From tending to cattle on a 20,000-acre farm in Queensland to mixing cocktails in a fabulous bar in Sydney to crewing on a dive boat on the Great Barrier Reef, there are thousands of jobs available to people on a working holiday.If you are planning on Traveling to Australia any time soon and want to get casual work during your trip take a look at these tips.
Australia is an expensive country, so having casual work while touring the country is a great idea. But for people interested in this, there are certain things you need to know to get started.
How to Find Casual Work when Traveling to Australia
Getting Ready
Before your job hunt begins, here are some things to bear in mind:
Get The Right Visa
People traveling to Australia on a tourist visa are not allowed to work for pay. That’s why getting a Working Holiday (417) or a Work and Holiday (462) visa is the first and most crucial step.
Apply for a Tax File Number
Failing to apply for a Tax File Number (TFN) online through the Australian Taxation Office before starting a job is one of the biggest mistakes a person can make. If caught, the maximum rate will be removed from the person’s wages, which can be as high as 46.5 percent.
Finding Work
Now comes the actual job hunt. Here are some of the things to bear in mind.
Prepare a Good CV
Many backpackers pay little attention to having a well-polished resume. However, having one can help a person stand out. It should contain basic information like the person’s name, address, and contact information. But more importantly, it should highlight how the person’s previous experiences make them a perfect fit for the specific role.
Get a background check completed
Employers in Australia commonly require persons to undergo a pre-employment background check before they commence their employment. A commonly used screening check is a national police check certificate that is valid in all Australian states and territories. So you may as well be prepared and have a criminal history check ready. It will save you from waiting for it when you get a job offer.
Search Online
The internet is a powerful tool for securing a job during your working holiday. Popular job search engine sites like Indeed, Seek, Jora, and Career One list open positions. Most of the jobs available are usually in the administrative and hospitality sphere.
Meet Potential Employers Face-to-Face
Meeting potential employers face-to-face is a great way to secure work, especially in the hospitality industry. By hitting the streets, a person can find a job as a bartender or server in local bars and restaurants. However, bear in mind that for any role that requires serving alcohol in Australia, the person needs to complete Responsible Service of Alcohol (RSA) training and receive an RSA course Melbourne.
Visiting hotels, restaurants, shops is time-intensive but it also provides the opportunity to interact with the locals and even meet other travelers.
Enlist A Recruitment Agency
A recruitment agency can be a great resource for finding a job. They help look for job roles that fit a person’s skill set and even apply and secure an interview for that person. Ultimately, they handle the stress associated with the job-hunting process.
Take Advantage of Seasonal Works
Several seasonal jobs provide a great opportunity to make extra cash. Some include:
Fruit-picking (Harvesting)
In Australia, there’s always something that needs to be picked, pruned, or farmed all year-round, and those tasks typically rely on casual labor. Although it’s hard work, it can be a great experience. As a note of caution, never put down a deposit to reserve a harvesting job.
Hot Spots
Here are some of the hot spots for seasonal work in Australia:
- New South Wales has seasonal work during the ski season, particularly around Thredbo.
- Queensland is known for its vast farmland and orchards, making fruit-picking jobs copious around Stanthorpe, Childers, and Cairns. There are also some mining opportunities in towns like Cloncurry and Weipa.
- Western Australia, Perth usually has temporary work available in hospitality, tourism, administration, nursing, IT, child care, laboring, and factories, plus a variety of seasonal works.
- In the Australian Capital Territory, there are plenty of opportunities like working at a cafe, childcare, hospitality or even driving a taxi in Canberra.
Conclusion
Finding casual work in Australia can be a bit challenging, but the most important thing is to enjoy the experience, have fun, and create cherished memories.
