Australia ranks high among the countries in the world when it comes to its resilience in the face of global crisis. Its beautiful natural landscapes, low pollution levels, low population, and eminent positions in quality-of-life rankings attract people overseas to come and make Australia their home. The country’s multicultural society also offers the kind of diversity that makes it easier for migrants to fit in.
But similar to many other countries in the world, finding a job in Australia can still be challenging for many individuals. Even with a low unemployment rate of 6% in 2015, Australia can sometimes be a difficult place for job-hunting because many applicants tend to lack the necessary occupational skills or because they are unable to produce evidence of applicable work experience. Many are also bogged down by their limited knowledge of the local job market and workplace culture.
Whether you are a local or a foreigner, you need to stand out among the thousands of applicants sending in their resumes to various companies every day. Here are a few guidelines on how to increase your chances of landing a good job in Australia.
Research on the Australian Job Market Scene
Before sending out your resumes, do your due diligence and research about the country’s job market environment. It pays to know which occupations are in demand and which industries are growing and are generating jobs. LinkedIn and the Sydney Morning Herald, for instance, listed down the 10 most sought-after job skills in Australia in 2016. The list included statistical analysis and data mining, SEO/SEM Marketing, middle ware and integration software, HR benefits and compensation, network and information security, mobile development, user interface design, web architecture and development framework, algorithm design, and corporate law and governance.
The report also mentioned that aside from technical skills, hiring managers were also on the lookout for soft skills including teamwork, ownership, and problem solving. By highlighting how their expertise matches industry demands, applicants can maximise their job-hunting efforts.
Raise Your Level of Skills Competency
Most of the in-demand jobs in Australia are skillsdriven. Earning your college degree and having an impressive work experience can get you to the front door of the company you are applying for, but having the right certification can land you an interview or even the job. One way of having your skills certified is through RPL or Recognition of Prior Learning. RPL is an assessment pathway one can utilise to recognise the skills, knowledge and experience gained through work experience. Having your skills recognised gives you the advantage over other applicants because it shows future employers your efforts in personal and professional development.
Even if you gained your experience outside the country, you can still earn your qualification and certification in order to get hired by Australia’s top companies. Having their skills assessed officially helps migrant workers earn their 457 Visa faster. This type of visa allows a foreigner to come to Australia and work for a nominated sponsor up to 4 years. You are eligible for this visa if you match the required skills to fill an open position in the given business. Through RPL, you can receive official recognition for the things you already know and immediately start applying for a job.
Brush up on Your Communication Skills
Having good communication skills is a basic must-have in a workplace. Good communication skills enable individuals to convey information to other people in a clear and simple way. Things get done efficiently when people in an office understand each other.
Your resume and cover letter will be your future employer’s first look at the level of your communication skills. Make sure your resume is up to date, concisely written, and is without spelling errors. Before the interview, do proper research on the company you’re applying to and the job description at hand. Think of possible questions the hiring manager might ask and come prepared with answers. Make a lasting impression by asking a well-thought-out follow up question. Use the information you’ve researched about the company, and use this as a basis of your follow-up question.
Migrant workers whose native language is not English need to prepare for the interview. One tip to improve their oral language skills is to converse with native English speakers from Australia. Aside from giving you advice on how to speak well, they can also help you practice through everyday conversations.
Build a Strong Online Profile
As early as 2012, a Randstad report revealed that almost one third of Australian companies have adopted social media as a platform in recruiting employees. Hiring managers are always on the lookout for talents using LinkedIn and even Facebook. With more jobs being advertised via the Internet, applicants need to strengthen their online portfolio. Keep your social media profiles smart, and join or follow Australian companies and organisations to be updated about possible job listings.
Do Follow-ups
Another way to make sure you separate yourself from the pack is to send the interviewer a follow-up email. Take this email as an opportunity to thank the hiring manager for their time and to reiterate your interest in the job. To avoid being too eager or annoying, send the email a few weeks after the interview, or when the company’s expected callback has lapsed. Keep the email brief, concise, and upbeat.
With some economies slowing down and populations continuing to grow, unemployment is an inevitable problem most countries face. For every job vacated in a day, a hundred thousand applicants are waiting to pounce on the opportunity to fill it. Doing the proper research, keeping your resume and skills updated, and building a strong profile online will give you the advantage you need to stay ahead of the game.
