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​What is it like to work in Australia? How is it different to other countries? What do you need to consider or prepare before you jump on the plane? We’ve got all the info you need.

As a SAP recruitment firm, we deal with a number of applications of people who are endeavouring to find a role here in Australia. It’s no secret that this is an amazing place to work: there is a vibrant IT market and you can enjoy a great lifestyle here.

This being said, Australia is not ‘the promised land’ where every IT consultant walks into their dream job. We do see a number of people coming to the country who struggle to find work for a number of different reasons. How can you avoid this? With knowledge. Where can you get that knowledge? Read on.

Culture

This is probably the biggest stumbling block people from overseas encounter. The Australian culture is different to other countries – even other western countries. The industry here is very heavily relationship driven, and can be quite reliant on ‘who knows who’ within the SAP community.

Generally Australian companies look for strong people skills, being personable, good stakeholder management and strong communication skills. It is not usually enough to be a technical whiz kid. You need to be able to build strong, effective relationships.

Skill Set

Make sure you do your research. Is your skill set in demand in Australia? Just because you work in SAP doesn’t mean you are in demand in every market on Earth, so a little groundwork before jumping on a plane is always in order.

It also doesn’t mean alter or emphasise other SAP skills in order to have the most popular skills. Stick to what you know, persevere, be honest with your skill set and you should find an opportunity.

Communication

As discussed before, good communication, both verbal and written is key to SAP work in Australia. When writing cover letters ensure your English, grammar and terminology is correct. We understand this can be hard if English is not your first language so seek advice; get someone who has worked in Australia to look over your CV to make sure everything is perfect.

So how do you get around these obstacles and make sure Australia is the right place for you?

Basically, do your research! Consider doing an initial two-week trip to meet with potential employers, recruiters and the network you may have. This allows you to see the place (your future home) and understand the market in a real way. It may be an idea to coincide the trip with a SAP conference. You’ll get to see what is happening in the local market, plus it is a really good opportunity to build your Australian network.

It pays to be flexible. Your first opportunity might not always be the perfect role. Broaden you search to include all roles that fall within your skill set – but don’t apply for roles that are outside of what your experience is. For example, if you are a SAP FI/CO functional consultant, try looking at testing or data related roles.

Also, if you work in a consulting company, find out whether a transfer to Australia is a possibility.

Finally, if you have former colleagues who now live in Australia, take the opportunity to talk to them about their experience with the move; what are the challenges, how did they deal with them?

If you are prepared, informed and as connected as you can be with a network already operating in Australia, the odds will be stacked in your favour for a successful move. Remember: success is not only a measure of talent and skill, but of circumstance as well. Always try to ensure you make circumstance work for you – and choose an environment where you are likely to flourish. Lastly, be positive and don’t give up! It could take longer than you think, but it doesn’t mean you won’t find your break!