Job vacancies are steadily growing in Australia, with a 30% year-over-year difference from May 2022 and a 115% jump compared to five years ago. To fill the gap, many professional organisations are expanding their recruitment efforts to appeal to foreign learners (versus just focusing on domestic talent). In this article, we’ll explore post-study work rights in Australia, how international student graduates can find a job in the country and which firms are hiring international student graduates.
Can international students get jobs in Australia after graduation?
The Subclass 500 Student visa in Australia only permits international learners to stay temporarily for educational purposes, with the understanding that the student will leave upon completing their studies. If they’d like to stay and work in the country after graduating, they must apply for and obtain a work visa.
The usual post-study work visas available for international graduates include:
Subclass 485–Temporary Graduate visa
The 485 visa is the most common option for international students after graduation. Under it, there are two available post-study work rights: the post-study work stream and the graduate work stream. The former allows fresh graduates to stay and work in Australia for two to six years. The latter is available for those who have graduated from an Australian university or college, and allows them to live, study and work in the country for up to 21 months, along with their immediate family.
Subclass 476–Recognised Graduate visa
The 476 visa allows recent engineering graduates to live, work or study in Australia for up to 18 months. To be eligible, they must have completed at least a degree from a specified institution within the past two years and be under 31 years old.
Subclass 482–Temporary Skill Shortage visa
The 482 visa allows local employers to address labour shortages by hiring skilled workers for jobs that can’t be done by an appropriately skilled Australian worker. With this visa, international student graduates can stay for up to four years.
How to find a job in Australia as an international student graduate
Finding a job in Australia as an international student graduate is no different from finding work anywhere else. Here are some tips and best practices to find a job in Australia:
Check out official websites
The Australian government website is a great place to start when looking for jobs since it lists skill shortages and keeps a tally of industries actively recruiting workers. This makes it easier for international student graduates to find a job in Australia that coincides with the eligibility requirements and limitations of their working visa.
Students should also check out the official websites of companies they’re interested in. Large corporations often host their job listings on their own sites to streamline recruitment, and they typically keep these lists updated all the time.
Search job listings
There are multiple job sites to look for work in in Australia, including Seek, Jora and Indeed. Finding work on these platforms is useful for students who’d like to put their best foot forward from the get-go since they’re able to customise their profiles. These sites are also great for those looking for more flexibility in their choices, since they allow filters for choosing jobs.
Attend career fairs
Australia hosts many job fairs throughout the year. These events are ideal for job searches since they invite employers from all over the country actively looking for professionals to fill positions. Students can attend job fairs that are more general or are focused on their field; some of these events are also completely accessible online.
Join professional associations
Coming off from university, international student graduates may be tapped to join professional associations to build their network. Making connections in these environments is a great way to open up oneself to career opportunities. Mentors and peers can help younger members find a job and get into their desired industry with proper support.
Consult a recruitment agency
Recruitment agencies work to match an individual’s skills and qualifications with job vacancies. Their services are helpful for international student graduates who want to make meaningful professional connections while being guided on how to prepare for interviews, writing a good resume, etc.
Australian companies hiring international student graduates
Management, healthcare and IT-related positions are the most high-demand roles in Australia recently, with many of these jobs listed in the government’s skilled occupation list.
According to Prosple (formerly GradAustralia), the following are firms in Australia hiring international student graduates:
- Amazon
- Capgemini Australia and New Zealand
- Unilever
- NAB
- Adobe
- FDM Group
- Optiver
- Nous Group
- Westpac Group
- Deloitte Australia
- ANZ
- William Buck
- IMC Trading
- Jarden
- Herbert Smith Freehills
- Akuna Capital
- PwC Australia
- Canva
- GSK
- Mastercard Australia
- Telstra
- WSP Australia
- Optus
- Allens.
From the same source, the highest-paying graduate jobs for international students include:
- Software developers
- Quantitative traders and researchers
- Engineers
- Computer scientists
- Automation and robotics
- Occupational therapists
- Maths and English teachers
- Editors and designers
- Lawyers and legal assistants.
Forge a path to a career in Australia with GSP
Global Study Partners (GSP) is determined to help students reach their future goals. That starts by connecting learners with the institutions and courses that will enable them to forge a path to their professional development. Speak to one of our business development experts to learn how to help bridge students between university and their career in Australia!
