Which is better: Australia or UK for Job Search for the months Nov09, Dec09 & Jan10?

[JAZZYDHR]

Dear Forum Members,

At the outset I would introduce my background. I am an Oracle ERP / Applications specialist with over eight years of IT experiece and six years into Oracle Applications. Over the last four years I had an experience of working in various Oracle Application assignments in South Africa, Belgium, Singapore, United Kingdom and of course India.

The dilemma I have got my self into left me with no choice but to rely on the fora like this.

Background to my dilemma is this: I have got HSMP (Tier1 General) visa for UK (one year over already) and Australian GSM 175 visa (this I got only a couple of days when I was least expecting it).

I had worked in UK on my Tier1 visa from December 2008 till Febraury 2009 & April till July as Oracle ERP Applications Consultant. Since then I have been searching for jobs in UK but not succesful. I returned to India where I had to compromise on my indian pay package by more than 25%, yet I could not land in a job.

Meanwhile a personal misfortune struck me in the form of Flashfloods in South India in which my house got devastated. I had to help my family move to another city for a few months. I was preparing to return to UK by the third week of October when I still had a slim chance of trying my luck (though I am prepared to do the waiting game during the months Nov, Dec and Jan).

While all this was happening, I got a mail from the Australian DIAC Case Officer to send the PCC, which I completed on 21st of this month, only to find that my Australian Visa was granted on 27th.

My dilemma: Any how, I can not stay back in India since I was sitting jobless for four-five months, it is deemed a crime in India. Potential employers would not even touch your resume with a barge pole if you remain unemployed for more than a couple of months here. So the option of staying back in India is all but over. The choice before me: Travel either to UK or to Australia; Question: If there is a glimmer of hope (if at all it is there) then which is better option? On plus-side, I am used to the British way of life through my eight or nine month stay in UK. [As part of the Ashes series, I travelled in many cities in UK like Leeds, Bristol (for Cardiff test), Cardiff, Birmingham etc.]
I myself was working in Bradford then. I know the city of London in and out now. On the flip-side, the job market horrors of last winter (my first winter in UK) refuse to die. Though market is showing signs of a very modest recovery, it has not trickled down yet.

As I know nothing of the current job market in Australia for IT professionals, I would humbly request those of you who are in the know of the wintry months in UK and summer months leading to Christmas in Australia. Which of the two options is better? In either case, I am prepared (mentally and financially) to wait at least till the January-end 2010 for a job.

I thank you all in advance for bearing with this outsider to this forum and I conclude soliciting a few suggestions to wriggle out of the mess I created for my self.

JAZZYDHR

[amaslam]

Hi Jazzy:

Nov-Jan in AU are NOT months to get hired. This is because this is the big holiday period here and many companies go slow during this period. Outside of these months you can get hired.

However also note AU companies take a while to decide on any candidate. There are several members on the forum actively interviewing (see the posts of Royen as an example). This gives an idea of what is happening during hiring.

I think for now staying where you are and finding work is the most cost-effective thing to do. Both AU and UK would drain your savings and that is a risk in your current situation.

Originally Posted by JAZZYDHR

Dear Forum Members,

At the outset I would introduce my background. I am an Oracle ERP / Applications specialist with over eight years of IT experiece and six years into Oracle Applications. Over the last four years I had an experience of working in various Oracle Application assignments in South Africa, Belgium, Singapore, United Kingdom and of course India.

The dilemma I have got my self into left me with no choice but to rely on the fora like this.

Background to my dilemma is this: I have got HSMP (Tier1 General) visa for UK (one year over already) and Australian GSM 175 visa (this I got only a couple of days when I was least expecting it).

I had worked in UK on my Tier1 visa from December 2008 till Febraury 2009 & April till July as Oracle ERP Applications Consultant. Since then I have been searching for jobs in UK but not succesful. I returned to India where I had to compromise on my indian pay package by more than 25%, yet I could not land in a job.

Meanwhile a personal misfortune struck me in the form of Flashfloods in South India in which my house got devastated. I had to help my family move to another city for a few months. I was preparing to return to UK by the third week of October when I still had a slim chance of trying my luck (though I am prepared to do the waiting game during the months Nov, Dec and Jan).

While all this was happening, I got a mail from the Australian DIAC Case Officer to send the PCC, which I completed on 21st of this month, only to find that my Australian Visa was granted on 27th.

My dilemma: Any how, I can not stay back in India since I was sitting jobless for four-five months, it is deemed a crime in India. Potential employers would not even touch your resume with a barge pole if you remain unemployed for more than a couple of months here. So the option of staying back in India is all but over. The choice before me: Travel either to UK or to Australia; Question: If there is a glimmer of hope (if at all it is there) then which is better option? On plus-side, I am used to the British way of life through my eight or nine month stay in UK. [As part of the Ashes series, I travelled in many cities in UK like Leeds, Bristol (for Cardiff test), Cardiff, Birmingham etc.]
I myself was working in Bradford then. I know the city of London in and out now. On the flip-side, the job market horrors of last winter (my first winter in UK) refuse to die. Though market is showing signs of a very modest recovery, it has not trickled down yet.

As I know nothing of the current job market in Australia for IT professionals, I would humbly request those of you who are in the know of the wintry months in UK and summer months leading to Christmas in Australia. Which of the two options is better? In either case, I am prepared (mentally and financially) to wait at least till the January-end 2010 for a job.

I thank you all in advance for bearing with this outsider to this forum and I conclude soliciting a few suggestions to wriggle out of the mess I created for my self.

