Australian Engineers get Jobs by Networking
Australian Engineers get Jobs by Networking. To get an engineering job in Australia you need to establish a network of Australian engineering contacts to replace those you have left behind; to help you get a job and to provide ongoing professional support.
In Australia, about 80% of job positions are filled without being advertised. Applicants learn about them through networking of one form or another. As a new arrival to Australia, one of your biggest challenges is to develop a network.
Networking is not just giving out your business card and collecting business cards of potential employers so you have a list to ask for a job. You need to establish a relationship for exchanging information. Keep in mind, the company with no vacancies today may win a big contract and need people next month. Maintaining contacts enables you to:
• Learn what companies do
• Find out when they, or their competitors win jobs and will want more people –before others do!
• Understand what particular skills companies are after
Many engineers new to Australia make the mistake of seeing networking as a one way relationship. When they meet a company representative they blurt out “Do you have
any vacancies for mechanical engineers?” If the response is “No.” the conversation ends. They head off despondent, to the next prospect.
Networking is a two way relationship. As an engineer you have your skills to sell. Australian industry needs engineers. Through the networking relationship both parties
develop a better understanding of what each has to offer.
Do not expect to be offered a job at an engineering networking session or the first time you meet some one!
Where to start
To start an Australian engineering network, go to events and places where engineers meet. This is through professional engineering associations such as:
• Engineers Australia,
• APESMA, and
• specialist industry and discipline organisations
The meetings of these engineering organisations are normally open to non-members. You may pay a little more as a non-member. Their web sites advertise their up-coming events.
Here is an example script you can use to help get started. Add your own questions and put this into your own words. Then practice it on a friend. Note that the questions re all about finding information about the person and their company, or other companies they may have worked for or know about. You do this so that you can work out hat you have to offer them. You have engineering skills that employers want.
• How do you do I am Rajiv Singh, what is you name?
• Who do you work for?
• What do they make/do?
• What technology do they use?
• What is you position there?
• What do you do every day?
• Does the company employ engineers? What types?
• Where are they located?
• Do they export any products?
• Who are their customers?
• Who are there major competitors?
Some Tips for success
Networking is building a relationship. This requires give and take. The more you share with others, the more they will share with you. This does not have to be your deepest, darkest secrets or company confidential matters. For example: in a discussion, a potential employer might talk about a new project and tell you his company is looking for electrical engineers. Unfortunately you are a mechanical engineer – but you know of an electrical engineer who is looking for a job. This gives you the opportunity to help this electrical
engineer and make an impression with the employer. They will both be willing to help you in the future as you will have helped them by making a connection.
From your international engineering experience you will have some specific technical knowledge, above your general engineering experience, new to Australia. As esperation sets in after being unable to find a job, people can become so busy thinking “Please give me a job.” they forget that they have their general engineering skills, plus something unique, to offer. Find out all about organisations, and the projects and work they do. Then think about where the opportunities are for you.
Maintain confidentiality in business relationships at all levels. This applies to networking. People will share more information with those they can trust. If I trust you, I am more likely to share unconfirmed information and opinions with you, which will give you greater insight or advantage. However, if I think you will spread this to everyone, including my competitors, I will give you less information.
In developing and maintaining engineering network relationships don’t rely on memory – keep notes. This will be both personal and business details. This helps you get a
conversation going whenever you meet. You can ask about their family, use family members names, how the holiday went, how the project is going. People are impressed
when someone remembers them.
Maintain contact with members of your engineering network. This may be simply by sending a Xmas card or catching up for a cup of coffee. Try and have some information
that others may be interested in – without giving away confidential information. Regularly attending engineering functions where you will meet a group of your network, such as through a discipline College of Engineers Australia function or a special interest group is very effective and more efficient than individual meetings.
Do not be afraid to ask questions.
Work at Networking – that is how 80% of Australian Engineers get Jobs.
This post is taken from Project Australia: Land That Engineering Job in Australia by Ian Little
©Ian Little. All rights reserved, no part of this may be reproduced without permission rights from the publisher. Contact us www.tribuslingua.com.au
I am an Electronic Engineer Graduate from University of Nigeria. I wish to apply for Jobs in Australian. Please I need to be adviced on how to go about it. Presently am working with A telecommunication company here in Lagos Nigeria.Someone should please advice me .please send me a reply to my email address.
Regards.
Ekwunife – Project Australia was written for people like you. Buy it and read it. I cannot tell you what to do in two lines.