To go to Oz to work or stay here?

Tough decision here career and life wise.

Basically I was planning on going to Oz to work as an Environmental Health Officer (what I did my degree in) finished my degree last year, went to Oz for a 3month holiday/party, came home, did loads of interviews for EHO jobs and got placed on loads of panels but never got the call (and its extremely unlikely I will either).

So I just temped away until I found something I liked and am currently a CO in a government department – I love the job, the flexi, the fairly laid back stress free environment, benefits etc. Now I only took this job to save up the money to go back to Oz where they are crying out for EHOs, but I took the civil service EO exams and subsequent interview so as to keep my options open. I cam 56th on the Dublin panel which I believe is fairly high and would expect to be placed over the next few months or so.

Now I don’t know whether to go to Oz or stick around and take an Executive Officer job when it arises.

I know most people will say “go to Oz, you’d be mad not to”, but this decision requires a lot of thought. I love the place and think it would be a fantastic place to live, but I love Dublin and think it’s a fantastic place to live (and I’ve traveled the world over 2 years) but when you have to work a professional job everyday its not going to be a holiday and party place like most people think when they think of Oz. Plus I’ll be pretty much moving over on my own (have a friend out there though and he’s loving it – I will be put in a position near him), plus an EHO job will be a lot more responsibility and stress than your average EO job (with not much more money).

At the moment I’m happy enough in Ireland, I love Dublin, the stress free life and an EOs salary of 32K would be plenty for me. But I’ll always feel like a failure if I don’t go on to be an EHO like I trained for and it could be a brilliant move over there, but the grass isn’t always greener! (reason I say this is I moved to London years ago, had a great job, loads of money, but hated it and hated the stress – could not enjoy my free time cos of all the stress and I said I’ll never go back to that lifestyle).

So that’s my predicament, either way I have to make a move soon as flights/visas/jobs etc will all have to be sorted out. If I go to Oz I have to start as an EHO at the start of November…what do yis think?

Go to Oz, better to try it and it not work out than to die wondering, also your experience as an EHO there will stand you in good stead if you come back to ireland.
If you did that well on the EO exam (congrats) then you're likely to do as well the next time the exams come around (you can do the exams in oz i think, i did the AO exam in Spain when I worked there).
There is also no guarantee that you will get a stress-free EO job, some EO jobs can be very stressful.

dereko1969 said:

Go to Oz, better to try it and it not work out than to die wondering, also your experience as an EHO there will stand you in good stead if you come back to ireland.
If you did that well on the EO exam (congrats) then you're likely to do as well the next time the exams come around (you can do the exams in oz i think, i did the AO exam in Spain when I worked there).
There is also no guarantee that you will get a stress-free EO job, some EO jobs can be very stressful.

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I dont think i'll die wondering, it was that exact thought that had me go to England and that was the worst time of my life. And if its bad over in Oz ill be left wondering what could have been over here.

Im kind of leaning towards the staying here and trying out the EO job, if its a tough one, then i can always go to oz. With the economy in the state it is etc i dont know if I can let a good job like that slip.

I dont think i have to be totally conscious of the amount of time after college i stay out of the EHO profession, as when i go to oz im going to have to be retrained to quite an extent anyway to deal with the differnet laws and problems. So i can put that on hold, but you know how it is if i put it on the long finger it will probably never happen.

This is a tough decision!

Lamps said:

, but I took the civil service EO exams and subsequent interview so as to keep my options open. I cam 56th on the Dublin panel which I believe is fairly high and would expect to be placed over the next few months or so.

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Normally 56th would be ok but with decentralisation, there are fewer and fewer Dublin jobs, at all levels. Also, the recently announced Government cutbacks means Departments have to reduce payroll by 3% in 2009, so this means less staff. I wouldn't bank on getting the EO within a defined period, check in with PAS on this. Good luck to you either way.

YOBR said:

Normally 56th would be ok but with decentralisation, there are fewer and fewer Dublin jobs, at all levels. Also, the recently announced Government cutbacks means Departments have to reduce payroll by 3% in 2009, so this means less staff. I wouldn't bank on getting the EO within a defined period, check in with PAS on this. Good luck to you either way.

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I rang the PAS today, im in Dublin region Group 3 which are going through clearnace at the moment, although they wouldnt give me a time period they hinted it would be sooner rather than later at the current rate.

In your hearts of heart you want to stay in Dublin, so do. I worked in a few different countrys, inc Oz and as you say, when you are working there life is pretty run of the mill.
My wife and I have worked in a few countrys but there is no place like home. Recentley we discussed(when it rained for the 53rd day in a row!) moving to Oz, we are young and have desirable professions. We have decided it is too far away and we love our lifes here.

