Fortunately, international students in Australia who have a valid student visa are permitted to work part-time during the course of their studies. However, there are certain limitations to this permission and its a wise idea to ‘review the conditions of your visa before applying for a job. This can be especially tricky if you have applied for a subsequent Student Visa, or on a WHV and looking to study – if you apply too early, you can quickly end up on a bridging visa where you are unable to work).

If you are on a WHV and looking to extend your stay in Australia, please get in touch.

Benefits of Finding a Part-Time Job

Regardless of your nationality, savings or funding you may have received, there is a very high possibility that during your time completing your degree or educational program in Australia, you will need to find a part-time job. There are many benefits to doing so.

The most obvious benefit of finding a part-time job while studying in Australia is that you will have an alternate source of income, which can allow you to live it up, or save some funds to travel and explore Australia.

Aside from earning a wage, all students who engage in part-time work will no doubt gain important industry experience that will later prove to be helpful for them in their professional careers. If you find part-time work in an industry that is related to your degree, you can also learn how to apply the education you are obtaining to real-life scenarios (in a foreign country). Experience working in an English speaking country will demonstrate to any future prospective employer that you are adaptable and willing to learn and take on new challenges.

Finally, and perhaps most importantly, finding a part-time job gives all international students a great way to make new connections, meet new people and have more experiences that will truly allow them to become a part of life in Australia.

How to Find a Part-Time Job

To find a part-time job in Australia, it is important to follow the following steps:

1. Check Your Visa

It is necessary to check your student visa before you start looking for a job. Check your visa (or bridging visa’s) conditions make sure that you have the necessary permissions to work. Student visa limits the number of hours a student can work for in any fortnight to 40 hours, however, when the course is not in session, students on a student visa can work for as many hours as they want. Find out more about student visa working hours.

2. Make Connections

The importance of making connections and networking can never be overstated. However, it becomes even more important when looking for a job, both full-time and part-time. Students can find part-time jobs through personal referrals or tips from fellow students, friends or family members. When you start looking for a part-time job, make sure others know that you are actively looking and tell them about the industry you are hoping to find work in.

3. Expand Your Search

Internet searches are a good way to find part-time work in Australia. There are many online websites and job boards that often list vacancies (Seek and Gumtree are just a few). When you run a search, remember that the first 2-3 search results are only paid advertisements. Skip past them to reach the organic search results. Another suggestion is to search for all part-time jobs (instead of within specific industries).

Additionally, remember that the job sites on the internet are not the only source for finding work. There are many jobs that are not listed online but can only be found by word of mouth or by speaking directly with business owners.

Lastly, you can also seek guidance from your institute’s student services and placement team. Most colleges or universities in Australia can help students with finding part-time work.

4. Understand Industry Requirements

You can maximize your chances of finding part-time work by understanding the requirements of different industries and applying to them accordingly. Every industry has a different approach to the hiring process and all of them utilise part-time employees in different ways (e.g. to work in building and construction requires a White Card).

Common Industries for International Student Jobs

Hospitality

Jobs in restaurants, cafes and companies that cater, are all a part of the hospitality industry and is a popular choice among students for finding part-time work. One of the best ways to find work in the hospitality industry is to speak to the owners or managers of different cafes or restaurants etc. and ask if they have an opening (leave a physical CV and follow up with an email). This way, even if there isn’t a vacancy available at the moment, there is a good chance that they will reach out to you when something comes up.

Information Technology and Communications

For part-time jobs in this industry, you will generally need relevant educational and/or technical expertise (or related experience). Look for listings on job boards or search for businesses that might need developers, designers or people working with digital products (there is strong demand for all types of roles in digital service industries currently). If you have a strong CV, you can also check for vacancies via specialised local recruitment agencies.

Healthcare

Jobs in this industry too require specialized training and/or education. Most of these jobs are sourced out to specialised recruitment agencies so it is a good idea to contact such agencies and register with them.

Common Jobs for International Students

Outside of the jobs mentioned above, there are numerous opportunities for part-time work where no formal training or experience is required. Popular jobs for students (international and domestic) include work Retail (e.g. a sales assistant), Cleaning, or Call Centres. If you have your licence and a prepared to undertake a Working with Children check there are also roles available for babysitters, nannies, and afterschool care – try We need a Nanny.