Real stories of migrants who began with courage and achieved a skilled job & permanent residency

This is Sue's
Ace A Job^®
success story

SUE

Account Manager

Challenges

INTRO.............................................

Breaking into the finance industry felt like an impossible dream for me. I didn’t have a finance degree—I graduated in chemical engineering—and had no professional experience in either finance or sales. I knew financial companies typically prioritize candidates with years of experience or at least a degree in finance, but all I had was a big passion for the field.

As a fresh graduate, I had no full-time experience or a professional network to rely on. While I was confident in my English, I wasn’t a native speaker, and many job ads for sales roles in the financial industry emphasized the need for excellent communication skills. These challenges made the odds feel stacked against me.

Strategies

LEARNING............................

Despite having no network, I landed the job through networking. Thea’s coaching taught me that it’s not about the size of your network but your willingness to take action and build connections. I followed this advice and reached out directly to the CEO of the company I wanted to work for, and that decision changed everything.

Another critical factor in my success was having an impressive application. When I approached the CEO, he checked my LinkedIn profile before inviting me to an interview. If my profile hadn’t stood out, I’m certain I wouldn’t have gotten the opportunity.

Finally, my interview skills were crucial. As a sales position in the financial industry, the role required exceptional communication skills. With Thea’s interview training, I prepared thoroughly, using guided answers and strategies to deliver responses that impressed the CEO and Sales Director—even though English isn’t my first language.

Results

SUCCESS.................

Achieving my dream job felt impossible, but I made it happen. I saw the job opening online but chose not to apply through traditional channels because I knew the competition would be aggressive. Instead, I sent a message directly to the CEO on LinkedIn. He reviewed my profile, found it impressive, and invited me to an interview.

I prepared carefully using Thea’s strategies and entered the interview with confidence. After interviewing in the afternoon, I received the job offer the same evening.

The timeline was incredibly fast. On Thursday, I reached out to the CEO. By Monday, I had an interview invitation. The interview took place on Thursday afternoon, and by Thursday evening, I had the offer. In just one week, I went from reaching out to landing the job!

The best part? I got the role at the Manager level, which felt like a huge milestone considering my lack of experience or a degree in finance and sales. It showed me that when you can prove yourself in interviews, you can secure a job even if it’s more senior than your current level.

During the pandemic, many of my friends told me, “You wouldn’t get a job during Covid.” But I proved them wrong. Now, I’m working in a job I love, learning and growing every day. This role in finance truly feels like the dream job of my life.

My partner and I are still young, ambitious, and excited about our professional futures. This opportunity has set the foundation for us to grow quickly in our careers, and I couldn’t be happier.

Thank you, Thea, for helping me achieve what I once thought was impossible.

Ready to secure a full-time job & PR to call Australia home?

_{Results are not guaranteed. Please see the earnings disclaimer for more details.}