Working in Australia 1

[Medeski]

Hello all, just wondering if any engineers here had an opinion of working in Australia. I'm originally from the states, but I have been working as a mechanical engineer in Japan for a number of years. I'm getting a bit tired of the long hours, general restrictiveness and basically just looking for a change.

I don't have a solid reason for Australia, visited there once, seemed like a nice place, nice weather, bit pricey though. Though I don't mind overtime, staying at work until 11 every other day isn't my idea of a well balanced life and I have an image that Australians value their personal and family time.

I have my bachelor's degree in ME, am proficient in CAD, have a varied work experience, and passed the highest level of the Japanese proficiency exam. I would like to think I have a good work ethic as well, and I wouldn't be contemplating a change if I really wasn't doubting long term prospects here.

Is it hard as a foreigner to find engineering work in Australia? How's the life in general? Any and all opinions are greatly appreciated!

Best,
Medeski

 

[msquared48]

Personally, I was not aware that anyone worked in OZ.

Mike McCann
MMC Engineering
Motto: KISS
Motivation: Don't ask

 

[FreddyNurk]

The lifestyle can be interesting, there are a lot of potential issues in terms of living in Australia. Climate is actually quite diverse, depending on your location.

There is a lot of rather nasty wildlife that tends to scare off a lot of people, including such things as drop bears and hoop snakes, not to mention the crocodiles, sharks and jellyfish, highly venomous snakes and spiders too.

There are a lot of things to do depending on your location as well, though often the most popular pastime is actually synchronised inebriation, quite popular in Alice Springs, at least.

On a less serious note I've worked with quite a few foreigners, so it mustn't be too hard to get employment as an engineer in Australia.

 

[Medeski]

Thanks for comments!

Synchronised inebriation, eh? I better get practicing. Is that an Olympic event now?

I love the outdoors, and getting away from the megatropolis that is Tokyo. And if you're gonna kick the bucket, it might as well be doing something cool like fighting a croc or shark.

I've only been to Sydney, but I heard Perth is nice too.

 

[GregLocock]

Engineers are still on the preferred occupation list, which gets you a number of points towards your score for the visa.

The country is approaching full employment, so getting a job should be easy enough... but it might well be in mining, the good side of which is that the pay is great.

Houses are expensive here due to various ludicrous policies, the good news there is that that house of cards is unlikely to come tumbling down.

In terms of purchasing price parity Australia is expensive for things like cars and houses, and beer in pubs, but staying alive is cheap. Engineers earn about twice the national median wage, although mining distorts that.

Despite the lazy image hours worked are quite high, offset by 10 public holidays, and many places flex one day a month off, and have 4 weeks leave, and one week's long service leave. The famous Australian sickie is very organisation dependent.



Cheers

Greg Locock


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[Medeski]

Thanks for the tips! I've heard a bit about "pulling a sickie".

Well, maybe I'll take a look around and see what kind of job I could get. My current work (heavy machinery) could probably be translated into mining. Though I was thinking about bio-med too. Anyway, thanks again!

 

[GregLocock]

There's a fair bit of biomed, Cochlear, CSIRO, and so on.

Cheers

Greg Locock


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[Bobber1]

I sent a resume to an Australian recruiter. He seemed really interested in my mining background. When he found out my age, he dropped me immediately.

Be young!

 

[KENAT]

Why did you let him know your age?

Not sure about in Aus but in some places they can't legally ask your age etc. Of course, that's more employers than recruiters.

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[GregLocock]

The visa system is very age dependent. There are a few ways round that, of which the simplest is to be rich.

Cheers

Greg Locock


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[csd72]

You shouldnt have a problem getting a job as an ME in Australia. They were not as affected by the financial crisis as many other countries so there is still plenty of work.

I believe that salaries for mech are about the same as the US, but dont quote me on that as it is not my industry.

 

[ASFI]

Dont come to Australia, i think it is the worse place for an engineer especially a foreigner. I have been here for 3 years and I can tell you it is very hard to find a job and if you find one you will really struggle.

Dont belive what they say about engineers in high demands, it is all lies. I know engineers here that are going to Japan to find work.

check the australian immigraion for an article showing that 50% of all professional immigrants end up leaving Australia. this should explain it ..........

