[Accessed on 29 July 2011]
SBS INSIGHT: SOME THOUGHTS:
CASE 1: Natalia Garcia is a qualified engineer who is working as a cleaner. She came to Australia from Colombia in 2008. She studied English before applying for permanent residency under the general skilled migration program. Natalia was granted permanent residency in 2010, but has been unable to obtain work in her field, despite engineering being one of the most sought-after skills in the current labour climate.
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Comments:
Well, first and foremost, do not blame the degree that you took as 'useless', sometimes you need some creativity in order to find good job opportunity:
1- Engineering can be a very wide field, yet it can also be a very narrow field of specialization, henceforth, IF you specialized in certain field during your study. e.g. Civil Engineering in Environmental. Then you may only find job in that area, as employer may be reluctant to offer you anything else, other than your specialization, as they fear that you may not have the knowledge in other specialization (even though the degree spell 'Civil Engineering' - noted that Civil Engineering can also be a very wide subject, as well as, a very narrow one) and/or the knowhow to do so, e.g. Civil Engineering in Civil Hydraulics, Civil Engineering in Transport Systems, Civil Engineering in Risk Analysis, and so forth.
2- What makes it worst is when you do not have 'work experiences', says for a few years at a certain engineering based company, so what make the employer sure that you can perform, when you yourself are not sure if you can perform?!
3- So the next option, is to do a Masters degree, and specialized in one of the many specialization in Civil Engineering subject or field of study. Examples:
- Civil Engineering in Environmental
- (e.g. Sustainable Management, Water and Waste Water Management, etc.)
- Civil Engineering in Civil Hydraulics
- Civil Engineering in Transport Systems
- Civil Engineering in Risk Analysis,
- Civil Engineering in Earthquake Resistant Design of Buildings
4- Another possible option is to do a certificate or diploma (in teaching) to add to your degree, and possibly be a teacher, and teach maths, or science, at the primary and/or secondary school in Australia.
5- Most of my friends would also continue their study and do an MBA, says in banking, or finance, or accounting, and then enter the business community, and/or work in an Multi-National Company after graduating, or work in a bank, or company. The point here is that, once you have a higher degree (and especially if that is acquired in one of the many Australia university here), employer would be happy to take you in.
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CASE 2: Ram Upadhyaya is a Nepalese civil engineer, who applied to come to Australia as a skilled migrant in 2009, via a migration agent. He is currently employed through the Regional Migration Scheme and is now living and working in Nhill in far western Victoria as a town planner.
[Note: I could not say that everyone will be as lucky as Ram Upadhaha, but the above tips/advised as discussed, will help those looking for job opportunity in Australia].
