As well as having a delightful natural environment and vibrant urban communities, Australia also has the most well-established economy on the planet. So it comes as no shock that it’s a well-known place for foreigners looking to work abroad.
Can foreigners work in Australia?
The Australian job market remains competitive. But don’t worry, that doesn’t mean you don’t stand a chance. On the contrary!
Australian labour markets need employees who speak English, but who have experience in other languages. Because of the commercial and tourism industries, a variety of languages may be encountered. Australian businesses will probably speak English in the country itself, but knowing a customer’s language can help them connect and do better business.
The most in-demand jobs in the country are currently in healthcare, retail, construction, technical services and education. Those with good skills and experience are more likely to prosper. The job market is extremely competitive and many want a position in the country.
Working in Australia, obtaining a work visa
There are a few things you need to do before you leave to look for a job in Australia as an expatriate.
The most important is the visa. You’ll need to choose the right type of visa. In fact, there is a wide range of employment-related visas. Without one, you can’t really start applying.
Here are a few types of work visa in Australia.
The Student Visa, this visa allows you to work up to 20 hours a week, if you are enrolled in a study programme in Australia. This is the easiest visa to obtain.
The graduate visa allows you to work all day for about a year and a half. You can take your family with you.
A skills visa can be long-term, but it is very difficult to obtain.
In addition, there is a work & holliday visa which allows people aged between 18 and 30 to have an extended opportunity in Australia and work there to help finance their trip. They can stay in Australia for up to a year.
The content of your CV and covering letter
Make sure that your CV and cover letter are well prepared and personalised. Try not to reuse the ones you used to look for work in your home country.
Stay focused on finding a new job, not on Australia. Be thorough about how you could attract the organisation’s attention even if you’re not from the country.
Foreign worker: housing and insurance in Australia
A domestic visa would allow you to live and work in Australia indefinitely and give you greater access to government services.
There are different classes of domestic visa, so it’s a good idea to make sure you fit the bill before you apply.
Finally, the company has an obligation to guarantee that a worker is authorised to work in Australia. Assuming you are hired and are not a resident of the country, the organisation planning to recruit you must support and assist you in obtaining legitimate worker status, often through a work visa.