Finding A Job

Posted byseblingcsPosted inJob HuntingTags:

Ok so now you’ve sit for your AMC exams and want to find job in Australia

Passing AMC does not mean you get a job automatically

You will still need to go hunting for one

*Unlike when I got a job from KKM, the interview was just a formality – JPA gave permanent posts back in 2010*

Where do you apply?

Now it depends on whether you just passed your MCQ or both the MCQ and CE.

You can still apply for work with just passing MCQ. But do try to pass your CE ASAP it will make a difference.

I will be writing this based on my experience

I passed the MCQ in late 2017. I failed my first attempt CE in April 2018 but was offered a retest.

I was advised by a senior of mine to try to apply for a job first, learn how the system worked and sit for my exam at a later time.

I passed my retest in 2019 and got my certificate, and applied for general registration.

Continuing on.

A few websites were recommended to me, the one I liked was

https://www.medrecruit.com/international-doctor-jobs

You can also go to each state and see if any vacancies are advertised there

The job titles are different in each state

In Queensland:

Intern – obviously you cannot apply for this

Resident Medical Officer (RMO) – Junior house officer (JHO) or senior house officer (SHO)

Principal House Officer (PHO) – like a registrar but not in training programme.

Registrar – for those in training programmes

Clinical specialist/Consultants/Senior medical officer  – this one not really important in our discussion

For your purpose – if you are going through the Standard Pathway – look for the RMO openings

Preparing your CV

Your CV is important

Don’t anyhow write stuff

There is a format for this

https://www.ahpra.gov.au/Registration/Registration-Process/Standard-Format-for-Curriculum-Vitae.aspx

You need to follow this format otherwise they will not entertain you

Get more information

My experience is unique to me. Yours will be too. Although there will be a lot of similarities, we will encounter things differently.

So ask around if you personally know any colleagues who have migrated from Malaysia after completing housemanship. Dig their brains. They will be happy to help you out.

Know the working hours, environment, type of people you will be treating

Learn where they are short of staff and need people to fill in vacancies

I myself had amazing advice from my friends who migrated here earlier than I have.

This advice is extremely valuable

Most importantly, once you’ve made it, don’t be selfish with knowledge. Help them as you have received help yourself.

Where to apply to

Australia still has shortages in rural and regional areas

Read up on the Monash Modified Model (MMM)

https://www.health.gov.au/health-workforce/health-workforce-classifications/modified-monash-model

it’s a way they identify areas which are urban, regional or rural

i.e. Brisbane would be MMM 1 – urban. Hervey Bay MMM2 – regional, Biggenden MMM 5 – rural

Kesimpulanya – the higher the MMM score the more ulu

Where you pick would depend on your preferences of lifestyle.

I would advise to try the regional and rural areas. Better quality of life. Easier when you apply for PR too. 

Interview

Ok you scored an interview – Hurrah!

Prepare for it now

There are tonnes of websites that help you prepare for the interview

https://www.locumleaders.com/news/career-tips/medical-job-interview-tips-for-physicians-and-clinicians/

I recommend this one above

Seeing that you’re overseas, they will do a phone/skype interview.

Again, I would suggest you take leave for the interview

You need to be in a calmed and collected place

Make sure your laptop and microphone is working if its skype

Or if they call your mobile – charge it!

Be mindful of the time difference. Can be 1 hour can be 3 hours. Always confirm the time!

Practice speaking proper English. It will help during the interview. Speak calmly, take your time answering the questions. Show them your best self but don’t go overboard ok.

Aside from the usual job interview questions, like why do you wanna work here, what are your goals etc, they will ask you a clinical question to see how you’d respond to the situation

And they will ask you a situational judgment test. i.e. if you find your colleague drunk at work what would you do?

So prepare for all of this. Google is always there

Results

They will notify you of the results in a few days and you can decide if you want to take the job. I would advise to apply to many places and see which one responds to you. I applied for almost a dozen before getting a reply

All the best and have a positive mindset!

Published by seblingcs

A Malaysian's journey Down Under

27 thoughts on “Finding A Job”

  2. No. You do not need PR before working. However you need a temporary working visa. The names of the visa changes so read up on it on the australian home affairs website. For now they are called the temporary skill shortage (tss) 482 visa.

    Like

    Reply

  3. Hi, first of all I just want to thank you for taking the time to share your experience. It has been immensely helpful for those who desire to practice in the land down under.
    Just out of curiosity, what’s the difference in applying for a job after passing the MCQ vs after passing both MCQ & CE component? Can one secure a job as long as we pass the MCQ component of the AMC?
    Thanks in advance!

    Like

    Reply

    1. Hello there. Once you passed the mcq you can start applying for jobs. But youd be under a limited registration. This means you can only work in one hospital with supervision until you get general registration. Best pass and finish the CE before working. It takes a load off your shoulders, speaking from experience.

      Like

      Reply

  4. Hello Dr! It has been fun reading your blog as I found it really informative. Thanks for sharing your experience.
    However, may I ask, how is the journey for a medical specialist who wishes to migrate and work in australia. Do we have to sit for all the AMC exams as well?

    Like

    Reply

  5. Hi thank you so much for your blog. It has been immensely helpful. I have passed my McQ and currently trying to look for a job. However, I was wondering if I should take my part 2 prior to moving to Australia? What would you suggest?

    Secondly, how long did it take you to prepare for you amc clinical? How did you understand the essence of the exam without doing any course? I would like to take the exam without a course as it’s really expensive. Thank you

    Like

    Reply

  6. Hi! Thanks for all the info provided!

    I regretfully did not complete my housemanship in Malaysia. Can I still sit for the AMC (part 1 + part 2) and still be qualified to apply for a job in Australia if I pass them?

