/medical-practitioners/index.htm

There are a number of ways in which an employer may sponsor an overseas

trained doctor or nurse on a permanent or temporary basis.

Labour Agreements

http://www.immi.gov.au/skilled/skilled-workers/la/index.htm

Labour Agreements are formal arrangements to recruit a number of

overseas skilled workers on a permanent or temporary basis.

Regional Employer Initiatives

http://www.immi.gov.au/skilled/regional-employment/index.htm

Information about options available to encourage skilled migrants or

temporary entrants to live and work in areas outside of Australia's major

cities.

Sponsored Training Visas

http://www.immi.gov.au/students/sponsored/index.htm

Professionals from outside Australia can be sponsored by Australian

employers on a temporary basis to improve their work skills, business

and/or management development.

Employer Obligations

http://www.immi.gov.au/managing-australias-borders/compliance/employer-

obligations/index.htm

It is an offence under the Migration Act 1958 for a person to knowingly or

recklessly allow an illegal worker to work or refer an illegal worker for work

with another business.

Visa Entitlement Verification Online

http://www.immi.gov.au/managing-australias-borders/compliance/info-employers/evo-

orgs.htm

Registered Australian organisations can check aspects of a person's

Australian immigration status.

Australian Skills Recognition Information

http://www.immi.gov.au/asri/index.htm

Prospective employees can get an assessment of occupational

qualifications, skills or experience gained overseas. Also find state-specific

licensing and registration requirements.

Australia Needs Skills Recruitment Expos

http://www.immi.gov.au/skillexpos/index.htm

Expos are being held worldwide to help meet the current skills shortage in

Australia. Australian employers can participate in the expos and meet

people with the skills and experience needed to fill job vacancies in

Australia.

Occupations in Demand

http://www.immi.gov.au/skilled/general-skilled-migration/skilled-

occupations/occupations-in-demand.htm

The Migration Occupations in Demand List (MODL). Occupations and

specialisations, identified by the Department of Education, Employment

and Workplace Relations (DEEWR), that are in short supply in Australia. The

MODL is covered in the next section of this eBook.

Reaching Out To Industry

http://www.immi.gov.au/employers/ioo.htm

Industry outreach officers are outposted to industry groups to give expert

support to employers who want to employ skilled overseas workers.

REFUGEE AND HUMANITARIAN

Australia’s Humanitarian Program is an important part of our contribution

to the international protection of refugees.

It is designed to ensure that Australia can respond effectively to global

humanitarian situations and that support services are available to meet the

specific needs of these entrants.

The Humanitarian Program has two components:

• The onshore (asylum or protection) component offers protection to

people in Australia who meet the refugee definition in the United

Nations Refugees Convention.

• The offshore (resettlement) component offers resettlement for

people outside Australia who are in need of humanitarian assistance.

Overview of the offshore Humanitarian Program

http://www.immi.gov.au/visas/humanitarian/offshore/index.htm

Information about the Humanitarian Program for people outside Australia.

Seeking Protection

http://www.immi.gov.au/refugee/seeking_protection.htm

Applying for protection for people already in Australia.

Temporary Protection Visa and Temporary Humanitarian Visa Holders

http://www.immi.gov.au/refugee/tpv_thv/index.htm

Abolition of temporary Protection visa (TPV) and temporary Humanitarian

visa (THV) Holders, and information on the Resolution of Status (RoS) visa

for Temporary Protection and Temporary Humanitarian visa holders in

Australia.

APPLICATIONS AND FORMS

Online Applications

http://www.immi.gov.au/refugee/tpv_thv/index.htm

Start, complete, or check the progress of an application. Online applicants

and registered organisations can also check individual visa entitlements.

Application Forms

http://www.immi.gov.au/allforms/application-forms/index.htm

A list of departmental application forms to print and complete by hand.

Information Forms & Booklets

http://www.immi.gov.au/allforms/booklets/index.htm

Information forms and booklets about visiting or migrating to Australia.

