Finding your fit in the Australian job market through Skillmax

10 March 2009

Learning how to successfully plan your career and apply for jobs in Australia has just become easier for overseas qualified professionals.

From April 2009 the NSW Government funded Skillmax program will be run as a fast-track program into employment. Training sessions and workshops will focus on current trends in the Australian labour market.

Skillmax is free for eligible permanent residents from non-English speaking backgrounds. Candidates must have overseas qualifications, be seeking work in their field of expertise and have an IELTS (International English Language Testing Score) of at least 6.5 - 7.0 or equivalent.

“Too often overseas professionals are unsuccessful when applying for jobs in Australia” says Helen de Silva Joyce, Director of the NSW AMES. “Typically it is not because they lack the job skills, but they lack awareness of local employer expectations in terms of the recruitment process.”

“The Skillmax course provides candidates with strategies to identify employment opportunities and knowledge on how to develop their career portfolio, including their résumé and written job applications, how to interview effectively and market themselves to prospective employers.”

On completion of Skillmax courses participants can also undertake local work experience and benefit from the support of an industry mentor.

Skillmax is run throughout the year by the NSW Adult Migrant English Service (AMES). It is offered across Sydney in NSW AMES Centres. Candidates are encouraged to apply now.

Annually over 1000 candidates enrol in Skillmax courses. One successful graduate, Patrick Muraguri from Kenya, says, “One of the key things I learnt at AMES was that employers and recruitment agents may not understand how to fit me into the job market. That my chances of getting a job would improve if I learnt how to market myself. With this knowledge I applied directly for positions at a major bank and after several interviews I succeeded in getting a job there. I am now looking forward to having a rewarding professional career in Australia!”