Attention International Students: Here are the Tips You Need to Help Land Your Next Job

Say hello to working in the land down under.  

So, you’ve touched down in Aus as an international student (welcome!) and you’re finally feeling settled and ready to go on the job hunt? 

But heading into the workplace, especially in a whole new country, can be absolutely daunting. 

That’s why we’ve compiled some handy tips specifically for overseas applicants to get you workplace-ready. You’re welcome.

Sell your international experience.

You’ve got something a lot of people want, so you should be shouting it from the rooftops! 

Don’t be scared to talk about what you’ve done previously overseas in your resume and in an interview.  

We’re talking any of your jobs, achievements, volunteer stints, and hobbies or skills you’ve developed at any time in any place. 

Your global experience is an advantage that sets you apart from other candidates, be proud of it!

Get your resume looking slick.

How you communicate with people changes across the world, so it’s important to adjust your resume slightly to resonate with the local market–Aussies! 

Translating your experiences into a language and style that employers here understand and appreciate will 100% result in more interviews, and therefore more job offers. 

Do a bit of research on the company you’re applying for work at to suss out their vibe and what kind of words they use and then try to align your experiences with what they’re seeking. 

And, if you need any help in how to best sell yourself in a resume, check out our Student Edge Passport here where you can generate your own killer CV if you’ve never had one before, or just freshen up your current one.

INTERVIEWER: can you explain these gaps on your résumé?
INTERVIEWEE: o sure, i just hit Return a couple times. it's real easy, i'll show ya.

— Aparna Nancherla (@aparnapkin) May 3, 2017

It’s not what you know, it’s who you know.

Networking is one of those things that you either love or hate but, either way, it’s super important if you’re on the job hunt down under.  

There are so many employment opportunities that pop up from the relationships and connections you build. In fact, there are so many advantages to networking that we put together a whole article on it here.  

Your network is the people you’re associated with online, like on Linked In or the people you study with.  

So, start sending those connection requests and nurturing your relationships at uni, because they could evolve into job offers when you’re looking for work, or they could become references that set you apart from other graduates.  

At the very least, your network connections can give you advice on how to break into a specific company or industry, which is invaluable knowledge!

Now, with all that advice in your back pocket, go forth and land that dream job! And when you do get called up for an interview, read up on our best expert advice to nail it here. 

Do remember that sometimes the process can be long and tedious, and you won’t always get feedback or get any reply at all for your applications. That’s normal! Keep searching and applying, because the perfect thing will come along exactly when it’s meant to!