For Accountants - how long did it take you to get a job?

TasBurrfoot · January 2015

@SYD_CPA
Guys guys! Just to share what a week! Andameng tumatawag for job offers! Oh my gulay, sobrang tuwa ko. I just came frm an interview sa city mayron nanaman ulet tom sa bondi jtn. Accountants share naman kayo if have the same exp. Nakakatuwa talaga. Nag pick up na daw ulet ang job market
Wow!!! Sana ganyan din dito sa Melbourne.
How is your jobhunt pala @rolly04?

Misis is still on the hunt for the perfect job for her but okey naman sya for the time being...
Same with me, I'm also on the hunt for the perfect job. Accounting role din naman ang current work ko pero not my ideal work.

at least you have something currently bud... all the best to you!

SYD_CPA · January 2015

Hi for me 4 months. Was real hard though.
Start na ko feb. 4. Ika nga mas matamis ang tagumpay papinaghirapan.

In reality the jobs are really out there, why the heck are there a dozen daily new job titles for accounting positions in seek or career one?

You have just got to stick with the advice already given sa forums (back read lng)

1. Customised cv. This will really help, match you skills with the job ad.
In other words make them see what they wana see

2. put some tought in your cover letters. Like strong business accumen or excellent communication skills through daily interaction with finance and non- finance staff. (It was a gold mine for me!)

3. Be extra agressive in a sense that you give the job poster a call back to indicate that you are ,as the aussies say , "keen to be considered for a role".

4. Sa job interview keep your cool. And never under any circumstances appear desperate.
Bolahin mo din. Ako girl nag interview saken recruiters pinag loloko ko na mahiling ako magbeach at gusto ko itry ang stand up paddle. Aba lo and behold! Nag iba demeanor! Naging paclose at intro pa ko sa mga collegues nya that might help me out.

Finally, enjoy the whole process. It's how you learn. Maybe the reason why you are not getting calls is becuase you need more experience in terms of job hunting. Believe me when I say na for the nth time ko din nadinig ang "local experience" bs line na yan.

best of luck to all of you and thank you din sa mga contributors na napulutan ko ng aral.

SYD_CPA signing out for now - work naman pagkaka abalahan ko

pinoykiwi_inOZ · January 2015

Hi for me 4 months. Was real hard though.
Start na ko feb. 4. Ika nga mas matamis ang tagumpay papinaghirapan.

4. Sa job interview keep your cool. And never under any circumstances appear desperate.
Bolahin mo din. Ako girl nag interview saken recruiters pinag loloko ko na mahiling ako magbeach at gusto ko itry ang stand up paddle. Aba lo and behold! Nag iba demeanor! Naging paclose at intro pa ko sa mga collegues nya that might help me out.

SYD_CPA signing out for now - work naman pagkaka abalahan ko

@SYD_CPA, yes this is the exact Aussie way of interview. Not too formal. Laging may halong personal touch. Dapat alam mo kung ano ang topic na pwede ninyong pag usapan during interview without getting too informal. Well done and Congrats. All the best.

cpa_oct2011 · February 2015

Hello po. Off-topic.. Sa mga external auditors po before dito.. Credited po ba lahat ng work experience nyo nung nagpa assess kayo?! May work experience kasi ako ng 1yr and 10 months lang sa isa sa mga Big auditinh firms dito sa pinas... Ayun lang po. Sana po may magreply. Thanks:)

TasBurrfoot · February 2015

Hello po. Off-topic.. Sa mga external auditors po before dito.. Credited po ba lahat ng work experience nyo nung nagpa assess kayo?! May work experience kasi ako ng 1yr and 10 months lang sa isa sa mga Big auditinh firms dito sa pinas... Ayun lang po. Sana po may magreply. Thanks:)

yes, my wife got credited for 6yrs of big 4 roles...

SYD_CPA · February 2015

Im just happy I just got to post it here! Guys! Proven ko na ang bait bait talaga ni lord. Sabi nga when it rains it pours! Just a week into my temp job eh may offer nako for permanent sa ibang company!

Sobrang saya ko kasi eti na yung role na inaasam ko. The jobs are really out there guys. Just keep on fighting. Brings tears to my eyes remembering the lowest of lows and being here where Iam at now.

Thank you lord!

my addtl advice would be as accountants pa access ka agad sa cpaa and get the designation if associate (ASA). Edge mo talaga yun.

mark_y · February 2015

@SYD_CPA Congrats ulit Brod..another answered prayer yan..So pano yan magreresign ka na agad sa current job mo? Sana kami rin makahanap agad ng work pagdating dyan...
Share mo experiences mo ha para may guide kami...God Bless...