Do what feels right.

Like DavyJones I lived abroad in several countries over 18 years. Work is the same the world over!
Get yourself established in Dublin and you can holiday in Oz without having to make the huge commitment of moving there permanently. That way you'll have the best of both worlds.
Good luck.

Lamps said:

I dont think i'll die wondering, it was that exact thought that had me go to England and that was the worst time of my life. And if its bad over in Oz ill be left wondering what could have been over here.

Im kind of leaning towards the staying here and trying out the EO job, if its a tough one, then i can always go to oz. With the economy in the state it is etc i dont know if I can let a good job like that slip.

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Lamps , I think as you have written your post, you have answered your own query.Is Oz going anywhere?No , so maybe wait and see what happens with the Civil Service. If you hate it , you are qualified anyway and can go. Keep up to date with your qualifications and keep the options open. Sometimes the easier option is the right one and feeling you have to do something because you have the necessary qualifications isn't always the right thing to do.

HI LAMPS,
I agree with brianne,you've already made your mind up,with your second post,theres nothing to fear only fear itself,it sounds to me like your really happy doing what your doing and thats whats important.
i left my origional career to study microbioligy,when i finished the money was rubish and the job boreing,and never used these qualifications.be happy be content!!!

i was out with my mates last night, paintballing with them today and having the time of my life. I decided that im going to stay put, im having a great time and dont see any reason to change. Yep its annoying having a really good degree which i put a lot of work into and seeing classmates develop really good careers from it, but each to there own. i loved college, had a great time, made some great friends that I stil see every weekend and I'lll always have the degree (although if I do go back to EHO work ill need to a masters or something to refresh).

Im going to take the Eo job. Am actually thinking of giving my notice in my current job and packing off and goign travelling for a bit until i get the call, have a few quid behind me so dont see any reason not to....

Lamps said:

i

Im going to take the Eo job. Am actually thinking of giving my notice in my current job and packing off and goign travelling for a bit until i get the call, have a few quid behind me so dont see any reason not to....

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I remember you posting about this quandary before. This seems like the best of both worlds for you

Good luck with it and enjoy the travelling.

Just seen you've been offered a position in a regional offcie in the Dept. of Family and Social affairs, how do you feel about that? i heard its not the best of departments to work in, id say when your dealing with certian people types of people wanting their dole money your going to be wishing you were out in OZ!!

garythegreat said:

id say when your dealing with scum wanting their doel money your going to be wishing you were out in OZ!!

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I think the above comment is very insulting - could a moderator please advise if it's acceptable?

I relaise that can be taken as an insult, but you do know what I mean. There are a large number of undesirables claiming the dole that you would have to work with everyday. Anyway edited the post, didnt mean any offense to anyone

Backround - Irish born - Aus citizen since 2005 (moved to Aus in 1999 on permanent residents visa) - returned to Ireland 2006

If you havent used your Working Holiday Visa then thats an option. However remember you can only work for the one employer for a certain period of time. And dont expect that you will be so "good" that they will sponsor you (no offence) and you can stay on if you love it. Its very unlikely you will not get sponsored and then you will have to come back regardless.

If you are thinking of a permanent resident visa you will really need to do your homework. I dont think you will meet the length of time in chosen career part of the application. Check out the Aus immi website for a full list of requirements. Its a lengthy process over 1 year start to finish with lots of grief(2 yrs plus in my day). Also if you go to Aus on WHV I dont think any work experience out there counts on your residency application. So you may have to look at a long term game plan of 3-5 years before even applying for permanent residency (if thats what you are thinking of).

Is Aus perfect? Far from it. I would honestly chose Irealnd over Aus anyday. Most peeps who go on the WHV/holiday come back with the whole I love AUS/ I just have to live there/Oh I miss it soooo much. Usually its the experience NOT the place they have fallen in love with. Spend a year in nicer parts of Asia and you would probably feel the same about that place.
Not trying to put you off but dont totally buy into the whole grass is greener ideology. As I say you could do the WHV come back after a yr and you will have to settle into probably 3 years plus before being able to get back. Be aware of that. Also in Aus you still have to get up everyday and go to work. Its hard to get on the property ladder/get career started/whats useful there(here) does not translate to whats useful here(there) etc etc. Weather - not worth moving there for that alone.
I only stayed so long as I was in a relationship. When it ended so did Aus and me.

Alot of the process will have changed since my day so I cant say for certain what the requirements are these days but its all on the web.
Who knows it maybe for you BUT dont make Aus the be all and end all of your life as you will end up on missing out on life