How To Land Your First Job In Australia
Finding a job in Australia can be challenging, especially if it’s your first job.
People moving to Australia often struggle to find their first job, whether they are studying, working, or settling down.
And just to give you a heads-up, applying online may not be the best way when you’re looking for your first job in Australia.
So, in this article, we’ll try to address that and give you a quick guide on how to land your first job in Australia.
Must-Haves For Job Hunting
To land your first job, there are some important must-haves you need.
- Valid work visa
In order to work in Australia, you will need to have a valid work visa.
For example, if you are an international student, you can work up to 48 hours per fortnight, when your study is in session. And you can work unlimited hours during your school holidays.
- Resume
In order to apply for jobs, you will need a well-crafted Australian style resume. Chances are that the resume in your home country is different to the one here in Australia.
So, if you are not sure about how to put together an Australian resume, don’t stress out. You can get a free template here.
- Cover Letter
Next up is Over Letter. Cover letter is usually sent along with resume when you’re applying for jobs online, especially when you’re applying for professional jobs.
If you’re looking for part-time jobs, you may not need a cover letter, but if you need one, you can download it with a free resume template.
- Linkedin profile.
Most employers these days look for prospective employees on platforms like LinkedIn. So you need to have a profile on Linkedin.
If you are unsure on how to put together a LinkedIn Profile, you can get the free checklist here.
- TFN
You will also need a TFN (Tax File Number).
It is a number issued by the Australian Taxation Office for every working person in Australia. And, if you are going to work here, you will definitely need one.
- Bank account
You must have a bank account for your employer to deposit your salary or wages.
- Superannuation account
A superannuation account is like a retirement fund. Your earn superannuation as a percentage of your weekly earnings. Your employers then deposit this money into your superannuation account on quarterly basis.
If you would like to know more about superannuation, check the video below.
How To Land Your First Job In Australia
So here are the most common methods that people use to land the first job in Australia.
- Referrals
It is one of the easiest methods to get a job in Australia.
A referral in Australia is when a friend or family member or person you know through your network recommends you for a job they know about.
It could be at their own workplace, or it could be through their network as well.
Sometimes this is also known as the hidden job market. As employers can hire employees without advertising the job or going through long selection processes but just through referrals.
So, if you have a family or friend, or, you know, someone here in Australia, we suggest you ask them if they know about such job openings.
It will make your life way easier.
In case you don’t know anyone here in Australia, the next method is for you.
- Walking-in
It is also known as door knocking.
Walking-in or door knocking is when someone goes from one business to another asking if they have job openings.
Some people print several copies of their resumes and walk around the business areas asking about the jobs.
It could be around the shopping centers nearby, city center of the main city.
And if a business has job openings, they may interview you and offer you a chance to either try out or actually work for them. It works even when you have no references at all.
Now, in order to walk in, there are a couple of very important things you need to have.
- Be confident and able to talk to the manager of any workplace about a potential job.
- And more importantly, you need to have decent communication skills. After all, you’re going to have a conversation with someone in the workplace.
- Networking
The next method is networking.
In order to get a job, you need to build a good network.
Networking is all about building relationships and connecting with the right people, especially in your own industry.
You can connect with people through online platforms, like LinkedIn or through events organised by your university career fairs or other networking sessions.
Want to know how to network properly here in Australia, check this video:
- Recruitment agencies
There are many recruitment agencies out there in different industries.
We recommend reaching out to these recruitment agencies and signing up with them as soon as possible.
When you arrive in Australia, search for these recruitment agencies and send them your personal details and resume.
Some of the popular recruitment agencies include
- Spotless
- Adecco
- Pinnacle People
- Hudson
- Hays
- Chandler MacLeod
- Robert Half
- Michael Page.
- Applying online
And last, but not the least, is applying online.
We have saved it for last because it’s probably one of the most difficult ways to get your first job here in Australia.
Many people get disappointed by sending their resume through these online platforms, and end up having no success at all.
The chances are that if you haven’t worked in Australia, you may not have any local work experience. And when you send your resume without any local work experience, employers may not even consider it.
That’s the reality you might be facing.
If you had an amazing work experience overseas, then they might consider it. But in many part-time job roles, many employers will not even consider overseas work experience.
We are not saying that online platforms are not good or no one gets a job by applying online but they might not be the right fit for the very first job you are going to apply.
But, we are not going to completely call it off as some people do end up getting jobs through online platforms.
The most popular platforms for applying for jobs in Australia include:
- Seek
- Zora
- Indeed
- Adzuna
- Gumtree
- Student Job Board
Also, don’t underestimate the power of Facebook groups.
There are many Facebook groups that are specifically designed for helping people find jobs in the local areas.
Search for Facebook groups in the city where you plan to go in Australia. Follow these groups to find job opportunities.
Tips for getting your first job in Australia
Here are a few more tips to land your first job in Australia:
- Start preparing before coming to Australia
First thing first is preparation. Start preparing before coming to Australia.
The reality is, finding a first job can be a huge challenge in Australia. So we would not suggest to start preparing and planning for your jobs after arriving in Australia.
We would suggest you start looking out for job opportunities while you’re still overseas on the online platforms we mentioned.
Also explore the job opportunities through the Facebook groups as well.
- Try volunteering
If you have no local work experience, no stress. Start volunteering.
Volunteering helps both the community and your resume by providing you a local work experience.
Australian employers usually appreciate people who have volunteer experience on their resume.
- Follow Up With Your Job Applications
Once you have applied for a job, whether online or face to face, it’s very important that you follow up. Ask the employers, if your application has been considered, or what’s the status of the application?
Many people do not even follow up after sending their job applications.
So, if you’re really interested in getting a job, then we suggest you follow up with your job applications after a few days of sending your job application.
- Learn about local language and workplace culture.
Australian English is quite unique and different.
A lot of times they abbreviate, and shorten everything they say, and the workplace culture is different as well.
You need to learn about the language used in Australian workplaces and the workplace culture in Australia.
Check this video on Australian workplace culture to get a better idea of how it works in the local workplaces.
- Stay positive
Last, but not the least, a very important tip is to stay positive.
It is a possibility that you may get many refusals for the job applications you’re going to send.
Don’t get dishearten.
Keep trying and applying for the jobs. And find ways to improve your job application each time you send one.
We hope this guide gave you important tips on how to land your first job in Australia. We have many free resources available on our website for finding jobs in Australia including templates, checklists and guides. Feel free to check the download section of the website for more.
You can watch the complete video on the same topic below.
