Job Market

[devilsadvocate]

So, for the first time in my life, I'm unemployed and while actively looking and applying for jobs, I've got NOTHING. No call backs, no responses and there's bugger all new jobs popping up.

Anyone else in the same boat?

The current economy seems sluggish in SA with most employers taking a 'wait and see' approach to taking on new staff and many only doing so on short term contracts, which I can understand.

2 things are frustrating the hell out of me though:

1. If I went to Melbourne, I could have a job almost instantly (can't go though because the missus doesn't want to)
2. I don't qualify for the dole because the missus is over their income threshold.



I'd happily do some labouring to fill in while waiting to get my career back on track, but even that's a struggle, plus I can't commit beyond getting a job, so it'd be unfair on whoever took me.

So annoyed right now.

[dedja]

Yes, it's a very depressed market ... I've had quite a few months off now and it's been an interesting time!

For me, the worst was from about Jan to June, and it seems to have picked up from last month (corresponding to the new financial year).

I was happy to downgrade just get some work but employers are very wary and can afford to be choosy because it's such a buyer's market at the moment, so being overqualified was a hinderence rather than a help.

In the end I just stopped looking for a while and let the missus crank up her hours to pay the bills ... she's getting sick of that now so I had better start looking again in earnest!

Depending on your field of work, the prospects should pick up soon but it depends on how long you can manage being out of work.

Feel free to PM me if you want to discuss further and compare war stories.

[Wedgie]

Good luck DA, hopefully someone on here might be able to help.

[brod]

So, for the first time in my life, I'm unemployed and while actively looking and applying for jobs, I've got NOTHING. No call backs, no responses and there's bugger all new jobs popping up.

Anyone else in the same boat?

So annoyed right now.

Yes - and its annoying the sh*t out of me, am doing some casual stuff, but just want to get into it properly!!

Have had the same experiences as deja, with getting the response "sorry, didnt even consider you for an interview because you were so overqualified", so am finding it even harder now .

[Mickyj]

My 20 yo (and he will read this) got his Tafe diploma in IT now can't get a job !!!
And last friday I was awarded a certificate for 15 yrs service yipeeee!!!
Mind u it was in MAY!!!
46 unskilled and to old to look for a different job but yound enough to go fishing

[redwhiteandblueblooded]

Where I work we have a constant turn-over of labour hire contractors (Kellys' and the like). I seems as if there are a dozen new faces everyday! But having said that, rotating shift work is not everyones cup of tea. A small % do make it and are made permanent.

[Jimmy_041]

Here ya go guys.................

http://www.safooty.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=24312

[gadj1976]

DA et al, what type of work do you do?

Where do you look for work?

I'm in IT, and a contractor. It was a tough time trying to get my latest position in March/April/June/July. I finished up getting this contract on the second last day of my old contract.

I've been told by a few recruitment agencies that they advertise jobs that they can't find people for from their databases. That equated to 70% of jobs are never advertised - obviously the cost of ringing a few people on their database is cheaper than placing an ad with Seek etc. So the moral of the story is to send your resume to every recruitment company out there. You will get called back because they make their money from you. So it's in their best interest to call you back.

I've been told by recruitment companies that this quarter and the last quarter of the year should see an increase in employment opportunities. However that will depend on the type of work you do.

This doesn't necessarily just go for IT either. HR, Recruitment, customer service are all in the same boat.

All the best guys, and keep plugging away.

Gadj

[devilsadvocate]

DA et al, what type of work do you do?

Where do you look for work?

I'm in IT, and a contractor. It was a tough time trying to get my latest position in March/April/June/July. I finished up getting this contract on the second last day of my old contract.

I've been told by a few recruitment agencies that they advertise jobs that they can't find people for from their databases. That equated to 70% of jobs are never advertised - obviously the cost of ringing a few people on their database is cheaper than placing an ad with Seek etc. So the moral of the story is to send your resume to every recruitment company out there. You will get called back because they make their money from you. So it's in their best interest to call you back.

