Exciting times await you after you have successfully completed all of the requirements necessary to earn your degree or completed any additional educational commitments. Thousands of newly arrived migrants in Australia share a similarly positive outlook regarding their prospects of acquiring stable employment once they have adjusted to life in their new home. As many former residents of Australia can attest, the labour market in Australia is fiercely competitive, especially for young individuals from a variety of cultural backgrounds. You are not the only one who is having trouble finding work; the current employment market is extremely competitive. Young individuals from varied cultural and linguistic origins confront major obstacles in terms of earning potential and professional success.
A jobless person's lack of success is not always due to their own inability to look for one, though. The opponent is a genuine threat. Your odds of getting a job offer right now are much lower than they were just a short while ago due to the high number of people who are actively looking for work right now. In today's world, why are so many individuals hunting for work? The reasons why Australian’s economy isn't producing enough new employment are covered further down the page. Unfortunately, it is not expected that these causes will change in the near future, and as a result, finding job will remain tough.
Reasons Why You're Unable to Find Work
Poor Capabilities Regarding the Use of the English Language
In Australia, a strong command of the English language is essential. In order to establish your command of the English language, experts recommend adding your IELTS score on your application. Another option is to take an English language course if you are unsure of your current level of English proficiency.
Experience Discrimination
Anglo-speakers who modify their names on their resume in an effort gain employment have been documented in numerous cases. And although some of that prejudice and racism are institutional, others are much more ubiquitous.
Absence of Relevant Prior Work History
Lack of prior education and certifications, as well as lack of work experience, are all factors in this situation. Due to these difficulties, people of ethnic origin are more likely to engage in informal and temporary employment in their local areas, such as working at a corner store, a fast-food restaurant, or a local business where no expertise or proficiency in the English language is necessary.
Limited Understanding of Australian Systems
To learn about the unique job-seeking culture in Australia, career experts recommend speaking with those who have lived here for some time. If they have dealt with comparable circumstances in the past, your family and friends might be able to assist you. Volunteering is yet another helpful suggestion.
A Deceleration in the Rise in Employment
Finding a job used to be a piece of cake. As a consequence of this, I can't help but wonder where all the available jobs are. As a direct consequence of the bust in the mining industry in Australia, a significant number of individuals have either been made unemployed or seen a reduction in the number of hours they work. There are around 1.8 million people in Australia looking for additional employment or work on a part-time basis. And they are having trouble locating it. Since 2013, the prior year had the lowest number of new jobs created than any other year since then. The ABS has recently made statistics available that shows that over the past year, there has been an increase in employment of about 7,100 each month.
This is an almost one-third decrease from what was reported in 2015. The annual rate of new jobs declined to 0.9% from 2.5% in 2015. The bust in the mining industry's expansion has had repercussions for the economy. People need to submit applications for jobs at a higher rate than they ever have before in order to secure these limited opportunities. Additionally, the time required to find work is typically extended. This is because companies now have access to a significantly wider pool of applicants from whom to chose and have raised the bar for what they expect from prospective workers.
Fewer Full-Time Positions
The economy is creating a greater number of jobs that are either temporary, part-time, or subcontracted. In 2016, there was a 126,000 person rise in the number of people working part-time jobs, which are positions that range from one hour to 35 hours per week. In contrast to this, the number of full-time jobs (those that require over 35 hours of work a week) fell by 34,000. In times past, the most common type of employment was that of a full-time employee. However, in a short period of time, factors like a changing economy, deregulatory measures, and globalisation have significantly altered the make-up of the workforce in Australia.
At the tail end of the 1970s, 8 out of every 10 people had full-time jobs. Only about 65 percent of those who are employed are considered to be working full time in their jobs nowadays. One of the benefits of part-time employment is that it provides a wide range of options. Some people find that working part-time provides them with the flexibility they need, particularly when they have other work or responsibilities (like study or parenting). However, there is evidence that working part-time can result in fewer career opportunities, lower income, and less employment stability than working full-time.
As Treasurer Scott Morrison has noted, part-time work has grown in popularity over the past few years. “A job is a job, and more jobs is always a good thing.” On the other hand, this makes no consideration whatsoever for the effects that working part-time have on the economy. The typical workweek for an employee with a full-time position is little longer than 39 hours, whereas the typical workweek for an employee with a part-time position is 17 hours.
Just 85 hours a month were worked per capita in Australia despite a 0.4% increase in the total number of hours worked. GFC and early 2000s tech meltdown were a lot worse. The only recession that was worse was the one that occurred in the early 1990s.
Insufficient Opportunities Available in Local Regions
Part-time jobs are primarily being developed in Melbourne and Sydney. There is far slower job growth in regional parts of Victoria and NSW, as well as in other territories and states, with the worst performers being Western Australia and Queensland. Numbers show that their economies are faltering, particularly in Victoria and NSW.
