06/21/2022

A Drake job journey from one of our star candidates.

Drake Editorial

Our consultants love matching our candidate’s skill set to our wide range of jobs available with Drake.

Read Ryan’s amazing job journey with Drake below.

My job journey - Drake International

 

Hello, my name is Ryan Oo (pronounced "Ooh"). I am originally from Malaysia and lived in Hong Kong for 19 years. This is my story from one migrant to another which I hope is encouraging wherever you are. 

On 29th February 2020, I visited Melbourne for a wedding. After having arrived a few days, Melbourne went under total lockdown and flights were not available back to Hong Kong! Four months later, our lives were still at a standstill without a flight in sight (you can include "uncertainty if I could return to my job there and the future circumstances of my HK abode").

The universe seemed to have made the decision via COVID! Surprisingly, we found it easy to have our apartment keys sent to a Hong Kong removalist and we were able to select the items the removalists would ship to Australia via a video call. In under a month, all our Hong Kong furniture and belongings were delivered to Melbourne, and Melbourne became our new home.

In a pandemic, it can be a challenging experience for visitors and migrants - e.g. visa issues, finding housing, funding bills, the list goes on... The fact that I have an Australian partner made the de facto visa application easy and a relative was able to provide the space for us - as I mentioned, the universe seemed to have spoken! 

Then came the job hunt which was a bit disconcerting. Over a period of a year between 2020 and 2021, job prospects were bleak. Over 28 years of international corporate experience spanning most countries in East Asia did not count without any local experience. It was dead silence to all my job applications.

A breakthrough came when Drake International approached me at the end of October 2021. They had a role as a Lifestyle Assistant at an aged care center. The role entailed providing care to residents who are currently under lock-down due to COVID with minimal to zero external contact. My corporate experience would not answer, but thankfully no prior experience was required. Still, it was a 1.5 journey each way by public transport, with longer travel times on weekends. 'Beggars can't be choosers' and I was open to anything that would inject local experience into my resumé. I did not hesitate to accept Esther's offer to work with Drake.

Since then, many doors have opened. Through the agency, I received the opportunity to work with a large retail giant for a weekend but the real second breakthrough came about through the agency to work with a major company producing construction materials in Melbourne. Within a short period of time, combining hard work, diligence, and dedication to the role, I was offered a direct contract with this company.

Immersing myself in the workplace beginning from the first contract gave me a greater understanding of the local and working cultures. With more exposure as time went on, I found myself adjusting more easily to Australian culture. I believe it is a take-home point for newcomers that a willing, open-hearted attitude accepting of opportunities gives one a better chance of succeeding in Australia. This is my story so far and I wish you the best on your own journey!


Thanks for sharing your story with us Ryan!

Are you thinking about a career change but not sure where to start? Visit our website for available jobs in your local area.

Find a job here: View our Job Board

07/29/2022

Body language job interview tips

Drake Marketing

In a job interview, it's important to be prepared for all kinds of questions. What do you say if they ask about your greatest weakness? How do you respond when they ask about your biggest accomplishment? And what if they throw in some curveballs like "What was the last book you read?". 

Read more

02/07/2022

Are you joining the great resignation? 6 tips to h...

Drake Editorial

With the great resignation on the tips of everyone’s lips, there are many now considering pastures anew. But, before you take the plunge, it might be worth asking yourself, what is the real reason you want to resign? Because, although sometimes the grass is greener, you need to make sure it isn’t just AstroTurf, before you leap into the neighbour’s garden!

Read more

07/08/2022

Why older workers are now in demand or should be.....

Drake Marketing

When was the last time you considered someone in the 50+ age group for a position in your company? There have been countless reports, research studies and statistics that indicate a huge demographic shift is taking place in the workforce. Since the 1960s, there has been a decline of births that will create a shortage of younger candidates entering the labour market.

Read more

10/16/2020

Wellbeing, when ONE SIZE FITS ALL fails

Tazmayn Goode

Scene ONE:  Its 2:55 PM. My 6th Zoom meeting for the day has finished 5 minutes early (woohoo!). Blood sugar is low, bladder full, my teething toddler is still napping. This means 5 whole heaven-sent minutes, just for me to tend to my most basic human needs before I stare at my face as it waits in the Zoom lobby, ready to attend the next meeting.

Read more

11/12/2021

Coping with Increasing Levels of Anxiety

Drake International

04/22/2020

Why Do We Eat When Bored?

Tracy Lewis-Currie, Health & Safety Coordinator, Drake International

With the stresses of COVID-19, many of us turn to food for distraction and comfort.. Eating affects a person's levels of dopamine - the brain's "desire" chemical.

 

Read more