Working Abroad Country Career Guide: Australia

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Country Profile
Since Europeans first came to Australia, in 1788, immigration has been essential to the country's development. The world's smallest continent and the sixth-largest country, Australia has a culture similar to that of the United States. Most Australians live in the temperate southern and eastern parts of the continent; much of the rest is semi-arid to arid. Most Australians are Caucasian, with Asians and Aboriginal people making up the majority of the rest of the population. Sydney is Australia's largest city, home to one fifth of the country's 19.2 million people, but Canberra is the capital.

Australia's constitution was patterned after the United States', but it is a commonwealth of Great Britain and considers Elizabeth II its queen. The nation is divided into six states and two territories. Australia's economy—its GDP is $381.5 billion—is comparable to the four major West European economies. The country is a major exporter of agricultural products, minerals, metals, and fossil fuels. Australia's sound infrastructure, which includes nationwide air, road, rail, port, and telecommunications systems, combined with its close proximity to the Asia-Pacific region, make it a key market for international business and investment.

Professional Resources
A very useful resource for foreign job seekers interested in working in Australia is the Australian Bureau of Statistics, which is the country's official statistical body, providing services such as the analysis of demographic, economic, and social censuses. Expatriates should also consider checking out Australia's many trade periodicals, such as Business Review Weekly, or one of the many professional networking groups such as Women in Business.

The Austrailian Business Council was established in 1983 by a group of leading business executives of major corporations. It provides a forum for Austrailian business leadership to contribute directly to public policy debates and endeavors to improve Austrailia's competitiveness by establishing a strong and growing economy. The Council also has an advocacy role with government, interest groups, and the community.

Job Search Resources
There is an enormous number of online job resources available in Australia. A search may be narrowed down by geographic region, type of industry, type of employment, and so on. Australian career resource sites also offer information on specific contacts, how to prepare oneself for career and relocation, regional industry trends, salary ranges, regional cost of living, position requirements, and an endless amount of other important information. Check out Asiaco Australia and Career One for a good start.

However, an online employment search should be complemented by more traditional methods. A common way to find a job in Australia is through recommendations of friends, relatives, and colleagues. This type of interpersonal recommendation is generally difficult for expatriates to access, but they can get around it by joining one of many networking groups upon their arrival in the country.

Temporary staffing firms are also beginning to make an appearance in Australia. Temporary employment agencies are based in major cities and are also available on the Internet. An applicant who already has a specific idea of where he/she would like to work can apply to these companies directly. Many companies, like Adecco and Manpower, provide information about job vacancies and job requirements on their websites.

Financial Considerations
Australia's cities really give you bang for your buck. The cost of living in Melbourne, Adelaide, Brisbane, and Perth is less than half that of the world's most expensive cities, and Australia's major cities are all ranked among the world's top 30 for quality of life. Western Australia is significantly less expensive than the east coast.

Rental housing can be difficult to find in the major cities, particularly in Sydney and Melbourne. Foreigners are well advised to secure housing before arriving in Australia.

All residents of Australia are eligible for the national health insurance, provided they meet any of four criteria: they are citizens of Australia, they are citizens of New Zealand, or they hold or have applied for a permanent visa.

Most workers in Australia work 9 am to 5 pm, Monday through Friday. Australians earn significantly more vacation time than, for instance, Americans--three months off after 15 years of services. Since Australia's summer is in December and January, most Australians take their vacation then, combine summer break with the Christmas and New Year's Day holidays.

New parents are entitled to 52 weeks of unpaid leave on a shared basis. Taxes in Australia vary according to residency status. Australia's social security system is one of the best in the world. Its benefits include retirement and disability pensions, unemployment and sick pay, family and housing allowances, and health care. Expatriates living in Australia must wait two years before they can take advantage of the benefits, with the exception of health care.

Employment Trends
The Australian economy enjoyed its ninth consecutive year of growth in 2000, recording a 1.6 percent annual increase in its GDP. A strong domestic demand helped the country survive the Asian economic downturn, although certain sectors, such as mining, were shaken and are slow to recover.

An even better inflationary outlook accompanies this economic growth scenario, but prospects for the unemployed are uncertain, with unemployment rates lingering around the 8 percent mark. Both price and wage inflation are currently well within (or below) official targets, despite the loosening of monetary policy in 1996. Recently, there was an increase of 17,900 job vacancies in Australia, with Victoria and Queensland in particular seeing job growth. Only Western Australia, Tasmania, and the Northern Territory recorded decreases.

