Son #2 has graduated from a U.S. university with a degree in PR and has been unable to find the type of job he has trained for.

So, last night he tell me that a number of his college chums have headed off to Australia to seek fame and fortune and he thinks going Down Under might be an interesting proposition.

I suggested he go to Japan since he has family and a support system that he could rely on, but he seems to want to blaze his own trail.

My question to any Aussies prowling here, are there any job prospects for a 22-year-old American (he still has a Japanese passport too) that thinks it would be an adventure to try to live in Australia? Will he encounter difficulties in obtaining a working visa? Any insights into all the standard shit one should know BEFORE embarking on and adventure like this? He has never been to Australia.

Bucky wrote:
Son #2 has graduated from a U.S. university with a degree in PR and has been unable to find the type of job he has trained for.

So, last night he tell me that a number of his college chums have headed off to Australia to seek fame and fortune and he thinks going Down Under might be an interesting proposition.

I suggested he go to Japan since he has family and a support system that he could rely on, but he seems to want to blaze his own trail.

My question to any Aussies prowling here, are there any job prospects for a 22-year-old American (he still has a Japanese passport too) that thinks it would be an adventure to try to live in Australia? Will he encounter difficulties in obtaining a working visa? Any insights into all the standard shit one should know BEFORE embarking on and adventure like this? He has never been to Australia.

[Not an Aussie, but fwiw . . . ]

If his degree can be applied to the mining industry in anyway, then he's probably employable.

Have he already been convicted for felony or something ?
I think it's still a requirement...

a group of my friends left Japan for Australia (a vc, japanese, american, kiwi, and UK) for better chances at a job that they opportunities for promotion.

Just from what they tell me, the cost of living is high, so part time jobs wont help out that much in the beginning, you should have a job lined up or cash saved for rent, etc.

you dont necessarily need to be mine work related. there are some good IT companies out there (Japanese and Yank), agriculture, construction, marine (not MC).

but that is just what i heard from people who went there recently for a chance... who knows if they will succeed or not.

On the bad side:
Youth unemployment (18-24) is persistently high for those without experience, so it might be a little tough to kick-start a career.
PR is a tough field to break into anywhere at the moment.
Oz is super expensive.

On the good side:
Casual wage payments are really high and Americans generally work harder than Aussies, so it may be comparatively easy to find work. He may want to consider "an Oz experience" working casually (not part-time, where hourly wage payments are lower)?
There's plenty of work if he doesn't mind going to remote areas (and I mean really remote). If you're interested, I can put him in touch with someone who's hiring for very well-paid positions but with lots of catches (but public service, so not all bad). He may need to make a statement of intent to take out Australian citizenship to do it (and will not necessarily need to go through with the pledge).

BTW, he may find things easier with a working holliday visa through his Japanese citizenship than trying to obtain permission to work through U.S. citizenship, but doing so could also limit his employment opportunities to picking fruit or waiting tables.

Hair, thanks for the thoughtful response.

Screwed-down Hairdo wrote:On the bad side:
Youth unemployment (18-24) is persistently high for those without experience, so it might be a little tough to kick-start a career.
PR is a tough field to break into anywhere at the moment.
Oz is super expensive.

On the good side:
Casual wage payments are really high and Americans generally work harder than Aussies, so it may be comparatively easy to find work. He may want to consider "an Oz experience" working casually (not part-time, where hourly wage payments are lower)?
There's plenty of work if he doesn't mind going to remote areas (and I mean really remote). If you're interested, I can put him in touch with someone who's hiring for very well-paid positions but with lots of catches (but public service, so not all bad). He may need to make a statement of intent to take out Australian citizenship to do it (and will not necessarily need to go through with the pledge).

BTW, he may find things easier with a working holliday visa through his Japanese citizenship than trying to obtain permission to work through U.S. citizenship, but doing so could also limit his employment opportunities to picking fruit or waiting tables.

Is number two also bilingual? I know Japanese speaking Australian friends have always seemed to be able to find work in the hospitality industry if all else fails.

They do allow working holiday visas for Americans going to Australia. This is not widely advertised but I have had a few friends recently who spent a year in Melbourne on WHV.

This is really very new and I am not sure who you need to blow to get one, but it is an option.

WHV are brilliant as they are easy to get but I am not sure on the restrictions about what sort of job you can get, Tax file numbers etc.

These same friends had no problems getting work using this visa but they were bright and outgoing people. Attitude and personality are everything.

I would look into temp agencies as you can often get good placements in a company and then work the internal angles to get a more permanent position. Hiring from within is still a big part of company culture in Aus AFAIK. Get a foot in the door at a good company as the temp mail delivery person and who knows....

http://www.immi.gov.au/visitors/working-holiday/462/usa/
I'd get him in to the nearest consulate for a chat.

Mock Cockpit wrote:http://www.immi.gov.au/visitors/working-holiday/462/usa/
I'd get him in to the nearest consulate for a chat.

I feel really cheated that I never knew about this when I was younger.

Americans dont need visa's. Just invade us like you do to other countries you want to take advantage of.

Taka-Okami wrote:Americans dont need visa's. Just invade us like you do to other countries you want to take advantage of.

You guys aint worth shit, you have no natural resources. You never got the American hand book. Rule number 52, only invade in the event of vast natural resources.

Taka-Okami wrote:Americans dont need visa's. Just invade us like you do to other countries you want to take advantage of.

or do what the brits do... dump a couple boat loads of convics on an island and let them rot there... than years later down the road they end up having a really good economy and kick ass beaches and what not...

Americans dont have any reason to invade assie hood... we dont really fancy sheep or kangaroos...

Christoff wrote:I feel really cheated that I never knew about this when I was younger.

This has only been introduced in the last 2-3 years. It is really new and it has been kept quiet as I don't think the US has given reciprocal rights.

It is such a good program as it is usually bright, eager, university grads who travel, party, work minimum wage jobs and then leave.

Christoff wrote:You guys aint worth shit, you have no natural resources. You never got the American hand book. Rule number 52, only invade in the event of vast natural resources.

I am sorry - are you kidding me? No vast natural resources? How do you think the Aussie economy has stayed so strong in the last 15 years?

Or am I missing your tone?

GomiGirl wrote:I am sorry - are you kidding me? No vast natural resources? How do you think the Aussie economy has stayed so strong in the last 15 years?

Or am I missing your tone?

The bush meat trade?

GomiGirl wrote:I am sorry - are you kidding me? No vast natural resources? How do you think the Aussie economy has stayed so strong in the last 15 years?

Or am I missing your tone?

Even if he's trying to be sarcastic it doesn't work. Humor has to be based in truth.

Aussie here.

PR isn't an 'in demand' industry, therefore he may have a hard time securing long term employment. Australia wants doctors, engineers, accountants etc.

GomiGirl wrote:I am sorry - are you kidding me? No vast natural resources? How do you think the Aussie economy has stayed so strong in the last 15 years?

Or am I missing your tone?

This.

Brb, selling vast amounts of Uranium to China/India.

Aussie here. If he has a job lined up, sounds good. But as far as I know, long term visa requirements are pretty tough here.