Fees & Charges

http://www.immi.gov.au/allforms/990i.htm

A guide to charges and fees for visas and services.

Character and Penal Clearance Requirements

http://www.immi.gov.au/allforms/character-requirements/index.htm

Information on character and penal clearance requirements.

Migration Agents

http://www.immi.gov.au/visas/migration-agents/index.htm

Information about using a Migration Agent.

If you know what visa you qualify for, and have had this confirmed through

an assessment or skills test, you have the option of lodging the visa

application yourself. Applying yourself can save you a lot of money that

would otherwise be paid to a migration agent, however you also need to be

diligent with your research and ensure you know all you need to know in

preparation for lodging the visa.

You should note that lodging the application through a migration agent will

not fast track your application, nor will the migration agent have any

influence on the outcome of your application. However, if you do not feel

confident in lodging an application yourself, or if your case is complex or

the visa you are applying for is not certain, you may wish to use a migration

agent. Should you decide to use a migration agent, you should always

ensure they are a registered migration agent.

WHAT HELP IS AVAILABLE?

If you cannot afford to use a registered migration agent, but need help,

there are organisations and schemes that may be able to assist you. These

include:

• Legal Aid Societies

• Refugee and Immigration Legal Service (RAILS)

See: RAILS Website (http://www.rails.org.au/)

• Immigration Advice and Application Assistance Scheme (IAAAS)

See: IAAAS Service Providers 2006-09

(http://www.immi.gov.au/media/fact-sheets/63advice_providers.htm)

• your local Migrant Resource Centre (MRC).

As well, there are some 200 Community Legal Centres (CLCs) in Australia

which provide legal assistance in a wide range of matters. A list of all CLCs is

available.

See: National Association of Community Legal Centres Website

(http://www.naclc.org.au/)

ACTION POINT: Go to http://www.immi.gov.au/visawizard/ now to find

out what visa you would qualify for.

To find out whether your work experience is on the Skilled Occupation List

(SOL) and Employer Nomination Scheme Occupation List, go to:

http://www.immi.gov.au/allforms/pdf/1121i.pdf

MIGRATION OCCUPATIONS IN DEMAND LIST (MODL)

Below is a listing of the occupations that fall under the Migration

Occupations in Demand List. If your occupation is on this list, there is a very

good chance you will qualify for the Australian Skilled Migrant Visa.

