My job as an electricity sales agent lasted no more than a single day. I was assigned to a team of nice people who all had a very good sales track record. I felt really weird about knocking at people's door and telling them about our service. It was 6pm and very cold. I didn't dare to knock at people's door at such a time. Specially if I did not know what to tell them exactly. Hence I found that it was better for me to quit. Consequently I spent whole days at my cousin's place idle and frustrated. I tried to apply for part time jobs but only got negative responses if no response at all. It was very deceptive for both my wife and I. After a few more days, we had to move to our appartment and that's where things got complicated as we had to pay the rent. Initially it has been really hard for both of us. The good thing was that her school was not so far away. So I would accompany her to school. But once I got back home, I felt so depressed knowing that I wouldn't be idle at home and no work. I kept on applying for jobs with no success. So I decided to walk around the area and knock at company's door with my resume. But no one was recruiting. I felt like even the smallest factory job would be alright but nothing came. Until the day when one of these companies rang me and proposed me a very casual role (1 or 2 days a week). The role was half an office  and half manual. It was not exactly what I was expecting for but it was a job and we were so happy about it. We also thought that it would help put less stress on our cash flow if we rented a bedroom to a student which we did. A few weeks later, my wife found a culinary job very much related to her course. We were feeling a bit more relieved. Then, a month later, I received an email from a case officer in regards to my application for PR which I made back in March. He was actually requesting for police checks, medical checks and english proficiency for my wife. This was actually one of the best moments of our life in Australia. We were so happy as things were starting to shape up. We managed to provide the case officer with everything as requested within less than one month. And 2 days later, we received our pre-grant letter. We were so happy about it. We had to leave Australian grounds to get our visa validated. 1 and a half week later we came back to australia as new PR with the hope that a new life has started. I immediately started applying for full time accounting positions but I was now facing a big wall known as Australian Experience. My lack of local experience did not help to secure employment. I strived to get the job I dreamt of but couldn't. So I thought of applying for lower positions such as bookeeper or accounts clerk but still nothing worked out. My wife who was still working for the restaurant was really suffering as it was definitely hard to stand on your feet for more than 5 straight hours. The good thing was that she no more had to go to school but her job was so painful. So we decided it was better that she quit. I managed to get a few hours at my part time role. But this did not help us. We were no more renting out the student bedroom and hence we had to bear all the heavy rent. We were feeling even more frustrated as we realised that despite being PR nobody was willing to give us our chance. Our faith was really strong but we were really thinking of going back to our home country. We were often thinking of the good jobs we had back home and the good remunerations. My cousin tried to support us but she couldn't help us that much as well. We needed to find a job at least. Our experience even as PR have been very daunting and depressive. We tried to comfort ourselves by thinking that something will soon turn up. Then a company contacted me for my very first interview, but I did not get the job. I still remember how deceived we were after knowing the outcome. Knowing that we have rights to go anywhere in australia, we started considering moving regional. We both had a couple of interviews in a very remote area. We took the train to go there, spent the night at our cost and attended the interviews. But once again, it did not work. We were so sad. We thought that it's better that we head back home. But a few days later, I got a call for an interview in a company not far from where we live. I managed to do my best in the interview and got the job. We were so happy about it. And three months later, my wife also got her full time job. When we got that first full time job, we felt like we've found gold. It's that hard to secure employment here. Now things are rolling pretty smoothly for us..

What people don't realise is that life in Australia is really hard in the beginning. Getting your PR does not mean that all employers open their doors to you. This is what we actually thought. My suggestions to you is that you don't come here as a student as it even worse. If you come here as PR, you will still have to struggle. Always keep good faith and believe firmly that your resume will help you get a job. Even though the level of uneployment is statistically low, there are lots of new skilled migrants finding it really hard to find a full time job. My advice to you is to hang in there and keep on trying. Attend seminars about job prospects for new migrants and resume/cover letter preparation. Each state organises seminars to help new skilled migrants get their feet at the door. Don't be too deceived or depressed, your time of joy will come. As for those applying for their PRs, I don't advise you to go through agents. Every info is available on the immi. website. I can also help you if you have any questions…

All the best

Rudy