How to Find a Job in Australia
How to get work in Australia: the ultimate backpacker’s guide
I have collated all of this information by asking my many Couchsurfers and friends, as well as posting on Facebook groups and collating all the information together. I’ve also used some of my own personal experience finding around 50 industry jobs (bar, waitressing and retail) throughout high school and university with little to no skill set. (I changed jobs more than I change my underwear – hah!). I hope you find this useful and it helps you get a foot in the door when you try to get a job in Australia – and enjoy our sunny weather too!
Who this article is for
Read this article if you have been approved for your working visa in Australia and are either already here, or will be leaving for Australia soon. This post will tell you the best ways for backpackers and travellers to find a job in Australia with their one-year work visas.
First things you should do to find a job in Australia
1. Put yourself out there on Gumtree* and let the work find you
Gumtree is Australia’s version of Craigslist and a lot of backpackers are finding work just by posting themselves on here with their qualifications and what they’re looking for. While you’re there have a search around and see what sort of jobs are going. You might even be able to secure a position before you even get to Australia.
GUMTREE TIP: Repost your ad every couple of days because there are SO many people on this site that your ad will get lost in the noise after a few days.
2. Join Facebook groups
There are a vast array of different FB groups you can join from backpacking Australia groups to jobs in your chosen city. To start, join these Australia network FB groups;
- Australia Network Backpackers
- Travel or Work Australia 2015-2016
- Australian Backpackers
- Work and Travel Australia
- Backpacker Jobs in Australia
3. Put your CV up on Linked in and start connecting with people in your chosen field
Linked In is good for most types of jobs in Australia and means you’re connecting with professionals straight away. Linked in is also a great place to start if you aren’t looking for one of the traditional backpacker jobs and have more specialised skills.
4. Have a look at SEEK, Indeed and Travellers at Work
Some people have been wildly successful and others not so much. I personally have been quite successful with Seek. You can easily save your CV on the site, which makes for fast applications. Be sure to research the company a little before you apply and personalise your cover letters.
5. Join a job agency
This won’t be for everyone or every type of job but are especially good for council, construction and demolition jobs. Most do take a cut of your wages though so you might want to use this as a backup plan if all else fails. Agencies I have been recommended include:
| Australia Wide | Sydney & Melbourne Agencies |
| Robert Walters | Hudson Recruitment |
| Hays Recruitment Experts | PKL Recruitment |
| Beaumont Consulting | Citrus Group |
| Hoban Recruitment |
WA Only: Job Shop
6. Print off your CV and go for a walk
There is no better way to find a job than to actually meet and become friends with the manager or person hiring you. This is how I got ALL of my bar and Café jobs. Most café’s and restaurants don’t advertise their positions so if they need someone at the time, chances are they’ll give you a trial right there on the spot.
7. Couchsurfing or Meetups
I’ve heard a few stories about CS hosts helping to find surfers jobs. Try to meet as many people as possible and ask everyone you know if they know of anything. This is pretty much my go-to way of getting any job, anywhere.
8. Download the app: iBackpacker for people travelling Australia
This app is great for short term and farm jobs in Australia. The iBackpacker app is also good for seasonal work in Australia that will enable you to get your second-year visa.
9. Sign up to HelpX, WorkAway, WWOOF and HippoHelp (free)
This is really for people who are happy to volunteer in exchange for their second-year visa because most of these jobs aren’t gonna pay ya! However, most will gift you with food and accommodation and you won’t need good English to do work exchange jobs.
What type of jobs can backpackers find in Australia?
Hospitality
Needs basic English
Café / bar / waiter / chef. This type of job is readily available in most cities in Australia and is a backpacker favourite – simply because of the good pay associated with working nights and weekends. Get $20 an hour base and great penalty wages outside of business hours. If you already have experience in this field then you are set!
The best way to get hospitality jobs is by walking in with a printed CV and asking to talk to the manager. Asking for work through a friend can also work. Also, try SEEK or Gumtree but usually the hospitality industry doesn’t advertise their positions. If you do see a position online – make sure you are the first choice by calling them or going to the place to talk to them personally. Also, join Facebook groups for jobs in the area you’re looking at.
Farm work / Fruit picking*
Needs basic English
A lot of this type of work will count for your second-year visa but you need to be careful and specific when communicating with the potential employer. I’ve heard lots of stories of employers trying to trick backpackers into working for them and it doesn’t count, or some will not pay you. I have also heard about a couple of sexual assault cases so ladies especially, try to travel with a friend if you can.
The two best ways backpackers find paid farm work is through either word of mouth or through the Facebook groups listed in the section above. If you aren’t interested in making money and just want your second-year visa signed off, sign up to WWOOF, HelpX and WorkAway where you will have your choice of locations and type of work.
Check out this Facebook page for Farm Jobs in Australia:
Admin / Reception
Needs good English
Great city jobs especially for those that have done this position before. It should be relatively easy to find a job in reception provided your English is good. Reception and admin work in Australia pays quite well (about $23 per hour) and finding temp work is a great way for backpackers to save money fast.
