But I have applied for the same job... 1 step backwards, 2 steps forward!

As a Career Coach for new migrants, I get to hear this story quite a few times.  New migrants in various professions come to meet me and say that they have been applying for the same job as they used to work overseas, but are not getting anywhere.

Lets understand the logic why this is so. Most of the people migrate from overseas after they have got a certain amount of qualifications, skills and experience. Now once they reach here, they assume that they would be correct in applying for the same job as they did overseas. However in reality, the industry they work in may be structured differently here. Secondly, the standards and codes maybe different, like the building codes for construction industry or food standards in that industry.

Australian organisations are smaller and work on ‘lean and mean’ basis, so for example someone who worked overseas as a Project Civil Engineer, may not necessarily be able to work at the same title here.  Architects are in demand, but if you used different CAD skills overseas, then applying for roles requiring Revit skills here, won’t move your application forward. 

Migrants, who have worked in managerial roles before, especially need to realise and adjust to the fact that working in Australia, is really working at a different level. Depending on the industry you work in, it might be totally similar or a totally new ball game. You don’t know the work culture, rules and standards here. An industry newcomer may also not get the same respect from his juniors. While previous work experience and qualifications are a good foundation for job; targeting an exact, identical job title may not work out.

New migrants need to take one step backwards in their area of work here, learn the industry secrets and then try to secure a similar position to the one they held before. Industry and product market knowledge of the local way of doing things is always going to be useful in the long run.  Taking a step backwards at times can help you to leap further, if done properly,  1 step backwards, can mean 2 or more steps forward in your new career.