IT Job Market in Melbourne

Forums › Off topic › IT Job Market in Melbourne

1 | 2

timmmay

20583 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#524155 21-Sep-2011 16:20

What field contracting? I've been doing IT contracting for 6-8 years, i've always been paid monthly, about three weeks after the end of the month. Some recruiting/contracting firms might be open to faster payments. I'd get annoyed having to do invoices more than once a month.

chiefie

I iz your trusted friend
5877 posts

Uber Geek

Retired Mod

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#524161 21-Sep-2011 16:25

I have to say, you get better chance of being preferred candidate if you are within the country. A former colleague applied for many roles and did get some phone interviews but ultimately it was suggested because he's not in Australia, they rather to go with their locals.

Internet is my backyard...

«Geekzone blog: Tech 'n Chips Takeaway» «Personal blog: And then...»

Please read the Geekzone's FUG

graemeh

2078 posts

Uber Geek

#524164 21-Sep-2011 16:28

timmmay: What field contracting? I've been doing IT contracting for 6-8 years, i've always been paid monthly, about three weeks after the end of the month. Some recruiting/contracting firms might be open to faster payments. I'd get annoyed having to do invoices more than once a month.

You need to talk to Robert Walters for IT Contracting. They pay weekly. They also use "buyer created" invoices so all you do each week is send in a signed timesheet, they pay you later that same week (as long as you meet the timesheet deadline).

timmmay

20583 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#524165 21-Sep-2011 16:30

graemeh:
timmmay: What field contracting? I've been doing IT contracting for 6-8 years, i've always been paid monthly, about three weeks after the end of the month. Some recruiting/contracting firms might be open to faster payments. I'd get annoyed having to do invoices more than once a month.

You need to talk to Robert Walters for IT Contracting. They pay weekly. They also use "buyer created" invoices so all you do each week is send in a signed timesheet, they pay you later that same week (as long as you meet the timesheet deadline).

Nah, I don't need to be paid weekly, it makes no difference to me. I often contract directly to organisations too, or via a consulting company, who all seem to work on the monthly cycle.

One contract I read said you submit your invoice for work done in April at the start of May, you get paid for it in June. I told them nope unacceptable and they went back to standard terms.

mattwnz

20164 posts

Uber Geek

#524182 21-Sep-2011 16:48

ajobbins:
timmmay: The standard for contracting is you work a month, you send in an invoice, they pay it by about the 25th of the month. So if it took you a month to get a contract it could take you three months to get paid.

You need a MUCH bigger buffer if you're moving countries. Much. When I went on my OE I had enough money to survive for six months without working. If you already work in IT then building up a buffer shouldn't be a big deal, given the decent IT salaries and contract rates.

One of the main reasons for moving is that I am being screwed over here (money wise). I have had offers of more, but I don't want to commit to anything long term and offers are with companies I would like to work for when I came back to NZ, so want to keep them happy. The market here is in decline, as are salaries - Just got the latest NZ Salary report from AbsoluteIT today which shows things are flat or going backwards in NZ.

Money isn't everything though. Plus living costs in OZ are higher, as are the taxes. You do have to look at the entire picture and do the sums.

wdoa

80 posts

Master Geek

#524184 21-Sep-2011 16:51

Power bills and petrol certainly aren't higher in Brisbane anyway.

All I do is submit a timesheet every week, basically I am employed by the recruitment company

ajobbins

5052 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#524188 21-Sep-2011 16:52

I've done the sums on salaries, and unless you are making big money (Say over 180k) then it looks quite similar to NZ.

From the seveal people I know living over there who have moved, they feel living costs are similar, and in some cases lower (Utilities and groceries etc all lower), but any money you save and bring back to NZ you make money on.

Twitter: ajobbins

Quic Broadband

Move to New Zealand's best fibre broadband service (affiliate link). Free setup code: R587125ERQ6VE. Note that to use Quic Broadband you must be comfortable with configuring your own router.

gehenna

8514 posts

Uber Geek

Moderator

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#524225 21-Sep-2011 17:57

Utilities are lower cost for sure. I mean just check out iiNet's deals. Power is pretty cheap and heaps of options but if you're into the environment go with Red Energy as it's pretty much the only renewable energy provider - most the rest are coal.

Fruit is better, dairy is worse, weather is average in winter, unbearable in summer - wherever you live HAS to have air con.

If you can score a job before you go check out the LAFHA allowance. Onevendor.com.au will give you details on that. Basically it's for people who are relocating for work to get taxed much less. If your employer goes in for it you can come out WAY more well off in your monthly pay packet :)

It's all pretty relative, some things are better than in NZ, some worse. Some more expensive, some cheaper. I know you like coffee though, so you'll have a challenge finding a good one there.

ajobbins

5052 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#524236 21-Sep-2011 18:27

Challenge finding good coffee in Melbourne? I've had some of my best coffees in Melbourne

Twitter: ajobbins

robbyp

1199 posts

Uber Geek

#524363 22-Sep-2011 00:42

gehenna: Utilities are lower cost for sure. I mean just check out iiNet's deals. Power is pretty cheap and heaps of options but if you're into the environment go with Red Energy as it's pretty much the only renewable energy provider - most the rest are coal.

Energy costs should probably be compared to any environmental provider, as NZs is largely hydro which is environmentally sustainable. NZs energy should be a whole lot cheaper, problem is that so many companies are clipping the ticket along the way. Just look at all the money these electricity companies in NZ waste, and the government also has to get a return. If they hadn't privatised it like they did, our power would be so much cheaper,. NZ did used to have some of the cheapest power in the world, now I wouldn't be surprised if it wasn't some of the most expensive, and will get worse.

1 | 2