Seeking Employment in Australia?

Here are some answers to frequently asked questions about working or moving to Australia.

1. What sort of visa do I need?

This depends on your intended length of stay and criteria such as age, qualifications, education, experience and family ties with Australia. All is explained in the visa link on this website - check it out and ask any questions. 

2. Are my professional and academic qualifications recognised in Australia?

Yes they are and in fact most worldwide institutions have strong operations in Australia. Some examples are:

RICS ( www.rics.org )
CIOB ( www.ciob.org.uk )

Also, many of the Australian Institutions have reciprocity agreements with international partners.
For example the Australian Property Institute ( www.propertyinstitute.com.au ) has reciprocal agreements with:

Appraisal Institute of Canada
Hong Kong Institute of Surveyors (General Practice Division)
New Zealand Property Institute
Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (General Practice Division)
Singapore Institute of Surveyors and Valuers (General Practice Division) 

3. What sort of salary package can I expect?

Remuneration packages obviously depend on age, experience, qualifications, local knowledge and the particular location in Australia. Certain states have higher salaries than others although the cost of living also varies to offset this difference.

The main issue that candidates need to understand is that salary packages rarely match the levels attained in the UK. A move to Australia is a lifestyle decision and candidates committed to the move should focus on securing a position with a reputable company and accepting the salary levels prevalent in the particular state. Salary levels are obviously market driven and employers will not usually pay above these levels especially when a candidate will need time to gain local knowledge. What we are stressing is that trying to match salary levels by simply applying the latest exchange rate is not appropriate and will not ensure expediency in obtaining a job offer.

4. Do employers pay for relocation expenses?

Yes they do but usually only for senior positions. These expenses usually take the form of actual payments for flights and initial accommodation costs as well as lump sum amounts added to a salary package on offer.

5. Is it possible to obtain a job offer whilst outside Australia?

Yes it is but usually only in the high demand positions. Many of our clients are international companies that can organise interviews in their offshore branch offices such as the UK. Failing this interviews can be organised over the phone or via video conference.

6. So what is the first step in securing a job in Australia?

The first step is really making the decision to move to Australia based on a desire to live in a country (temporarily or permanently) with a superb climate and a lifestyle second to none. If you are motivated by a need to broaden your horizons in a location rich with opportunity and have a desire the break out of the hum drum normality of your current situation - then we will do our best to help you.

The second step is to consider what time frame is appropriate. If you are looking to move later rather than sooner (say 6 months time) then we recommend that a migration visa be applied for. Once this visa is obtained you will be much more attractive to employers.
Should you be looking to move quickly (say within 3 months) then a temporary work visa is more suitable and this can be applied for with the help of a company that offers a position.

We would stress that candidates should only apply for positions if they are fully committed to the move. It takes valuable time, effort and cost for companies to process offshore applications and they will always want to see a firm commitment before offshore candidates are considered.