 

[KENAT]

Thanks Greg, the immigration age thing occurred to me after I posted.

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[Medeski]

Thanks for all the comments! Well, I never expected working in Australia would be a cakewalk, there's always a bit of a struggle when working in a foreign country. I'm still under 30, so hopefully age won't be a problem. I guess I'll start looking at what's out there, maybe look for a recruiter or something.

 

[tickle]

My experience is the complete opposite to ASFI. I did struggle finding work initially (two months), but that was partly due to not wanting to shift interstate and wanting to give the arrival state a fair go.

I have never struggled for work after finding my first job, I am earning more than I ever dreamt of in my home country, I have had the opportunity to work on a variety of projects generally by being thrown in the deep end.

Based on oil and gas and mining, some states (NSW and Victoria) appear to be a bit more temperamental in continuous work, but the other resource risk states are always looking for engineers.

The boom area is currently Queensland with four CSG to LNG plants proposed. Darwin also has a prosperous feel and has a lot of opportunities for younger motivated engineers.

I would not hold great expectations of a recruiter offering much assistance until you are in Australia. A lot of employers are happy to assist with visas.

Good luck

 

[Gurjjeet]

Medeski

from your posts I can suggest you look into regional areas in Queensland & Western Australia. PNG(Papua New Guiena) is not a bad option either but bit unsafe.

There is a visible shortage in regional areas as everybody wants to live in capital cities & wanna avoid regional towns. You will find the salaries & work culture is much relaxed in regional towns. There is a lot of outdoor activities there aswell. Avoid very small towns with < 10k population. If in small town rty to get housing in the package. There is a lot of FIFO work as well.



Good Luck

 

[GregLocock]

Our bitter and twisted friend raises a good point, a fair proportion (I'd have guessed 30%) of those who immigrate leave sooner (more often) or later. Australia is not Home and Away, or Croc Hunter, it isn't a sunny version of the UK, it isn't an English speaking version of Spain, and it certainly isn't the USA, and it is a damn long way from the rest of your family. I suspect the latter is a big part of it for many people.




Cheers

Greg Locock


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[brandoncdg]

This hits close to home as I was offered a job in Oz a few years ago, basically threw all my stuff away, and said my goodbyes. After the 3 month sponsored Visa process was days from being finished, I found out the job fell through.

Some things I learned along the way. They are not like the States. I was asked how I looked, since they don't want people looking certain ways. Sometimes you will be asked for a picture with your CV. To me it felt like it was the States during the 50's. Of course I am now 31, but that's how I picture asking that kind of stuff follows.

Also pay was pretty good. I was at the time going by the exchange rate to get a good feel if I saved up what I would be saving up when I left the country back to the States, if I ever did.

Some fun facts, did you know it's normal to drink at work on Fridays there? They also dress in suits in the office. Either way I was offered another job pretty quickly through the recruiter, but just wasn't so into the idea of going through the Visa process again.

Remember you will get a sponsored Visa for being in the engineering field along with a plane ticket there and some form of time in a hotel while you figure out where to live. That was with 5 years of experience under my belt.

Civil Development Group, LLC
Los Angeles Civil Engineering specializing in Hillside Grading

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[FreddyNurk]

Brandoncg, I can assure you that not one of my employers has had people in suits in the office. As a matter of fact in my current employment I was specifically told to forget about wearing it in the office.

As for the capital cities, sure, with the notable exception of Darwin, a lot of them do wear suits in the office.

As for the drinks on Fridays, it varies depending largely on location and employer. At least one employer I've had shouted drinks for Friday lunch, others, alcohol was banned.

Medeski, depending on where you may be thinking of working, I'd be looking to see if theres recognition of your qualification in Australia, and whether your line of work may require registration (Queensland has different requirements to all the other states). Granted, that may depend on what you can get here, but its worth being aware of it at any rate.

 

[Medeski]

brandoncdg - Thanks for the input. Too bad about the job falling through. Actually, in Japan it is also standard practice to put your picture (and birthday as well) on your resume. I attached my resume just for an example, thought I changed the picture, name, and a few other things.

You only put the dates, names and degrees earned for school, and dates, company and position for employment.

FreddyNurk - I'll look into that, thanks for the heads up. I'm in a exempt industry in Japan and the US, but I guess it depends what kind of work I find in Australia.