Accountanting Migrant Success Story from Russia/Israel
Leon Kosher – Shares his Australian Job story
“They always say you have to be in the right place at the right time,” says Leon Kosher, 26. “But you have to be prepared for that right time-prepared to take the initiative to find that opportunity and not just sit around and wait.”
The Russian-born Israeli resident migrated to Melbourne, Australia, in 2004. Armed with an Israeli Bachelor of Business Management, he wanted to move into an Australian accounting career.
He attended a two-month course at Box Hill Institute of TAFE where he learnt about the practical aspects of job-hunting in Australia-adapting his written application style, being effective in interviews, where to look for a job and so on. “It was pretty helpful,” he says. “It also taught me a lot about Australian culture, about how to act in the right way on the job. And it gave me ideas and pushed me to act.” At the end of the course, the TAFE offered him a four-week placement, working at a university, but it didn’t fit with his career plans so he went out and found himself a placement in an accountancy firm.
When the placement ended, the firm was unable to employ him because he was yet to secure PR (permanent residency).
Leon says he must have applied for more than 100 Australian jobs. “But I managed to get only three interviews. In my opinion, it was because I was overqualified for some Australian jobs and because of my lack of local experience.”
But he didn’t despair. He printed himself a business card, caught a bus to a suburb full of manufacturing companies and went door to door. Someone had to need a bookkeeper somewhere.
At the first company he saw, he asked to speak to the manager. “It so happened that the manager was from Israel as well. He told me to speak to his son, and I did. I was told to leave my application and he reply, so Leon took the initiative and called back. Two days later he went for a second interview.
He printed himself a business card, caught a bus to a suburb full of manufacturing companies and went door to door.
Due to his lack of experience with certain software packages, the employer was hesitant to give him the Australian job. He offered to work for two weeks free of charge, and after a month he was employed full-time.
Leon is now the company’s financial controller and taking his masters degree in accounting.
Leon Kosher’s formula for success:
1) Take the initiative
2) Never give up
3) Ask everyone and anyone who can help you find a job in Australia
Australian Job success stories are written by Steve Packer and published by Tribus Lingua
©Tribus Lingua 2007
