top of page
Writer's pictureAlison Wong

Six Ways to Find a Job in Australia: A Must-Read for Students and Working Holidaymakers

Updated: Jul 20

Table of Content

1. Introduction

Overview of Job Hunting in Australia

Finding a job in Australia is an important task faced by both new immigrants and local job seekers. As an economically developed country with a high quality of life, Australia attracts job seekers from all over the world. 

However, with the labor market constantly changing and evolving, Australia is also facing a labor shortage. To address this challenge, the government has implemented a series of policies and measures to promote employment opportunities and economic growth.

This article will provide an overview of the job hunting landscape in Australia and introduce six main pathways to finding a job. It will offer guidance on how to apply for jobs in Australia, helping job seekers achieve their career dreams in this land of opportunities.


Current State of the Australian Job Market

The Australian job market is currently undergoing rapid changes and growth. According to data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics, the unemployment rate in 2024 is approximately 4.1%, showing a slight increase. However, many industries still face a shortage of skilled workers and professionals, particularly in the construction, healthcare, information technology, and education sectors. These industries offer numerous high-paying and stable job opportunities.


Data Source:ABS.gov.au


With the widespread use of online recruitment platforms, job seekers also face some challenges when searching for job information. The quality of job postings online can vary greatly, and job seekers need to be able to discern genuine opportunities from potential scams. According to a 2022 report, there are thousands of job scam cases in Australia each year, causing financial loss and psychological stress for job seekers.

 Therefore, Australian job seekers should use reputable websites and recruitment platforms and carefully verify the background of potential employers and the authenticity of job postings.


2. Pathways to Employment in Australia

Australian Job Search Websites

  • Platform Introduction:SEEK is one of the most popular job search websites in Australia, founded in 1997. It provides job seekers with a wide range of job opportunities and resources, from entry-level positions to senior management roles. The platform offers powerful search functions that allow job seekers to filter jobs accurately based on location, industry, salary range, and other criteria.


  • Key Features and Advantages:All job postings on SEEK are reviewed to ensure they offer legitimate employment opportunities. The platform also provides salary ranges for each position, helping job seekers better understand market conditions and find jobs that meet their expectations. Additionally, SEEK has a user review and company rating system, allowing job seekers to learn about the reputation and work environment of potential employers, enabling them to make informed career decisions.


  • Platform Introduction: This is the largest job search website in Australia, similar in functionality to SEEK, and has a wide influence across the country. Its main feature is the abundance of entry-level job positions, making it very user-friendly.

  • Key Features and Advantages: One standout feature is the ability to refine your job search based on specific companies, which is very useful for targeting your preferred employers. Another useful feature is the ability to search for jobs within a certain radius of your location. This is particularly convenient if you have a specific commuting distance in mind.


  • Platform Introduction and Advantages: This is not a dedicated job search website, so the number of job vacancies is limited. However, it frequently posts positions related to public relations, media, or marketing, and job postings are updated very promptly.


  • Platform Introduction: This is an important and widely used platform, which differs from regular job search websites as it functions more like a "professional networking platform." The primary goal is to help users maintain connections with trusted individuals they interact with in their business dealings. Users can also utilize the platform to find and expand their professional networks. Through these connections and interactions, they can find suitable jobs or better job opportunities on LinkedIn.

  • Key Features and Advantages: Many people view LinkedIn as a reputation card and digital resume, allowing users to regularly update their work experience, positions, skills, and significant achievements. Another notable feature is LinkedIn's ability to help users build as many professional relationships as possible, as you never know when your network might lead to a better job opportunity.


  • A professional networking platform where users can view local industry insights, company profiles, and salary information.



  • Offers a wide range of full-time jobs, primarily in industries such as IT, civil engineering, and accounting.



  • A gathering place for small and medium-sized enterprises, this Australian local job site features numerous positions from local companies. Many small organizations and businesses look for job applicants here, offering relatively fewer job opportunities but being friendly to graduates.



  • A website tailored for graduates or recent graduates, it's a treasure trove for entry-level job seekers and newcomers to the workforce.

  • Deal for recent graduates seeking internship opportunities, with minimal visa requirements, it caters to students looking to enter major Australian enterprises.


  • In the higher education sector, it's suitable for those interested in educational roles, offering positions such as tutors, lecturers, teaching assistants, and senior administrative staff.

  • Other job portals include CareerOne, Adzuna, EthicalJobs, Artshub, JobServe, StackOverflow, Yeeyi (Chinese), among others.

School Career Platforms

  • Every school website has a Career Page or Career Hub where students can log in using their school credentials to access opportunities. They can also seek offline assistance from relevant departments and faculty.