Under-Employment
The term "under-employed" applies to a sizeable portion of the labour force. More than one million people currently work part-time jobs but would like to work full-time instead. On average, these individuals without jobs hunt for work for an additional two days every week. As a direct consequence of this, many companies employ workers on a part-time basis, which allows for greater flexibility in terms of scheduling. This indicates that they do not need to create new positions, hire additional individuals, or pay higher rates to the staff they already have. Although this is an excellent method for businesses to reduce their expenses, it does need that workers put in less hours of labour each week than they would like. Wages are not expected to see significant growth until a significant portion of this capacity is put to use; if you are currently employed, this also applies to your next pay raise.
People Are Not Machines
Because of advances in technology, the modern worker requires a smaller amount of manual labour. High-tech occupations typically require only a small fraction of the number of personnel that their predecessors did. A single computer or robot has the capability of performing the work of one hundred or more individuals. Therefore, as the world gets increasingly automated, physical labour will become less in demand, and some occupations may become obsolete.
A substantial number of occupations previously performed by people have been automated, but the advent of new technology has not resulted in an equal increase in the number of well-paying positions. According to a study that was conducted by Oxford in 2014, the number of persons in the United States who have been successful in obtaining employment in new industries has been low. In the year 2010, only 0.5 percent of workers were engaged in companies that had emerged after the year 2000.
FAQs About Getting A Job In Australia
Before you travel to Australia, you need to ensure you have the right visa. If you are coming to work, it's important to have a visa that matches the kind of work you will be doing. There are over 30 visa options for people wanting to work in Australia. It may be possible to get a work visa if you are:
- A skilled worker
- A person participating in specific activities
- A working holidaymaker
- A highly specialised worker
- A (short term) trainee
- A successful business person
- An investor
- Working in Australia's offshore oil and gas industry
Finding the right job can take a long time and is by no means guaranteed. It's not uncommon for eligible job seekers to be looking for a job for several months. When you apply for a visa, you will be told the average processing time it takes to find out if you have been successful or not.
The number of applications, seasonal peaks and complex cases all impact processing times. If you can, lodging your application online is recommended as this is likely to streamline your visa processing.
There are many different visas available to overseas workers. The best place to start is the Australian Department of Immigration. You can use their 'visa finder' to explore your visa options. The visa you need to work in Australia depends on how long you want to stay and the kind of work you will do. In addition, you will likely need to meet particular criteria such as showing that you have a certain amount of money and specific skills/qualifications and proficiency in English.
Particular visas can regulate the type of work you can perform and/or the number of hours you can work. Australian citizens, permanent residents and New Zealand nationals holding Special Category (subclass 444) visas are the only people who have an unrestricted right to work in Australia. Therefore, it's important to know the rules for your visa. You can check your details and conditions with Visa Entitlement Verification Online (VEVO). This will tell you your visa's expiry date, how long you can stay and what you can and can't do on your visa.
The visa process can be very expensive. Some visas are free, some cost a few hundred dollars, and others are several thousand dollars. The cost depends on the specific visa you are applying for.
To work legally in Australia, you need evidence of your right to work. This could be a visa, evidence of permanent resident status, an Australian or New Zealand passport, an Australian birth certificate or a certificate of Australian citizenship.
SEEK is a website that houses available jobs in Australia and other helpful career-related tools, but SEEK can't help you with information on visas or securing the right visa. However, once your visa and legal documentation have been finalised, SEEK can help you search for jobs, assist you with career advice and guidance, and help you get your SEEK Profile set up so that when you are legally able to work in Australia, you'll be ready to go.
International workers can seek advice and assistance from the Department of Home Affairs, the Fair Work Commission or the Fair Work Ombudsman. If you're looking for visa advice or immigration assistance, you can get help from a migration agent. Visit the Department of Home Affairs to access the Register of Migration Agents.
Step Guide to Get a Job in Australia
The competition for jobs in Australia can be tough, and there are frequently numerous stages and obstacles to overcome before you are even given the opportunity to give an interview. The following recommendations will assist you in presenting yourself in a more favourable light and illustrating to your potential employer why you are the ideal choice for the post you are applying for.
Understand Your Work Rights as an International Student in Australia
When courses are in session, international students with a valid student visa can work up to 40 hours every two weeks, but they can work as much as they want outside of class time. Work hours that are needed as part of your academic programme will not count towards your total of 40 hours, and the vast majority of voluntary and unpaid positions are acceptable as well (be sure to check conditions here). Should you violate any of these regulations, there is a possibility that your visa will be revoked.
Do Your Research
This is something that simply cannot be overstated! Be sure that you have a complete understanding of the responsibilities that come with the employment as well as the work that the organisation does. This will make it much simpler for you to put together your application, and when it comes time for the interview, you will be much more well-prepared. Do not submit a single generic application for all available jobs; rather, you should personalise each application particularly to the position for which you are seeking. Employers are searching for applicants who have a genuine interest in working for the company and who are not merely sending in their applications at random.
PRO TIP! After doing your best to locate the person responsible for processing your application, you should begin the letter with "To whoever it may concern," rather than the formal "To whom it may concern."
Read and Address the Job Advertisement/Description Carefully.
Every job description has the same core components, which may be broken down into four categories. Every single need should be addressed in your application, with detailed examples to back up your claims.
