<blockquote rel="brent">hi forumers! just wanted to share my experience here in Perth...
1 week after I landed here, naghanap muna ako ng casual job, which was a go-kart race official. Dami ko rin inapalayan na casual jobs pero I guess dun papasok yung local experience, need kasi nila ng local reference sa mga previous jobs mo. I noticed na hndi nila need ng Certificate of employment dito, kundi local references ng previous employers (phone numbers/email). Buti na lang natsambahan ko yung work na yun kung saan wala naman hiningi na experience or references, need lang talaga na pakita na determined & interested ka sa work na ina-aplyan mo. Pampalipas-oras lang talaga (and pandagdag budget na din ung casual work na yun, since 3-4 days a week lang and 5 hrs per day. Nakakaburo kasi talaga pag sa house ka lang maglalagi, lalo't puro rejections matatanggap mo sa email pag nag-aapply ka. By the way, I noticed na basic requirement nga pala ng (almost all) jobs dito is meron kang Driver's License & own vehicle. Sakto nung nag-aapply ako sa casual job na yun kumuha na ko ng 2nd hand car (below 2K ang price, hehe) and na-convert ko na yung license ko. I cant stress enough yung importance ng 2 items na to. I suggest na maglaan kayo ng budget para dito.
Shortly after that, I found a full-time job. Around 1 month ng pamamalagi ko dito sa Perth. Again, wala naman hiningi na local experience,but this time nanghingi sila ng references. So binigay ko yung mga names and contact # ng mga former bosses ko. It was indeed an answered prayer. No kidding, I do say my prayers before ko simulan yung pagsi-send ko ng resumes and before ako matulog sa gabi.
I remember when I was bored one time, umupo ako sa may fountain dun sa may tapat ng Perth train stn, I met 2 pinoys. One was a 457 visa Mining mechanic from QLD na natanggal sa work and nagki-kwento na kagagaling lang nya sa immig office to ask about bridging visa (nag interstate sya hoping to land a mining job dito sa WA), and yung isang pinoy was an elderly woman who's been here 25 yrs, cleaner sya sa sikat na hotel sa Perth. Tinanong ko pa nga sya kung pwede nya ko ipasok as cleaner sa work nya. hehe... Nag-advise pa nga sya na pumunta daw ako sa nearby cathedral kasi dun daw nasasagot mga dasal nya, which proved to have the same effect on me. Since bago lang ako, eager ako marinig yung mga kwento and tips nila about sa AU, and dami ko naman natutunan sa knila. Another tip ko sa mga pupunta dito is dont be afraid to say "Kabayan?" & hello sa mga fellow Pinoys, who knows, you might be meeting God-sent angel to help you land your job. =)
And my best advise? Bring lots of prayers, smiles, determination and hope (and syempre, budget). As of the moment, sobrang miss ko na wife & kids ko, kaya naisipan ko mag-post ng experience ko dito, baka sakali may ma-inspire pa ko, rather than magmukmok sa homesickness. Hoping to be able to bring them over in about 2 month's time. =) Goodluck & Godbless to all OZ-bound pinoys! Cheers!</blockquote>
nice story sir kakainspire naman! hope mkapunta na jan by mid November still waiting for PC and medicals nang masimulan na ang OZ Experience hehe.. all the best! 🙂