From Student to Engineer: How Oscar Landed His Dream Job in Australia with My Extra Mile
- María José Casas Salazar
- Mar 10
- 4 min read
Updated: Apr 10
May | 2025 | Australia
Oscar arrived with Ale Munoz determined to take the next step: get a job as an engineer in Australia. Applied to a job offer published by Alejandra Muñoz for a full-time mechanical engineer position.
Although he was only able to work part-time as a student, his excellent CV and almost perfect profile for the position made him the ideal candidate.
Before applying to the company and receiving the long-awaited call for an interview, Óscar decided to prepare with us.
He used our services of AVANZA and Job Offers to adapt his resume to the position and train for interviews, managing to position himself as the ideal candidate, not only on paper but also in every interaction.
Want to know the story of Oscar? Read his testimony below:
How long have you been living in Australia?
I’ve been here in Sydney for a little over 3 years. I came from Colombia because I always wanted to experience living in another country and see what other opportunities were out there for me.
What was your English level when you arrived in Australia, and what is it now? Any tips for those learning English?
I arrived with an advanced level of English because I studied at a bilingual school. However, I wanted to practice my English, and I realized that you learn something new every day.
Australia is a multicultural country, and you’ll always encounter different accents, terms, and idioms.
Learning is daily. When you’re in an English-speaking country, I believe you should completely change your routine—immerse yourself in English and reduce Spanish as much as possible.
Simple things like changing your phone’s language, what you watch on TV, and what you listen to can help.
What is your profession?
I’m a Mechanical Engineer from the Universidad de América in Bogotá.
How many years of professional experience do you have since graduating?
I have a little over 4 years of professional experience as an engineer, which I gained working in Colombia after graduating.
What was your last job as an international student before finding a professional job with Ale Munoz? Tell us a bit about your responsibilities.
I worked as a Duty Manager (service manager) in an aquatic centre, my duties were classified as supervising the centre, staff.
Comply with safety standards for the opening of the center, monitor the plant and maintain water quality at the appropriate PH and chlorine level.
Respond to incidents and first aid as necessary and perform the roster (the list with work shifts) for lifeguards among other functions.
“My Extra Mile helped me achieve my goal of working as an Engineer in Australia.”
How did you find out about the job posting for mechanical engineers?
I discovered the job offer in Ale Munoz social networks and send my expression of interest. Apply because I was very interested in the offer and it was gratifying to be contacted and to have advice on my resume and interview preparation and so be able to get this opportunity.
Did you receive any feedback on your CV during the process with My Extra Mile?
Yes, after my first phone interview with Ale Munoz I received some advice on modifying my resume to adapt it to the position and the Australian style, keeping only the information relevant to the job I was applying for.
Are you ready to connect with your potential and become a professional without borders?
Learn more about our AVANZA program.
How many interviews did you have, and how did you prepare? Tell us what you learned from the mock interview and how it helped you in your interviews.
I had a first phone interview with Ale Munoz and then an interview simulation which was quite useful with Mock Mastery.
With this service I received specific advice on professional interviews in English, learned how to answer the questions that almost all interviewers ask and also had access to the most common questions so that I could prepare in advance.
Then I had a telephone interview with the company and two face-to-face interviews for a total of 3 with the company directly, received the job offer.
How long did the process take from application to your first day of work?
The process was quite fast—about 2 to 3 weeks. However, due to Covid, the start date was slightly delayed.
Tell us about your new position as "Field Service Engineer"?
The role involves installing and providing post-service for CNC machines (CNC stands for Computer Numerical Control). This includes examining, testing equipment, tools, and control systems to diagnose potential failures.
Due to the current Covid situation, the normal induction process with the company has been modified. For now, I’m working with a colleague visiting clients around Sydney to perform maintenance and service on their CNC machines.
What are your long-term plans in Australia?
It was always my goal to work directly as an engineer in Australia. The limitations of a student visa made the process challenging, but today I can say it’s possible.
What are your long-term plans in Australia?
Mis planes son adquirir suficiente experiencia profesional en Australia y realizar el proceso de “skilled visa” (una visa para trabajadores cualificados en profesiones que están dentro de las más demandadas) o “sponsorship” (visado de patrocinio) que me permita trabajar full time.
What would you recommend to people who want to practice their profession in Australia?
Keep trying. Australia has great opportunities for professionals, and it’s necessary to step out of your comfort zone to achieve results as a professional.
It is essential to receive guidance and support in this process, I certainly recommend the services with Ale Munoz.
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