JAZZYDHR

[anj1976]

Hi JZ

Welcome to the forum, that was one interesting read. I cant be much help since I am yet to get my visa, yeah still in the waiting phase
few suggestions, I have been following these and I have seen it working for some. One, networking on Linkedin and the like, a friend from HR says we first start with Linked in and then move to job portals etc. since they get to know about the persons contacts, recommendations etc there. Two, check Job portals, i suppose u can figure out how good or bad it is as compared to UK. As for Christmas time, everyone has been talking about how bad the job seen is in AU as well around that time but its just a month that the hiring is slow but a friend, who is in Brisbane, working in HR said there are a lot of contract job available since most people go for holidays etc.
From what I have heard and read, things are picking up in AU, and are much better thn the US or UK. so my vote goes for AU.

I hope this helps, though you would rather go for info coming straight from the horses mouth

Cheers and wish u luck
Anj

[QualityTester]

Hi

Please read the article on the following website
Extra fast economic recovery in India, China, Australia: IMF - International Business - Biz - The Times of India

according to the newspaper Times of India, economic growth will highest in India,China and Australia. this is according to IMF. I am not sure about the implication to the job market though

[amaslam]

Hi QT:

At this point it has not hit the job market in any noticeable manner. Also the article speaks in a general country size manner. It does not address specific industries.

For example there is probably good demand for mining, but little demand for travel agents in AU. Depending on the industry you want to enter that's either good or bad.

Originally Posted by QualityTester

Hi

Please read the article on the following website
Extra fast economic recovery in India, China, Australia: IMF - International Business - Biz - The Times of India

according to the newspaper Times of India, economic growth will highest in India,China and Australia. this is according to IMF. I am not sure about the implication to the job market though

[Busyte]

Hi,

I just voted on your poll not for work reasons as I don't know anything of your area of work , but for lifestyle reasons, if you can choose Australia.

We live in the UK is the most grey Country I've known. Everyday you have differents shades of lovely grey in the sky. Because the clouds cover the sky, the day light is a bit weak. This is an Island and once in a while we feel it in lots of different ways (I've been here over 8 years now).
It becomes quite depressing after a while with this looonnnngggg winters.

My hubby is in Australia now and he says that although it is an expensive country to live in (then again so it's the UK), even in Melbourne, even on a rainy day, the light is much better and you do get to see blue skies.

You can get your family out on the weekend, go bike riding, have a barbie, take the kids to the park, sit on a cafe outside with your newpaper, etc...
My kids spend a lot of time playing indoors (it rains a lot), and we need a good winter coat, to take them for countryside walks and to the park easily 6 months a year. It has nice things, I do love walking and stopping aferwards for a pub lunch, it' one of the joys of living here.

Also as a foreign living in a different country, I do get "the look", specially since the credit crunch, some people are really not happy with having foreign people living here, as if we were the cause of any of their problems rather than the poor choices their politicians , elected by themselves have done...

I, personally, don't find the UK a very inviting country, we live here because my English is better than hubby's Portuguese, and if given the choice we would move.
Wait we do have the choice and we are moving!!!

Good luck with your decision, please do consider also British/Australian people, weather and lifestyle. It's all going to make a difference on how happy you and your family are in your new Country.


Best wishes,
Busyte

[JAZZYDHR]

Hi All,

I thank you all profusely for entertaining the poll and the thread I had posted. My special thanks to those who have taken their valuable time out in replying to my post( amaslam, qualitytester, anj1976 and busyte ). Each one who replied to my post gave me a new perspective which would certainly weigh in the final call I would take in making the move (either to UK or Australia). I welcome a few more responses that might bring in new perspectives.

--JDR

[ram]

Originally Posted by JAZZYDHR

Hi All,

I thank you all profusely for entertaining the poll and the thread I had posted. My special thanks to those who have taken their valuable time out in replying to my post( amaslam, qualitytester, anj1976 and busyte ). Each one who replied to my post gave me a new perspective which would certainly weigh in the final call I would take in making the move (either to UK or Australia). I welcome a few more responses that might bring in new perspectives.

--JDR

Hi Jazzy
I am slightly in the same boat as urs .. had Tier1 visa for uk starting feb 2009 and just got 175 visa for australia on 12th of oct. I am a telecom engineer in India and had not moved to UK due to recession and job cuts over there. Now in dilemma where to go first and try for job ..though i am trying at both places but have not received any response from Aus yet and consultants from UK wnt me to be prexent there personally ...

[JAZZYDHR]

Originally Posted by ram

Hi Jazzy
I am slightly in the same boat as urs .. had Tier1 visa for uk starting feb 2009 and just got 175 visa for australia on 12th of oct. I am a telecom engineer in India and had not moved to UK due to recession and job cuts over there. Now in dilemma where to go first and try for job ..though i am trying at both places but have not received any response from Aus yet and consultants from UK wnt me to be prexent there personally ...

Ram,

Thanks for your response. I think your case is less complicated than mine. Since you have not yet been to either of the countries, you can take an unbiased call. As I already spent almost nine months in UK earlier, for me such a call is tough. One thing I perceive and get to hear from others is this: Australian economy may be booming but market(for IT,I think it holds good for telecom as well) is quite content / limited. As I clearly mentioned in my post, I have given up on Indian job market.
Let us see how things unravel.

[royen]

Hey Jazz,

Why not contact a few recruiters directly and speak to them. Also it would help to network and find people very similar to your skill sets working in the same industry. Look at both UK and Oz and speak with people who are in both these countries. This way you would get some real good perspective.

Most of the time even if the employers are interested in your profile, they would expect you to fly down for the interviews. Telephonic interviews do happen but are rare. If your skill sets are the most sought after and they dont have any local candidates then they go for telephonic interviews.

And in the month of Nov - Jan all hiring stops, that is what I m feeling. Jobs would definitely pick up by Jan end so plan accordingly.

Hope this helps.

Regards,
Roy