Overcoming language barrier to land dream job
Linghao Meng is an experienced civil construction engineer, originally from Singapore, who migrated to Australia in late 2017.
Initially he found work with a small company where he used the opportunity to build generalist industry and administration skills in a new country. “I got to do a little civil engineering design but was mainly stuck in project management, admin and surveying work. I knew I needed to learn how to better communicate in Australia, and work on my English skills.”
Challenges as a skilled migrant in a new country
As a new immigrant, Linghao learned that Australian employers in his professional field expect high-level English skills.
“The language barrier was a big challenge, and employers often judge you on it. I found it hard to speak to civil construction companies; I needed a lot of help.”
Linghao’s Singaporean qualifications were not recognised here, and he needed local experience and recognition in the civil construction and engineering industry.
Support to overcome language prejudice
Without proficient English skills, Linghao knew that he needed help to succeed in the Australian job market. In 2020, Rainy Day Recruitment began the process of helping him to find the ideal next step in his career.
They supported Linghao and spoke for him where necessary, communicating his experience and background. He was offered an interview for a drafting position three days after initial contact, and that same afternoon, John (the consultant working with Linghao) called him with a job offer.
“The whole process was very smooth. I appreciated that John is not prejudiced against people whose first language is not English. He is very honest, and working with Rainy Day Recruitment took the stress off me.”
The drafting role, however, was not a good career fit for Linghao, who had clear goals to find Australian employment in civil engineering. By mid-2021, he found himself unemployed and feeling desperate, Linghao again reached out to John.
“He was incredibly supportive and reassured me that he’d find me another job. He called back soon after with a position that had come up at KBR. This was not just a civil engineering role, but one with a high-profile, global company!”
Winning the dream job in less than a fortnight
Linghao was selected for the position after his interview with IT and systems engineering consulting firm, KBR. They first hired him as a graduate civil engineer, but he was promoted within nine months because of his previous construction industry experience in Singapore.
“I have the skills to visualise how things will look on site. My boss is very happy. I now work with the best people in the market – very good engineers, on an interesting project with the right sort of challenges. I’m really enjoying it.”
With help from Rainy Day, Linghao realised his dream job where he has ongoing opportunities to work on well-paid, sizable projects, with complex designs.
“This role is exactly what I was hoping to do – working in high-rise building construction. At the moment I’m working on an air force base and on the redevelopment of a historical site at Adelaide’s Lot Fourteen. If I ever need a new position, John will be the first person I turn to.”