Managers and Administrators ASCO code

Child Care Coordinator 1295-11

Engineering Manager 1221-11

Professionals ASCO code

Accountant 2211-11

Anaesthetist 2312-11

Architect 2121-11

Chemical Engineer 2129-17

Civil Engineer 2124-11

Computing Professional - specialising in CISSP 2231-79

Computing Professional - specialising in C++/C#/C 2231-79

Computing Professional - specialising in Data Warehousing 2231-79

Computing Professional - specialising in Java 2231-79

Computing Professional - specialising in J2EE 2231-79

Computing Professional - Linux 2231-79

Computing Professional - .Net technologies 2231-79

Computing Professional - specialising in Network

Security/Firewall/Internet Security 2231-79

Computing Professional - specialising in Oracle 2231-79

Computing Professional - specialising in PeopleSoft 2231-79

Computing Professional - specialising in SAP 2231-79

Computing Professional - specialising in SIEBEL

(especially Siebel Analytic) 2231-79

Computing Professional - Solaris 2231-79

Computing Professional - Unix 2231-79

Dental Specialist 2381-13

Dentist 2381-11

Dermatologist 2312-13

Electrical Engineer 2125-11

Electronics Engineer 2125-13

Emergency Medicine Specialist 2312-15

External Auditor 2212-11

General Medical Practitioner 2311-11

Hospital Pharmacist 2382-11

Mechanical Engineer 2126-11

Medical Diagnostic Radiographer 2391-11

Mining Engineer (excluding Petroleum) 2127-11

Obstetrician and Gynaecologist 2312-17

Occupational Therapist 2383-11

Ophthalmologist 2312-19

Optometrist 2384-11

Paediatrician 2312-21

Pathologist 2312-23

Petroleum Engineer 2127-13

Physiotherapist 2385-11

Podiatrist 2388-11

Psychiatrist 2312-27

Quantity Surveyor 2122-11

Radiologist 2312-29

Registered Mental Health Nurse 2325-11

Registered Midwife 2324-11

Registered Nurse 2323-11

Retail Pharmacist 2382-15

Specialist Medical Practitioners (not elsewhere classified) 2312-79

Specialist Physician 2312-25

Speech Pathologist 2386-11

Sonographer 2391-17

Surgeon 2312-31

Surveyor 2123-13

Associate Professionals ASCO Code

Chef (excluding Commis Chef) 3322-11 (part)

Dental Technician 3492-15

Trades Persons ASCO codes

Aircraft Maintenance Engineer (Avionics) 4114-15

Aircraft Maintenance Engineer (Mechanical) 4114-11

Automotive Electrician 4212-11

Baker 4512-11

Binder and Finisher 4913-11

Boat Builder and Repairer 4981-13

Bricklayer 4414-11

Cabinetmaker 4922-11

Carpenter 4411-13

Carpenter and Joiner 4411-11

Cook 4513-11

Drainer 4431-15

Electrical Powerline Tradesperson 4313-11

Electrician (Special Class) 4311-13

Electronic Equipment Tradesperson 4315-11

Fibrous Plasterer 4412-11

Fitter 4112-11

Floor Finisher 4423-11

Furniture Finisher 4929-13

Furniture Upholsterer 4942-11

Gasfitter 4431-13

General Electrician 4311-11

General Plumber 4431-11

Hairdresser 4931-11

Joiner 4411-15

Landscape Gardener 4623-13

Lift Mechanic 4311-15

Locksmith 4115-15

Mechanical Services and Air-conditioning Plumber 4431-19

Metal Fabricator (Boilermaker) 4122-11

Metal Machinist (First Class) 4112-13

Motor Mechanic 4211-11

Optical Mechanic 4999-11

Painter and Decorator 4421-11

Panel Beater 4213-11

Pastry Cook 4512-13

Pressure Welder 4122-13

Refrigeration and Air-conditioning Mechanic 4312-11

Roof Plumber 4431-17

Roof Slater and Tiler 4413-11

Solid Plasterer 4415-11

Sheetmetal Worker (First Class) 4124-11

Stonemason 4416-13

Toolmaker 4113-11

Tree Surgeon 4623-15

Vehicle Body Maker 4215-11

Vehicle Painter 4214-11

Wall and Floor Tiler 4416-11

Welder (First Class) 4122-15

SUCCESSFUL SELF-MARKETING

Successfully applying for jobs in Australia, when you have no idea of the job

market in Australia, can take some skill. However, the good news is: these

skills can be learnt.

Every country has unique recruitment process, and Australia is no different.

Further, the current state of the economy means that there are less jobs

and more applicants – making competition as fierce as ever. In this kind of

market you need to do all you can to put your best foot forward to achieve

success when applying for jobs in Australia.

If your experience falls under the skilled category in Australia, do not think

that you have been let off the hook here. There are only a limited number

of jobs available at any one time, and you still need to compete against

other skilled applicants. You therefore need to put effort into preparing

your application as effectively as possible.

RESUME / CV

This is your key to a job, and your chance to make your first impression on

the Australian employer. If you resume is not up to Australian standards,

you are sabotaging your opportunities for employment in Australia.

It is crucial that you do your research on Australian resumes before

applying for any jobs, and I highly recommend using a known professional

in the field of Australian resumes, such as Nab That Job in Australia’s

Nadine Myers – Australia’s Migrant Job Application Specialist. When you

find an expert you would like to use, do your research on them first to

ensure they are truly the expert in their field. You can do this by doing a

Google search on the person, such as “Nadine Myers Australian Resumes”

and see what the results are.

As you can see below, this particular search has produced 50,500 results,

which should give you confidence that this person is an expert in their field.