SYD_CPA · February 2015

@mark_y oo brod pero magbibigay pako notice ayaw ko naman umalis basta basta.
oo men shashare naman ako, d naman tayo madamot idol

ethel_starr · February 2015

Hi everyone! Just got back in the forum after a busy 2 months! And i have good news to those still in the hunt for an accounting job! ☺ my team is hiring for a 12 month contract role for an accountant role. Anybody interested? It's to start asap. Pls send ur CVs to my email [email protected]

ethel_starr · February 2015

Btw, the role is sydney-based. Office near townhall station. ☺

jacdang · March 2015

Hi @ehel_starr, i think am in the right thread coz am looking for a Sydney-based job as I am migrating to Au in a few weeks and I havent heard any update from Macquarie(my current employer) regarding the internal job posting I applied for weeks ago. I will send u my cv asap. Thanx much

jacdang · March 2015

Hi @tasburrfoot and @vhoythoy, regarding CPAA assessment..got a copy of my syllabus way back 2011 pa for a different purpose w/c did not push thru..do i need to get a new one for an assessment this month before i go to Sydney? In the cover page kasi is the signature of the dept head dated 2011 pa.

TasBurrfoot · March 2015

Hi @tasburrfoot and @vhoythoy, regarding CPAA assessment..got a copy of my syllabus way back 2011 pa for a different purpose w/c did not push thru..do i need to get a new one for an assessment this month before i go to Sydney? In the cover page kasi is the signature of the dept head dated 2011 pa.

It should be ok as di naman nagbago ang syllabus mo diba? All the best mate...

jacdang · March 2015

thanx @tasburfoot..i think am ready for assessment na..pwede nmn gawin kahit d2 pa sa Pinas db?? end of march p kc aq balik ng sydney for good..

jacdang · March 2015

@ethel_starr hi, emailed u my cv

SYD_CPA · May 2015

Just to share.
Grabe mga kabayan. When I move here sa oz, they say laid back ang acctg life style. Pero grabe patayan ang month end. Dame recon samen, puro pasabog. Kahit gano ka kagaleng malamang mabuburnout ka sa kaka fire fight ng issues.

on the up side. You are rewarded handsomely. Yun lng muubos talaga energy mo. I guess after this contract maghunt ako ng mas may work life balance

mark_y · May 2015

Hi Guys, share ko lang. Since we arrived last week, two applications pa lang ang nasend ko and just few minutes back I received the email from them...both are rejection e-mails saying I did not meet the criteria. Both are direct employers....
Pero ok lang, ganun lang talaga siguro..Try and try lang..But the good thing is they are responding on time....Back to job searching

orange11 · May 2015

I personally know someone, it took him 5 months to land a job here in Victoria. Medyo sa malayong suburb pa sya nakakuha. And yes, sa kasamaang palad 1st month pa lang nya stressed na sya... after a year he found a new employer. Medyo off sa line of profession (konti lang naman) but he has work-life balance na (sabi nya). I don't mean to discourage anyone, medyo realistic lang. Minsan swerte, minsan kailangan talaga ng maraming baon na hope and faith. So set your expectations. Tingin ko, ang paghahanap ng job eh depende kung paano mo ibebenta ang sarili mo.

anneoz08 · July 2015

im into odd jobs in a year na. Nkaipon n ng konti so im planning to go back to school. Anyone of you who took a course in TAFE? Balak ko eto muna itake ko pra lang mgka certificate ako in just 6 months Diploma of Accounting or Bookeeping. Ung CPAA program will take me 3 yrs to finish so later ko n lang sya itake, gusto ko n kasi mkalipat sa accounting job asap. Any insight? Thanks

mark_y · July 2015

Hi @anneoz08...if you don't mind anong odd job napasukan mo? More than 2 months na rin kase akong hanap ng accounting job pero ala pa rin...
Why do you prefer na mag enroll pala sa TAFE instead of the CPA program, most employers will put more value kase sa work experience related to your field and also if you have CPA designation..if you compare the cost konti lang siguro difference though you can complete TAFE course faster...in my case kse I enrolled this Semester 2 sa CPAA for my first subject while searching for a job, baka mag odd job na rin muna ako if ever...san ka pala dito sa Oz?

anneoz08 · July 2015

@mark_y sa western australia ako sa pilbara region. 3 years kasi ung CPAA e gusto ko n agad mkapasok sa office. Tas wala pa akong syllabus dont know when pa mkakauwi Pinas. Cleaner ako sa 1ng hotel tas ngquiet so now barista ako sa McDonalds

mark_y · July 2015

Ang layo mo pala..d2 rin ako WA sa may City of Cockburn naman....galing mo naman dami mo ng napasukan...so di ka pa pala nag apply as Associate Member sa CPAA, if you are accepted as ASA, exempted ka na sa foundation level, Professiona level na lang where you need to pass 6 subjects, pede mo sya matapos within 2 yrs if you will enroll 2 subjects per sem..

