It’s a weird feeling when you become jobless. Not that I didn’t see this coming, it was inevitable on the 417 Working Holiday Visa. But still, not having an income on the other side of the world is pretty daunting and leaves us backpackers pretty vulnerable if we’re not careful.
I took this shot today in the Botanic Gardens, I was convinced a storm was about to hit however nothing materialised. It is my third day into unemployment however I am not pursuing any more work in Brisbane. I arrive into Melbourne on the 16th, and feel very fortunate that I work in a great company that has contacted properties in Melbourne to possibly take me on as an employee. So far I have been in contact with two potential employers and feel a lot more relaxed about not having a job before I fly.
It isn’t always this straight forward. But hospitality (hotels in particular) has proven a great industry for transferring or simply finding work around the world. Since I have been in the industry I have worked in six hotels in three countries and each and every one of these hotels uses the same operating system. A system called Opera. So even if I am not familiar with a hotel or city, the fact that I don’t need as much training to jump straight into a shift has proven invaluable, and I will see if this helps me find employment in Melbourne.
This will also be the case for many backpackers, or people looking to start a new life abroad. Looking for work? Stick to what you know! Even if it is just short term to keep you going. Ironically I told myself that when I arrived in Australia I wouldn’t work another hotel shift again. But then I remembered I was terrible at saving and needed to find work immediately in Sydney to keep me stable. And within a few days I was straight back into the only industry I know. But if it wasn’t for my time in Sydney I wouldn’t have found work in Brisbane so fast. And because of both of these jobs I have had contact with teams in Melbourne. So despite wanting to venture outside of hotels once I arrived down under, I am so glad I stayed in the industry. It has been incredible fun so far.
Six months is all we get to work with one company, unless someone is willing to sponsor us. I won’t be able to get sponsored, however I am looking forward to going home after two years away. I will of course keep you updated with my job situation and could potentially be working right in the CBD, meaning I get to experience the heart of Melbourne and have great public transport to visit it’s great suburbs. I have heard they are great from fellow bloggers and I will for sure be looking for recommendations closer to the time.
Oh, and I heard back from Sydney Police today regarding needing me as a witness for a trial, they are still unsure if I need to go as of yet. So I may be posting from Sydney later this month for a day or two, but this could also not happen.
But now that I have heard from employers in Melbourne, I feel a lot more relaxed not working. If I can hit the ground running that will be ideal, and I am sure my blog will benefit too. The less time looking for work the better and the sooner I can prioritise one thing…
TRAVEL!
Thank you again to all my followers and regular readers, and hello to you if you are new to my blog!
New to this site? Click here to visit my About My Blog section and Travel Diary
Follow me @samest89 on Instagram and @octstw on Twitter
Want to introduce yourself and your blog and discover new ones? Click here for my meet and greet page.
Cheers!
Sam
One Chance to See the World 