Many people contact us to discuss why local hiring managers say that, without local work experience, you will never get a job in Australia.

Do you have local work experience in Australia?

Unfortunately, this is something that happens, even if you can offer much to a company. The reason is that hiring managers believe local experience removes the risk a skilled migrant or international graduate may bring to their company.

This risk may be seen in:

  • Difficulty with English (verbal and written)
  • Ignorance of business practices
  • Minor understanding of local culture
  • Missing technical skills
  • Restricted working rights
  • All of the above

Some recruiters and hiring managers will not shortlist you unless you have Australian experience (local experience in Australia). Local experience in Australia shows:

  • You are versed in Australian workplace culture
  • An understanding of specific processes and procedures unique to Australia
  • You have the right work visa
  • You possess the right communication skills

Local experience in Australia is particularly important in industries such as Accounting (tax), Engineering (Australian codes), Law and Medicine.

Unfortunately, this can feel unfair as it does not meet a real representation of who you are and what you’re capable of. I.e. if you’ve developed software overseas, constructed bridges overseas, or even have over 10 years’ experience overseas, you could struggle landing a job in Australia.

But don’t worry! There are ways to convince recruiters and hiring managers that you are “the right candidate” for the job – even if you don’t have local experience in Australia.

The key to overcoming no local experience in Australia?

The key to finding a job in Australia and overcoming having no local work experience is: Proving Yourself.

  1. Your Resume and Cover Letter need to convince the reader that you have the skills, experience and ability to do the job they want.
  2. Recruiters need to believe that you are better than the competition (who have local experience).
  3. You need to prove you are “the right candidate” for the job, by building relationships (networking) with recruiters and key decision-makers in the companies you want to work with.

If you can prove yourself in this way, you will overcome having no local work experience.

So, how do you turn yourself from being a potential risk into a vital asset?

1. An Outstanding Resume and Cover Letter

First, you need to show how your current experience is relevant and equivalent to what the job asks for from candidates.
You can do this by creating an outstanding Resume and tailoring your Cover Letter for each job. This is important!

You cannot give recruiters any reason to dismiss you. A terrible job application, which includes a poor Resume, generic Cover Letter and a lacklustre LinkedIn profile. These will make or break you.

Get your Resume and Cover Letter right because they’re crucial to landing a job in Australia

Furthermore, employers will turn away from you if:

  • You have poor verbal communication skills
  • The writing skills you have are lacklustre
  • There is a lack of PR or lack an explanation as to when you’re getting it
  • You do not understand the local culture or Australian workplace etiquette

So make sure you have a clear grasp on Australian workplace culture and language, which you could show in your Resume.

You also may need to consider finding volunteer work or an internship in Australia. Both of which will show that you have local work experience and are committed to working in Australia.

Additionally, have a professional from your industry review your Resume. Contact Resume writers (ideally referrals from good ones as there are some shoddy ones out there too..). Choose a Resume writer or career coach who has a track record of helping skilled migrants get interviews. Career Success Australia can help here too.

When you have met the above prerequisites, you will be closer to finding your dream job.

2. Build Your Network

Start building an Employer List. Search LinkedIn or job sites, such as SEEK, to find potential hiring managers and decision-makers at companies you would like to work for.

The goal here is to create a list of people you can build a relationship with and grow your local job network. From there, you could contact them directly by email. Then phone, in order to meet them over a coffee so that they can see the real you.

Also, get up to date on Australian Interview Etiquette. This will help you prove yourself. And allow the person you are meeting with to realise how capable and keen you are to work with them and for their company.

3. Practice Your English-Language Skills

Make sure you continue with your English-language work. This is the most important skill you can have. If you can’t communicate with the locals then you will never secure work in Australia.

4. Transferable Skills and Knowledge

Make sure your skill set is transferrable between the work in your home country and Australia. For example, software developers have skills that are universal. This is because knowing, say, how to develop in SQL or support CITRIX are transferrable skills.

However, if you fail to get a job even with transferrable skills then you may show risk in other areas, such as English, local standards/codes/law/processes and procedures.

For other professionals, such as accountants, a lack of knowledge in local law, taxation and regulation will have you seen as a risk.

You need to secure knowledge on local practices through work experience or study.

An internship in Australia – at a hosting company in your field – is one of the most effective ways to overcome these objections.

5. Cultural and Social Familiarity 

Any job dealing with stakeholders requires you to have local experience.

If you’re seeking a client-facing role – such as an accountant, support, sales or marketing jobs – then you will frequently be dealing with customers. So an understanding of local culture and social practices is necessary to interact appropriately.

Knowing and understanding local Australian humour, sport, news and events will be a big help here.

Local Experience in Australia: Ask For Help!

You should now have an idea of what it takes to overcome having no local work experience in Australia.

The methods we listed here may sound daunting, but they are vital if you’re going to stand a chance of beating the other candidates who have local experience. One of the most effective ways to overcome the ‘no local experience’ concern is to undertake a paid (or unpaid) internship.

Many of our clients who have had 10+ years’ overseas experience have undertaken an unpaid internship which has:
1. Led them to a full-time paid job with the host company
2. Given them much needed local experience – which has led them to a new job at a new company
3. Motivated recruiters (who previously rejected them) to now contact them about jobs they are advertising

If you’re keen to meet companies for an internship to gain local experience, feel free to contact us so that we can help.

We wish you all the best in your job search!
Careers Team, Career Success Australia