Should I use a Recruitment Agency to find me a Job in Australia/ New Zealand?

Recruitment agencies operating in Australia and New Zealand are an excellent option for junior or senior doctors looking for posts in Australasia. There are a number of factors to consider though:

The agencies located in Australasia have all the contacts with local hospitals and also look after you when you arrive so in general avoid the 'offshore' agencies which are not usually up-to-date with how things are running in Australasia. Also the companies located in Australasia are often well connected with the local medical boards and immigration offices so can expedite any paperwork that is necessary for you to commence work.

The law in Australia and New Zealand prohibits the recruitment agencies charging candidates fees do they obtain their money directly from the hospitals they recruit for. You should be paid exactly the same as your Australian and New Zealand counterparts doing the same job. The salaries for doctors of different grades are listed on the salaries page.

Almost all recruitment agencies will ask you for copies of you current medical registration/ passport and postgraduate qualifications so you should have these ready to email or fax.

Our sponsor, International Medical Recruitment, is the largest doctor-recruitment company in Australasia and recruits doctors of all specialties and seniorities throughout Australia and New Zealand. They never charge doctors for any of their services and they provide free advice on any aspect of working in Australasia. Also International Medical Recruitment provide  free organisation of your Medical Registration and Work Visa. Further information is available from www.IMRmedical.com

Advantages of using a recruitment company include:

1. You gain access to a number of unadvertised vacancies - especially important for consultant jobs which are rarely advertised.
   

2. The application processes for work visas/ medical board registration/ sponsorship are complicated and time-consuming. They can take several months of frequent phone calls and letters. It is far easier to allow a recruitment company to do all the paperwork. 
   

3. Searching for posts, forwarding a CV and arranging an interview can be very difficult from overseas. Having a local representative can save you time and money.
   

4. There is a degree of security and peace of mind gained by going through a reputable agency.

5. Recruitment companies in Australia or New Zealand can NOT charge candidates for their services and also can NOT take any of your salary when you start work. You will be paid exactly the same as Australasian doctors working at he same hospital in the same job. There is never financial loss to candidates by going through an agency.