Quote: (04-15-2013 03:54 AM)Lukey Wrote:
I am from Perth and worked on the mines as an Engineer for the past 5 years for one of the largest mining company's in the world (now abroad).
I can answer any questions for anyone interested or moving to Perth.
Hot tip; don't do it. Its a city devoid of culture, astronomically expensive, closed minded people with a tribe mentality that is not too receptive to outsiders, and I can assure you will not come away with as much funds as planned as the price of living is inescapable, unless you are willing to work fly in fly out (3-4 weeks on/1 week off, 12+ hr days, 100 degree heat, cabin fever), for which you usually need to have a unique skillset and education.
Furthermore, and quite possibly the most important factor, most companies won't employ foreigners over locals due to the red tape involved, unless you have a skillset that is in critical demand. And in the event you do land a role, I know of many who have the equivalent skills, experience and education as I do, yet get paid less than half as they are on working visas and are not permenant residents/citizens.
Thanks for the heads up man but I'm prepared for it and fairly confident that I'll land something. I've heard that Perth is a boring city but at least it has a beach, I've spent the last six years living in industrial shit holes where instead of +40, its -40 and I'll take the heat over that cold any day.
Accommodation: I have a place to stay, for free, I made friends with a guy I met in Thailand and he offered me a room in his house, only downside is that its way up in Yanchep and I won't have a car to get to the interviews and pound the pavement in Perth, hopefully the loser cruiser runs up there.
FIFO work: That's what I'm going there for, I don't want to work in Perth, I want to get into a camp or offshore ASAP. I've done that type of work for years and can do a month in camp on my head, no sweat, I once worked 24/4 for 8 months straight at 84-100+ hours/week, I'm mentally prepared for the cabin fever and the inevitable dry spells.
Skill Set: I'm ticketed up in my trade and my certifications are ISO 9000 series and recognized in Australia and around the world, judging by the amount of job offers I see on seek.com.au , its in demand down there. Also, I have about 5 years of heavy industrial experience in a variety of settings: fabrication shops, pipelines, oil refineries, chemical plants, mining, etc. I've worked in new construction, maintenance on live sites and when I did that 8 month stint, it was after a refinery blew up so I have shutdown/turnaround experience as well.
Finally, I'm following in the foot steps of a good friend of mine who I went to trade school with and has been working down there for a year and a half although he made the move from Perth to Melbourne a few months ago. He says its still busy, so I hope he's right.
In the end, there's only one way to find out, get my ass down there and see for myself. If I don't find work within a couple of weeks, I guess I'll just have to spend a couple of more weeks in SE Asia then land a gig back home, lots of work in Canada right now.
Anyway, thanks again for the honest insights, if you're ever back in Perth while I'm there, hit me up on here and I'll buy you a few of those $12/pints, you too T and a Man and any other Perth locals on the forum.