Reply to: IT Contract: Sydney vs London

[aussielong]

Don't expect to land there on a tourist visa and pick up a job with no hassles, unlike here where it seems you can get in under a truck at Dover and be working in IT the next morning Australia's immigration control is very strict and many of the companies will not entertain the prospect of hiring you if you have not done it properly which will take a year.

Depends on your skill set of course - but you can always get some phone interviews sorted before you come.

You want to aim for a 457 visa which you can get through management agencies or direct from employer sponsorship. Backpacker visa wont get you far.

These guys used to do it. Not sure how good/bad they are: Connections visa and migration services

Minestrone is correct, you have to do your homework and a bit of spadework before you come.

[aussielong]

Its ideal for a couple of years

For a British contractor that is intending to go back to Britain and live after coming to Sydney to work for a while - its good now. You can make a lot of cash.

This is because of:

Screwed up exchange rate that wont be improving for at least 2 years - thanks Mervin King.

High contract rates in Sydney due to demand.

LAFHA meaning as a temporary resident you get a huge tax reduction.

Relatively high interest rates on your savings in the banks.


It's a different story if you intend on coming here permanently. You lose the tax breaks. Buying property is hard, etc.

[DieScum]

I am working in Sydney. The contracting culture is more of a perma-temp thing although rates can be decent due to the exchange rate.

Cost of living is substantially higher than the UK but it's a cracking place to live. Spring now and it is like the height of summer.

Unemployment is low so fairly easy to get a job.

As a contractor you could get the umbrella company (like Lester Associates) to sponsor you for the 457, for which they take about a grand a month, but it is a lot harder to get contracts as agents always want someone in yesterday. You'd be much better with a permanent visa.

[d000hg]

You'd have to change your CUK login. Are you ready for that sort of disruption to your life?

[minestrone]

Working holiday in the sun is becoming more and more tempting by the day! What is the best job board to use for gigs in oz? I'm currently searching on Jobserve but there inst a great deal on there and other sites I've tried off google seem quite minor.

Don't expect to land there on a tourist visa and pick up a job with no hassles, unlike here where it seems you can get in under a truck at Dover and be working in IT the next morning Australia's immigration control is very strict and many of the companies will not entertain the prospect of hiring you if you have not done it properly which will take a year.

[Gonzo]

Sydney is a cultural desert full to the rafters with thick Ossies. I wouldn't bother, you'll be bored after a week.

Australia has come on a long way over the last twenty years, even over the last ten years.

They are a bit nouveaux riche with it, which can be annoying, but if you don't have any responsibilities it is well worth the experience, even if it is not forever.

People that move over there from England to do mundane permie jobs find that it is too expensive to live there now, but if you are an IT Contractor those problems will not be yours.

Having said that, I am now working with a Pommie contractor who lived in Sydney for one year and found the day-to-day life too difficult. She finds New Zealand a lot easier to live in, even though she is getting a lot less money.

EDIT: I should have mentioned - www.seek.com.au is probably the most like jobswerve used to be for looking for roles.

[aussielong]

Rates in Sydney - from a contracting Brit who lives in Sydney

Rates in Sydney are higher than London. Take it from me, I am obsessed with monitoring this situation. Also, it's gonna get better (for Brits earning AUD) for a while more due to US/UK interest rates being very low for another couple of years at least.

I work in the development space and know a lot of contractrors. Rates are roughly 1.5 times London rates now in my opinion, due to the exchange rate mainly.

The cost of living is roughly the same, unless you want to live the high life - ie. I eat out maybe once a week so the Sydney lifestyle premium does not hit me hard. I spend about 200-300 quid per week here and I live pretty well. Rent costs me about 700 quid per month for a share that is 20 minutes from (centrally located) work.

I can only speak for myself when I say there is plenty of work here - in the development / banking space.

* Temporary residents like yourself get LAHFA - this reduces your tax a lot. I was paying 20% total deductions when I was getting this. Stay on a 457 visa as long as you can to keep this going.

[stek]

I was telling someone the other day what a basket case Sydney is on cultural levels, I went down to the art museum filled with aboriginal thumb paintings.

At least in Glasgow I am 1 mile away from a Rembrandt self portrait, Dali, Turner, Monet.

And you can go and see the Burrells at the Burrell Collection....

[minestrone]

I was telling someone the other day what a basket case Sydney is on cultural levels, I went down to the art museum filled with aboriginal thumb paintings.

At least in Glasgow I am 1 mile away from a Rembrandt self portrait, Dali, Turner, Monet.

[DimPrawn]

Sydney is a cultural desert full to the rafters with thick Ossies. I wouldn't bother, you'll be bored after a week.

I prefer a cultural dessert, such as Tiramisu.

[sasguru]

Sydney is a cultural desert full to the rafters with thick Ossies. I wouldn't bother, you'll be bored after a week.

[RobertLondon]

Working holiday in the sun is becoming more and more tempting by the day! What is the best job board to use for gigs in oz? I'm currently searching on Jobserve but there inst a great deal on there and other sites I've tried off google seem quite minor.

[Sysman]

I'm currently working on a contract in london so know how good it is here

I've looked at some recent reports of the economy and cost of living in Sydney and it would appear I would be financially worse off over there compared to here in London. However, do I really want to spend another cold raining winter over here again

An ex.colleague recently tried to persuade me to go for a gig in Sydney and with winter looming I was very tempted. The position was not a good enough match for my skillset, otherwise I'd be off like a shot.

When you live in an expensive spot, you can afford to take a certain hit on the rate.

and the thought of those bikini clad Oz birds does appeal

[mudskipper]

I'm currently working on a contract in london so know how good it is here

I've looked at some recent reports of the economy and cost of living in Sydney and it would appear I would be financially worse off over there compared to here in London. However, do I really want to spend another cold raining winter over here again

I spent 3 weeks last November in Sydney. It chucked down most days and I was wishing I'd packed a jumper.

[BlasterBates]

You're better off in London