I've been told by recruitment companies that this quarter and the last quarter of the year should see an increase in employment opportunities. However that will depend on the type of work you do.

This doesn't necessarily just go for IT either. HR, Recruitment, customer service are all in the same boat.

All the best guys, and keep plugging away.

Gadj

I'm a Chartered Accountant, looking for work as an analyst/management accountant.

I mainly look at Seek, but also the bigger recruitment firms, plus a couple of other smaller job sites.

I have contacted all of the bigger recruiters, but have been pretty disappointed with the outcome (or lack of!!). I've sent through a general enquiry to the largest firm, as well as applied for one of their advertised roles directly. I then sent 2 follow-up emails, but got nothing in response.

I do think in part it's just the current climate, but honestly, it's not hard to send me an email saying I'm in the system.

[devilsadvocate]

Here ya go guys.................

http://www.safooty.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=24312

LOL

[dedja]

DA et al, what type of work do you do?

Where do you look for work?

I'm in IT, and a contractor. It was a tough time trying to get my latest position in March/April/June/July. I finished up getting this contract on the second last day of my old contract.

I've been told by a few recruitment agencies that they advertise jobs that they can't find people for from their databases. That equated to 70% of jobs are never advertised - obviously the cost of ringing a few people on their database is cheaper than placing an ad with Seek etc. So the moral of the story is to send your resume to every recruitment company out there. You will get called back because they make their money from you. So it's in their best interest to call you back.

I've been told by recruitment companies that this quarter and the last quarter of the year should see an increase in employment opportunities. However that will depend on the type of work you do.

This doesn't necessarily just go for IT either. HR, Recruitment, customer service are all in the same boat.

All the best guys, and keep plugging away.

Gadj

Gadj,

I'm in IT as well ... in management but my technical skills are long gone. Jan-Jun this year was especially tight, but things will pick up as a lot of companies and govt agencies are now starting to recruit in the new financial year.

Don't know what you're skills are but PMs, BA's, architects, ITIL and service management transformation skills, and some technical disciplines are in demand, and depending on location, some niche skills (like SAP on the Eastern seaboard).

As well as using recruitment agencies, I highly recommend working industry contacts in your network to uncover those unadvertised roles. Remember recruitment agencies work for the employer first, not you, so if you can cut them out of the loop by contacting companies direct then your chances will increase.

[Hondo]

I'm a Chartered Accountant, looking for work as an analyst/management accountant.

I mainly look at Seek, but also the bigger recruitment firms, plus a couple of other smaller job sites.

I have contacted all of the bigger recruiters, but have been pretty disappointed with the outcome (or lack of!!). I've sent through a general enquiry to the largest firm, as well as applied for one of their advertised roles directly. I then sent 2 follow-up emails, but got nothing in response.

I do think in part it's just the current climate, but honestly, it's not hard to send me an email saying I'm in the system.

So even the Big 4 aren't recruiting?

Man, that's a worry.

I'd ring up each of the Big 4's HR departments and organise a direct chat. Then do the same with the next tier firms. If you want to work in commerce you may need to pull stumps and move to Sydney or Melbourne. The only other tip would be to approach the insolvency firms because they are busier at the moment and they tend to find it harder to get qualified accountants to work for them.

I'm really surprised to hear this and very sorry from your POV.

I know the big 4 did a lot of shedding last last year, particularly in audit. However I had heard they were finding the current reporting season very tough with their lighter staff levels.

[gadj1976]

DA et al, what type of work do you do?

Where do you look for work?

I'm in IT, and a contractor. It was a tough time trying to get my latest position in March/April/June/July. I finished up getting this contract on the second last day of my old contract.

I've been told by a few recruitment agencies that they advertise jobs that they can't find people for from their databases. That equated to 70% of jobs are never advertised - obviously the cost of ringing a few people on their database is cheaper than placing an ad with Seek etc. So the moral of the story is to send your resume to every recruitment company out there. You will get called back because they make their money from you. So it's in their best interest to call you back.

