So I have begun a new career. Once a week or so I am now teaching an accounting system to a group of young new immigrants in the hope that they will be able to find work in this field. This particular little group are from India and Pakistan, and are all legal residents of the country.
They are delightful boys, and are all more than qualified. They have their masters in commerce, but not one of them can get an interview for work in that field. They speak English perfectly, and they present well. However they cannot get their foot into that door, and in the meantime they work in petrol stations, or hotels to keep food on the table. One of them is married to a nurse, who has managed to get a job straight away, and is of course highly sort after. This has given him the time to try and crack the professional job market.
I am trying to help them as much as I can with whatever advice I can give, but can only assume that it is a very hard task for them.
It was much easier for me! When we came to Australia over 20 years ago I got a part time job straight away in an office environment, and was able to work my way up to the qualified accounting managerial position that I ended up with when I threw it all away 18 months ago.
Was it because I was white and Anglo? I am not sure but at that time probably!
The World in Australia is changing rapidly. Young Indians and Chinese are dominant in the Universities, although I must say that my experience has been mostly with Chinese immigrants. Over the last five years that I was at work, I worked with three Chinese colleagues, and two Indians. Every time we advertised for a position most of the applicants were from either of these ethnic extractions. I enjoyed working with all of them, and did not have either a language or a social problem with any of them. The jokes still rang around the office, and we found much in common despite the age gap! I was the old one making corny jokes in the corner and they very kindly put up with me!
I feel a strong sympathy for these young men that I am working with, as I can sympathise with the immigrant experience. Leaving one country for another is having to build yourself all over again. I did it three times in my lifetime, and hope never to have to do it again! Hopefully I can help them a bit!
