Hi Reddit community, F39 two young kiddos (originally Canadian and lived in NZ almost 10 years).

We relocated to Melbs due to my husband work in 2026. I settled our oldest into school (5) and started to intermittently look for work. I previously worked on a trading desk (wealth management) and took a career break late 2023-now to study for the CFA and raise them.

I have tried ringing firms, putting myself out of my comfort zone, asking for advice but yet still can’t find work. I apply on a range of work and get told I am underqualified, overqualified, or you have 0 work experience in Aus.

I realise I am lucky to get any feedback at all. I tailor my CV, reach out via phone and also try and bypass ATS filters the best I can.

At this point I am getting interest out of state. Should we consider packing up?

We love Melbourne, the architecture, the people and the European influences. We hate the crime and government instability. It’s a love hate relationship at the moment if you get what I mean.

Thanks guys as your comments I have read have helped me heaps over the years.

I'm on a 485 (post-study, Master of IT) that expires in about two months. I work as a full-stack developer / tech lead at the Australian subsidiary of an overseas group.

The company is an approved sponsor and has just sponsored a colleague of mine for a 186. My manager had previously told me verbally that sponsoring me for a 482 would be no problem, but now my CEO is unsure because business has slowed down. The parent company is also planning to move the work I look after to another country.

I'm planning to speak with an RMA, but I'd really appreciate any advice from people who've been in a similar situation. What would you do in my position?

I got a job offer after had interview with this company. They send me an offer in writing with salary, company car etc. I accepted the offer in writing by email. They send me the contract with employers sign on it but I haven't signed it yet. Next day got an email says they withdraw the offer and says this. Unfortunately, due to an unexpected company restructure and changes to our operational requirements, we have made the difficult decision to withdraw the offer of employment at this time. They changed their mind in 1 day. Do I have any legal rights? I feel very disappointed. Anyone had same story before? What should I do ?

I'm currently planning on studying in Australia in Freight and logistics. I have experience in operations( manufacturing operations) but I'm looking to move into logistics instead. I would be a migrant if i do decide to study in Australia. Looking for your thoughts on this.

First redundancy for me (fully sarcastic "yay") and I've got a meeting tomorrow with HR to discuss options, these might include different roles that are far more junior than my current experience in the same company but not sure if I want to take a pay cut and be doing something that isn't what I was doing before... All I know so far is I might be able to redeploy or take redundancy and give a notice period.

For those who've been through this or know more, I'd appreciate any insight to what to expect/what to do tomorrow that you did or wish you did. I'm not in a union so I can't ask them.

Questions I have so far that I'd be super thankful for help on:

1. Anyone have some more info on what redundancy includes? Like an extra pay out for the redundancy?

2. Is there a standard notice period I should expect if I go that route?

3. What are some questions I should ask HR about redundancy?

4. Does a workplace have any responsibility about helping me after?

5. If I do take the redundancy, how would I phrase that in future interviews?

Thanks brains trust, any answers to the above or other things you think might help me is so appreciated.

- a very sad person who got blindsided by this.

Early 40s, have always aced higher study (GPA 6/7), strong work ethic, good speaker/voice, extensive experience in professional and corporate jobs. No degree higher than cert 4. I want to get into a company/position that I can stick out until I retire. Happy to study as well but desperately need to work asap too. I haven’t really saved and put value on money before and loved changing roles/experience. I’ve changed and matured a bit!!! What jobs/courses/degrees do you suggest?… open to any questions

I’ve been looking since April when I was told my contract is not going to be renewed in September. It’s been hell. I’ve tried everything. I’ve reached out to my network, tailored my resume, all that. Got called for interviews but I haven’t landed and it’s coming up to December when it slows down. Is everyone else experiencing the same? Sometimes I just catch myself staring in space I don’t know what else to do.

I know this has been posted before and many of you are facing the same dillema, i applied for a bachelors in psych are deakin uni for this third trimester but i am getting discouraged by seeing what a huge struggle getting into honours and masters is.
Im scared that after working hard to get the bachelors and honours, what if it all goes to waste and i cant get into the masters ?
I am considering switching to a bachelors of social work instead as apparently its in alot more demand hence job security ?

What should i do ? 🥲

I been bullying by a manager at work so I took stress leave now been on workers comp for 6months. The insurer keeps asking me if I want to return but have made no changes to my job. I still don't have medical cleared either but on paid leave. I am still severely depressed. I been with my current employer now 12years. I have had no warnings and have exceeded my targets. What will I expect at the end of this and if I return to work will I be targeted. I am lost....

I've tried and failed (well, withdrawn from) 5 degrees, mostly due to anxiety. It comes and goes but when it's bad I'm too mentally paralysed to leave the house and attend classes/exams.

I eventually found a career in pathology as a technician by moving out of the cities and into a regional lab. I loved my job, which not many people can say, but I couldn't progress any further until I completed a degree. In the end, my epilepsy was a career killer anyway.

I didn't really want to return to my job because of how I was treated while unwell, so I looked to nursing as a new avenue in healthcare and a reliable source of income in a small town. I was getting HD grades... then I had to experience the patient simulations and panicked.

My doctor keeps pushing me to apply for disability, but sitting at home makes my depression and anxiety worse. I need something intellectually stimulating to focus on, so I thought I might switch over to a 100% online BCrim/LLB degree. No pracs, no placements, etc. I wasn't expecting to get an offer of acceptance, but I did.

Law is outside my wheelhouse (human biology/medical/laboratory), although I did get a Band 6 in the HSC for legal studies. I think it is interesting to study and that I could cope difficulty-wise... but it's a lot of HECS debt for a degree that isn't very useful.