I've been told by recruitment companies that this quarter and the last quarter of the year should see an increase in employment opportunities. However that will depend on the type of work you do.

This doesn't necessarily just go for IT either. HR, Recruitment, customer service are all in the same boat.

All the best guys, and keep plugging away.

Gadj

Gadj,

I'm in IT as well ... in management but my technical skills are long gone. Jan-Jun this year was especially tight, but things will pick up as a lot of companies and govt agencies are now starting to recruit in the new financial year.

Don't know what you're skills are but PMs, BA's, architects, ITIL and service management transformation skills, and some technical disciplines are in demand, and depending on location, some niche skills (like SAP on the Eastern seaboard).

As well as using recruitment agencies, I highly recommend working industry contacts in your network to uncover those unadvertised roles. Remember recruitment agencies work for the employer first, not you, so if you can cut them out of the loop by contacting companies direct then your chances will increase.

Hey Dedja - I'm purely functional, BA with a bit of PM'ing (prefer BA). Have you guys tried LinkedIn? I haven't but people tell me it's got them jobs. Dunno if I believe them.

Yeh the market is picking up. In the early to mid part of the year when I was looking there was nothing. Melbourne and Sydney BA's were flooding the market, but luckily for us they were asking Melbourne and Sydney rates, plus travel and accom costs. I can see the market has moved on and let's face it the Govt will be spending money on infrastructure, energy etc.

The company I work for is investing money hand over fist in the next few years for that exact same reason.

[dedja]

Yes, I use Linkedin ... it formalises my network to an extent.

[devilsadvocate]

So even the Big 4 aren't recruiting?

I'm not sure about the Big 4, but I doubt they're taking on loads of experienced accountants. Maybe just juniors at this stage.

I'm actually looking for work as an analyst/management accountant - in commerce, not public practice, so my problem is that there are very few large companies in SA and the smaller companies are generally very small and reluctant to take anyone on at the moment.

But thanks for the good idea anyway.

[Ron Burgundy]

I worked at ABB Grain as a Financial Analyst and Management Accountant for 4 years. They always have an ear out for quality staff, and are Adelaides 3rd biggest company.

I guess the only thing is the uncertainty with the current Viterra situation.

Below is their website, with a link for direct applications. I would also follow up with a phone call.

http://www.abb.com.au/Careers/SearchCareers.aspx

[Hondo]

I'm not sure about the Big 4, but I doubt they're taking on loads of experienced accountants. Maybe just juniors at this stage.

I'm actually looking for work as an analyst/management accountant - in commerce, not public practice, so my problem is that there are very few large companies in SA and the smaller companies are generally very small and reluctant to take anyone on at the moment.

But thanks for the good idea anyway.

The big 4 have their "transactions" divisions (mergers, acquisitions, etc) where your analyst background could be valuable

What I hear is that they are always on the look out for experienced, qualified CAs because they have such high turnover of these types who go overseas or interstate.

Even in the best of times, Adelaide is a very hard place to find decend accounting jobs in commerce. I have a mate who was trying to switch jobs and did so eventually but it took him over 12 months.

Good luck, keep us posted ....

[Psyber]

I'm sorry to hear the job market is so tight guys - good luck.
I admit to contributing to the SA accounting services slump, in a small way, by keeping my accountancy work with Barrett Baxter Bye in South Melbourne.

As I have been entirely self-employed since late 1975, I have no personal experience of what job-hunting in a tight market feels like.
Sadly, I suspect we'll have a mini recovery, followed by another slump when the deficit and rising interest rates bite in about 2 years.

[Dutchy]

So even the Big 4 aren't recruiting?

I'm not sure about the Big 4, but I doubt they're taking on loads of experienced accountants. Maybe just juniors at this stage.

KPMG this time last year recruited 100 graduates to commence Jan 2009, in Feb 2009 they retrenched them all...

[MightyEagles]

I hate it when jobs are advertised and they ask for young people (say 25yo) with 10 years of experience, but you can't get experience unless you have a job.