At university, you will be learning the knowledge and skills for your chosen career. A degree is a requirement for many professional roles, and it’s the first step to gaining an entry-level or graduate role. However, many employers won’t just be looking at the degree you studied but also any previous work experience or extracurricular programs that helped you develop the skills the job requires. Many university students choose to work while they’re studying. Along with financial benefits, employment gives you opportunities to gain practical experience that will improve your career prospects after graduation.
The good news is that many Australian universities partner with people or businesses from industry to ensure their curriculum is relevant. Your degree may include teaching you new industry trends, technologies and software tools that you need to be familiar with in your future career as well as real-world case studies, projects and applications to ensure you get practical experience. Many university lecturers are also industry professionals who can provide you with real-world insights.
In addition to what you learn in class, there are other things you can do to gain the practical experience to help you stand out during job interviews. In our career guide, we will explain:
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The opportunities at university to help you become job-ready
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Strategies on how to find your first job and
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Your work rights.
Want to learn more? View our full list of blogs in 'Jobs and careers'.
Opportunities at university to help you become job-ready
See your university’s career service
Your university may have a careers service that you can access to receive advice about career planning, job application support and connections to work opportunities, internships and networking events where you can meet alumni, industry professionals and potential employers.
Book a session with a Career Advisor who can give you insights and guidance on things such as:
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The Australian job market
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The Australian work culture
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How to write and tailor an Australian resume and cover letter
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Preparing for a job interview
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Ways to find your first job and
The careers service may run industry panels, expos or workshops on-campus for a wide range of career topics and they usually have a range of online resources that you can access any time such as job guides and employer interviews.
Develop soft skills
At university, you will be learning hard skills and soft skills. Hard skills are technical skills that are specific to a job (e.g. coding skills for a software developer). Soft skills are not specific to a job and are transferable between industries and careers such as communication skills, teamwork, problem-solving, time management, critical thinking and creativity.
Employers value people with good soft skills between they are usually more productive, work well in a team and can face and resolve challenges. At university, you will have many opportunities to develop important soft skills such as:
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Adapting to a new learning environment
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Actively listening and contributing to class discussions
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Working on group projects with people from different backgrounds
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Presenting in front of your class and
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Managing multiple tasks every day.
Upskill with short courses and webinars
Along with your lectures and tutorials, your course may offer short courses or webinars you can attend to further your knowledge and skills. For example, if you’re an accounting student, your faculty may run a webinar about MYOB, a business management platform that many small to large accounting and finance firms use. Any extra practical knowledge and skills you have will help you stand out as a potential candidate to future employers.
After you graduate and start working, keep learning or upskilling with online courses, certifications and resources to help you advance in your career.
Attend career events and workshops
Many Australian universities organise career expos where their industry partners and other reputable companies come to campus to discuss career pathways, graduate programs and job opportunities with students. A career expo can offer you the opportunity to:
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Network with professionals, employers and companies from various industries which could lead to future job opportunities
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Gain insights into current trends and skill requirements
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Learn about professional associations (e.g. CPA) and why you should join
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Receive advice on how to succeed in your industry
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Explore a range of career paths
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Hear about graduate and internship / vacation programs and
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Access free career resources.
Industry partners and employers may come to campus at other times of the year to run workshops or seminars.
Become a club or society member
Universities have hundreds of clubs and societies you can join to meet like-minded people who can share their expertise with you. Participating in clubs can help you develop leadership, teamwork and communication skills. For example, there could be a club for entrepreneurs where there are start-ups you can help with or you could partner with members for an upcoming business competition.
Enrol into internships
Internships are structured short-term work experience programs at organisations that your university partners with where you have opportunities to develop real-world skills. An internship will provide you many benefits including:
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Applying what you’ve learned into a real workplace setting
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Learning the latest technical skills
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Developing your soft skills
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Working in a real Australian business environment
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Enhancing your resume
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Building your professional network and
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The possibility of ongoing employment or gaining connections that lead to paid work.
Find out if your faculty offers internships that can be credited towards your degree. If you would like to apply for an internship directly with a company, check out Australian internships or websites such as Seek, GradConnection, Prosple or LinkedIn.
Your university may have a Study Abroad Program where you have the opportunity to study overseas and develop cultural intelligence and a better understanding of global markets.
Join volunteer programs
Joining volunteer programs can help you gain work experience, learn new skills and make new connections. It’s also an enriching experience giving back to the local community. Your university may have a wide range of volunteer roles you could apply for such as student mentor, sports leader, international student support officer or helping to protect nature reserves. Look at your university’s website to find out which groups you can volunteer with and the positions available.
81% of hiring managers believe that skilled volunteerism should be considered in a hiring decision.