I keep hearing that the best way to find admin work is through agencies. However, most agencies will take a cut of your pay so I tend to stay away from them (but that’s just me). The agencies that come highly recommended for reception, admin and temp work are listed in the section above. If you want to have a go at finding the work yourself try SEEK, Indeed, Linked in and Gumtree.
Council work / Construction / Demolition / Factory
Needs good English
No experience needed for these highly paid positions. This is a great one to look for if you want money fast and aren’t afraid to use your muscles, to sweat and to work outside in the elements. A lot of UK backpackers prefer doing this in the major cities so they can have the city lifestyle while still earning good $$.
Agencies are best for these jobs, or you could try SEEK and Indeed as well. Check out the agencies above for jobs in council work, demolition and construction in Sydney and Melbourne.
Hostel work
Needs basic English
This will be a memorable, social and fun way to pass your time in Aus! But you may not get paid well, if at all!
Cleaners and security guards
Cleaners and security guards at hostels will get free accommodation and maybe food if you’re lucky. There is no experience necessary for this work.
Cleaning work is easy peasy to get, hostels need them all the time and it’s just a case of asking the manager of a hostel you’d like to stay at. You might need to wait some time for another cleaner to leave before getting the job, though.
Hostel Reception
The reception work is a little harder to get because most hostels are looking for someone to stick around for a while since they have to train you and trust you with money, etc. For reception work, you should get paid and you may need experience. I got a hostel reception job at university because I was lucky enough to walk in with a CV at the right time. But you could also try Gumtree or look for posts to come up in the FB groups listed in the section above.
PHOTOS: Rugged photography shows what the Australian outback is really like
Au pair / Housekeeper*
Needs good English
Au Pair jobs in Australia can be very appealing to a backpacker because not only do you get paid but you also receive accommodation and food. It’s a great way to save $$ quickly. It’s also great for the employer because they may find it hard to find Australians who want to be live-in Au Pairs. However, not many of the Au Pair jobs in Australia are going to count for your second-year visa, unfortunately.
To find au-pair and housekeeping jobs in Australia look on Gumtree and join the following FB groups;
Seasonal work / Dive instructor
Needs good English
Ski season in the ACT? Dive instructor on the Great Barrier Reef? Yes, please! For these jobs, you’re going to need the skills associated with these sorts of seasonal jobs in Australia, but the work is not unheard of.
The best way to get Dive jobs is going to be through word of mouth. You’re going to have to either go there or make friends with people going there. This is the hard part. I talked to a friend who was a Diver instructor in Cairns and she says the best way to get a job here is to literally walk in and have a chat with the various dive companies.
If that isn’t possible try these websites;
Sales Person
Needs good English
This is for people who like to talk! Generally, these jobs involve intercepting people on the street and signing people up for monthly support to charities or cold calling people over the phone. These type of jobs are only for the thick-skinned as most rely on a commission to make real money. Luckily for travellers who are interested – you can get these types of jobs all over Australia, especially in the major cities.
Sign up to iBackpacker where they are readily promoted in all of the cities around Australia, or take a look on SEEK, Indeed and Gumtree. As a last resort, I have known several backpackers getting telephone sales jobs through job agencies.
*THINGS TO WATCH OUT FOR / SCAMS
SCAM ALERT! Unfortunately (and surprisingly) I’ve been hearing about a few too many scams going on in Australia involving desperate backpackers and dishonest locals. Research and get a second opinion on everything, especially anything found on Gumtree, in the FB groups or through the volunteering websites.
Gumtree
Although I have never applied for a job through Gumtree, I have had some scammers contact me when posting things for sale. I had a guy offer to buy my car but had to get his brother to pick it up so I had to transfer him a bit of money first or some crap, so I just blocked the number. Another time I had someone contact me claiming to be an employee of Gumtree but her writing was so grammatically incorrect I just couldn’t believe it.
Facebook Groups
As for the Facebook groups: I have seen all manner of dodgy things going on. From a disagreement that led to a 2nd-year visa form not being signed (after the work had been completed) to young women claiming to have been sexually assaulted by a host. I’m not telling you this to scare you, I’m telling you so that you’re aware. Australia, despite being a first world country, has some screwed up things happening here sometimes.
NOW for the GOOD news! The Facebook groups have a lot of backpackers posting and RECOMMENDING good places that they did work at. Everyone in these groups is looking out for each other so if you’re unsure about a job – post it in the group and see what the other backpackers say about it.
If you see hosts posting work in the groups and you’re interested – read the comments. If anything fishy has happened in the past with that employer, other members of the group will pull them up on it. I’ve seen it happen!
Work Visas for Australia
Are you from the USA and need a work visa for Australia? This article will provide all the information you need.
READ: Backpacking Oz? Here’s How to Pack!
Location Info
Country: Australia
Language: English
Currency: Australian Dollars
$1 USD = $1.30
Post Updated: 21st January 2018
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Crystal Egan
Passionate baby goat cuddler and part-time adventurer, Crystal can often be found doing headstands on the edges of cliffs, taking photos of abandoned buildings or sleeping on deserted islands with dangerous criminals. She has too many awesome stories and helpful tips to keep them all to herself so follow along and in return she will bring you inspiring pictures, travel videos and a whole load of fun!
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