How to find a job in Australia

Australia is a popular destination for people who want to live and work in another country.  It offers a better quality of life.  The continued economic growth translates into numerous job opportunities.  the low unemployment rate and the high rate of average salaries are positive factors that encourage migrants to apply for a job here. Here are some tips to help you find a job in Australia.

 

Do your homework

Before you start looking for jobs in Australia do your research on the kind of job openings that are available in the country. You should also do some research on the skills and roles that are in demand. You will discover that some roles and skills are in high demand while some are not. This will help you assess your chances of getting a job based on the skills you have. It will help you decide if it is worth the time and effort to try for a job here.

 

Explore your visa options

First things first even before you start your job-hunt you need to get your head around the various visa options available. For skilled workers, Australia offers the following visa options:

• Temporary Skilled Working Visa
• Employer Nomination Visa
• Regional Sponsored Migration Schema Visa
• Permanent Residency (PR) Visa

To get any one of these visas, you can seek the help of an immigration consultant. Some of them also offer job search services that will be of value.

 

When you apply for jobs, look for the ‘right to work’ clause in the job ads. If your skills are in high demand and there is shortage of these skills among the local talent, then employers will sponsor your visa.

 

Another option is to use your working holiday visa to find a permanent job. If you excel in your work during the tenure of your working holiday visa, you can convince your employer to sponsor you for a full-time work visa.

 

You can travel to Australia without a job offer and search for a job once you are in the country. For this you can apply for a visa under the GSM visa subcategories- Subclass 189 or Subclass 190 using the online SkillSelect system. This is a point-based system where you are given points based on criteria such as age, work experience, education, English proficiency etc. On selection you will get an Invitation to Apply or ITA and you can apply for a specific visa category under the SkillSelect system.

 

Choose where you want to work

You have a visa that allows you to work, that’s great news!  There are greater chances of success in your job search if you narrow down to the location of where you want to work. The criteria for selection can be:

• Location where the best jobs related to your field can be found
• Climate of the place
• Presence of the community you belong to
• Lifestyle and leisure activities in the location

Once you have selected a few locations, the next step would be to do some research on the job opportunities in these locations.

 

Do specific research

Find out about the main employers related to your field in that specific location. There is a tendency for industries in Australia to establish clusters in big cities owing to the available infrastructure and facilities to scale up. For instance, Sydney has a concentration of banks, insurance companies, law firms, IT, and telecom companies.

 

Based on the industry you want to work in you can choose the specific location where you have better chances of finding a job.

 

Follow tried and trusted methods

Once you are sure of the location, look out for job opportunities and send out cover letters and your resume to prospective employers.

 

Tailor your resume according to what the company needs. Focus on the specific work experience that will be of use to the company.  It will be wise to include details of your work, the business and functions of the companies you have worked for.

 

When writing your resume and cover letter remember that you will be applying as an international employee and for an international job. So, it is best to let your qualifications for the role and your experience do the talking.

 

Your cover letter should include details of your visa or application status of your visa.

 

Include details of your educational qualifications and details of your skill assessment by a relevant authority.

 

Your application should include your scores in the English proficiency tests.

 

Searching for a job

While you can directly apply to companies for jobs, you can make use of online jobsites to search for jobs. The other option is to use your LinkedIn account to connect with Australian companies and explore job opportunities.

 

If you have moved into Australia without a job offer, make efforts to network with the locals there. This need not be people from your own community but people who belong to your profession or employees in companies you aspire to work for.

 

Be prepared to take a step back

It is likely that you may not find your desired job in Australia. If you get a job that is below your expectations take it. The work experience will help you get a foot in the door and gain some valuable experience that can help you find your desired job in the future.