Against the Odds: Thriving in Australia with Global Experience

I am an expat partner and over the last 16 years, my husband’s career has taken us across the world. I have had the opportunity to live, love and succeed in Malaysia, Poland and now Australia.?

While living in all those places may seem adventurous and rightfully so, and evolve to become great life experiences, they aren’t conducive to career or entrepreneurial growth. Each move taught me how to restart my career pathways in an unfamiliar place and use my networking skills to make it my place. But, having said that, this periodic restart and redesign has led to quite rich and diverse experiences that I would perhaps not exchange for anything.

So, when my husband was offered an opportunity to relocate to Sydney, I was scared but optimistic. I had always wanted to visit Australia, but living here…. I was not so sure. I mean, we’ve all seen videos of those horrendous spiders and snakes, and let’s not get into the havoc these drop bears create :). Did I want to leave a job where I finally felt I could thrive, a place that I was finally calling home, having the EU at my travel fingertips, all for an adventure in a place at the corner of the world??

But at the same time, I was optimistic and excited, I thought the language familiarity, the abundance of opportunities,? and nearly 2 decades of experience in marketing and communications would ease my transition. But I was in for a surprise, and not really the good type.?

I started my job hunt optimistically and did all my mindfulness and resilience exercises, but self-doubt set in as rejections kept rolling in because I did not have the “Australian Experience” and I once again became an expert in #rejectiontherapy. I realised that in Australia, local experience matters more than all your international experience put together, especially in marketing and communications. Truth be told, I get why, but I don’t get why and I definitely don’t agree with it.

For a bit I was dejected, wondering if I had made the right decision to have left a really good life and move. I even took up a role that didn’t work out and left me even more lacking in confidence. This is not how I was used to feeling, and it was then that I took a decision NOT to feel that way anymore.

*start humming Eye of the Tiger in your head, as you read this… coz I was humming it as I was writing the next part

So, I put on my big girls’ pants and got down to work. The first step was to activate my network. Aside from reaching out to everyone I knew in Australia and saying hello, I started looking in my Lean In network and other women leaders I saw on LinkedIn. I then started meaningfully connecting with them and learning more about them and the work they did. At the same time, I started attending various networking events and meeting new people.

I also started looking at various volunteering opportunities, and worked with a couple of NPOs helping them in their marketing and programs, and met even more interesting people.

I reworked my resume and reached out to headhunters for feedback and then for any active roles. I constantly ask for their feedback on what made them reject me for a particular role. I would also reach out to recruiters and hiring managers via their rejection emails to ask for more feedback. Sometimes I would get the feedback, sometimes not.?

Building a community became essential because having people whom you can have an authentic and open conversation with can be a lifesaver. Build your tribe, who not only supports you but also kicks your backside when you need it, coz let's be honest, sometimes all of us need it!?

As new age as it may sound (Yes I am one of those), daily affirmations and carving out time to do something interesting for myself like doodling (in my case) or exploring Sydney, learning how to evade the Magpies and laughing like a Kookaburra really helps put things in perspective. It rekindled the excitement and adventure of moving to a new place, discovering new bus routes, making new public transport friends, exploring nooks and crannies and generally falling in love with where I was.?

Today, I'm thriving in a contract role, doing what I love, supported by a fantastic team and a manager who values and encourages my contributions. Yet, my journey of integration and community building is far from over.

Some important lessons I have learned and am learning from this process:

1. Value Your Experience: your global experiences matter, they’ve made you who you are, but sadly, in this market, local relevance often carries more weight.
2. Make Friends with Recruiters: Most companies hire through agencies, so building a strong relationship with them can be crucial.
3. Perfect Your Resume: ANZ resumes differ from those elsewhere. Keep refining yours until it’s just right, and then refine it some more!
4. Tailor Your Interview: When you land an interview, focus on how your global experience can be adapted locally rather than just listing your international credentials.
5. Network, Network, Network: The community here is fantastic. Dive in and connect with some truly great people.
6. Most importantly, BE RESILIENT! BE CHEERFUL! BE FLEXIBLE

But, at the same time, I also have some asks from the ANZ recruiters

1. Kindness Matters: Please avoid dismissing our international experience with comments like, "Yeah, but what about your ANZ experience?" Without an opportunity, gaining local experience is impossible—a classic chicken and egg scenario.
2. Clarity in Job Descriptions: Clearly state if positions are exclusive to citizens, or permanent residents, or if you're open to sponsoring visas. This transparency helps everyone.
3. Feedback is Crucial: If someone asks why they weren't selected for a role, please respond. We're reaching out because we're eager to learn and improve.
4. Communication is Key: Ghosting isn't just impolite on dating apps; it's equally disheartening here. We invest time, effort, and hope in each application. A simple "no" is better than silence.

Let's respect the effort and aspirations of all applicants and build a supportive professional environment.

These have been my strategies, some days they work, some days they don’t, but hey, that’s life, right? My advice, if I am qualified to offer it, is simple. Be open, be kind to yourself, be a learner, develop authentic networks and whatever else you do, don’t give up and celebrate all the small victories!?

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If you know me, then you know transforming insights into impact is my jam. So when Aniisu K Verghese Ph.D. ideated about launching a dynamic professional community, I was in right away! I have met some amazing people here like Effie DCunha and Karolina Miziolek ???????? , and look forward to meeting more!

Are you an overseas communicator working in Australia or New Zealand within marketing, branding, change management, employee communications, events, digital, or reputation management? Looking to connect with local pros to exchange market insights, tips, and expert advice? Dive into the nuances of our workplaces and enrich your experience! Join the International Communication Professionals – ANZ Group, a vibrant, free community. Check us out and join today!

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I’m eager to hear about your strategies and challenges. How do you navigate professional landscapes in new territories? If there’s any way I can lend a hand or share insights, I’m just a message away.