Allskills Recruitment & Migration Services was chosen as one of the best three migration firms in Darwin, NT for three years in a row. Here’s the inspiring story of the person behind it all.
Felix Carao still remembers the day he immigrated to Australia like it was yesterday. He had to work harder than he did back in his home country the Philippines in order to succeed.
“The only difference is that in Australia, your perseverance and sacrifice will bear fruit. You will reap what you sow,” Felix says.
When he and his family arrived in Australia in 2005, he had no one to turn to for advice.
“I learned everything the hard way,” he says, “I migrated to Adelaide, South Australia on a provisional skilled visa with a nominated occupation of a Senior Manager.”
Because he had a positive skills assessment from the Australian Institute of Management, he applied for senior management roles with an impressive 10-page resume with no results.
“Little did I know that you need local experience in the role before any employer will even interview you,” Felix says, “My first jobs were as a pizza delivery driver and kitchen hand as these were the only available jobs back then. I also worked as a taxi driver on the weekends just to make ends meet.”
The hardships Felix faced when he immigrated to Australia inspired him to become a migration agent in 2010.
“I could share my first-hand migration experiences for others to learn from,” he says, “In every service I offer, I try to assist and provide continuing advice to my clients even after their visas are granted. My motto is “We don’t only get you to Australia, we help you find your way when you get here”.”
He credits this personalised and open approach as the main reason AllSkills Recruitment and Migration Services is thriving.
Felix also worked hard to get his name known. When he first started his business he had no clients, no experience and no income.
“In order to get my name out there, I tried to attend all the social events of my local community, distributed my business cards and flyers around Melbourne,” Felix says.
He even advertised in the local Filipino newspaper in Melbourne – The Philippine Times. After establishing his base in Melbourne, Felix opened a branch office in Darwin.
“The hardest part of starting a new business is not knowing when you will get your next client,” he says.
Felix had to fight every step of the way to become successful. He sacrificed time with his family to spend time with his clients to build rapport and trust. “I treat [my clients and prospects] as if they were my friend or family,” he says.
When Felix learned that Three Best Rated named AllSkills as one of the top migration agents in Darwin, NT way back in 2018, he was surprised.
“I know that there were a lot more migration agents and who are more experienced than me based in the NT. So being chosen as one of the three best rated is an honour,” he says.
The buck doesn’t stop there, however. Felix wants to continue to get better with every passing year.
“Being listed also means that the public has acknowledged the hard work and the reputation that you have built throughout the years and it is your responsibility to maintain and uphold that trust that the public has bestowed you,” Felix says.
