Martina Vaculik 23, from Sweden How long have you been in Australia for? For about three months – I’m leaving in July.
What made you decide to come and work here? I studied in Australia in 2004 and I fell in love with Sydney. So I decided to come back!
So, what’s your job like? I work for the Swedish Trade Council. We assist Swedish companies that are looking to export to Australia.
How does your new job compare to what you did back home? I’m a business student at home, so it is quite different. New responsibilities and new hours, it is more of a REAL job over here. I have deadlines that are far more important than the university essays are.
How did you get the job? I applied for the job in Sweden. The Trade Council had an ad on the internet.
Was it hard? I think it’s easier to apply for jobs if you have an academic background that suits the job. It was quite easy because I knew what I was looking for.
What are the good points about your new job? Interesting colleagues. I get to meet a lot of different people from both Australia and Sweden and we have a great coffee machine!
Any bad points? Sitting in front of a computer from 8am until 6pm… Hallelujah for eye-drops!
Any funny stories to share? Shit, I don’t know… I guess it’s not THAT funny!
How’s the pay? I’m placed as an intern, I don’t get paid very much. It covers the rent and some living expenses, not much more.
Any advice for other job-seeking travellers? Fix your CV, get someone who has work experience to look over it. Don’t do a job you won’t actually enjoy. You will regret it.
