5 reasons migrants find it hard to get a job in Australia
When I moved to Australia in 2009, finding a job was hard work and it took me 6 months. I experienced firsthand the challenges of learning the culture, slowly building my network, and honing my efforts to land the right job for me. Since then, I’ve been working in Australia and for the last 5 years supported many migrants to achieve their career goals here in Australia. Here’s my top five reasons migrants find it hard to get a job here in Australia and my tips for how to overcome these obstacles.
You don’t know Aussie workplace culture
One of the first things I tell my migrant clients is don’t try to convince an employer that you’re good at everything. They just won’t believe you. Aussies like to be direct and honest. They want to know what your strengths are, the types of things you like to do, and how those things relate to the job you’re applying for. So be prepared to answer these types of questions honestly. For example, you might be a happy and positive person, so you’re great at working with customers. Or you might be quiet and reserved and prefer to work behind the scenes supporting others. Both are great in the right role!
2. Resume and cover letter requirements are different than your home country
First of all, Aussies don’t care if you call it a resume or a CV. The two words are often used to mean the same thing, so don’t worry about this. But competition for roles can be fierce and you have an average of about 6 seconds to make a great first impression with your resume. Yes, it might be viewed for only 6 seconds! Use a clear structure, headings and bullet points. Aussies tend to be less interested in job responsibilities you had in the past, and more interested in your achievements. So make these clear. For example, instead of saying that you were responsible for processing customer service orders, you might list it as an achievement by saying “Became the fastest claims processor in my team and was then appointed as the trainer for new staff”. That’s way more impressive! Correct grammar and spelling are super important. If there are any spelling errors or grammatical errors, you’re out. So take the time to review your resume, run it through free tools like Grammarly or Microsoft’s Word Editor, or if available ask an English-speaking friend to review it for you to give you the best chance at success. Lastly, your cover letter should only be one page and needs to be customised for each job application to cover the unique requirements of the role.
3. You’re in survivor mindset but the employer is in growth mindset
Australia is a beautiful country and there are so many people who want to live and work here. Employers are fussy and they want to make sure they don’t waste their time by choosing someone that doesn’t work well with the team, or who doesn’t want to work hard. So while you’re in survival mode and will do anything, employers are most interested in finding the right person for the role. They know that if you love your job, company sales will grow and you’ll tell people they’re a good employer. While you might feel like submitting as many applications for as many jobs as you can is a good idea, the best approach is to submit less applications but make them high quality and for the right roles. Do your research, understand your strengths and interests, and what type of roles are the best match for you. Now focus your energy on applying for those roles. Aussies don’t mind that you’re from another country, but they do want to hire someone who has passion and is a good match for the role.
4. You’re self-conscious about your ability to speak English
This is a really common problem and I’ve coached many migrants who lack confidence in their English-speaking skills. One of the things I love about Australia is that it is so multicultural, and that diversity makes the workplace so much better. Aussies know this. So be proud of where you’ve come from but also excited about living in Australia. All the employer wants is for you to do your best and be confident that even if your English skills aren’t perfect, you can do the job with passion! Passion is more important than perfect English skills. Remember that once you get the job, your English skills will definitely improve. So worry less about your English and focus more on showing your passion!
5. You don’t have a big network here
This was the hardest thing for me when I moved to Australia in 2009. Back home in America, I had 400 LinkedIn contacts but none of them could help me find a job in Australia. Back then, around 65% of jobs were awarded through Seek.com and it took me about 6 months to find a job. Things have changed since then and now around 65-70% of jobs are found through who you know. LinkedIn is a great free resource. Update your profile and make sure it matches your resume. Add connections with people in your industry and invite people in your network to have a coffee with you and ask for their advice on finding a role in your industry. Don’t ask for a job, just ask for advice. Be prepared to give a clear answer when they ask you “what type of role are you looking for?” If you answer with “anything”, they won’t want to help you. But if you say “I love helping customers so I’d like to work in retail” or “I’m looking for an office job where I can use my accounting qualifications”, that is more specific and they will be more inclined to give you helpful advice. If they like you, they might even introduce you to someone that might help you get a job. Also don’t be afraid to ask your friends if they have job-seeking advice and you can even post something to your network on Facebook, Instagram or WhatsApp. Most human beings really do want to help. Most importantly don’t give up! There are so many migrants who have found success after submitting dozens if not hundreds of applications. This will be you too one day.