You usually need qualifications and relevant work experience to find a job in Australia. If you don’t have local work experience – and by that we mean experience in an Australian workplace – you may face some barriers in finding a job.
Local experience may also refer to your knowledge of Australian:
- occupational standards;
- employment related legislation, for example the Western Australian
Equal Opportunity Act;
- workplace culture.
You can get local experience by doing volunteer work or taking on a work placement (often referred to as work experience) in your profession. This will help you build professional contacts and experience the Australian workplace for yourself. Visit the Volunteering WA website to search for volunteering opportunities.
It’s currently a competitive jobs market in Western Australia, so here are a few tips on improving your prospects.
- Visit the Finding employment page on this website.
- Ensure your resume/CV reflects what local employers understand. For example, make sure that any overseas qualifications make sense to Australian employers. Our Overseas Qualifications Unit can provide you with a free assessment if you are a Western Australian resident. Visit our Overseas Qualifications Unit page for more information.
- Register with Australian recruitment services and search online jobs websites like jobs.wa.gov.au, Seek and CareerOne.
- Research the local peak bodies for your industry and get in touch with them. They may be aware of job opportunities or point you in the right direction.
- Research the main local employers in your industry, contact them or see if they advertise vacancies on their websites.
- Find out if your overseas employer has any Australian branches or affiliates for potential transfer opportunities.
- Most of all, be proactive and stay positive!