
Real stories of migrants who began with courage and achieved a skilled job & permanent residency
This is Elle's
Ace A Job®
success story
ELLE
Marketing Manager
Challenges
INTRO.............................................
As an international graduate in Australia with a strong professional background in marketing, I thought finding a job would be relatively smooth. Back home, job opportunities came to me through my network. However, here in Australia, the challenges were completely different.
My resume was long and cluttered, spanning 10 different positions, which made me look like a job hopper. Worse, I didn’t know how to focus it for the Australian market. I mistakenly put too much emphasis on my cover letter, which, as I learned from Thea Ho, wasn’t the right approach.
I also found myself in a difficult dilemma: for junior positions, I was often overqualified, while for senior positions, I lacked the local experience needed to compete. I didn’t know which direction to take and felt stuck.
Adding to my struggles, the marketing field in Australia is known for favoring locals, given the importance of cultural and market knowledge. Despite applying for 40 jobs over three months, I didn’t land a single interview. With no practice, my interview skills remained underdeveloped, and I felt increasingly stressed and unsure if I’d ever secure a role.
Strategies
LEARNING............................
Feeling lost, I turned to Thea’s coaching program, and it was the best decision I made. Thea’s expertise helped me transform my entire approach to job searching.
We started with my resume, cover letter, and LinkedIn profile. My resume was overwhelming and lacked focus, but Thea guided me in identifying which experiences to keep and which to remove. She shortened my resume while ensuring it remained impressive and impactful.
Her advice on focusing on achievements was a game-changer. Instead of listing tasks, my resume now highlighted tangible and convincing results that showcased my capabilities. For the first time, I felt confident that my resume truly reflected my strengths.
Since I hadn’t practiced much for interviews before, I leaned heavily on Thea’s guided answers. These were incredibly comprehensive, covering every possible aspect of interview questions. This saved me a significant amount of time while ensuring I was well-prepared—even with a full-time remote job back home keeping me busy.
Thea also introduced me to the power of networking. Her strategies showed me how referrals can bypass the initial hurdles of online applications and phone screenings, leading directly to face-to-face interviews.
Results
SUCCESS.................
With Thea’s guidance, I decided to quit my remote job back home and fully dedicate myself to my job search in Australia. This decision, coupled with Thea’s strategies, paid off.
Through a referral from a friend, I secured a face-to-face interview with a small fire safety services company. They trusted my friend’s recommendation, and I passed the interview, landing my first role in Australia.
While grateful for the opportunity, I wanted to work for a bigger company that could sponsor my PR. Using Thea’s resume, interview, and networking strategies, I applied to a machinery manufacturing company specializing in earthmoving and mining equipment across Australia and New Zealand. I successfully landed the Marketing Manager position, a role I’m incredibly proud of.
This job has allowed me to accumulate enough points for PR eligibility. With just two years of work at this company, I’ll be able to apply for permanent residency. I’m more than halfway through this timeline, and I’m thrilled to be so close to achieving my dream of settling in Australia.
Reflecting on my journey, I realize the effort was absolutely worthwhile. Securing a job and working toward PR in Australia is undoubtedly challenging, but the rewards far outweigh the struggles.
If you’re hesitating about investing in yourself to achieve your dream, my advice is simple: Do it. You won’t regret it.
Thank you, Thea, for helping me navigate this journey and transform my career in Australia!

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