I quit Europe to find a job here...where's the work?!
Trying to land a full-time position is not easy. Trying to do this in a different country, in a different language, and with a background that is unfamiliar to most recruiters is downright difficult.
I am from a mid-sized European country and was lured to Melbourne after graduating with a master's degree by the potential of landing a position in a large financial institution.
Australia also offers a nicer climate than most of Europe, as well as a healthy economy and a very relaxed culture. Throw the high liveability of Melbourne (and the possibility of going for a surf at the weekends), and the city holds a lot of appeal both for myself and many fellow adventurous Europeans.
However, in the current job market, it is difficult to find employers who are truly interested in a different educational profile. Even as vacancy volumes improve, most financial institutions are risk adverse when hiring new employees and either prefer an Australian university degree, or several years of proven industry experience.
To a certain degree this is of course understandable, yet it leaves you wondering if there is an pool of overseas talent floating around in Australia, just waiting to be tapped. In addition, if you are to believe company career websites, diversity is a characteristic valued by many employers. But in reality, of course, this is not always the case.
A hard slog
As a foreigner, I think recruiters are also less inclined to return your calls or even look at your CV because they seem to prefer graduates from Australian universities they know. This can be frustrating because your long hours of studying in a dusty library are not being recognised on a par with other graduates.
You would think that making a decision to travel around the world upon graduation to take up challenges on a different continent would signal determinism and audacity to the potential employers. But thus far it has not wowed many recruiters or employers, and I often think that the effort wasn't worth it.
Making such a move would have arguably been easier with three to five years of work experience under my belt. Yet, it might also be a lot more difficult later in life with possible family commitments. Either way, it is very clear that it takes a lot of persistence and perseverance to break into the financial industry with a different background.
Was it worth it?
So is it even worth trying? Well for me, the final outcome has yet to be determined, but there are a few things that are certain at this point. Taking a chance and going for something you really want can be difficult and may not always end in success. However, in my opinion, simply making the attempt holds value in itself. It is important to take some chances and challenge yourself in order to grow and get where you want to be.
Attempting to break into a new industry abroad is, at the very least, an enormous learning experience in the art of job hunting. My advice for anyone contemplating making a similar move is to arm yourself with a sizeable portion of patience, self irony, and resilience.
Are you a candidate looking for work in Australia? Would you like to write an anonymous article for eFinancialCareers giving an honest perspective on your experiences in the job market?
Please email: apac.editor@efinancialcareers.com
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