She’ll be NOT right mate if you are an Aussie expat currently overseas planning any of these approaches to coming home.
Your plan is to come home and ‘take a break’ and then look for a job or decide what’s next.
By all means, take a break, but get your research started before you do.
One of the biggest mistakes I see repatriates make is coming home without doing their research on how their experience may fit with the job market which just sets them up for future disappointment and in some cases…panic when they start their search, usually after a few months of being back.
I see two groups make this mistake. The first are those who are coming home in an ‘expensive’ time of life in their 30s and 40s and, in due course, need to get a job that leverages their experience. The second type is the repatriate who returns with an intention to do something ‘totally different’. This might be to completely change careers or give consideration to building out a portfolio career with some consulting.
The often over-looked and / or underestimated factors here are time required and timing.
Just because you’re ready, doesn’t mean the market is ready for you.
If job and career are important to you, you can start planning and researching the market, start re-engaging your Australian networks and crafting your positioning…all while still living overseas. This work does a few things. It helps alleviate any shocks you might face understanding the Australian job market. It means you can more accurately plan how long it will take you to prepare yourself and your positioning. It also means you can start gathering some initial feedback and making the connections you need to make early. The Australian job market operates considerably slower than other overseas markets. It can be months from a job interview and an initial introduction before a role is offered.
You believe the recruiter who says to wait until you are back to have discussions about roles
Firstly, a recruiter who tells you this is not giving you a sign that it will be easier when you get home. It is a tactic by the recruiter to ensure that you are committed to Australia and have a timeline they can work with. They want to make sure you are a sure bet.
Discussions with (specialist) recruiters should be just one part of your job search and I recommend not engaging too early. Research the market, re-engage your networks, give consideration to who you should know but don’t yet know and work on your positioning – all before picking up the phone to a recruiter. Recruiters are not career coaches. Their role is to work for clients to fill their roles – not necessarily to help you define your next career move or research the Australian job market.
You aren’t prepared to spend 9-12 months of living expenses looking for a role
I advise senior executives to allow around 9-12 months to find a similar role/meaningful work. Of course, this does vary between industry and role seniority.
Money and career go hand in hand.
Financial constraints will effect your decision making; and you can easily find yourself taking something because you feel ‘you have to’, not because it’s a good fit. It can also see you entering the market at the wrong level which can then impact how you are regarded locally and further undermine the value of your experience.
It was really pleasing to see in our 2022 Australian Expat Career Survey, nearly half of respondents got a job in three months. The job market was particularly buoyant in 2022 and the question we did not ask was if the roles secured were considered positive career moves or not! We have asked this question in our 2024 survey.
You don’t know how much a weekly grocery shop is in Australia
Australia’s cost of living is currently very high. Australians ski in Japan because it can be cheaper than a holiday in Thredbo. This may influence your thinking about role, how long you are prepared to look for a job and the city you wish to repatriate too or if you want to repatriate at all. It is easy to do research online into costs so you can set your salary expectations to support your cost-of-living expectations.
You are confident Australia will recognise your overseas experience
Don’t assume this. You need to leave your ego at the door and realise that unless you are going for a global role, the ‘international’ in your experience may not be as highly valued by the domestic Australian market as you think it should. This is not to say it isn’t valuable, however in Australia it may not be as necessary or as desirable for the roles you are going for.
This can also be the case if you are planning to come home with your employer. In many cases, repats have told me that ‘local’ branches of international companies in Australia can also not value the international experience in the same way as the repat.
You are prepared to tell people you are open to working in any industry and city
If you say this to a recruiter or hirer without being able to clearly articulate why, the message you could be unintentionally relaying is that you are prepared to take anything and are therefore a risk to stay in a role because you don’t know what you want. Just because you can see the transferability of skillsets, or you are flexible doesn’t mean people can see or understand your motivations or your why – this needs to be crystal clear in your positioning. Recruiters and hirers want to feel confident that you are settled back in Australia and know what you want, therefore will be committed if they place you in a role. Having decisive answers proves you have done the work…even if you are prepared to change your mind!
If you are considering a return to Australia and are keen to start your planing now, why not register for our next FREE webinar: Managing Your Career Repatriation.
