Candygirl Posted April 22, 2013 Report Share Posted April 22, 2013 I keep reading about people hitting a brick wall and agencies saying "you need WA experience". I have worked in Sydney previously many years ago and had hoped that this would have been a positive in my job search. I am a trained legal secretary and have never had any issues in getting employment, either permanent or temporary, but am now worrying a little due to not having any "WA" experience. What are your experiences of job hunting in WA? TIA Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fifi69 Posted April 22, 2013 Report Share Posted April 22, 2013 I really can't see you having any probs securing work with your experience Lorraine. If you go down the temp route, the hardest part seems to be getting taken on their books in the first place, it's a totally different set up from temping in the UK. 9 months in my experience of working in Perth so far has been: tried going in and signing up face to face to agencies, but was turned away and told to email, got lucky at one though, got signed up and started a temp job few days later. Finished that job and got a permanent job through seek.com. Hated that job so left a few weeks later. Had no work until mid Dec, when I got taken on by two other agencies, haven't heard from one of them at all, but the other one got me a weeks work somewhere close to home and I'm still working at the same place, could end this week, may last another month. Last month I got an invite for an interview for a job I applied for when I first arrived. Went for interview, got offered job, told me they would be in touch following week. Never heard from them again. I emailed and left messages. I'm medical admin trained but have not had a sniff of an interview at any of the hospitals, why? I'm not sure, could be my age, could be my visa, could be lack of WA experience. truthfully I'm past caring now, I've not enjoyed any of the jobs so far, but this one im at now is good money and v close by so I shall stick it out. will probably try and stay with temping, so I'm not tied to just a certain amount of holidays a year but can pick and choose what I work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coastie Posted April 23, 2013 Report Share Posted April 23, 2013 Lack of WA experience is just an easy option to take if they don't like you. You'll be fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Candygirl Posted April 25, 2013 Author Report Share Posted April 25, 2013 Thanks for the advice Guys, much appreciated. I am looking at temp work to begin with so that I can decide which firm I would like to take a permanent job in. I may speak to my old agency in Sydney to see if they have an afiliate office in Perth. I am dreading the work situation more than anything. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
travelchic Posted April 25, 2013 Report Share Posted April 25, 2013 I really can't see you having any probs securing work with your experience Lorraine. If you go down the temp route, the hardest part seems to be getting taken on their books in the first place, it's a totally different set up from temping in the UK. 9 months in my experience of working in Perth so far has been: tried going in and signing up face to face to agencies, but was turned away and told to email, got lucky at one though, got signed up and started a temp job few days later. Finished that job and got a permanent job through seek.com. Hated that job so left a few weeks later. Had no work until mid Dec, when I got taken on by two other agencies, haven't heard from one of them at all, but the other one got me a weeks work somewhere close to home and I'm still working at the same place, could end this week, may last another month. Last month I got an invite for an interview for a job I applied for when I first arrived. Went for interview, got offered job, told me they would be in touch following week. Never heard from them again. I emailed and left messages. I'm medical admin trained but have not had a sniff of an interview at any of the hospitals, why? I'm not sure, could be my age, could be my visa, could be lack of WA experience. truthfully I'm past caring now, I've not enjoyed any of the jobs so far, but this one im at now is good money and v close by so I shall stick it out. will probably try and stay with temping, so I'm not tied to just a certain amount of holidays a year but can pick and choose what I work. Can you imagine telling someone in the UK that they have the job and then never contacting them again. They wouldn't get away with it. How rude. Even if their circumstances have changed and they no longer need to fill that position, just a phone call apologising would suffice. You've had a luck escape if you ask me. I would worry about working for a company that treats people like that. Good luck in finding a job that's close by and enjoyable. Debs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maxg Posted April 26, 2013 Report Share Posted April 26, 2013 Lack of WA experience is a easy way out for potential employers but I'm sorry to say that they all use it out here. One potential employer told me that they use that phrase a lot as they have had there fingers burned in the past. If you look at it from there point of view, you are new to WA the risk of you or your family not settling, not securing a house etc is a big problem for them so the take the easy route with someone who has been here a while, or as they put it with WA experience! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Give me a break! Posted April 26, 2013 Report Share Posted April 26, 2013 Can you imagine telling someone in the UK that they have the job and then never contacting them again. They wouldn't get away with it. How rude. Even if their circumstances have changed and they no longer need to fill that position, just a phone call apologising would suffice. You've had a luck escape if you ask me. I would worry about working for a company that treats people like that. Good luck in finding a job that's close by and enjoyable. Debs they would get away with it because there would be nothing you could do about it. You couldn't take them to a tribunal as you don't actually work there and it's very unlikely even if you tried to take a civil court action for breach of contract you'd get anywhere because you can't be compensated for something you never had in the first place Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wendy Posted April 27, 2013 Report Share Posted April 27, 2013 Hi Lorraine, A lot of permanent jobs do ask for WA experience but the temp agencies don't as much. I have found that agencies may put you in a position for a few days that is lower than what you would usually be in to get some feedback from the company to see how you did but will then recommend you for better, more relevant roles. There are some agencies where you meet with the recruitment agent who makes you feel that you are lucky to be in their presence and you leave feeling demoralised! However, there are some lovely ones out there who really do want you to succeed and I have found so far (with limited experience) that the smaller, boutique agencies are best. I think no matter where you are in the world some companies are just like that! My friend left our work to join a company listed in the Times top 100 companies to work for. He gave his 2 months notice, went to work on the Monday after his last day with us only to be told that position had been made redundant! Definitely not a place I'd like to work no matter what The Times says! I'm sure you'll be fine honestly, but it's just scary at first thinking you haven't got a job but have bills to pay! Keep us updated how you get on! There seems to be quite a lot of temp work out there at the least! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.