Make a move!

If I look at where I was sitting exactly two years ago, first day back in the office in the New Year, I have transitioned from a dark and gloomy day in an office situated just off the M1 to a sunny and bright day in an office situated a stone's throw from Sydney Harbour.

It would be untrue to suggest it is all beautiful sunrises and clear skies in Sydney, but on the whole, the weather, lifestyle, career opportunities and my general sense of wellbeing have improved beyond expectation for me. From my experience so far, I would have no hesitation in recommending this relocation to anyone who has put some thought into doing something similar. The push and pull factors which contribute to you considering a move to Australia vary as much as the reasons why you may not move. The list of appealing reasons may include: sunny weather, beaches, sense of adventure, sick of seeing photos from friends who have already moved, reaching a turning point in life where you no longer have those commitments/responsibilities to tie you down, the opportunity to grow your skill set, meet new people, experience a new working environment, challenge yourself or take a selfie with a real kangaroo! A common misconception is that relocating automatically puts the brakes on your career progression, narrows your future opportunities and restricts earning potential. The truth is, if you make an educated decision and research the role, market and company you are joining then you could accelerate your career by adding valuable international experience as well as personal development by challenging yourself. According to figures from the Department of Immigration and Border Protection, a total 13,750 subclass 457 primary visas (this is the employer sponsored working visa granted to people relocating to Australia) were granted in the September quarter. This followed from a 31.3% increase in visa applications for the same period. The number of 457-visas granted in the September quarter was up 4.2% on this time last year. This shows that Australia is very much “open for business” and keen to attract new people to the country. The United Kingdom sits second in the table of the Top 15 Citizenship countries for applications granted in 2014-15 to September 30th 2014. Given that a large proportion of people who have been granted visas are coming from the UK, it would support my earlier comments that there are a lot of reasons the move is appealing to many. I won’t mention the weather again, but if you have been waiting for a good time to move, it is worth noting that the Pound Sterling to Australian Dollar exchange rate continues towards its best exchange rate level since 2009. To put this into everyday context, two years ago in January 2013 (when I was sitting in an office off the M1) £1,000 would have bought you A$1,532: in January 2015 you will receive A$1,894 (Source: Oanda). That’s a 23.6% increase in purchasing power. And if you still aren’t sold, click here for some further inspiration. If you are interested in hearing about opportunities within Morgan McKinley, Sydney then please contact me for an informal chat on kforrester@morganmckinley.com.au or +61 (0)2 8986 3149.