How long did it take you to get a job?

MidnightPanda12

@Bheh said:
Share ko lang din ang job search experience ko... 3 months nako dito sa AU at wala padin work...naka ilang palit nadin ako ng CV format at naikot ko na mga jobsite...paulit ulit nadin ako nagsa-submit ng CV sa mga recruiters...me tumawag naman sa akin na 2 company for interview pero wala padin naging work...nakakafrustrate...dahil akala ko kapag galing ka sa magandang company at may mahaba kang experience sa work ay mas malaki chance magkakawork agad...sobrang iba ang realidad ng buhay dito kesa sa inaasahan ko...dumating talaga ako sa puntong napaisip ako kung tama ba na nagpunta ako dito...pero pag naiisip ko yung mga student dito na pilit na lumalaban para magsurvive...at yung kakilala ko na mahigit isang dekada na dito at ginagawa ang lahat para maging PR...biglang nahiya ako sa sarili ko...ano nga ba ang karapatan ko na mafrustrate...samantalang un pinapangarap nilang maging PR ay visa na mayroon na ako...kaya challenging man magkawork...Laban lang...apply lang ng apply...masakit man sa bulsa mga bills dito...looking forward na magkakaroon din ng work soon...

Your feelings are valid. Do not downplay them just because of the suffering of others. You’ve accidentally nicked yourself using a knife, but that doesn’t mean it won’t bleed just because someone nearby got hacked by a machete.

I know that this is meant to be empowering, but sometimes feeling our feelings would make our burdens a bit lighter, and would even make us see a different perspective. Take a break. Sip a coffee or tea. Take a walk. Then face the challenge again.

I hope everything will get better po. You’re already there. Kaya po yan. Ok lang mafrustrate, that’s part of life. But don’t ever belittle your experience.

I have little to no advice to offer since I’m not yet in AU. But some advice I heard are:

1) Using recruitment agencies/ head hunters. Just pick them carefully.

2) Applying for jobs that are meant to just give you some local working experience.

3) Tailor fitting your resume for each job application.

4) Sending your resume directly to the hiring manager’s email address.

5) Removing Philippines in the resume (name of company, address of the company, etc.)

6) Putting your working rights (i.e. VISA SUBCLASS) in the resume.

7) Putting in the CITY in AU that you are in right now.

8) Creating a cover letter that will highlight your skills and how it will fit to the job.

These tips are from this forum, youtube and other sites that I frequent. Since I’m still waiting for my visa grant, I’m preparing already on which companies I should target directly and send expression of interest for opportunities.

Laban lang kabayan.

Bheh

Salamat sa comments at advice…though majority naman dito ay ginawa ko na...Dalangin ko na this coming 2025, sampu ng mga katulad ko na naghahanap ng work, na biyayaan tayo ng pagkakataong mabigyan ng maayos na trabaho at maayos na kumpanya.

Prior sa mga experiences ko sa mga job application ko…nung una apply lang ng apply pero dahil sa ilang pangyayari, natutunan ko na ngayon na mamili ng a-aplayan…kino-consider ko na kung gaano kalayo un work place sa tinitirahan ko, kung gaano kalayo ang lalakarin from public transport at kung ilang salin sa bus at tren ang magiging byahe...natuto nadin ako mamili ng company na a-aplayan at tinitingnan ko nadin ang job scope versus job pay.

Congrats in advance at Goodluck sa Big move mo soon.

CBD

I got a job after 1 day of applying. Here's the quick story:

Nagpunta ako sa isang cafe to have brunch with friends.

Good timing na hiring pala yung cafe na pinuntahan namin.

On the spot, I sent my resume and told the owner.

They asked me to return the next day to do an unpaid trial for 2 hrs.

No interview, trial agad.

Trial is when you work for them for free to show them that you are fit for the job.

After 4 days, I started working for them.

brainsap

I started applying for government jobs three months before moving to Australia permanently last year. Got interviewed, accepted the job, and started working a week after I arrived.

Roberto21

Don't mind me, just commenting, so I can find this thread easier in the future.

scarlettcross

@brainsap said:
I started applying for government jobs three months before moving to Australia permanently last year. Got interviewed, accepted the job, and started working a week after I arrived.