Nab That Job in Australia (www.NabThatJob.com) offers a free assessment

(http://www.nabthatjob.com/quickfreeassessment.htm) whereby through

answering a series of short questions, you can find out whether your

current resume is suitable for the Australian job market .

ACTION POINT:

Go to : http://www.nabthatjob.com/quickfreeassessment.htm and find out

how suitable your resume is now.

Some key tips on how to write a resume for the Australian job market are

listed out below:

▪ Personal Information

Due to anti-discrimination laws in Australia, by law you do not

have to include any information on your resume that will not

affect your ability to effectively perform your job

▪ First page

The first page is the key to a successful resume – it is the

‘teaser’ and should have the Australian employer eager to

learn more!

▪ Education

Include all relevant qualifications and training on the first page.

Any other qualifications or training that is irrelevant to the job

should either be placed at the back of the resume, or not

included at all

▪ Skill snapshot

List out all of your key skills that are relevant to the job on the

first page of your resume

▪ Work Experience

List out your work experience from the most recent role to the

least recent. It is not necessary to include all of your work

experience, particularly positions that are not relevant to the

jobs you will be applying for.

▪ Language

Ensure you use appropriate English language on your resume.

Have a specialist such as Nab That Job in Australia

(www.NabThatJob.com) to assess your resume to ensure the

language is appropriate.

▪ Length of Resume

Australian resumes are on average around three (3) pages

long, depending on the length and breadth of your work

experience. If you feel all of your work experience and

information on your resume is relevant, do not cut it back for

the sake of fitting it all on to three (3) pages. As a rule though,

try not to go over six (6) pages in length.

▪ Layout of Resume

Ensure your resume is spaced out in the most effective way to

showcase your relevant skills and experience to make the job

of the Australian employer easy for short listing you for the

position. Again, have an Australian Migration Application

Specialist (http://www.nabthatjob.com/aboutus.htm) assess

your resume to ensure you are on the right track.

COVER LETTERS

There is an art to writing a good cover letter. However, the truth is, cover

letters aren’t always read! Quite often the Australian employer wants to

get straight to the facts and will skip over the cover letter to get straight to

the resume.

If the Australian employer skims through the resume and has some

questions on your work experience or skills, this is when they may go back

and read the cover letter to see what they are missing.

The cover letter enables you to explain something about your work history

that perhaps isn’t clear, to explain any gaps in your work experience and to

give a good over view of where you’re at and what you are looking for.

You can find free tips on writing an effective cover letter for the Australian

job market here:

http://www.nabthatjob.com/australiancoverlettertips.htm.

In the meantime though, here are a few things to keep in mind:

▪ Keep your cover letter to one page

▪ Keep the language simple and not overly formal, whilst still

being professional

▪ Stick to the facts and the points that you feel are relevant to

the job you are applying for.

▪ Always always always tailor the cover letter to each individual

job you are applying for – you will make more of an impression

this way

▪ State what it is that YOU’RE looking for

▪ Make a statement about why you are interested in this

particular role, and this particular company

▪ Fill in any gaps in your resume that may require explanation

PLAN A TRIP TO AUSTRALIA

It is a good idea to plan a trip to Australia if you have not been before. This

will allow you to explore the country and work out where you would like to

live, do some research on the cost of living, buying a house and a car, and

generally setting up your life there.

If you do not have the time or money to make a trip to Australia, Living

Down Under’s fabulously informative DVDs will provide all the information

you will need to plan and prepare your move to Australia and help you to

settle in easily when you arrive. Go to: http://www.livingdownunder.net/.

However, if you can plan a trip to Australia, you should use the time

effectively by seeing as many employers and recruitment agencies as

possible. Here are some tips on using this time to your best advantage:

▪ Be prepared: have all the contact numbers and addresses of

the places you have applied for jobs, or who you can apply to

once you arrive.

▪ Make those all important follow-up calls after applying for jobs

to establish the relationship. Let them know you are in town

for a specific length of time only.

