Let me start this post by apologising for the delay in posting.
Yes, it’s been more than a year since I wrote anything but I promise to be more recurrent with my posts from here on.
I have been meaning to write for a while but the struggles of starting a life from scratch in a new country and finding my ground kept me busy.
I was also a little confused about what I wanted to discuss here as I don’t want to be a general blog but a reflection of my life and learning in this country. And the first thing I learnt is to Unlearn everything I have learnt so far.
Moving Countries is hard or at least harder than it seems when you are sitting thousands of miles away with a vivid and glorified idea of what being an Expat means. I learnt building a life from zilch is hard work. Especially when it requires you to learn a completely new culture and way of living.
The toughest part of it all is learning to provide for yourself. Cause let’s face it we all came here with dreams in our heads. And it’s hard to see those dreams fade away when reality hits. In most cases, I have seen people give up and accept whatever life throws their way as the alternative is to perish.
This is my attempt to help guide those who still believe in their dream and are willing to fight for it. I have often come across Indians with a list of degrees and solid relevant work experience back home, who fail to break into the job market in Australia. This post is for them. If whatever I have learnt trying to navigate the job market here helps even one person get their dream job, I will be beyond happy.
So read on to know things you should consider during your job search in the Australian market.
1. RESUME: kind of obvious, isn’t it. Your resume is important for any job search but what is more important is to make it relevant to the job market. I have often had people share their resumes with me on LinkedIn which outline their tasks and profiles wonderfully but are aesthetically abysmal. The formatting is off, readability is poor and it goes on for eons.
So before you send out your resume to recruiters here’s a checklist of things to consider:
– Formatting is consistent.
– There are no spelling or grammatical errors.
– You have customised the Resume to suit the job you are applying for.
– Your Resume is concise. Not exceeding two pages, make it as brief as possible. If you have a lot of work experience try using shorter sentences.
– The text size is readable.
– Add keywords based on your profile and the Job Description to ensure easier keyword searches.
A Recruiter gets hundreds of resumes for one job posting. So, it’s essential that you make their job easier by making your resume a snapshot of your career rather than a story.
2. CREATE A BUZZ IN THE MARKET: So you have already made a resume based on the checklist and applied to every job possible but in vain. You can increase your chances of a call back by one or all the following:
– Time your emails: Most job ads would give you email Ids of the recruiter even if it is asking you to apply for the job through a careers page. It’s always good to drop them an email as well. I prefer to schedule my emails to hit the Recruiter’s inbox as early as 8 or 9 am so that it is the first email they see when they come in. I use the hubspot extension on google chrome to schedule my emails.
– Pick up the phone and connect: If you find the Recruiter’s phone number in the ad it is always good to pick up the phone and connect. You will be surprised by how many recruiters are happy to have a conversation. In my experience, the best time to call a Recruiter is before 10 AM when they are still catching up on their emails as most recruiters spend their days in back to back meetings.
– Create a Network: LinkedIn is a powerful tool for hiring and I cannot stress that enough. Connect with people in your field or even recruiters in your area to keep abreast be new job openings. Do look for mentors, people who can guide you in the new job market. Don’t be afraid to ask for coffee catch-ups to discuss opportunities or seek guidance. The Australian job market is small and network-driven. Who you know, definitely matters. So make as many real connections as possible. Another app that is great for networking especially for those with technical skills is meetup.
There is no Fool Proof formula to make sure you get a job. This is my own learning and the success of this may differ for different people. However, I hope it provides a little it of a guiding light in your job search.
If you are one of the lucky few who already has offers pouring in but till not able to crack an interview, WATCH THIS SPACE FOR MORE.
The Desi Pardesi 