Every year, thousands of international students move to Australia in order to enjoy the exceptional educational opportunities on offer. In addition, there’s a chance to experience life in another country, giving overseas learners access to the Australian culture and lifestyle.
Leave to study in Australia for overseas residents is granted via the issue of a Student Visa Australia (subclass 500). Usually referred to as the 500 Student Visa, it gives authorisation for students to live, learn and work in the country. Being able to work is of particular interest to international students, many of whom use their wages to pay for accommodation and basic necessities during their studies. Here we take a look at the type of jobs on offer for 500 Student Visa holders, as well as some practical tips to help with your job search efforts.
Do international students get jobs in Australia?
Recent figures suggest that around 400,000 overseas students are granted a 500 Student Visa each year. Chinese students make up the biggest proportion of these visa holders, but there are also visa holders from a wide variety of other countries, including India, Nepal, Vietnam, Malaysia and Pakistan. Educational establishments in NSW are the most popular destination, followed by institutions in Victoria and Queensland.
One of the major advantages of the 500 Student visa is the ability to work legally here for up to 40 hours a fortnight. As well as providing an opportunity to earn some welcome extra cash, students can also practice their English, as well as pick up some useful transferable skills to increase their employment prospects once their studies are complete. Although there aren’t exact figures available, it’s estimated that around 75% of overseas students with a 500 Student Visa have some form of paid employment.
There are a wide variety of suitable jobs available for overseas students. Popular options include: work in the hospitality sector (waiter/waitress; commis-chef positions; fast food operatives; housekeepers; bar workers); cleaning work; care work; farm work; delivery jobs; retail opportunities; and warehouse work.
Take a look at our breakdown of the best jobs for students.
Is it hard for international students to get a job in Australia?
The amount of competition for each job varies, depending on the type of job, its location, pay, benefits and similar considerations. Luckily, if you’re applying for a job, there are plenty of things you can do to put you ahead of the field. We suggest:
- Making sure that your resume is up-to-date. Regularly revisiting your resume (CV) gives you the opportunity to add any additional skills and/or experience you’ve gained, as well as discard elements that no longer apply to you.
- Customising your resume depending on the job you’re applying for.
- Ensuring that each job application you make includes a unique covering letter. Employers are frequently pressed for time when it comes to recruitment: in many cases, your covering letter will be the deciding factor in whether they decide to invite you for an interview. That’s why it’s important that your covering letter is short, at the same time as highlighting the key skills and experience you bring to the job.
- Making sure that both your covering letter and your resume are well-written. Many overseas students have English as an additional language: if this is you, it’s always worth asking one of your native English speaking friends to have a quick read of your job application information, to check for spelling and/or grammatical errors. This is also good practice even if English is your first language – it’s surprising how easy it is to make mistakes!
Can I get a job as an international student?
500 Student Visa holders are limited to working 40 hours in any fortnight. This limit makes sense on a number of levels: obviously if your primary intention in moving to Australia is to work, you need a different type of visa. In addition, students need time to devote to their studies, as well as leisure time, family time and the chance to experience the country.
Forty hours is the maximum number of hours that can be worked – twenty hours of work a week, as well as full-time study, is a significant workload! If you intend to work as well as study, we strongly recommend ensuring at least one, full rest day a week (so no study and no work), and giving consideration to getting enough sleep! In the longer term, overwork and insufficient rest can contribute to health problems and stress. It can also negatively affect your studies. As with most other things in life, balance is important!
How can an international student get a job in Australia?
Employers recognise that students are a good source of dependable employees, which is why, if they have suitable vacancies, they will target media read by students. In the first instance, locations such as university and union noticeboards can be prime spots for employers to advertise. Your student newspaper (including any online version that’s available) may also contain job vacancies. Watch out for adverts in shop windows or on social media – many local enterprises will advertise for staff on their FB page or similar. If you notice a particular cafe or hotel that you would like to work at, it’s always worth handing in a copy of your resume, and asking where you can find details of any vacancies they might have in the future. Moving outside campus resources, local newspapers (including digital versions) may also have a useful “situations vacant” section.
If you want to be even more proactive, registering at Student Job Board and creating an appealing profile is a great opportunity to get noticed by employers, as well as have the chance to take advantage of some fantastic job opportunities. Student Job Board attracts employers who have vacancies which are ideal for international students. Often located close to universities and colleges, these vacancies include flexible, part-time and short-term employment opportunities. The variety of employment on offer ensures that almost every student can find paid work that’s accessible, enjoyable and that fits with their study commitments.