Every year, we see a cohort of Australian expats planning to return home over the festive season. This Christmas is no different – but the environment you’re returning to is.
In 2025, the Australian job market has been softer than any year we’ve tracked. Roles are taking longer to land. Companies are restructuring more than they’re expanding. Fewer people are moving jobs, retirement dates are being pushed back, and decision-makers are hunkered down rather than hiring. It’s been slow. It’s been quiet. And it’s caught many returnees off guard.
But here’s the silver lining: recruiters and hiring managers are already anticipating a much stronger 2026. Confidence is returning, and green shoots are emerging.
Still, that doesn’t mean you can afford to take your foot off the planning pedal.
Because whether the market is buoyant or flat, one trend remains consistent: returning expats without a plan beyond the logistics of return struggle to re-enter professionally – particularly in Australia’s conservative job market where local experience is often over-valued and international experience misunderstood.
If you’re planning to move back this Christmas, now is the time to act.
Why Three Months is Not as Long as You Think
Australia’s professional world starts winding down in early December. By mid-month, inboxes go quiet. Hiring pauses. And many decision-makers won’t re-emerge until late January or early February.
So, if you’re planning to return in December and start your job search in January, you’ll find yourself behind the curve. And likely, waiting until March to build momentum.
Instead, use these next three months intentionally – to clarify your goals, reintroduce yourself to the market, and set yourself up for success in 2026.
Here’s What to Focus on Now:
1. Define What You Want – With Clarity
Before you contact a recruiter or hit ‘apply’, you need to be clear on what you’re actually looking for. Is it a like-for-like role? A pivot into something new? Consulting? Contracting? Are you open to hybrid or remote? Where do you want to live?
I speak with many returning expats who quickly realise the scale and complexity they worked with in London, Singapore or New York isn’t always available in a smaller market like Australia. The common response is, ‘I’m happy to take a step back or try something different – I just want meaningful work.’ The catch is that meaningful is personal.
Australian hirers and recruiters can’t define that path for you – and they may hesitate to engage until you can articulate it yourself. So do the hard thinking now.
2. Localise Your Global Story
If your overseas title or company doesn’t exist locally, you’ll need to reframe your story so it resonates with an Australian audience. Start with the challenges you’ve solved – not your title. Translate your scale, scope and achievements into language that local recruiters and hiring managers can understand and value.
In my own case, I returned from a company that had zero presence in Australia and from a role in a sector that largely didn’t exist here at the time. I underestimated just how little those names and titles meant in the local market – and I learnt the hard way. It wasn’t until I was already in the door that I realised the importance of crafting stories that translated my knowledge and experience into something relevant locally. Making that shift was essential to fast-tracking future opportunities.
The lesson? Don’t wait until you’re in the role to figure this out – prepare your story before you land.
3. Understand the Market – and Map Your Entry Points
This year’s market has been tighter than most. Don’t assume a job will appear just because you’re ready to return. Research market trends. Reconnect with your Australian networks. Join relevant associations and start speaking to people in your sector – now. This not only builds insight, but also helps you shape your positioning.
4. Consider Alternative Pathways
The job ad isn’t the only way in. Project work, advisory roles, alumni groups, volunteering, professional associations – all are legitimate and often strategic ways to get on the radar. They help you build visibility and trust before a formal opportunity arises.
5. Don’t Let Reverse Culture Shock Derail You
Many returnees are surprised by how unfamiliar home can feel. This can be particularly jarring if your job search isn’t going to plan. Build in space to reconnect with local life, pursue passions and restore your energy. The return journey is not just professional – it’s personal.
For more on navigating reverse culture shock, take a listen to our Boomeranging podcast episode with Sarah Ntiamoah here. She shares her candid experiences of coming “home” and rebuilding life and work in Australia – and that was with a job lined up.
What You Do Now Shapes Your 2026
The festive season can feel like a natural pause. But for returning expats, it’s actually a strategic window – one that, if used well, can set you up for the right conversations and the right opportunities when Australia’s job market reawakens early next year.
So if you’re planning a December return, don’t wait until the plane lands. Start now. Get clear. Get connected. Get strategic.
These next 90 days are your window — make them count.
Need support on your return journey?
Join our next free monthly webinar, or become part of the InSync Club – where you’ll find tools, webinars and connections with other expat-repats who truly understand the journey home.