    Many thanks in advance

    Like

    Reply

      1. Hi dr. I have a question. During your time, did u took the AMC exams while you were still working with KKM?
        Did you quit KKM after securing a job in Aussie first? Can brief me on this. Thanks a lot 🙏🏼

        Like

  7. Hi! Thank you very much for all the information shared here.
    I have a question:
    I regretfully did not complete my housemanship. Would I still be able to register and sit for the AMC exams (part 1 + 2)? And if I do pass them, would I be qualified to apply for a position in Australia?
    Thanks in advance!

    Like

    Reply

  8. Hi..thanx alot for your information and it really help alots.

    I already worked for 10 years as anaest mo,if i passed AMC mcq and clinical,am i still need to do rotation in other department? Or could i just work as anaest ?
    another question is the salary for the 3 years vs 10 years experienced for IMG would be the same or different/
    Thank your in advance..really appreaciate your answer.

    Like

    Reply

    1. After passing your amc exams you need to do your rotations before deciding on doing anaes. Your pay would be based on the pgy2 level. Different in each state.

      Like

      Reply

  9. Hi i am currently preparing for Amc MCQ part 1. I have experience working as an MO for 2 years in medical department, then i left KKM and starting working as aGP in a private clinic for 1 year. Would my experience working as a GP be taken to accout when finding a job or do they only accept experience working in hospitals?

    Like

    Reply

    1. Hi mohdimtiaz8194,

      I am not sure if they take the GP experience into account. You can try to apply to the hospitals after AMC part 1 while being on a limited registration as you work towards your general registration either via the AMC standard pathway or the WBA. All the best.

      Like

      Reply

  10. Thank you Sebastian for your sharing.

    May I know how long was your work contract during your first job in Queensland? In most cases, do they offer/ renew work contract for doctors who are yet to achieve general registration after the first work contract?

    If I were to work there with a limited registration, any specific time frame (number of years) I must complete AMC Part 2 or I will deem disqualify from getting general registration?

    Hope to hear from you soon, thank you!

    Like

    Reply

    1. Hi Rebecca,

      My contract with Queensland Health was till the end of the term and it was renewed for another 12 months. The hospital are always short on doctors so they will be willing to renew the contract while the doctor is in the process of obtaining their full registration. However, there are limits on how many times a limited registration can be renewed. AHPRA would request proof of the doctor is working towards either a general or specialist registration before renewing their current registration. Have a read on this link from AHPRA. Hopefully it will answer your questions. All the best.

      https://www.ahpra.gov.au/Registration/Renewal.aspx#:~:text=If%20you%20have%20provisional%20registration,stay%20on%20the%20public%20register.

      Like

      Reply

  11. Good day Dr,

    Thank you very much for the information. My partner and I are considering the standard pathway. Just have a few questions, Dr.

    1. Ive heard that AMC part 2 can now be done online, which do you think is better ? doing the part 2 online or F2F ?
    2. Considering the usual malaysian timeline (medical school, HO then MO), how would you recommend we pace the AMC part 1 & part 2 exams, job hunting and registration applying ? (exp. part 1 during HO, job hunting during MO etc. )
    3. In terms of job hunting, may I know what are the likelihood of both my partner and I successfully getting placements in the same hospital or hospitals in the same city/town ?

    Would highly appreciate some insight in the matters above, Dr. Thank you again, Dr.

    Like

    Reply

    1. Hi Neha

      To answer your question:

      1. I have only done F2F and I can’t comment much on the online one much. However the pros would be that you don’t have to fly to Australia to do it. Cons would be risk of poor internet connection, faulty microphone or camera, the time difference, interference from children/neighbours/other family members if you have any. F2F takes away all those issues, but you’d have to travel to Australia and it can be rather expensive with the flights, accommodation, food etc.
      2. How and when you take the AMC exams is entirely up to you. You can do part 1 during HOship and start looking for jobs in MOship. There are some who complete part 1 and 2 before coming to australia. Others would go in with part 1 and finish part 2 while working here. It depends on your situation really
      3. It really depends on the vacancies the hospitals have, best is to find out when the hospital recruitment drives are and plan your applications accordingly

      Hope it helps

      Like

      Reply

  12. Hi Sebastian, I’ve just completed my housemanship, my last posting was Anaesth and currently just started MO ship in ENT department (tagging days). So I have no ED experience…

    I looked through the job searching website you’ve mentioned, mostly they need ED/ Internal Med doctors… do you think it’s worth it with the little experience that I have, to try and sit the AMC, and if I somehow passed, will my experience be sufficient to secure a job there or work as a doctor there? Well, as you know, housemen in Malaysia only were trained to be phlebotomists than real doctors….

    Like

    Reply

    1. Hi Nabihah

      It be best if you have passed at least AMC part 1 as most hospitals would expect that before considering hiring you. You would be a rotation doctor most likely i.e. going through medicine, ED, surgery/ortho etc. It’s basically HOship again with supervision. I had mostly surgical based postings before I applied to for jobs in Australia with AMC part 1 but I eventually got hired. It is important to apply to different hospitals too. All the best

      Like

      Reply

  13. Hi Sebastian! Thank you for sharing your journey! Wanna let you know that you inspired me to chase my dream which is to work overseas for which I have successfully passed my AMC part 1 and secured a job interview!

    In your previous post you put up a link for interview tip but im afraid that the website is no longer available 😦 Do you think you have any resources to share on how to ace a medical interview or can you share some tips on how to prepare for interview?

    thank you!

    Like

    Reply

Leave a reply to REBECCA Cancel reply