Tere08 · August 2015

hello all!

i just want to share the good news here. i just got hired today after being here in oz for 4 weeks. Assistant accountant post (main exposure on AP) in a new company. They did not require local experience and even got worried that I maybe downgrading bec my prev experience is financial reporting.

Sharing this to inspire others who have the same experience as mine sa job hunting. I received only one phone interview despite sending my resume in countless companies sa mga job hunting sites. I just realized na meron at meron talagang trabahong available, at merong icoconsider ang experience mo kahit na hindi dito sa oz..so just keep trying.

davidan · August 2015

Is it really worth kaya pagpunta sa OZ if you are earning 180k no tax at 28 yrs old having a senior post? parang habang nagbabasa ako dito eh yun iba nahihirapan maghanap worst di pa related work nila sa accounting. Hindi ba dapat eh madali na lang tayo because we are CPA's with senior reporting role?

TasBurrfoot · August 2015

Is it really worth kaya pagpunta sa OZ if you are earning 180k no tax at 28 yrs old having a senior post? parang habang nagbabasa ako dito eh yun iba nahihirapan maghanap worst di pa related work nila sa accounting. Hindi ba dapat eh madali na lang tayo because we are CPA's with senior reporting role?

It is not always the case - my wife was group financial reporting manager for the biggest insurance company in singapore but when we moved here, she had to start from scratch again - cguro may iba naman na mas swerte but we were happy kasi within 2 months nakahanap na kami parehas ng work.

180K NET is tantamount to earning $86,600 gross here in Austalia - an amount you may not get if you are just starting and doesn't have what they call the local work experience; is it worth transferring? I believe ikaw lang makasagot nito as ikaw lang nakaalam sa priority mo.

For us personally, it was more than money - we made the move and took a demotion and a subsequent paycut (both of us). 2 years after, if you ask us was it worth it? It is!

Tere08 · August 2015

sir @TasBurrfoot agree ako. share ko lang i moved here bec my hubby's a licensed nurse here so dito talaga sya and ako, i felt underrated and syempre underpaid na din sa career ko sa phils so for me super worth it.

TasBurrfoot · August 2015

Is it really worth kaya pagpunta sa OZ if you are earning 180k no tax at 28 yrs old having a senior post? parang habang nagbabasa ako dito eh yun iba nahihirapan maghanap worst di pa related work nila sa accounting. Hindi ba dapat eh madali na lang tayo because we are CPA's with senior reporting role?
It is not always the case - my wife was group financial reporting manager for the biggest insurance company in singapore but when we moved here, she had to start from scratch again - cguro may iba naman na mas swerte but we were happy kasi within 2 months nakahanap na kami parehas ng work.

180K NET is tantamount to earning $86,600 gross here in Austalia - an amount you may not get if you are just starting and doesn't have what they call the local work experience; is it worth transferring? I believe ikaw lang makasagot nito as ikaw lang nakaalam sa priority mo.

For us personally, it was more than money - we made the move and took a demotion and a subsequent paycut (both of us). 2 years after, if you ask us was it worth it? It is!

To follow-up with my statement above; 2 years after the move, has my wife already achieved her previous level in Singapore? The answer is no... AHahahah!!

Still far from it but she is very happy with her work now as Audit Manager for a small multinational firm!

Again at the end of the day, it is more than just money for some people - masaya wife ko dito as she loves Melbourne generally. She likes to complain when it is already too hot in the summer and wish that it will be winter already ONLY to complain again right now that it is already too cold and wish it will be summer soon. Stress level for her here is very much low compared to Singapore.

Hope this will help somehow!

davidan · August 2015

Yes. I decided to pursue this not because of money but for my kid/s na rin. I know if I would only focus on money why i would leave my job now?

TasBurrfoot · August 2015

Yes. I decided to pursue this not because of money but for my kid/s na rin. I know if I would only focus on money why i would leave my job now?

Great! At the end of the day, it is only you who can answer your question mate...

And one more thing probably; be prepared to downgrade yourself in terms of finding work at par with what you have right now!

davidan · August 2015

@TasBurrfoot

I am prepared naman to start from the scratch and eventually our employer will get notice us and then they will give us better opportunity. We have to show something that would make them notice. We could not just simply take a higher position just because we are there prior to moving. I have to remind myself also that when I started working in abroad, I also started from down. Most likely that will be the case in Au. If I was able to accepted it in Middle East why I cant in Aussie?