Do you need an AU number to be considered for interview while offshore?

brainsap

@scarlettcross said:

@brainsap said:
I started applying for government jobs three months before moving to Australia permanently last year. Got interviewed, accepted the job, and started working a week after I arrived.
Do you need an AU number to be considered for interview while offshore?

Meron na ako AU number before moving to Australia, but I never received any texts or calls. All my communication, including interviews and salary negotiations, was done via email and video calls.

mamertz

I moved to Australia back in Nov 2019.

I got my first job here in Sept 2020. COVID is partly to blame maybe.

The job was in Tasmania. I think if you have little to no local experience, your best bet would be to apply for regional jobs. You have little competition. Not everyone would want to move to a remote area.

After 4 years of working in NW Tas, an employer in Hobart messaged me directly on LinkedIn. Being in Tasmania already, and being experienced in the mining industry, they saw me as a perfect fit to the job. I got the job with very little sweat tbh.

My tip is find jobs at regional areas.

And make full use of Linkedin. Some of my friends look for vacancies on Seek and Linkedin, and then message the contact person thru Linkedin messaging. This works, trust me.

lvnrtnr

@mamertz said:
I moved to Australia back in Nov 2019.
I got my first job here in Sept 2020. COVID is partly to blame maybe.

The job was in Tasmania. I think if you have little to no local experience, your best bet would be to apply for regional jobs. You have little competition. Not everyone would want to move to a remote area.
After 4 years of working in NW Tas, an employer in Hobart messaged me directly on LinkedIn. Being in Tasmania already, and being experienced in the mining industry, they saw me as a perfect fit to the job. I got the job with very little sweat tbh.
My tip is find jobs at regional areas.
And make full use of Linkedin. Some of my friends look for vacancies on Seek and Linkedin, and then message the contact person thru Linkedin messaging. This works, trust me.

Hello! May I know your occupation po ninyo? Thank you.

mamertz

Hello! May I know your occupation po ninyo? Thank you.

Structural Engr.

lvnrtnr

@mamertz said:

Hello! May I know your occupation po ninyo? Thank you.
Structural Engr.

wow, wasn't expecting na same po tayo. Structural engineer din po ako. Hehe

\\OzDrims//AU//

Job Search Timeline :

20 Apr 2025 - started structuring my resume
23 Apr 2025 - visa grant , this was the time that things started to sink in na may visa na at need na ng work
25 June 2025- First entry, got some of my settlement chores done -sim card,open bank ,applied medicare, photo card
07 July 2025- Exited AU and continued applying offshore (Got into interviews but did not progress, onshore experience is a must -na realise ko )
08 Sept 2025- Move permanently na sa AU , applied jobs onshore , did networking opportunities as much as possible sa eroplano, sa simbahan mostly and sa mga kilala na nasa AU na, sa linked in and got some referrals into their companies , exhaust nyo lang mga options and keep on applying , career portals , and dito ko din na realise importante na keep up with the technology here ,more companies are inclined na to using AI to screen ,sort, filter resumes. A completely different ball game and plus the stiff competition.

23 Sept 2025- Landed a casual job in a retail company

In a nutshell , landed my first job 5 months after visa grant, nag hiatus dito due to job search.
Casual jobs are peaking during the holiday season - apply apply lang!

Roberto21

\\__OzDrims__//__AU__// May I ask, what was your reason to permanently moved on September instead of June? Conditions po ba ng visa yun na you have to enter Australia before this date? Thank you. Also what job portals did you use besides jobstreet, linkedin, and indeed?

