[Ian Robinson]

"Retired" pyromet process engineer , parttime postgrad engineering management student, would rather be working (not interested in FIFO , not interested in contract jobs as they are REALLY not worth the bother).

The rumour of a shortage of engineers in Australia is imaginary - If there really was a shortage I would have been snapped up ages ago (and would probably be living in WA, NT, Qld or SA now). Opportunitywize for engineers - NSW is a hole, and Newcastle is stuffed and has been since Pasminco closed the smelter and OneSteel closed the steelworks.

Seems to me most companies want experience and credentials but are not prepared to pay guys like me who have these what we are worth , so they pay peanuts to imports and get monkeys instead .

So what do I do now ? - I do my own thing (got enough money and income to live comfortably (owning one's home , having a good reliable car , and being debt free is a big help)) and I keep on applying for jobs (more out of habit , as I don't have to - not that I ever expect to land one , I'm over-qualified, I'm too experienced, I'm too fat, I'm too expensive, I'm too old (I'm wrong side of 45 , and of 50) and HR in most companies is full of kids in their 20s who know SBA and discriminate against guys like me in favour of young "beautiful" and trim know all sod all types).

I am bitter and twisted.
I refuse to deal with the Job Network which in my view is a total waste of time.

OK ... now that's off the chest .... good to have rant every so often.