Question: Should I accept a job in Australia?
Hi, I need some advise. I am a qualified ACCA accountant and I was made redundant from my job last year after 11 months. In desperation, I placed my CV on an Australian Immigration website, thinking I would be unable to get another job. However, I was contacted by an agency in Australia who were acting on behalf of General Motors in Toowoomba, Queensland, who subsequently performed a telephone interview with me. While I was waiting to hear in regard to this, I managed to get another job here in the UK,. I have been in this job for two months and I love it.
At the beginning of this week, General Motors offered me a position in Queensland for $55,000 Australian dollars. They would pay for my visa, my flight and put me up in accommodation when I got there. They would also pay for my partner to go as well. He is very keen on the idea and thinks we should grab this opportunity with both hands.
However, I have serious reservations about it. Firstly, we have a house here and I am reluctant to sell it. I feel that $55k is a low offer, given that the cost of living is high in Australia. We have no savings to go over with. I am also worried about the fact that this offer has been made after one phone call,a nd that was not even with the person I would be working for-I have never spoken to him. I can't seem to find any solid information on General Motors in Queensland at all. I am Irish and live in the uk-all my family are in Ireland and my father is not well. Getting back from here if anything happened would be easy, but not from the other side of the world. I also love my job and would feel awful walking out on them after 2 months.
On the other hand, everybody keeps saying it is a once in a lifetime opportunity, the stuff that dreams are made of and that this chance will never come again. I keep being told, "You can always come back" and that an Australian visa is very valuable, as is International experience. So why does the thought of it fill me with dread? I would have no opportunity to see Toowoomba before I moved, so I would be going blind. What do others think? Am I right to be leaning towards declining it? Or am I crazy if I don't go? Any advise would be greatly appreciated.
Answer:
The only specific point of concern I have is your statement, "the person I would be working for-I have never spoken to him"
I would contact GM. Tell them that you are very seriously considering their kind offer, and that you would like to have a conversation with your prospective boss to make sure that you'd feel comfortable working with him.
Here's some insight from an Australian, organized by anxiety.
Toowoomba
Very nice place, with very nice people. It is one of the larger towns in Australia. It's very hot in summer though.
Salary
$55,000 is an excellent salary in Australia. You will easily make enough to cover any expenses you might have.
Partner
He seems eager to go! And Toowoomba is right near a lot of big mines. If he didn't have something else lined up, he could get a very good job in one of the mines. Ones of my friends father has no experience in any sort of mining related industry, and makes $60 000 a year. My own father, who is a simple mechanic (although a fairly experienced one) makes about $95 000 a year.
Going back
If it doesn't work out, just head back to the UK. Why don't you just rent out your house over there. When you go back, you can go straight back to living in it.
I don't know if I have helped, but I hope I did!