The 7-Step Plan to Get an Engineering Job

So you want to get a job in Australia?

If you are reading this article, there is a high probability you are in a situation like this:

You have contacted the few people you know.

Some of them forwarded your CV.

You’ve applied to jobs on Seek and LinkedIn.

But nobody is getting back to you.

You’re not getting the results you want or seeking.

So you are wondering:
– What’s next? What do I do now?

 
Here is the solution: a 7-step plan that will answer those questions.

First, the practical theory behind this article: The Snowball Effect.
TL, DR: to land a job here, you need to grow a strong local network

Who is this article for?
– French Engineers who are stuck, looking for a skilled job in Australia but can’t find one.
– People who are (relatively) new to networking: students, young engineers, technical experts … 
– People who like down-to-earth, result-oriented and no-bullsh*t advice

So without ado, here is the 7-Step Plan to Get an Engineering Job in Australia

Step #1: Preparation

Don’t look silly: when you contact people you don’t know, you must have a good CV – an Australian one.

Why does it matter? Because it reveals 1) that you can do your homework and 2) that you can adapt to the Australian job market.

If you’re new here or want to improve your Australian CV, this guide is for you.

There is more to preparation than only a good local CV : think about your LinkedIn profile and your cover letter. They should not be neglected.

In short: be ready!

Step #2: Identify the Right People 

Start with your industry. Write down 3-5 ideal companies you would like to work for.

For each of those organisations, find 3-5 people working there (by using LinkedIn), asking yourself the following questions:

• Who do I know there?
• Who can help me in my search? i.e. people you don’t know yet/have not yet met but would be beneficial to (think of roles like “Manager of …”, “Head of …”)
• Who do you have common ground with within the company?

Now you should have a list of 10-20 people.

Write their names in an Excel file (or a piece of paper if you prefer handwriting), it will be useful to monitor your progress.

Step #3: Contact Them

Reach out to each of them with a personalised message. You can use:
– LinkedIn InMail
– Their corporate email
– Common connections (asking for an introduction is a great way)

If you’re starting and don’t know what / how to write, 1 out of 10 persons you contact will reply. 

But With the best writing hacks, up to 9 out of 10 people you contact will reply.

If you’re struggling and want to get more replies, I can help you. I’m currently writing the Beta of a training on how to write good emails. If you want to be part of this program (for free), contact me here.

Step #4: Meet Them

It’s time for a coffee! Or maybe even for an informal interview.

You may be wondering: “What do I say when we have a coffee? I don’t even like coffee!”

First, if you don’t like coffee, try other drinks: tea, chai latte, or even hot chocolate. This is a mean to an end!

When meeting someone, here are the 3 goals you should aim at:
1. Learn about their team (structure, …) and company
2. Ask what their bigger projects / challenges are 
3. Get new contacts

The best strategy? Active listening, taking notes and having fun.
It is about connecting with them, creating a genuine relationship that will last for a long time.

Step #5: Follow-up

The biggest mistake one can make: not following up.

Thank every person you meet for their time and advice.

My advice: follow-up within 24 hours and keep in touch every 3 weeks until you find a job.

Once you will have one, it’s good practice to keep in touch every 3 to 6 months, but that’s another networking story.

Step #6: Repeat Step #2 to Step #5

Each person you meet should lead you to another one (or at least, that should be your goal).

Repeat the previous steps with each of them.

The path to success is to take massive, determined action. Tony Robbins

Step #7: Interviews & Negotiation

Once you have met a few people from the same company, you will have a far better understanding of what the company needs. Then, apply online, tell your contacts or (even better) be referred internally.

This is when the formal interview process start.

“Do your best” and “be yourself” are well-intentioned but too generic advices: there is more to interviews than that.

You can (and should!) train and prepare for interviews.

If you’re a French Engineer, you should prepare even more, because interviews are far different from the one you may have had in the past.

— — —

So here you are.

That was the 7-Step Plan to get your Dream Job in Australia.

One last thing:

If you want a practical example of how to get a job here, read the story and advices of a backpacker who became a sponsored engineer: what worked, what didn’t and what you can use to get your dream job.

Don’t make the same mistakes as many others: yes, you can do it by yourself. But don’t waste months trying to figure out the best way to get called back.

Be smarter: read those lessons learnt and focus on what gets results

Success is the ability to go from failure to failure without losing your enthusiasm 
Winston Churchill