Newly arrived migrants are more likely to be jobless than Australian-born workers.
A recent ABS data reveals the unemployment rate for recent migrants and temporary residents is at 7.4 per cent and for those born locally is at 5.4 per cent.
Career coaches say the biggest hurdle many newcomers face is their inability to secure an interview despite their qualifications.
Ray Pavri is a career coach from Job Transition Strategy.
Instead of hunting for opportunities through mainstream search engines like Seek and Indeed, his advice is to tap into Australia’s hidden job market where around 70 per cent of the roles aren’t advertised.
AMES English language lead teacher Luke Treadwell runs employment workshops for people new to the country.
He suggests overcoming the lack of local work experience through volunteering.
Treadwell says when applying for work, job seekers need to understand that their applications are often screened by computer programs rather than by the recruiters.
“How your resume is read - it’s being screened for keywords. So, if you haven’t tailored your resume or your covering letter to the specific requirements of the applications, it’s going to be quickly screened out.” Mr Treadwell said.
Ray Pavri recommends networking to penetrate the hidden job market, and being very strategic about how you approach potential employers at these events.
Luke Treadwell agrees it’s crucial to develop the soft skills to relate with people.
And understanding what to do say, how to say it in the right tone of voice and body language also helps with scoring extra points at the interview.
This is precisely what Ray Pavri had to work on when he first came to Australia over 30 years ago.
He joined Toastmasters to develop his communication skills, and went as far as to recording his own voice onto a dictaphone to polish his speech.
He’s since developed a series of processes to guide job seekers in their search for work.
“The first thing would be figuring out what are your strengths? What makes you tick as an individual? The second part of this is understanding enough of the market and developing a game plan - a strategy so that you can benefit given your strengths, given the market, and an entry point - so it's a market entry strategy. Identify mentors or people that can guide you. Making sure that your communications are good, your listening skills, ability to negotiate. Which companies are hiring? Which companies are winning projects? Which companies are retrenching? So, being targeted.” Mr Pavri said.
Once you do get to the job interview stage, Luke Treadwell advises treating the meeting like a sales pitch.
