@Lou27 said:
Good day, fellow Pinoys moving to Australia! I just want to start this thread to serve as a guide for those like me venturing in the labor market in Australia.
Are there tips that you want to share for coming up with a CV and cover letter?
Thank you!
- --I've edited my response for clarity---
The labour market in Australia relies heavily on networks. People get their leads about job opportunities from people they know (someone they know is working in the company they want to apply for). The lack of network for new migrants is a disadvantage, so start building your network as soon as you arrive, that'll help you navigate the job hunting process. Building networks take time, even years.
So how to do that? Attend networking events, do volunteering, attend church (if you do so in the PH), join social or community events. Just because you're job hunting doesn't mean you only focus on meeting people within the work setting. You'd be surprised at how many people you'd meet and who they know. Build strong relationships with people you genuine like; don't ask for a job from people you meet for the first time in networking events.
If you've met someone working in the industry you want to join, contact them at a later date if they're free to "meet up for coffee" (a.k.a. coffee chat, used to refer to either hanging out socially or for an informational interview). When you do invite them for a coffee chat, let them know your goal for the chat (asking them about their experience in the industry). The coffee chat is an opportunity for you to know them better, and vice versa. The important thing here is not just about you knowing someone in the industry, but someone from the industry is starting to KNOW YOU.
Most Aussie employers hire people not just because of their technical skills (hard skills), but because of the person's attitude/personality (soft skills). If people have met you and know you personally, they are more likely to refer you to any job openings in their company.
When applying for multiple companies, don't submit a generic CV and cover letter to everyone. Tailor them according to each company, explaining why you'd like to work there (i.e., company values align with yours). Employers want to know that you know a bit about the company and are making an effort to tailor your application.
Avoid putting in your CV any information that are irrelevant to the role and/or can be used as basis for discrimination (i.e., gender, religion, age, photo, height, weight, marital status). The content of CV should usually be educational qualification, professional work experience, volunteering experience (if any), professional associations/memberships (orgs related to your profession). Definitely include your name, e-mail address, and mobile number so the employer can contact you.
As for referees (this is the term they use locally to talk about character references), skip them from your CV unless they specifically ask for it in the job posting. You don't want random people calling your referees because their private info is out in the world. Leaving them out of your CV will help you see where you are in the hiring process, as the employer will ask for it when you're further along, like when they're ready to call you in for an interview. Personally, I've done that (skipping the referee on the CV), and I was only asked for them after the interview. And then I informed my referees that I had applied for this role at this company, and they should expect a call within the next few days. Knowing the time that the company will contact your referees will also help you give your referees a heads-up about the situation, so they can give you the best recommendation to your potential employer (they can relate your work ethic to the specific job you applied for).
Make your cover letter count. The purpose of the cover letter is to include information about you that isn't already in the CV. First write about where or how you discovered the job opportunity (recommended by a friend, found on LinkedIn or Seek, website, etc.) and what role you are applying for. The company could be hiring for multiple positions, so you have to be clear right away which one you are keen on. If you already have your PR, include that fact into your cover letter (a permanent resident of Australia who is in the process of moving to Australia in the next few months). Employers want to know you have work rights (many employers don't want to sponsor for a work visa).
If the employer has a selection criteria, you have to address in your cover letter how you, as an applicant, meets that criteria. There is actually another type of letter that employers sometimes ask for (selection criteria letter), and this is where you talk about the selection criteria. But if they don't request that from you, you can do that in your cover letter. If the role you are applying for is pretty similar to your previous work in the PH, highlight in your cover letter how your previous experience (hard skills) and transferable skills (soft skills) relate to the new job. Having transferable skills (communication, critical thinking, teamwork, leadership, etc.) is very important here in Australia, and how you weave that into the conversation/cover letter is key. If you write something in your cover letter or CV, expect the employer to ask about it in the interview.
This topic of transferable skills was actually asked during my interview. I was asked about how I handled pressure during my volunteering role (I kinda blanked out at first because I wasn't expecting this at all), and then I explained how I asked my colleagues for help (teamwork and leadership) and initiated small talk with the customer (communication) so that they don't feel like they're waiting for a long time.
Remember that the purpose of the CV and cover letter is to get you an interview. What you do in the interview is what can get you the job, so also prepare yourself for interviews. Hope all these info has helped you get an insight of Australian job-hunting culture. :smiley:
