Career
No Local Experience? No Problem!
Three market tested strategies to overcome the local experience hurdle
ON A COLD WINTERY EVENING IN MELBOURNE, I attended a job search seminar for
skilled migrants, organised by Engineers Australia. The experts delivered pep-talks on various issues
related to searching for jobs including the contentious topic - ‘local experience’. I could sense the
issue of local experience was still
looming large in the room.
One gentleman stood up and
asked, “I am a Civil Engineer with
more than 10 years of experience
in construction and design. I diligently tailor my resumé to each
job ad. I am told that my qualifications are great, but I do not have
local experience; hence my application will not be considered. Can
you please explain if engineering
principles operate differently in
Australia vis-à-vis my erstwhile country?”
His frustration and anger was very palpable. Everyone had the same question – how
can I have local experience without a job? It is like a chicken and egg situation, which
came first? The presenters attempted to answer; however, no attendees were satisfied
with the response.
I am sure the same question keeps many skilled migrants awake and thinking – why do
employers not value my overseas experience?
Over the last seven years, I have discussed the question with skilled migrants and recruitment consultants, and I have formulated three strategies to counter the dreaded question.
Let me demystify the local experience issue.
In an interview process, the organisation is evaluating you on two aspects – technical fit
and cultural fit. A lot of decision-makers value cultural fit more than the former. It makes
sense! An organisation can train you to perform a particular task or activity based on your
technical skills. However, it would be challenging to change your inherent traits. I think
when hiring managers or recruitment consultants say they cannot hire you because you
don’t have local experience; they are referring to your cultural fit, including communication skills and presentation competencies. Organisations want to hire someone who will
integrate with the existing team. After all, who wants to throw cats amongst pigeons!
Here are the three strategies to counter the local experience question:
NAISHADH GADANI BIO:
Naishadh Gadani is a Career Coach and Personal Branding Strategist who
work with Skilled and Settled Migrants to reduce their job search time and
stand-out from the competition.
12
www.smpmagazine.com.au | Winter 2015
By Naishadh Gadani,
Career Coach and
Personal Branding
Strategist
1
Do not believe everything they say. Yes,
that’s right. If you are given a reason for not being hired due to lack of local experience, just smile.
Resist the temptation to ask confrontational questions like Tom Cruise did in the movie A Few Good
Men. Hiring managers and recruiters will always be
diplomatic in their responses.
2
Surprise them with a counter question.
When a hiring manager or a recruiter tells
you about lack of local experience, discuss it with
them. Here is an example: “Thank you John, for
reviewing my applicat