Proficient English for a Good Job in Australia

A recent study claims that due to lack of cultural assimilation skills, Australian student visa holders are losing out on opportunities to work in Australia. The study was commissioned by the Australian government. The study reports that many young foreigners who have studied in Australia even after being highly skilled or semi skilled in professions demanded in skill shortage lists, are struggling to succeed in interviews. Students who do not speak English as their first language have problems communicating successfully in the workplace. The study was carried out by the ‘Centre for the Study of Higher Education’ found the facts about problems of communication among students who do not speak English at workplaces.

The study’s project director Sophie Arkoudis said that overseas students often saw the ability to communicate effectively in interviews and in work as irrelevant. She explained, ''The students are very fixed on completing their course. However, many students may not see learning social language skills as relevant.” The study concluded that, “the Australian employers interviewed sought well-rounded employees who not only have sufficient English language skills but also have the cross-cultural ability and the potential to adapt to working in Australia'.''

A spokesperson for Julia Gillard, the education minister, said she welcomed the study as it showed that 85% of immigrants who had moved to Australia on student visas were able to find work in Australia within six months of graduating. Communication has always been a bridging factor as well as a gap between foreigners and local people. The study was titled as “The impact of English language proficiency and workplace readiness on the employment outcomes of tertiary international students”.

The study concluded that non English speaking students experienced difficulties getting a job than those international students who spoke English. Apart from that the study gave recommendations as how international students could be helped further to get a job in Australia. The employer groups are encouraged to develop access and equity guidelines for recruiting overseas-born workers (both onshore and offshore graduates), taking into consideration fair and equitable strategies/methods for evaluating applicant’s communication skills.

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