| Living in Australia | |
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8.23 Work – It can be difficult to secure your first job in Australia – and you need to start the job search before you arrive. Most newcomers find their first job through networking and it is vital to have your resume converted to an Australian format. See http://www.seek.com.au/career-resources/get-your-dream-job/resume-guide.ascx ABRISA may have a job mentor available – contact migrating@abrisa.org.au for more information. It is important for you to understand that the workplace culture in Australia is very different to the workplace culture in Brazil. In most cases, people use first names at work and it is a more egalitarian management style. It is important to observe how people interact and state their opinions before you automatically use your own personal style. You will also be working with people from many different backgrounds and you will need to be ‘politically correct’ to avoid creating offence (avoid racist, sexist, discriminatory comments). It is very important to work collaboratively with your co-workers and respect the chain of command. If you are invited to social functions, wherever possible, try to attend. During your induction, it is a good idea to ask about your workplace protocols, norms, standards etc because this is often not discussed or written in documentation. You may also seek a career and job search mentor and consider paying an hourly rate for a Career Development Professional that specializes in your industry to help you learn more about that industry here in Australia. You need to learn the basics of our interviews (always dress professionally, answer the questions, continue the discussion that they direct) workplace culture (there are many unwritten rules so observe behaviours and ask polite questions to avoid making mistakes) and make an effort to manage your own career and professional development. See if you can find a mentor to assist you with the job search process and attend free and low cost events/forums so that you can meet people personally. Remember that it is not what you know, or who you know but who refers you that can help you find work (particularly your first job if you do not have any Australian experience). You may need to register your resume directly with employers and it is always a good idea to find out which recruitment companies specialize in your industry/profession and perhaps speak to a consultant about the positions that may be available. Remember, that if you are contacting them free of charge, they will not necessarily have time to spend with you. Their customer is the employer (who pays for their service) so some recruitment consultants will only speak to you if they have a current position available. You may be better off contacting an outplacement service and paying an hourly fee for professional advice and networking assistance. Remember to put your profile on LinkedIn. Career Development Association of Australia Jobs and Careers Ebook Australian Skills Recognition Information Myfuture Careers Information Service Australian Job Search (with links to Jobs Boards) Job Watch (Employment Rights Legal Centre for Victoria but has very useful information for people working in Australia – what is ‘right’ and what isn’t) LinkedIn 8.24 X marks the spot – wherever you are, for however long you are staying, this is your current location and it is up to you to make the most of it. Ultimately, no one else is responsible for your happiness except you! Sometimes, you will not settle and you may decide to move to another location or back to a previous location – there will still be an adjustment that takes place and this will take time. Try not to be impatient, be kind to yourself and be careful not to dramatise your situation or do too much and feel overwhelmed. Australia is well known for its love of sport. You do not need to pay expensive annual membership fees to be able to join a swimming, soccer, volleyball club etc. Contact migrating@abrisa.org.au if you would like to be referred to a Brazilian sporting group. 8.25 Young country – Australia has a very old indigenous population (thousands of years) but a very young western population as the first white settlers started arriving in the late 1700’s. Today it is a very multicultural society with many people having at least one parent who was born overseas. As a relatively young western culture, we are constantly adapting and changing to the needs of the various generations, cultures and circumstances from both the Australian and International economies. 8.26 Zen – Is the feeling you will start to experience when you have gone through a successful settlement – you will have coped with the ups and downs and start to feel as if Australia is your new home – this usually takes between three and ten years but can occur sooner if you utilize the most effective strategies. Remember the saying that If it is to be, it is up to me. |
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