▪ Be up front – suggest a couple of suitable times that you can

meet with them briefly while you are in the area. Just how

badly to you want to migrate?

▪ Drop in to the businesses that you apply for and ask for the

specific recruiting manager who is responsible for the job you

have applied for.

When it is time to head back to your home country, you will at least have

established some relationships, and have many contact names and

numbers of people you can follow up with on a regular basis for

employment.

THE HIDDEN JOB MARKET IN AUSTRALIA

The downturn in the economy has brought about the need for Australian

companies to reassess their budgets and concentrate on that profit line,

which has unfortunately meant having to lay off a lot of employees, and

downsize.

A reduced number of jobs available in Australia, and an increased number

of job applicants in the market, has created a highly competitive job market

in Australia.

Australian employers are changing their recruitment methods, and

candidates have to adapt to these new methods in order to have success in

the Australian job market.

With the cutting back of usage of recruitment agencies, and reducing the

costs of advertising expenses, Australian employers are no longer relying on

news papers for advertising and are even reducing their expenditure on job

boards, such as SEEK. Instead, they are utilising free job boards, such as

Gum Tree, and also enhancing their own careers pages on their website.

This is what we call the hidden job market. When employers choose not to

advertise through the regular channels, and use their own resources.

According to SEEK (http://www.seek.com.au/), Australia’s #1 Job Site,

“Many job opportunities are never advertised”.

It has been estimated that more than half of positions vacant in Australia

have been filled through the hidden job market, rather than being

advertised through the usual channels.

A good example of an organisation that utilises this method of recruiting is

Rio Tinto, with their Australian head office based in Brisbane. Rio Tinto do

not typically use recruitment agencies and avoid using on-line job boards

and news paper advertising except for the more specialised roles that are

harder to fill. Instead, they have a very sophisticated careers website

(http://www.riotinto.com/index_careers.asp) where candidates can apply

for jobs, subscribe to a jobs mailing list to receive up to date listings on a

regular basis and can be the first to hear of a suitable vacancy with the

organisation. Their applications then go into a pool, which Rio Tinto can tap

into as jobs become available.

This is a very smart and innovative approach to recruiting, and also allows

candidates to pick and choose who they would like to work for, and register

their details with those particular organisations.

Networking is another way to tap into the hidden job market in Australia.

Through increasing your Australian networks, contacts and friends, you can

find out about jobs before they even become available on the market.

Don’t be afraid to use social networking sites to build up your Australian

networks – every little bit helps!

ACTION POINT: Tap into the hidden job market in Australia! This is

where more and more available jobs are hidden and if you do not make use

of this valuable job market, you will reduce the number of opportunities

available to you.

DEVELOP A JOB SEARCH STRATEGY

Now that you know where to look for jobs, how to approach Australian

employers and how to drastically increase your success rate when applying

for jobs in Australia, you can develop your own job search strategy.

Here’s what you need to do:

▪ Establish what visa you qualify for and whether you require

sponsorship (http://www.immi.gov.au/visawizard/)

▪ Prepare your resume

(http://www.nabthatjob.com/successfulaustralianresume.ht

m) and cover letter

(http://www.nabthatjob.com/australiancoverlettertips.htm)

for the Australian job market

▪ Book yourself in to attend the next Australian Recruitment

and Migration Expos (http://www.immi.gov.au/skillexpos/)

▪ Conduct your job search through the main job search

channels as listed in this eBook (http://www.seek.com.au/)

▪ Expand your Australian networks and advise everyone you

know of your plans (http://www.facebook.com/)

▪ Research the top companies in Australia you would like to

work for and lodge your job applications through their

websites (http://www.google.com.au/)

▪ Plan a trip to Australia so you can meet with employers in

person (http://www.expedia.com/)

▪ Stay in contact with all of the recruiting managers that you

apply for jobs through, and develop those relationships

I wish you all the best in your search for employment in Australia! I am

sure you have found this eBook to be very useful in your application

process.

Kind regards,

Nadine Myers

Director

www.NabThatJob.com