A Stack of Resumes and a Bus Pass.
Upon landing in Melbourne, securing a lease, and facing the harsh reality of being rejected from my sole job prospect, coupled with discovering less than $15 in my bank account, it felt like I had been hit by a bus. The unexpected turbulence early in my journey abroad was beyond anything I could have anticipated. I couldn’t even afford a flight home if I were to be deported.
Faced with limited options, I understood that achieving success in securing an engineering role in Australia meant taking 100% responsibility for my fate. With no time or resources to spare on traditional job-seeking methods, I had to act urgently. I made a pivotal decision to invest my last $15 in printing a stack of resumes and securing enough bus pass credit for a few days.
That night, fuelled by determination, I scoured Google for every engineering company I could find, meticulously compiling a Word document with their addresses and fields of expertise. Over the next two days, I navigated the bus routes to Dandenong, endured the scorching 40-degree heat and went door-to-door, methodically ticking off companies from my list.
My introduction was simple: I explained that I was a Canadian Industrial Engineer seeking a new role. The responses were eerily similar: 'Unfortunately, we don't have any availabilities right now, but I really admire what you're doing. Good luck, and here's my business card.' By the end of the first day, I had a book full of business cards but no tangible leads.
Undeterred, I continued my pattern of going door-to-door on the second day. In the early afternoon, after a morning of no luck, I encountered a business owner who offered to feature my resume on a local manufacturing group's website, potentially exposing me to more opportunities. Although not an immediate interview, it felt like a significant breakthrough, prompting me to call it a day, even though the challenge of paying rent still loomed.
Little did I know that this chance encounter would lead to a remarkable turn of events. After emailing him my resume for website upload, he surprised me by suggesting a potential role within his growing manufacturing company and invited me for an interview.
Overwhelmed by the complexity of the engineering drawings and 3D modeling he outlined for the role, I remained committed to doing whatever it took to succeed. A mere couple of days later, I received one of the most relieving calls of my life: I had secured my first engineering job in Australia.
New Jobs, Cities and Adventures
Over the next few years, I would change jobs (to another one that I had dropped off a resume at on my trek around Dandenong - they called me back 6 months later!), give up my visa to stay in Australia, get sponsored in a national engineering role, be locked in my house for almost a year, move to Sydney, and so much more.
Throughout all of the changes in my environment over the last few years, there have been countless hurdles that I have had to leap (or stumble) over. Throughout every dip, and period of questioning whether I know what I’m doing, I continued to turn to self development to learn, grow, and push myself further in this journey. While it has never been comfortable, every opportunity has stemmed from my discomfort. Whether that be a new national role, being casted for a series of ABC Catalyst, or getting my motorcycle, I have always come out better on the other side of the challenge.
What now?
In my current capacity as an engineering manager, I lead a national team dedicated to delivering intricate reinforcing elements for Australia's major projects. Here, my focus revolves around integrating Building Information Modelling (BIM) and automation to deliver efficient and advanced outcomes for our clients.
I am also extremely passionate about harnessing the power of data and technology to unlock valuable insights and modernise conventional approaches, and am continuing my education to expand my skills in this area.
Outside of my role, I am soaking up every opportunity to truly live in Australia. Between surfing, patrolling Manly Beach with the Life Saving Club, and travelling around the country for both work and adventure, I couldn’t feel luckier to call Australia home.
As always, I am passionate about helping both industry and young professionals, and will continue to share through 1-1 mentorship, The Emerging Leader Podcast, and LinkedIn.