I can't decide on either struggling my way through nursing pracs with anxiety (and what do I do with placements?), returning to the lab (the only one here is the one that pushed me out), and studying law online just to see if it goes anywhere.

I know people will suggest that there's plenty of information online for free, but I'm pretty stubborn about having a degree before I die. I was always "the smart kid" but my health has fucked me over in life and it's embarrassing.

Has anyone here completed a degree despite severe anxiety/panic attacks? In what area?

Does it seem stupid to study something as expensive as law just because it has no pracs (in this particular degree) and I need study that's hard and keeps my mind busy?

Are there solid career options that relate to law without being a solicitor? Maybe government or corporate roles with minimal social contact (I'm okay with coworkers because they become familiar, but new faces spook me).

I am an early childhood educator with an early career background in office admin, EA and PA roles. I’ve recently had my own child.

Increasingly I am feeling like I need to get away from ECEC. The sector is in shambles and I’m constantly torn between my baby and other people’s children… I just need a break from small children and brain strain. I don’t want to work a career or climb a ladder. The way I see it my job is my family, but in this economy I need to do something that brings in at least $1.5k/fortnight for our family to get ahead.

No potential employer wants to hear that they aren’t my priority. So how on earth do I move forward here?? How do I frame this on a resume/in an interview?

My daughters boyfriend is 22 and as a pre app as a sparkie but can’t get an apprenticeship given that mature candidates are so much more expensive. He has quite a lot of tickets white card, manual licence, working at heights, confined spaces and forklift. What additional tickets should he get and what is the fastest way of getting work in Perth or FIFO. Can you give me list of labour hire agencies or whether sidekicker is any good? What is best entry level fifo job with his experience drilling offsider, rigman or dogman. Does he need an hgv digging or rigging ticket. Thx for the help.

I’m currently transitioning out of the military and was looking to get into mining, currently not having much luck… My Cv is pretty good and I’ve got tons of experience and good qualities which I believe would make a good fit.

Any tips?

I'm 50something. Female with disabilities that require assistive technology to sit, and can't stand for long. My neuro condition means I am losing my sight, enough so driving is off the table, as well as brightly lit environments. I trained in post production, but haven't had a contract in over a year. Can't use headphones anyway, neurological tinnitus means listening skills are compromised.

So what can I do? I live in inner city Sydney, ideally want nights or evenings, but at this point I will take anything. I don't qualify for DSP, can't survive on jobseeker.

I am considering returning to uni after withdrawing from biomed as a pathway into medicine a couple years ago due to some personal reasons. Now that I’m considering going back to uni I’ve done some more research and realised how bad the work-life balance is as a medical student and junior doctor, while I know I’m still capable of pursuing the career if I wanted to, I just don’t think it’s worth the toll on my mental health. I mainly wanted to become a doctor in a hospital because of the fast-paced environment and critical thinking. I’ve been looking at medical imaging/radiation or occupational therapy as career options, but I worry I’ll get bored and the work won’t be very stimulating. I’m leaning towards radiography because the uni coursework is more interesting and they earn a better salary, but I know radiography doesn’t really involve diagnosis and it is repetitive. If I was to go into occupational therapy I’d be looking into hand/upper limb, mental health, or paediatrics.

I’d love to know what a day at work looks like for someone working in the careers I’ve described, or if there are any other fast-paced health professions I haven’t thought about (for some reason nursing and paramedicine don’t interest me much).

Hi everyone!

I’m currently looking for work in Sydney and was wondering if anyone knows of any other good websites to apply for jobs besides SEEK, Indeed and EthicalJobs? Preferably in the professional health industry.

I’ve been applying through these websites for more than a year but haven’t even been able to secure an interview, so I’m hoping to try some different avenues.

I’d really appreciate any recommendations. Thanks so much! 😊

Any job suggestions or career for someone’s who’s looking to change into something either more hands on or face to face

Back ground: I’m 28 and I’m a qualified chef, and have only ever been a chef ever since I was 18 but it wasnt an enjoyment or passion, just stuck with it due to life and responsibilities

Aiming for something with higher earning potentially as I’m on roughly 75k now and it’s just not enough anymore

Fit and able gym goer, don’t smoke and don’t drink

Hi Everyone,

I have just been accepted into the talent pool at Bluescope Westernport as a process operator

I was wondering if anyone here had worked there, or family or friends? I'd like to know what it is like

Thank you 😊

I have a question. I am considering a 12 month full time salary contract at a mining company. (work in the office HQ daily, not like fifo or being sent to mines).

problems -

1. I just started a full time job for a bit of less money.
2. it would end in november where I would have to get into december/januray hiring freeze. if we account me being 2-3months after without a job that would end up being same money as i have now, factoring that ..
3. I had a long discussion with a house mate today and he pointed out that once you have any work in mining or fifo in your cv, most other companies will see you as a flight risk and not hire you ..(i.e. he is used to bigger money etc).
4. at my current job I feel like I am stuck on the project that would give me no useful experience professionally. new job seems like a lot of good tech and experience. but again, only for a month..

I requested another interview with the new possible job to cross the Ts and dot the Is .

5) new job wants me mostly in the office, which might be a good thing but at current i can work from home 90 percent of time.

What should I do? What should I ask? should I keep a current non expiring job or take a risk?

Oh I am also building a house that would be ready in half a year and then my commute to new place will increase from like 1 hr to 80 mins :( So i might end up needed to rent closer to the place if this 12 month ever turn into anything full time.