Resume/CV's
The first step in the job application process is to prepare and send a resume and cover letter tailored to fit the position. Although these are written in English, it is well to remember that there are spelling differences in "Australian-English" (colour, etc.), and that in your documents the spelling should be adjusted accordingly.

Your college and/or university training should be described in detail, in reverse-chronological order, giving areas of study and degrees from each school attended. Awards and honors should be listed, as well as educational qualifications, additional courses, internships, specific skill training and membership in professional organizations.

Your employment history, again listed in reverse chronological order, should specify for each job: your employer, your title(s), the months and years of your employment and your responsibilities. A new job seeker or recent graduate should list part-time or temporary job experience, responsibilities, and skills attained.

Personal information includes such items as foreign language fluency, computer skills, hobbies, personal interests, and visa or resident status. Volunteer work, may also be mentioned. For references, list individuals (preferably superiors) with whom you have worked closely; give their names, titles and contact details-or state that the information will be supplied on request.

A final note: in Australia, age, graduation dates and marital status cannot legally be requested, but they are usually provided.

Information Technology
Australia's Information Communications and Technology (ICT) industry is one of its fastest growing and most innovative, with a sustained growth rate approaching 12 percent over the last five years. Of employees in the ICT industry, those working in wholesale and computers and business machines earned the highest salaries; employees in information storage and retrieval made the least.

Most employees in IT hold university degrees and may also have master's degrees. Foreigners who want to work in Australia's IT industry must complete an assessment through the Australian Computer Society (ACS) before submitting a migration application. The assessment procedure takes approximately six weeks. There are two assessments available: Skills Assessment or Recognition of Prior Learning.

In addition to providing assessments to the IT industry, the ACS offers a wide range of other services and opportunities to its large membership, including seminars and conferences, an IT-career web portal, accredited courses, and more. There are also several other professional organizations for the IT Industry.

Interviewing Advice
Be ready to discuss your skills and weaknesses, and what you can contribute to the company. Dress conservatively and neatly and, if possible, arrive a bit ahead of time in order to orient yourself to the place of the interview.

Australians are friendly and open in general; however, in business situations they are somewhat more formal. They expect courtesy and respect. Australians have a dislike for arrogance, so it is important to be straightforward and modest, and maintain eye contact when speaking or being spoken to. In the interview, you may be asked to respond to hypothetical questions. You may have to wait for the results of the interview, since consultation is an integral part of Australian business.

Don't forget to write a follow-up thank you letter. Also, remember that you are below the equator--summer is from December to February when most four-week vacations are scheduled, so plan accordingly!

Engineering
In the near future, most engineering fields should see a steady rate of employment growth. Computer engineers are expected to enjoy a particularly strong employment growth rate over the next ten years.

The Institute of Engineers Australia (IEAust) recognizes three occupational categories for engineering professionals who have completed from one to four years of education. After finishing their education, prospective engineers complete a mentorship of sorts under supervisor. Next, they go through a competency-based assessment to determine their fitness for independent practice as engineers, engineering technologists, or engineering officers (associates). There is no citizenship or residency requirement for accreditation, but the applicant must demonstrate a familiarity with Australian standards, rules, and practices to qualify.

In addition to IEAust, there are several other trade associations for engineers in Australia, including the Association of Professional Engineers, Scientists and Managers and the Institute of Industrial Engineers. There are also several periodicals and websites covering the industry, which could prove quite useful to the foreign job-seeker.

Work Permits
All non-citizens of Australia who intend to work and live there must obtain a long-stay visa prior to arrival. And the Australian visa application process is complex and time consuming.

The usual visa process requires that a prospective employer in Australia file a Business Sponsorship Visa application demonstrating the foreign employee's value to Australia. This type of visa is expensive and requires extensive documentation on the part of the applicant. There are other types of visas that don't require as much background information, such as the Company Sponsorship Visa, the Family Sponsorship and Partner Migration Visas, the Working Holiday Visa, and the Skilled Australian-Sponsored Visa, among others.

Accounting & Finance
Job vacancies in accounting and finance increased greatly between May 1999 and May 2000, particularly in Victoria and Queensland. In the seven years leading up to 2000, employment in these industries grew by over 50 percent, while employment as a whole grew by less than 20 percent.

With a few exceptions, there is no registration requirement for accountants in Australia, but in general, members of professional accounting bodies, such as Certified Practicing Accountants and Chartered Accountants, have an advantage in the job market. To qualify for standing in one of these categories, accountants must complete an assessment program.

