Job Hunting in Melbourne
If you have decided onย moving to Melbourne, you probably know that it has been named the โWorldโs most liveable cityโ for 4 years running. Iit should come as no surprise that itโs also equipped with one of Australiaโs biggest job markets and across most industries.
Whether you work in finance, IT, advertising, the arts, sport, trades or anything else in between, thereโs likely to be roles suitable for you in this vibrant city. With the right skill, experience and perseverance, you can land yourself an excellent role and weโre here to help you get started.
First thingโs first, itโs important to try and familiarise yourself with theย Australian job market as much as possible before your move. Tap into the endless information available on the Australian job seekers websites and your various industry associations to work out what type of work is available in your area of expertise, how hard the jobs are to come by, and what the average salary is.
The more you know, the better equipped youโll be on arrival to find something quickly and negotiate a fair salary.

Letโs get some of the boring stuff out of the way
Tax number
Before you start working (or as soon as possible) you will need to apply for aย Tax File Number (TFN). This is similar to the American Social Security Number, or the U.Kโs NIN, and youโll need to submit this number to your employer when you first start working to ensure that you donโt get taxed too much.
Speaking of tax, current individual income tax rates can be found on the official Australian Tax Office (ATO) website. There is a tiered system and the tax amount depends on which income bracket youโre in.
Standard financial year in Australia
The Australian financial year runs from 1st July โ 30th June. At the end of the tax year, you will need to lodge a tax return which will summarise all the income you earned over this one-year period (minus any work-related claimable expenses which I recommend you use an accountant for) vs. all the tax you paid throughout the same year
This will work out if you owe more tax money or how much the tax office owes you back if you have paid too much (which happens more often than not).
Annual leave in Melbourne
The standard annual leave is a minimum of 20 working days, plus public holidays, which most companies stick to, however some may offer more days as a benefit (but donโt get too excited as this isnโt very common).
Some offices are closed over Christmas (mainly agencies and smaller businesses) and they may force you to take some of that leave during this time.
So with all the legal details out of the way, how do you go about actually finding a job in Melbourne?
Where to look for jobs in Melbourne
Most employers advertise on job seeker websites. These are updated daily and itโs generally free to set up an account with daily email alerts for new job matches. Some of the most popular websites includeย Seek.com.au, MyCareer, JobSearch, and CareerOne.
Most companies also advertise their jobs on their own websites, so if there are any particular companies which you would like to work for, be sure to regularly check their website or any of their social media channels such as Twitter and Facebook for any suitable job opportunity announcements.
Newspapers such as The Age, The Herald Sun, The Australian and The Weekly Times also publish job advertisements during the week and some on weekends.
Tip: More and more jobs are also being posted on social media forums such as LinkedIn, so if you donโt already have a profile then itโs definitely worth signing up.
Select the size of your move to get free quotes
Using recruitment agencies
Recruitment agents often advertise positions online and in newspapers on behalf of employers. If you apply for a job which is advertised by a recruitment agent, they will normally call you in for an interview with them first as a screening process, then they will put you forward for any jobs for which you are suitable (and which you agree to, of course).
If you see a number of jobs being advertised by the same recruitment agency which are of interest to you, then itโs worth getting in touch with them directly and setting up a meeting to discuss their available positions in more detail.
Recruitment agents in Melbourne earn a high commission for each person they recruit, so itโs in their best interest to have you fill a role. Itโs also commonplace for the agent to then keep in touch and offer you new roles after your first 12 months.
Applying for jobs in Melbourne
When applying for jobs in Melbourne, youโll generally need two things โ a cover letter and a CV or resume. Cover letters should be personalised for each job application, and shouldnโt be longer than 2-3 paragraphs. Use it as a way to introduce yourself and quickly summarise your relevant experience and why youโre right for the role. Refer to any key qualities or specifications which were listed in the job ad and address how you meet those.
Tip: British English is used in Australia, so be sure to check your spelling and swap those zโs for sโs, add double lโs, and more.
Your resume should not be longer than 2 A4 pages, and it should nicely summarise your relevant work experience, your previous job history and any qualifications which are applicable to the job youโre applying for.
CV/Resume tips
- Donโt include:ย Race, religion, age, marital status, photo
- Do include:ย Name, address, phone number, email, previous work experience and employment history, notable achievements, previous job references (written references are better if theyโre from abroad)
- Before you leave for Melbourne, make sure you have a copy of any important work-related documents such as diplomas, certificates, licences, school and work records, etc.
- If you donโt hear back from a job application within 1-2 weeks, donโt be afraid toย follow it upย with the recruitment agent or employer
- Discover moreย interview and job huntingย tips from recruitment professionals.
Now youโre all set for finding a job in Melbourne