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• I have been working overseas as an analyst and had hoped to return to Sydney to find a similiar job. Unfortunately, I didn't have any local market experience. Didn't know that Aussie employers are so narrow minded about seeking people with transferrable skills. Still looking for a job after a year. 
  
  
  I recognise that I might have to start at a more junior level to get local experience, but NO WAY, they can't handle the idea that I am willing to take a step backwards.  It's really myopic here.

  Philip Lee 14 May 2007

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• agreed on employers being myopic about local experience. whilst it hasn't affected me directly, i have heard of similar cases

  agree 15 May 2007

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• I can understand your frustration, and don't be fooled that it just your lack of local experience.  I worked here for over 4 years in IB and returned a few months ago.  Although market knowledge is certainly a component, I believe the lack of lateral thinking is the killer.  I've also worked in London and Hong Kong where your skills are embraced and opportunities (particularly HK) result, but here they focus on what you don't have as opposed to what you can offer.  With this mindset there will always be plenty of jobs because the perfect candidate is already employed! 
  
  
  have also worked in London and HK, but never thought I faced the lack of lateral thinking prospective employers

  Andrew 15 May 2007

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• Either the headlines are completely wrong or I am living on planet Mars, because it appears to me a load of garbage that there are so many jobs available. It is clearly a myth. I have an incredibly good CV, with international experience, at very senior levels, yet cannot get any traction here. I know I can move to Asia and relatively quickly, get placed.
  This is how ridiculous it is : I have actually put together a very detailed business plan, and approached no less than a team of 12, to form a business in my area of specialty. We now have 3 private equity backers and look set to incept the business with no less than $200 million assets under management.
  
  
  
  
  So let me get this. I can do something on that sort of level, employ all the staff, set up all the systems, get the huge amount of capital commitment required, yet apparently not one of the narrow minded institutions can see my value?? Give me a break!
  
  
  
  
  It gets worse (well, funnier). One of the institutions I saw had some mindless 'rating scale". Since I was not apparently at the top of that, they put me on hold, while they sourced other candidates. As it turned out no one got the job. They are just 'tyre kickers'.

  John, Investment Banking 17 May 2007

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• In my organisation there are a lot of vacancies roles where managers have been looking to hire for months and have met people that have great skills but they have not been hired.
  
  
  
  
  Its rare that an employer actually sees the value of hiring someone who is a reasonable fit with potential, getting on with it and 3-4 months down the road you have a fully functioning team member.
  
  
  
  
  You will probably hire them at a lower cost and the new hire is really motivated about the scope for personal development, they are happy and the rest of team enjoys the benefit of a workload being spreadout, less crazy hours, a happier team.
  
  
  
  
  If only there were more people like that and less who were scared and worried how it will reflect on them if the new hire doesn't function 100%. Is what we do so complicated that a bright person just the same as you a few years ago can't learn it? I don't think so. Lets not be so pious. I wasn't born with the skills I have now I learnt them on the job.

  Mark Potter 17 May 2007

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• A part of the fault is with the recruitment companies. I recently applied for a position to which I was more than qualified for only to be rejected within 24hours. I contacted the person involved with presenting the position and explained to them that as the advertisement was presented I was perfect for the job and that I wanted a fairly good reason as to why I was not being presented to the client or I was going to present myself to the client (it wasn't hard to figure out who it was) and she would likely not receive any commission at all. It became very obvious from a brief conversation that the young lass that had been handed this task had absolutely no idea what she was talking about.
  
  
  
  
  Please we need more proessionalism in the recruitment industry and it needs to step away from many of the cheap sales tricks that seem to be the norm.

  Mal 22 May 2007

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• I totally agree with all of u above. I have 10 years of working experience and tried knocking on doors of a recruiter who had contract/part time work hoping that it would be easier to get in only to be told that i should try for a graduate role!

  
  
  
  

  Its not just demeaning that overseas experience is not recognised but to start again at graduate level after working in IB for ten years is really ridiculous. Is there a way where we can write to some authorities to highlight this problem?

  
  
  
  

  Especially for people without the domestic experience, its not that we are not capable but we are not even given a chance to proof ourselves even at the most basic level of being granted the first interview when in our resume/CV its clear we have the necessary skills. Isnt banking all about globalization and international practices?

  
  
  
  

  This myopic and narrowmindedness attitude need to be highlighted. Why bother inviting skilled migrants to Australia? Its an irony that while the skilled Australian bankers are moving to US and Europe, Australia is left with a vacuum where there are people who are skilled but lack local experienc and therefore not given a chance at all.This is just SAD!

  Kathy 24 May 2007

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• I'm auditing at a Big Four company now, and as a fresh grad am looking to immigrate to Australia next year. Having heard all these horror stories, it looks like I might become an overqualified sanitation executive...

  Janice 24 May 2007

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• Dear Janice, I think it would be best if you can ask for a transfer from your current firm to the one in Australia. Otherwise, u will spend months being frustrated of having the skills but not landing the job because u dont have "local" experience.

  May 24 May 2007

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• Take Heart all, it happens to many returning expats or great international candidates from london, europe, asia and US.
  

  
  
  

  Sydney, shamefully is the worst at this myopic behavior. If you are a returning expat or have great international skills you will be more welcomed in Melbourne than Sydney. Melbourne's heritage is of embracing international visitors and takes the majority of skilled migrants over time.
  

  
  
  

  Sydney is backward and its a shame so many people don't know the real sydney IB's which are corrupted by rugby GPS high school directors with no international experience or education who are afraid that if you return with more skills, you might take their job in time. Myabe they are right. Their skills are outdated, their networks are old and not integrated into asia, US and europe and its only time that you will break through.
  

  
  
  

  Hang in there, be positive, make new friends.
  

  
  
  

  My other advice is try boutiques which might value your skills more than dealing with big institutions or IBs with small minded HR and executives.
  

  
  
  

  Good Luck !

  Hayden 27 May 2007

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