- The way an employer conducts business and the standards to which employees are held are examples of values. Determine whether or not you feel at ease with these.
- Accountabilities are the tasks and duties that are required of the function on a daily basis. Your past employment should have provided you with experiences and abilities that are applicable to the responsibilities of this position.
- One of the key selection factors will be the traits, expertise, and skills specified in the job description. Include concrete examples or scenarios in which you have displayed the desirable attributes the employer is looking for.
- Qualifications: In some cases, certain qualifications will be necessary, and having them will be a requirement of the screening procedure that the employer will go through.
Create an Attention-Grabbing Resume and Cover Letter.
- A resume, which can also be referred to as a CV, provides an account of a person's employment history, beginning with the most recent position held. Remember to keep the descriptions concise, to the point, and pertinent to the position for which you are applying. To make your resume look like that of other people, format the layout in a way that is professional and unique to you.
- Cover letter: This is essentially a letter that is addressed to the person who is responsible for hiring and it allows you to provide a more in-depth description of yourself, detail the reasons why you would like to work with the employer, and explain how you align with each of the selection criteria. Your cover letter should be crystal clear, succinct, and simple to read; also, you should strive to restrict it to less than one page.
PRO TIP! Send these in as PDFs so that any formatting mistakes can be avoided.
After You Submit Your Application, Follow It Up.
Consider your employer's situation for a moment; on top of their regular duties, they also need to sort through a big number of applications. If after a week or two of the application deadline you have not heard anything, it is absolutely OK for you to politely enquire. It demonstrates that you are willing to learn new things and that you have taken the initiative to be proactive. Employers value employees that are self-motivated and committed to their work.
Prepare for the Interview.
You now have the interview, right? Well done. There is a wide variety of interview formats that you might experience. The most important things to remember for any type of interview, whether it be a casual lunch, a phone interview, or a group interview, are to be well prepared, positive, and to be yourself.
Questions about one's past experiences and behaviours are among the most typical kinds of inquiries made during an interview. You will have to show that you can do a certain task by talking about a time when you did something similar. Give meaningful answers to the questions you are asked. When responding, we recommend that you use the STAR method to ensure that your responses are structured, that you don't leave out any crucial components, and that you finish on a positive note.
- S stands for "situation," which refers to the time and place where you gained the applicable experience.
- T - Task: What were some of the things that were expected of you during this experience?
- A - Action: Describes what you did in this particular situation.
- R - Result: How the circumstance turned out as a result of your action and how it benefited from it.
Follow Up with the Employer.
Find out when the employer intends to make a choice about whether or not to hire you. You will have a timetable in front of you as a result of this, and if you haven't heard anything since the meeting, you can follow up on it. If your application is successful, the company may wish to speak to people who can authenticate your qualifications; these individuals are referred to as your referees (it is a good idea to add this information at the conclusion of your resume). You should therefore have at least two persons prepared who are willing to talk positively about you in a context that is relevant to your occupation. To put it another way, you shouldn't pick your pals.
Conclusion
The labour market in Australia is fiercely competitive, especially for young individuals from a variety of cultural backgrounds. Wherein, people of ethnic origin are more likely to engage in informal and temporary employment. However, lack of prior education and certifications, as well as lack of work experience, are all factors in this situation. Actually, there are 1.8 million people in Australia looking for additional employment or work on a part-time basis. The annual rate of new jobs declined to 0.9% from 2.5% in 2015.
The bust in the mining industry's expansion also has had repercussions for the economy. Just 85 hours a month were worked per capita in Australia despite a 0.4% increase in the total number of hours worked. In addition, the typical workweek for an employee with a full-time position is little longer than 39 hours. Moreover, there is far slower job growth in regional parts of Victoria and NSW. Then, more than one million Australians currently work part-time but would like to work full-time.
Additionally, advances in technology have not resulted in an equal increase in well-paying jobs. Wages will not see significant growth until a significant portion of this capacity is put to use. International students with a valid student visa can also work up to 40 hours every two weeks. Yet, work hours that are needed as part of an academic programme will not count towards this. The vast majority of voluntary and unpaid positions are acceptable as well (be sure to check conditions here).
Furthermore, a resume is a brief description of a person's employment history, beginning with the most recent position held. A cover letter is a more in-depth description of yourself and an explanation of why you would like to work with the employer. Send these in as PDFs so that any mistakes can be avoided. Interviewees will ask questions about your past experiences and behaviours. You will have to show that you can do a certain task by talking about a time when you did something similar. Lastly, use the STAR method to ensure that your responses are structured, and that you finish on a positive note.
Content Summary
- There are around 1.8 million people in Australia looking for additional employment or work on a part-time basis.
- One of the benefits of part-time employment is that it provides a wide range of options.
- However, there is evidence that working part-time can result in fewer career opportunities, lower income, and less employment stability than working full-time.
- Create an Attention-Grabbing Resume and Cover Letter. A resume, which can also be referred to as a CV, provides an account of a person's employment history, beginning with the most recent position held.
- Give meaningful answers to the questions you are asked.