Lifeline for new migrants

A new community organisation is doing wonders in mentoring migrants towards professional excellence

BY RAJNI ANAND LUTHRA

Senthil Chidambaranathan and Rakesh Gupta became acquainted when they both arrived in Adelaide in 2014, weeks apart.

Both had long-standing professional experience in India: Senthil brought with him 20-plus years of experience in banking, and Rakesh, similar in IT sales.

Yet both faced challenges in finding jobs in their field of expertise.

“We did get much advice from others, such as those in the settled community here, but no real guidance,” Senthil told Indian Link. “Take whatever jobs you can get, we were told, even cleaning jobs.”

The two men persisted however, fortunate that they could financially bide themselves till they found gainful long-term employment. In the meantime, as they supported each other as newbies in this country, a strong bond developed.

Today, Senthil is manager at a Commonwealth Bank branch, and Rakesh works for Telstra.

Moved by their early experiences, and humbled that they could make it in this country of their own accord, both decided they wanted to help new migrants settle into satisfying professional lives.

The platform they launched, Indian Professionals in Australia (IPA), has touched some 120 lives since its inception in 2015.

The IPA lists as its mission, to identify opportunities and mentoring of Indian migrants leading to sustainable professional excellence in Australia.

It does this by organising talk shows, workshops and mentor-mentee programs; through business seminars with leading employment consultants, and through networking sessions with well-placed professionals in a range of industries.

The forum was launched with seed money coming in from the founders and others on the executive committee, and members are charged a nominal annual fee.

Members are typically those that have two to five years’ residency.

Meetings are held at the city-based Multicultural Community Hall, a modern facility that boasts sizeable meeting rooms with LCD projectors, computers and a modern kitchen.

Most meetings are free of cost.

“We have guided new arrivals and students with the basics of resume writing, interview tips and personal presentation,”

Senthil described.

“At a recent seminar on interviews, I invited a walk-in,” Senthil recounted. “They were a young couple, recently arrived, who I ran into on the street. She was in the IT industry. At our session she made some friends, and a few days later, someone alerted her to a suitable job advertisement. She called to say she had secured an interview, and could I give her some tips. I figured she was quite strong technically, and gave her advice on presentation and communication. Imagine my pleasure when she called again, this time to say she had got the job!”

IPA is now also reaching out to longtime settlers as they look to upskill or move into selfemployment, as well as those transitioning into retirement. As well, they no longer restrict themselves to Indians alone.

The topics for discussion have also diversified to include issues such as workplace communication, and building healthy relationships with colleagues; even how to buy a home, how to apply for a home loan, and how to buy a car/ used car.

In an upcoming event on 27 Oct, IPA will be looking at jobs of the future, based on the McKinsey report of

2017 entitled ‘Workforce transitions in a time of automation.’

A service such as IPA was clearly lacking in the Indian community, even though Indian associations abound in this city, like in every other Australian city.

“Of course we respect what the other community associations do,” Senthil said graciously. “But their stated purpose is different – it is usually social or cultural, and that is commendable in itself, such as bringing people of different religious or linguistic persuasions together, or a love of music or dance. But ours is by and large offering advice and guidance on professional development.”

He added, “We have a strong constitution, which clearly defines what we can or cannot do. Also, we have a strong ethical base: we take no sponsorships, except for our very large events. Another aspect unique to us is there is no command-and-line structure. Members who come up with projects, will see them through to execution.”

It is evident that IPA is motivated totally by philanthropy.

Organisations such as IPA are gradually coming up within the Indian diaspora globally as more and more aspirational Indians move outside the country. One such has opened up in Melbourne last year (Indian Professionals in Victoria).

“After Victoria, we are keen to expand into NSW and WA – interested people may contact us if they wish,” Rakesh told Indian Link

My job title

Senior Cabin Crew at Virgin Australia

My educational

Bachelors in Aviation, Tourism & Hospitality Management from Institute of Tourism and Future Management Trends (ITFT) Chandigarh, India

What my job entails

As a Cabin Crew team member, I am responsible for the safety, welfare and comfort of guests throughout the flight. To become a cabin crew team member, I was required to complete a training course which includes learning all the safety and emergency procedures, which we then need to update every year.

What a typical day is like

The day starts off two hours prior to departure of the flight we are operating, with sign on and a pre-flight briefing. Our flight manager will provide us with all relevant information about the flight, everyone’s working positions, and any special requirements. We are also quizzed on safety, emergency and first aid. The aircraft is then checked to make sure it is neat and tidy and we welcome guests on board and direct them to their seat. We then perform our safety briefing to our guests and check the cabin to make sure it is secure before the flight departs. Inflight service then commences once the seatbelt sign is switched off. When it’s finally time to land, the captain will then turn on the seatbelt signs and we secure the cabin again. Once our guests have disembarked and we’ve performed all safety checks, we will then make our way to the crew room for sign off and this is where I usually check my roster too.

What is tough about my job

I think the hardest part is when I miss my family on trips away.

The positive aspects

Great workplace and rewarding career: Virgin Australia has a safe and collaborative working environment, where each and every employee is encouraged to reach their full potential. It provides you the opportunities to further spread your wings by offering you world class training and a promising career path.

Work life balance: There’s a good selection of roster bidding system to suit your lifestyle and flexibility, given our work hours are so varied.

Team work: I really enjoy working in such a diverse workforce, and have been able to learn a lot about different cultures since my time here.

Travel: I’ve always had a love of flying and of travel. I’ve travelled so much with this job and made fantastic memories! For instance, I’ve always wanted to travel to Hong Kong and this job made my dream come true. I fly frequently on that route now.

Lifelong learning opportunity: I love that we’re constantly upgrading our skills; there are exams every six months to keep us current. We’re not only refreshing our skills but also learning about new developments in the industry, such as the new 777 (which I will be flying on to LA tomorrow!)

Advice to others who may want to enter the industry

Cabin crew are the face of the airline, so we are all expected to provide a highly polished and professional service, and always remain friendly, approachable and enthusiastic. Becoming a cabin crew team member will give you the perfect opportunity to get away from the repetitiveness of a normal 9 to 5 job. If you have a passion for travel, dedication and commitment, then I say go for it! Every day will be different, you will learn fantastic customer service skills, become a team player and learn a lot about yourself too. For instance it amazes me that I’m able to speak comfortably with so many different people from different countries! One of my favourite parts about the job is the feeling of pride when a passenger appreciates and recognises my hard work after a long day.

Ramneek spoke

with

Rajni Anand Luthra