\\OzDrims//AU//

Roberto21 personal reason hehe at mahaba kasi yung notice period sa ex company, applied with glassdoor for casuals and seek for full time

Roberto21

\\__OzDrims__//__AU__// Ohhh I see, Ah buhay pa pala glassdoor hmmmm. Thank you po sa Insight

\\OzDrims//AU//

Roberto21 Glassdoor shares insights with interview processes ng mga companies i think it helps,lalo na sa mga behavioural questions and insights with companies na target, may reviews na pwede maging reference at salary package estimates.

mathilde9

I agree with @\\__OzDrims__//__AU__// that the job market and competition here in AU is stiff. Even picking up casual job is a challenge. I have 2 casual employments as of now that pay the bill. While waiting for a decent job offer in my field of expertise, I use these casual jobs for connections ganyan (nagba-barista ako, got some certificate). Kahit casual employees meron mga certificates dito. As previously mentioned, casual jobs are peaking lalo na this holiday season--average $45/hr depende sa industry. Hindi mo mapupulot yun.

I came prepared for a 6-month period no work, pero mahirap nang ma-zero hahaha! Depending on your circumstance, kelangan talaga magbaon ng madami (patience and pera) kahit PR ka pa. All the more kung naka student visa.

I've been in a few interviews and 1 company even asked me to do a case study, ang ending there was a better candidate. Di wow. Yung iba best in ghosting pa, wala man lang decency to update you on the progress after the interview. Anyway, life goes on.

\\OzDrims//AU//

mathilde9 Agree with @mathilde9 ,keep on applying lang, even disconnecting Linkedin connections na di nakaka help sa job search in AU, remove them (base to sa advise of one jobseekers advocate sa linkedin ) na nag papa subscription, pero di ako nag go magsubscribe hehe ,makaka help daw sa algo ng profile mo.
Keep on adding connections /network na AU based at may hiring influence sa target role and target company mo,to improve the algo.
I tried it - connecting with a director ,it landed me an interview for a full time job and waiting for an offer right now. Need to thread this carefully and avoid sounding desperate.

MidnightPanda12

Just wanna add here.

I got my job while in the PH yes it is possible (after 2 months of job hunting). But it comes with caveats. For example I’m working in regional Australia where there is shortage of people generally (since my industry is usually located in regional - agriculture).

It helps if you’re in a job shortage - educator, nurse etc. but that one is a given. So next create your own shortage, try expanding your search to include regional areas. I’m not an advocate for regional area cause I also really want to move out of regional area.

I’m actually on the job hunt again. I work in my industry - agri but the general tasks is not my cup of tea. Tapos nasa regional area pa talaga. I mean there are shops. But not enough people and happening. Haha.

I already have an interview to a new company for a position that is related to my previous role noong nasa Pinas pa. So I think they really do consider your experience kahit na sa Pinas if it really is something that they need. And this company is still regional but have better offer and opportunities down the line.

Conboyboy

Its not easy. You need to prepare yourself to be likable and convincing. When a company or a recruiter takes a chance based on your submitted cv/cover letter, make sure to ace it.

Always be ready with standard answers to common questions. If yun pa lang mag fumble ka na and you sound like you are not confident, you are blowing your chance away.

to answer the question, it took me a month to get a response from my first employer. The employment process was long as it was in between holidays, interview cancellations, meet and greets. Always pray din.

My 2nd job took me a total of 1 month. In between, i have tens of interviews - until all the stars aligned. I find that I have better chances getting hired by direct employers rather than via recruiters.

MidnightPanda12

Conboyboy

I agree with this. The very first interview that I had I called the manager “Mr. Xxxx” and he laughed at me (while on the phone). In here first name basis lagi, no Sir, Ma’am or Mr/Ms. maybe sa first approach sa email. But most times it will always be first name basis.

Also, your past experience (ones gained in the Philippines) can be used to your advantage if it is really specialized. I just got a new job after casually sending some resumes out there because I found a position that clearly aligns on my previous position. Added benefit is dahil specialized sya and nahirapan ata sila maghanap I was able to negotiate the salary that I want, unlike in my current occupation which I accepted because they’re the only ones that offered. So yeah kahit medyo natagalan and may delay, I’d say accept a job offer if you need it for sustenance cause at the end of the day yun naman talaga ang role ng job. But don’t be afraid to look for greener pasture and advocate for yourself. Be confident, migrant ka dito if you keep feeling inferior, and saying that you are less, you will live that. But if you ask for what you deserve then the world will realize your worth for what you are. I hope that makes sense.

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