Malaysian in NSW

The Malaysian in Sydney has been busy looking for new role in the past few months. It is tough out there, but as the going gets tough, the tough gets going.

Many Malaysians who have moved to Sydney or Australia in general will know how difficult it is to get and keep a real job; and those who have a job will also know how easy it is to lose it or be made redundant. The new economy does not favour job security, loyalty nor life time employment any longer. Change, move or retrain is the new mantra.

For those who are experiencing this situation at this moment, all I can say is just don't give up. I know is it easier said, but this is of utmost importance.

A brief of what I have undergone the past 2-3 months in my quest for a new job/ role and what I did or experienced/ observed:

a) Submitted in total, an excess of 160 applications, many were very close fit, others were just a stab in the dark although I must say all were relevant to my background/training/ experience

b) All my submissions were for roles in Sydney (and greater Sydney) initially but eventually expanded to include regional NSW as well

c) All positions applied for, were for experienced roles with probably no less than 5 years, with many  seeking 10-20 years, and to give you some back ground, I have over 20 years experience

d) I've read numerous books, articles, web sites, linked in postings etc, on job search with mixed conclusions e.g. some ask you to copy extracts of the job requirements onto your CV to enable the software to pick up/ filter a good match whilst others ask you to be more creative/ different

e) Recruiters work mainly for the client/employers' interest not the job seekers, very few actually work towards the job seekers' interest; so if you fail to get any response or frequently get rejected, it is not you. I had better response rate from employers directly although better here means a few as well

f) The job market is running on two speed; with the lower level roles/ position i.e. those below $100K  p.a. having a slightly better chance in favour of the employee and those at the higher level roles/ position i.e. those above $100K p.a, still very much an employers' market possibly due to over supply of qualified/experience candidates

g) Don't be afraid to try new things and/ or meet people in whatever that is relevant; career change, business opportunities, volunteering etc.

h) Try to be away from your home i.e. as if you're working everyday, by going out to meet people, attend free talks, network, meet up, start up, forums etc. Exchanging ideas/ view points with others helps to keep your sanity

i) Rejection increases the more you apply, but apply you must, whether it is in response to a job ad, unsolicited letters/application to a potential employer, news article highlighting expansion of a company, ASX announcement on some resignation or by word of mouth etc.

j) Review all your contacts and try to communicate with them on your intention to assist, help or support them in any relevant role/function; not just to look for a job. It does not matter even if it is not a paid role, the idea is to keep your mind working and making yourself useful

Based on the above experience, I finally received a handful (one hand only), of response (i.e. phone calls from the recruiter/ employer/ advertiser for some queries and/or phone interview), with two coming from regional roles. Most (close to above 80%) never reply, around 15-20% will send you a rejection; and hopefully one or two interviews with the potential employer (you only need one job).

From there, I manage to secure a role in regional NSW which means relocating myself.

The journey has been tough and stressful, but it is a journey in life.

I will now begin my journey from a regional NSW perspective next week and hopefully will be able to continue posting.

Again, best of luck to job seekers out there and feel free to share or ask me any question.