Mehrnoosh Alemi
Senior Process Engineer
Mehrnoosh Alemi had 12 years of engineering experience in Iran, but she was unable to find work after arriving in Australia. She joined the Kaleidoscope Mentoring Program (KMP) in August 2019 and found a job in the oil and gas sector soon after completing the program.
I came to Australia as a skilled migrant in 2015, but I was unable to find work in my sector. The job seekers’ skills required here are completely different to my country, and I didn’t know how to match my experience in Iran with engineering opportunities in Australia. I completed a master’s at ECU and attended resume writing sessions and interview courses, but I still received rejections. It all changed when I applied for the KMP, where I met my mentor Simon Jackson. He helped me with lots of technical information, and insights into how to navigate the Australian engineering sector. I also attended the Cultural Competency training–it was fabulous! It helped me to find out the cultural differences between the Iranian and Australian workplace, which became very useful.
I took part in resume writing and interview skills courses in the past, but the KMP was much more beneficial to me. It offered ongoing support with a lot of practical elements. Instead of the conventional classes, I had a chance to practice my job searching skills in spaces similar to those where I would normally attend job interviews, such as noisy cafes. Having a 2-3 hour weekly conversation with Simon boosted my confidence, and I performed much better at the real interviews.
Previously, I would add people to my LinkedIn, but I would be too shy to start conversations with them, so I was unable to build effective connections. After participating in the program, I understood how to network to attract the attention of the potential employers.
Not having a job felt like there was part of me that had died. I felt frustrated, disappointed and useless to society and to myself. Finding a job in my own profession felt like being born again! It’s a new life for me.