Deloitte, 2023
Step into leadership roles
One of the top soft skills valued by employers is leadership skills. There are many opportunities to develop these skills at university such as:
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Being the project manager for your group assignment
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Becoming a student mentor
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Organising on-campus events and
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Joining one or more of the university’s clubs and societies and stepping into a leadership role when ready.
Different strategies to help you find your first job
Now you know that connecting with your university’s career service, attending career expos and workshops or enrolling into an internship are ways to access job opportunities. There are other strategies off-campus you can use. Employers use different channels to promote available roles, so you need to use more than one way too.
Online job search websites
Start your search with online job search websites as they will have the most extensive list of job vacancies. Look at Seek, Indeed, Jora and CareerOne. For job search websites tailored to students, check out Student Job Board and Student Edge.
To get more accurate search results, use job titles, keywords and filters. Hospitality, retail, and customer service roles are popular with students as they offer flexible shifts, fair wages and opportunities to improve your soft skills such as communication skills and teamwork.
Create an account with a job search website to save searches, shortlist jobs and receive job alerts (i.e. new jobs matching your search criteria), store your resume and keep track of your applications.
Company websites
You may already have a list of companies you would like to work for. Go to their website and see if they have a ‘Jobs’ or ‘Careers’ section. Even if the company does not currently have any suitable jobs, create an online profile with them (if possible) or email them to register your interest for upcoming roles and attach your resume.
LinkedIn is not just a platform for graduates or people who have years of professional experience, it is useful for university students as well. LinkedIn is the world’s largest online professional network with over 1 billion users worldwide.
LinkedIn have job listings you can apply for and many employers search for potential employees by looking at their LinkedIn profile and resume. They can send messages to you about job vacancies.
Create a profile, upload your resume, and list your qualifications, experience and skills. Learn how to create a personal brand on LinkedIn to help you get noticed by potential employers. Share content, post your achievements, join social groups, participate in discussions and connect with industry professionals.
Government initiatives
In each Australian state, there are government initiatives that help students find work. Here are some examples:
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Adelaide - the StudyAdelaide Job Shop connects businesses with students looking for their first job.
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Melbourne - StudyMelbourne’s Career Catalyst helps international students develop professional skills and connect with employers.
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Perth - JobFinder WA lists job vacancies.
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New South Wales - NSWJobsConnect lists thousands of job ads.
Networking / referrals
According to recruiters, many jobs are not advertised but filled through networking and referrals. Tell your friends and classmates that you’re looking for a job. They may know about vacancies not listed online (e.g. at their work).
If there is a company you would like to work for, look at the Careers section on their website to see if they have work experience opportunities or events that you could volunteer at. You may learn of job opportunities through their employees. Subscribe to a company’s newsletter or follow them on LinkedIn to receive updates.
You can attend networking events through sites such as Meetup to connect with people from industry to learn new insights and job opportunities or join relevant groups on social media.
Window job signs
Some businesses, especially in food and retail, post signs on their windows looking for staff. If you’re interested, enquire in store and leave your resume with the manager.
Self-employment
Instead of working for another company, you could work for yourself. For example, you can become a tutor via Learnmate or freelance your skills via sites such as Airtasker, Fiverr, Freelancer and Upwork. Ensure that you can balance your freelance work with your study schedule. You will need to apply for an Australian Business Number (ABN) before you can start as a freelancer.
Your job search will take time. Stay focused and be persistent and flexible.
Work rights and responsibilities
In Australia, there are specific rules for international students and laws that protect your rights as a worker.
Hours
International students can work up to 48 hours per fortnight during the semester and unlimited hours during the term break. Although working brings benefits, this doesn’t mean you should work the maximum amount. You need to allocate time for lectures, assignments, social activities and rest. Consider these things before committing to too many work shifts.
Worker rights
While you’re working, it is important you feel comfortable and safe at your workplace, paid the right wage and given the right benefits. Visit the Fair Work Australia website for more information.
Part-time vs casual employment
As you are studying, you will probably work in a part-time or casual role. Part-time employees work regular hours each week and receive the same benefits such as annual leave (relative to hours worked) as full-time employees. Casual workers are given higher pay rates but are not guaranteed fixed hours of work or benefits. Their pay increases if they work overtime, on public holidays, Sundays or during late night or early morning shifts.
Tax file Number
A tax file number (TFN) is a personal reference number needed in Australia for working and superannuation funds. While it’s not compulsory for international students, you are encouraged to get one. You can apply for a (TFN) online via the Australian Taxation Office website.
Kaplan International College Adelaide is your trusted pathway to Adelaide University. Our College Services team are here to help you settle into the College and offer you any academic or personal guidance you may need.
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