Civil Engineering work In OZ/NZ - is it as plentiful as the visa companies state?

david4791

I was considering, although very hesitantly to move to NZ/OZ to work as a Civil Engineer, I have not started the process yet. Is the work out there?, the visa companies have a vested interest in selling the packages, I would hate to arrive with the wife and kids and find its a lot quieter than expected. Surely at this stage half of Eire and UK must be out there?, any advice from persons there or recently returned. Dave 37 years old.

cooper90

hi there, i work for a civil/ structural company and were looking for saff and i know that a few other companys are also. I can pm you the name of an agent or two if you like.

cormaclynch

Are you site based or design based? From what I heard from other engineers I think it is easier getting a position if you are a site based engineer. I'm working here in civil since August and had a couple of offers at the time. Not sure how the market is at the minute, in Melbourne anyway but there are a few large projects in the pipeline.

At the minute in Victoria there is a big push in the rail sector so if you have experience in rail I think you'd be in a good position for here. Not sure about the other states tbh.

Probably will depend on what vissa you'll be on. Check seek.com.au and see what is happening in the area. Any questions give me a pm and i'll try and help out.

david4791

I'm a chartered engineer with 11 years post grad experience, site based mainly
Currently working on contract until August. I will be researching the OZ work with a view to possibly moving early 2012.

aido79

If you have 11 years experience as an engineer you should have no problems getting work in Oz. AS you are over the age for a working holiday visa early 2012 is very optimistic in regards to getting a visa. Early 2013 might be more realistic.

david4791

Hello Aido, I'm 37 years old, would I need sponsored job first then prior to leaving Eire?

aido79

david4791 wrote: »

Hello Aido, I'm 37 years old, would I need sponsored job first then prior to leaving Eire?

It would be the easiest way to get out here. You would need to get in touch with a company out here that is willing to sponsor you. Its can be difficult but not impossible as most companies who sponsor people like to see what they are like before sponsoring them. Have a look on www.seek.com.au for companies who are hiring.

david4791

Thanks. Are you there at present?. What are the salaries and cost of living like?

aido79

Yeah I'm in Perth at the minute but not as an engineer. Salaries here are pretty good but cost of living is probably a little higher than Ireland.

david4791

That's a surprise, I thought it was much lower!

someday2010

Im heading out to OZ soon on a WHV. Just wondering should I bring the original copy of my degree and IEI membership cert with me or would a scanned version suffice?

david4791

I personally would bring a copy, you dont want to loose the originals.

Misticles

what kind of jobs would be available out there to a person with a degree in astro physics and a masters in meteorology?

david4791

A rather strange mix to associate meteorogy with astrophysics!, sorry:):) not my field MIsticles. There is a chap by the name of Stephen Hawkins who may lead you in the right direction!!!

Misticles

Maths Physics and Meteorology ... my mistake!

wants to get a more sciencey type job as opposed to using the maths side to work in finance

Noo

Good question about the copies of the degrees. Would copies be enough? what else would you need?

I'm heading over early 2012 on the other end of the career scale from the OP, civil engineer with only 1 year post grad experience. Looking around the internet its hard to find positions for people with so little experience, are there many graduate/entry level jobs for people in my position? I'll be on a WHV so that'll go against me too, only 6 months with one employer unless I get sponsored. I know this is a little off the OPs post, just I saw a few people here saying they work for engineering companies in OZ, just looking for some inside scoop on employing the other end of the scale.

Also i'm hoping if I get some OZ experience then i can get a skilled visa in the future

d.pop

david4791 wrote: »

I was considering, although very hesitantly to move to NZ/OZ to work as a Civil Engineer, I have not started the process yet. Is the work out there?, the visa companies have a vested interest in selling the packages, I would hate to arrive with the wife and kids and find its a lot quieter than expected. Surely at this stage half of Eire and UK must be out there?, any advice from persons there or recently returned. Dave 37 years old.

David, i sent you a PM, PM me back if you have more queries.

D.pop

MilionMilesAway

As regards bringing your IEI (or whatever they are called these days) card, don’t bother, never used or needed it and I've been here 6 years.
If your going for a PR visa you'll need a certified (and if its in Latin and you get unlucky with your assigned case officer, a TRANSLATED!!) copy of your degree. This is a real pain and will cost you time and money. You should check that your degree is accepted by Eng's Aust. Most Irish degrees are ok, but if it was from another institution in another country you might not be so lucky.

As regards the Sydney jobs front. Were just after state elections and the state and federal government have been real slow in getting projects going. I’m in the water industry and for the first time in a long time were not hiring, got rid of 5 people nationally last week. Dead wood clean out.

With 11 years experience you should be grand for work. Thing is that most companies wont bother going through the hassle of interviewing and processing someone from the other side of the planet for a job that a guy living 20 mins down the road, can do. In my experience they will only break there backs for very senior people who can run 100 million dollar projects or people with a very specialised skill set that high in demand.

As regards uprooting the family, if it was me I’d come over first on my won, check out the cities (very important as there very different vibe, costs, lifestyle between say Sydney and Perth), do the interviews, get the job, get the house/flat, CHILDCARE!!, schools for the kids, then bring the family over. You’d be subjecting yourself to way too much expense and pressure by having the family over while you do all the preliminary legwork (and there is a lot of that).

Happy to help out fellow Irish people with any queries ye might have.

david4791

Thanks for the post Million, the visa companies would have you of the view there is unlimited work in Oz/Nz, are you saying this is not the case unless your qualified to the hilt with many years expeience behind you?. The mining/energy firms are hiring, I went to IEI seminar yesterday where Ausenco held a recruitment drive for senior engineers, any knowledge on this company? They seem very professional. Most of the civil jobs out there seem to be tied up in the mining and energy sector.

MilionMilesAway

David,

Na, never heard of them and there is still plenty of work in the mining companies, be careful though, you might end up lining in butt fu€k nowhere.

As I said already, experience is key, 5 years plus (depending on your field) you should be right.

Re employment, in fairness, you'd never buy a car without seeing it first, same for employers over here vis-a-vis phone interviews.

someday2010

Ive arrived in Perth and am looking for civil engineering work on WHV. If anyone could point me inthe right direction re what agencies are useful or of any companies that are recruiting at the moment id be very grateful.