  • Students or graduates applying through their school's career platform enjoy significant advantages. It's important to note that networking during school days greatly enhances job search prospects! Regularly checking emails for job postings or career fair announcements from the school is also recommended.

Australian Government Websites

  • If you're looking to apply for positions within various levels of government agencies, you can search for vacancies on State Government and Local Government websites. It's worth trying as long as there are no specific regulations and restrictions. Applying for full-time positions without Permanent Residency (PR) can be challenging, but there is demand for casual, temporary, and contract workers, which allows you to gain work experience and earn money. It's worth the effort.


  • Websites to apply include: State Government, Local Government, Aps Jobs, Job Search, human services, Employmentplus, Thejobshop, Workforce, and others.

Company Websites

  • Many job opportunities are posted on company websites, so it's beneficial to keep an eye on your preferred companies and positions by regularly visiting their official sites.

Australian HR Companies

  • Australia has numerous reputable human resources (HR) companies that offer employment advice and recruitment services locally. Some also act as intermediaries, assisting employers in posting job advertisements on various recruitment networks. Utilizing HR companies can save you time in screening potential employers and may even provide assistance with interviews. Keep in mind that some services may involve fees.

Social Networking

Since many jobs in Australia are not advertised publicly, it's essential to build your network and establish direct contacts with employers.


You can explore Facebook community groups such as expat associations to see if there are any job postings. Alternatively, you can ask friends to keep an eye out for opportunities at their workplaces.

3. Recommended Jobs in Australia

Agricultural Related Work

Almost every backpacker in Australia is familiar with agricultural jobs such as tree pruning, fruit picking, and fruit packing. These jobs offer wages above market standards, stable working hours, and are suitable for Working Holiday visa holders, often with visa extension services provided. Basic English communication skills are sufficient, and employers generally offer comprehensive training, so prior experience is not a prerequisite.

Factory Related Work

Most factory jobs are in the livestock industry, primarily in meat processing plants. Typical roles include the Kill Floor and Boning Room in abattoirs for cattle, sheep, and pigs. A crucial requirement for these roles is the Q Fever vaccination to prevent disease from exposure to animal blood.

These jobs mostly pay hourly rates, with piecework available for roles like knife hands. They are generally beginner-friendly with low English proficiency requirements.

Service Industry Jobs

Service industry roles involve direct customer interaction and require a reasonable level of English proficiency. Positions include waitstaff, café attendants, tour guides, hotel housekeeping or front desk staff, cashiers, and retail assistants.

4. Conclusion

The benefits of working in Australia

Firstly, Australia offers a high quality of life and a well-developed social welfare system, ensuring a safe and healthy environment for living and working. Secondly, Australian workplace culture emphasises work-life balance, providing flexible work hours and generous vacation allowances, enabling employees to better manage family and personal interests.

Furthermore, Australia boasts a diverse workplace environment where workers can interact with colleagues from different backgrounds and cultures, broadening perspectives and enhancing cross-cultural communication skills. 

Importantly, working in Australia allows individuals to gain valuable international work experience, enhancing professional skills and competitiveness, and laying a solid foundation for future career development.


How to Utilize These Channels to Find Suitable Jobs

When searching for suitable job opportunities, make full use of various channels such as job search websites, job fairs, social media, and professional networks. Besides actively seeking opportunities, it's important to enhance your job search skills and adjust your mindset. 

Maintain patience and a positive attitude, believing that you can find your ideal job. Remember to continuously update your resume, prepare for interviews, and keep learning new skills to enhance your competitiveness. Each attempt is an opportunity for growth. Keep pushing forward!



 
Alison’s Story

Born in Hong Kong an moved to Australia, I have been associated with real estate all my life. As the plane slowly landed on the runway of Melbourne Airport, my life and career also changed to another runway. I changed from a Hong Kong real estate agent to an Australian real estate agent, and successfully obtained the Australian lawyer qualification.


When I was working in a law firm, I was surrounded by highly educated professionals. Even though their wages are very well, and they are absolutely the elites in society, but their lives are full of hard labor, and it’s hard for them to get rich through buying properties.


So I spend all my time and effort on learning financial and real estate investment knowledge, hoping to achieve financial freedom as soon as possible, and let my parents who have worked hard for many years live a good life.


Now I will share with you the knowledge and experience of investing in Australian real estate, and embark on the road to financial freedom together.


Alison Australian real estate information platform


The original intention of Miss Alison to establish investwithalison.com is to provide neutral Australian real estate information through this platform and help investors establish the most suitable investment strategy.


👉Website: investwithalison.com

👉Email: hello@investwithalison.com

👉Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/alisonwongaustralia/







7 views
bottom of page