Finding work in Australia is easy if you know how. Let’s look at some simple strategies you can put into action as soon as you arrive, or even if you are already in Australia.
Backpackers usually find jobs in a matter of hours. The backpacking community in Australia is a close-knit one, and if this is your preferred mode of travel you will find that others are happy to pass on their knowledge and their job to you, when they are ready to leave. This also helps the employer who of course doesn’t need to advertise the position, or experience a labour shortage in his/her business. You should also check the bulletin board at your hostel for work opportunities in the local area. Short term jobs are usually prevalent.
Another way to find work in Australia is to walk into any branch of Centrelink. This is a government organisation which operates in every city and regional town in Australia. They are authorised to assist unemployed people to find work, and you will find touch screen computer consoles in every Centrelink office around the country displaying positions vacant in the local area. Centrelink also has a designated job search website at jobsearch.gov.au which is always up to date.
Go online, most large employers and many smaller ones, utilise the services of seek.com.au. There are other online employment portals, but seek is the leader in its field. Another great resource geared towards the hospitality industry, is coffeejobs.com.au where as the name suggests, you can browse for hospitality related jobs around the country.
Some employers still advertise in the newspaper, and although jobs may be listed on any day of the week, it’s probably better not to waste your money on a newspaper looking for jobs unless you buy one on a Saturday. It’s also best to ask the newsagent “which is the best paper to buy for job listings?”
Get creative. Think on your feet. If you are out sightseeing, make sure you have some resumes with you. You never know if you are going to walk past a potential employer, and nobody is going to mind if you drop off your resume. Just say something like: “Hi, I’m looking for a job, and I’m wondering if it’s OK to drop off my Resume for the manager?” (Don’t forget to smile). This strategy can actually be highly effective and may be your fastest way of landing a job. Don’t be surprised if you get an interview immediately, and are asked to start tomorrow!
Employment agencies are a good resource, if you are looking for a specific job. Be aware that different employment agencies specialise in different areas. For example, one might predominately employ people in the mining industry, and another may specialise in the Health Industry. There are also employment agencies that are only able to find jobs for people with disabilities, so it is worth making enquiries to find one that services your employment niche.
Finally, the two best pieces of advice are:
• have a printed resume which includes your name, address, phone number, email address, key strengths, professional history, work experience, education, other skills, special achievements, interests and hobbies, and 2 or 3 referees with their contact details. Typically a resume for Australian employers will be 3-4 pages long.
• Make sure you smile at the interview, most interviews are quite casual and usually take the form of a conversation; question and answer format; group interview; or skills test based on Microsoft program. A formal type interview where you need to ‘perform under pressure’ is very rare in Australia.