Certified public accountants complete their assessments through the Australian Society of Certified Practicing Accountants. Chartered accountants may earn their charters in one of three ways: by obtaining a business degree with an accounting major, working for three years under the mentorship of a CA, or, for overseas applicants, by taking conversion courses and completing an assessment process. Professional associations include the Australian Institute of Banking and Finance.

Cultural Advice
Australians tend to take an easy-going, informal approach to their business dealings. Business cards are exchanged primarily for information; don't be surprised if you hand your card to an Australian and don't receive one of his in return. Australians, in general, don't make impromptu visits, so schedule even the most casual meeting in advance. Even so, the Australian attitude toward time may be a little more casual than the North American one—be patient if an Australian keeps you waiting.

Business talk in Australia is often preceded by good-natured bantering. Australians particularly enjoy discussing sports and travel. After small talk, Australians are ready to get down to business, but they tend not to like negotiation or aggressive sales techniques. Maintain eye contact—avoiding it may be considered an insult—and respect the Australian sense of personal space.

Rather than "G'day," Australians prefer to say "Good morning" or something similar when in a business situation. Australians are suspicious of authority and of snobs, and they have a fondness for the underdog. If an Australian invites you to dine in his home, consider it an honor. Ask what to wear and bring a small gift—flowers, wine, chocolate, or something homemade.

Sales & Marketing
In 1999, there were 272 businesses in the sales and marketing industry, of which 224 provide market research consultancy services and 48 provide fieldwork services to support other businesses in the industry. Australian market research businesses are concentrated in New South Wales. Victoria is the only other region with substantial market research activity.

While there is no specific registration requirement for sales and marketing professionals in Australia, those who have gone through an assessment by Vocational Education and Training Assessment Services (VETAssess) seem to have an advantage in the job market. Foreigners who wish to work in this industry can also go through the assessment process, which takes about six weeks to complete.

Foreigners seeking jobs in sales and marketing in Australia should check out the many resources available, such as professional associations like the Public Relations Institute of Australia.

General Business
From May 1999 to May 2000, Australia saw a significant increase in the number of general business job vacancies, particularly in Victoria and Queensland. The largest increases were posted in the property and business services industries.

Education requirements for business jobs vary considerably, but most managers and consultants hold a bachelor's degree. There is no registration requirement for workers in management and consulting, but those who have been accredited by the Australian Institute of Management (AIM), including foreigners, have an advantage in finding a job. Expatriates wishing to be certified by AIM need to fill out a Pre-Application Skills Assessment and send it to the institute with the necessary documentation and an assessment fee.

Australia offers many business-related resources for the foreign job-seeker, including Australian Business Intelligence, a well recognized business periodical. You might find very useful assistance through any of a number of sources, including professional organizations like The Economic Society of Australia.

This was only a small part of the 75+ pages packed with information in the Going Global Career Guide for Australia: About Going Global Career Guides:

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Country Career Guides Table of Contents

I. COUNTRY PROFILE

II. JOB-SEARCH RESOURCES
1.Online Job Sites
2.Government-Sponsored Employment Offices
3.Job Fairs/Career Events
4.Staffing Agencies/Temporary Help Firms
5.Newspapers that Publish Job Advertisements
6.Other Resources

III. EMPLOYMENT TRENDS AND OPPORTUNITIES

General Trends
Information Technology
1. Certification/Education Requirements
2. Organizations/Trade Associations
3. Publications
4. Other Resources
Engineering
1. Certification/Education Requirements
2. Organizations/Trade Associations
3. Publications
4. Other Resources
Accounting and Finance
1. Certification/Education Requirements
2. Organizations/Trade Associations
3. Publications
4. Other Resources
Sales and Marketing
1. Certification/Education Requirements
2. Organizations/Trade Associations
3. Publications
4. Other Resources
General Business
1. Certification/Education Requirements
2. Organizations/Trade Associations
3. Publications
4. Other Resources

IV. PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS AND RESOURCES
1.Business Organizations/Trade Councils
2.Chambers of Commerce
3.Telephone Directories
4.Publications
5.Other Resources

VI. FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS ( Cost of living, salaries, health insurance, taxes, vacation/leave, benefits, etc)

VII. WORK PERMITS/VISAS

VIII. JOB APPLICATION GUIDELINES
1.Cover Letter Guidelines and Sample
2.Resume/CV Guidelines and Samples

IX. INTERVIEWING ADVICE

X. CULTURAL ADVICE

XI. COUNTRY RESOURCE BOOKS