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Job Search In Australia

Visas

There have been significant changes to the immigration regulations since 1 July 1999 for international students who have completed an Australian degree, diploma or trade qualification and wish to apply for permanent resident status. Please check out the Department of Immigration's website for further information at http://www.immi.gov.au

Graduate Careers Australia has an excellent webpage for international students containing a large amount of very useful information on visas and more: http://www.graduatecareers.com.au/content/view/full/35

Communication skills

Research shows that this is the single most important factor for your Australian job search success! This means being able to communicate well in English with people at all levels from customers and fellow staff to senior managers and includes both written and verbal communication skills. Places to improve your English communication skills:

  • Australian Discussion Groups-run by Sydney University Volunteers Association

    tel: 9563 6011
  • Community Colleges NSW
    http://www.communitycolleges.nsw.edu.au/
    a not-for- profit association which runs short courses in written and spoken English e.g. ‘Improve your English Communication - Non-Native Speakers’.
  • Workshops for English Language and Learning (W.E.L.L.)
    Learning Centre, Level 7 Education Bldg
    http://www.media.usyd.edu.au/stuserv/learning_centre/index.shtml
  • The Centre For English Teaching
    http://www.usyd.edu.au/cet/
    Courses in General English and Business English.

Involvement in a university club or society is highly desired by graduate recruiters as it points to the development of skills such as teamwork, leadership, initiative. In addition, some clubs may help support your job search eg. The Sydney University Chinese Student’s Association (SUSCA) organises seminars on immigration and job opportunities. Sometimes employers seeking certain nationalities will contact the relevant society to advertise their job opportunities. Visit the Clubs and Societies webpage for a full listing: http://www.usuonline.com/clubsocs/directory/

Another related factor is cultural understanding. In the Australian workplace this usually means “direct communication” For more information download Expectations of the Australian Workplace

Complete the following Worksheet to test yourself on your communication skills.

Gaining Local experience -Work experience, Voluntary work

Another factor to assist in gaining employment is to have local work experience. Many international students visit the Careers Service seeking "Internships". Internships are difficult even for local students to pursue here and unfortunately the Careers Centre is unable to assist you with arranging an internship directly. Things you can do:

  • Companies contact us with vacation work and part-time vacancies which we advertise to students on our noticeboard, our vacation work webpage and on our Current Vacancies site. Be aware that most of these vacation work positions target penultimate year local students.
  • There are companies that arrange placements for a significant fee such as Monash Professional www.monashprofessional.com.au
  • Contact your Consulate or relevant Chamber of Commerce eg. Australian Chinese Business Council http://www.acbc.com.au/ so that you can research and approach organizations which operate both in your country of origin and here in Australia, for an internship opportunity.
  • The University's Casual Employment Service specialises in helping students find casual and part-time work during their studies and in University vacations.
  • To read more on voluntary work and work experience go to our webpages.
  • Professional Associations are another great way to “Australianise” your applications. Professional Associations also may advertise jobs on their websites.

Graduate Recruitment

In the case of Australian graduate recruitment activities, you will find that many local employers are looking to recruit local students or students who have already attained permanent residency status. However you may approach employers directly to ask if you are eligible to apply. Increasingly local multi-nationals are looking to recruit international students to train here and then work in their home country offices and these positions will be advertised on our graduate recruitment webpage and at Your Careers Centre . Remember too that contract work and temporary positions can be a way to gain local experience whilst looking for a career job.

Check out our information on resumes and written applications and interview skills, and download a presentation for International students on International Graduate Opportunities and CV writing.

Resources

Excellent resource: “Land That Job in Australia: Successful Job-hunting for Migrants” (2005) by Dr Jim Bright & Karen Bright, Paperback. Australia (ISBN 0-9757560-0-1) Now in the Careers Centre library.Read more at http://www.tlpublishing.com.au/