Hong Kong Migrant to Australia Success Story
Falcon Yim – Shares his Australian Job story
Falcon Yim’s story features the ‘catch-22′ many migrants around the world encounter: employers in their new country won’t hire them until they have Australian local experience, but they can’t get experience if no-one will hire them. Falcon was almost middle-aged and had been working in senior administration for a Hong Kong IT and production company, but he was regarded as lacking in experience when he arrived in Melbourne a few years ago.
“However experienced you are from your previous job overseas, your résumé doesn’t count in Australia,”
he says. “What they want over here is Australian local experience. Even if you have worked in various countries or have held senior positions previously, employment agencies screen only for relevant local experience.”
Clearly, you need to make every effort to secure your first Australian job quickly. After three months, Falcon found his, selling door-to-door for a security monitoring systems company. He saw the position in a newspaper’s classified advertisements.
He continued to build his Australian local work experience through voluntary placements by TAFE and Centrelink, and attended career seminars organized by Centrelink and job placement agencies. It was through the volunteer work that he heard about a Australian job opportunity at a client’s company-a potential move up to installing security devices such as monitors and surveillance cameras.
“I think persistence is important when applying for a Australian job. I remember sitting at the reception for two hours, waiting to speak to the manager,” he says.
“The secretary told me the manager was busy, but I said I didn’t mind waiting. I had come all the way to see him-what was another two hours for me? Besides, many managers tend to say they are busy just to avoid unnecessary meetings.”
When he finally did get to talk to the manager, he was surprised Falcon knew about the job because he had yet to advertise it. Now he didn’t need to. “Networking is very important,” says Falcon. “You have to get to know the people here, understand their culture and adapt yourself. For example, tea or coffee breaks are good opportunities to mingle and get to know colleagues. Make use of these networking opportunities because it helps you get yourself known in the Australian job market.”
Falcon now has his own computer support company.
“Employment agencies don’t look into overseas qualifications-they go by a checklist relevant to Australian local qualifications.”
His advice for newly migrated job-seekers:
1) Network-”Don’t be afraid to do voluntary work. It provides you with an initial work reference point and Australian local experience that can be very valuable.
It also extends your network of friends and acquaintances who can help you get yourself out into the job market.”
2) Lower your expectations-”Do not expect too much from your Australian first job. Things are different from your country of origin. Adaptation is the key. If you keep thinking about how great your job was in your home country, what is the point of emigrating in the first place?”
3) Understand the job requirements-”Some overseas qualifications are not recognised in Australia. Find out how you can convert your qualifications to fit the local context. Employment agencies don’t look into overseas qualifications-they go by a checklist relevant to Australian local qualifications. Getting the right certificate is important. TAFE courses, short training courses and work placements can help you learn and gain Australian local experience.”
Australian Job success stories are written by Steve Packer and published by Tribus Lingua
©Tribus Lingua 2007
