India is a key market for JICS (Job Search, Immigration and International Education Consulting Services): Aman Sethi, MD, JICS Australia

Aman Sethi is the Founder and Managing Director of JICS Australia. Born in India, Aman migrated to Australia at 10 years old and knows all too well the challenges and triumphs faced by migrants in their pursuit of a better life. Growing up in a diverse community, he also witnessed firsthand the struggles that migrants go through.

Ignited by his own personal experience and unwavering empathy for other migrants, Aman created his own organisation – JICS Australia – which stands for Australian Job Search, Immigration and International Education Consulting Services.

Driven by Aman’s passion to make a positive impact on the lives of immigrants, JICS has provided hundreds with invaluable support, including Job Search and Visa Assistance – over 700 JICS alumni, including Indian migrants, have been placed in leading Aussie companies across Australia including Commonwealth Bank, Deloitte, Westpac, Telstra and Accenture.

Aman also recently appointed internationally renowned cricketer Brett Lee as the ambassador for JICS Australia. Brett plans to use his experiences to showcase how embracing different cultures enriches teams, drawing on his own success stories of diverse individuals contributing to better cricket teams. Here is an insight into Aman Sethi’s journey and more.

1. You moved to Australia at the age of 10. How did your personal experience as a migrant shape your vision for creating JICS Australia?

When I moved to Australia as a child, I saw firsthand the struggle that first-generation migrants face, including getting a professional job, living hand to mouth and adapting to a new culture. First-generation migrants have specific challenges they need to overcome and the key motivation for them is their family and securing their future – including for future generations. I realised over time the hardships and sacrifices my parents made to secure this future.

When I started working, I saw many migrants in a similar position. They were struggling to find jobs and make ends meet. I saw a part of the population that wasn’t really being catered to or supported – this was the inspiration behind my business.

2. What were some of the biggest challenges you faced as a migrant in Australia, and how did they influence the services JICS provides?

I saw the challenges my own parents faced. For instance, my mother was a qualified teacher overseas. However, when we moved to Australia, she couldn’t continue in her profession and worked in supermarkets and then in the banking industry as a teller. She had to adapt and completely shift careers from education to service industry and often laborious roles. This is the case for many migrants. They’ve established a career overseas and when they move, they need to adapt or start something completely new. It isn’t easy to accept this reality straightaway and supporting migrants through this period and helping them adapt influenced the services JICS provides. We’ve seen many migrants through JICS who were in C-suite or senior leadership roles and educate them on the reality of the job market in Australia and the need start a step or two lower, adapt and build their experience and way back up again.

3. JICS has successfully placed over 700 migrants in leading companies across Australia. What do you think has been the key to achieving such a high success rate?

I am a big believer in individualised coaching. While we offer great general content to help migrants through the process, each individual is different. For example, some people talk too much in interviews while others don’t talk enough, or some people are overly serious while others are too casual. We find out these nuances when we connect with them one-on-one and can provide feedback and coaching in real time. This is a key part of our offering and they get a lot of value out of this individualised guidance. 

4. Can you share some specific examples of how JICS has helped Indian migrants navigate the challenges of job searching and visa assistance?

India is a key market for JICS – it is the second largest migrant group in Australia. We work with many Indian migrants, including experienced professionals who want to live and work in Australia, international students, graduates looking for their first professional job and those looking for permanent residency pathways. We have a really good understanding of the Indian demographic and inner-workings of how the Indian market operates – this way we’re able to educate them on the key differences between the Indian and Australian markets.

5. What do you think is the most common struggle migrants face when seeking employment in Australia, and how does JICS address it?

Behavioural based interviewing is a major challenge for migrants. There are key differences between Australia and Asia for example. It can take months or even years to figure out the different nuances and social cues. For instance, in Australia answers you give in an interview are often secondary and the delivery itself is more important.  Our JICS recruitment team are very experienced in Australia and give guidance to fast track this learning process.

6. How has the diverse community you grew up in shaped your approach to providing immigration and job search services through JICS?

I think the diversity of the people I grew up with has given me a foot in both cultures Diversity of the people Aman grew up with means he has a foot in both cultures – Indian and Australian. Understanding both cultures has allowed me to bridge the gap between the two. JICS is built on this and it has helped my approach when supporting fellow migrants. I know how to have tough conversations with people to help them adapt and succeed.

7. Could you talk about the partnerships JICS has built with companies like Commonwealth Bank, Deloitte, and Telstra? How have these collaborations helped migrants find job opportunities?

At JICS, our B2B partnerships are more on the immigration side with companies across several industries, including technology, engineering, healthcare, banking and finance, construction and telco. On the job side, we focus more on getting the applicant in a stronger position so they can successfully pursue roles at some of these major companies. We’re proud to say our migrants have secured those roles using the support and education we offer, from optimising their CV to improving their interview skills. Everything we do is to get the candidate ready and in a more competitive position to secure good work.

8. What are some of the unique challenges faced by international students in Australia, and how does JICS support them in terms of both education and career guidance?

The slow job market. It’s a situation we’ve seen since early last year and if you have little experience, it’s hard to break into the market. It’s a challenge they’re facing that’s often out of their control and unfortunately, these students have spent $100-$150k doing their degree and they expect it to lead to a good, high-paying job so they can build their career quickly. However, jobs are now limited. To help them navigate this, we focus on educating them on the reality of the market and guiding them through the period. I do expect next year we will see an uplift in the market and a greater pool of jobs will be on offer.

9. How do you ensure that JICS remains empathetic and responsive to the evolving needs of migrants, especially in today’s fast-changing job market?

I always remind myself what we’re doing and what we stand for. We’re a business and need to be successful but at the same time want to add value to the community and the people we help. JICS grew rapidly when first established through word of mouth because the work we’re doing is so highly appreciated by clients. Our team members get immense job satisfaction when they support someone on their journey, whether it be through job search, international pathways or international education. These are all major milestones in a migrant’s journey. If we support them well that creates a positive reflection on JICS – what people really appreciate is the trustworthy advice we provide. We don’t sugar coat it and they appreciate it. While some might not like hearing it at the time, they realise later in their journey how helpful it was and they refer their friends and family as a result. It’s rewarding to see this impact.

10. What’s next for JICS Australia? Are there any new initiatives or expansion plans you’re excited about to further support the migrant community?

We are currently in an expansion phase and have grown the team significantly, with 20 staff. My plan is to continue solidifying and expanding and helping as many migrants as I can.

We also onboarded Brett Lee as ambassador this year. A living legend of cricket in Australia and the subcontinent, it’s a really exciting collaboration for us. As a business partner and brand ambassador, I look forward to seeing how his relationship with JICS evolves over the next five years or so.