Job Hunting in Melbourne

If you have decided on moving to Melbourne, you probably know that it has been named the ‘World’s most liveable city’ for 4 years running. Iit should come as no surprise that it’s also equipped with one of Australia’s biggest job markets and across most industries.

Whether you work in finance, IT, advertising, the arts, sport, trades or anything else in between, there’s 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 we’re here to help you get started.

First thing’s first, it’s important to try and familiarise yourself with the 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 you’ll be on arrival to find something quickly and negotiate a fair salary.

Let’s 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 a Tax File Number (TFN). This is similar to the American Social Security Number, or the U.K’s NIN, and you’ll need to submit this number to your employer when you first start working to ensure that you don’t 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 you’re in.

Standard financial year in Australia

The Australian financial year runs from 1st July – 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 don’t get too excited as this isn’t 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 it’s generally free to set up an account with daily email alerts for new job matches. Some of the most popular websites include 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 don’t already have a profile then it’s definitely worth signing up.

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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 it’s 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 it’s in their best interest to have you fill a role. It’s 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, you’ll generally need two things – a cover letter and a CV or resume. Cover letters should be personalised for each job application, and shouldn’t be longer than 2-3 paragraphs. Use it as a way to introduce yourself and quickly summarise your relevant experience and why you’re 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 z’s for s’s, add double l’s, 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 you’re applying for.

CV/Resume tips

• Don’t include: Race, religion, age, marital status, photo
• Do include: Name, address, phone number, email, previous work experience and employment history, notable achievements, previous job references (written references are better if they’re 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 don’t hear back from a job application within 1-2 weeks, don’t be afraid to follow it up with the recruitment agent or employer
• Discover more interview and job hunting tips from recruitment professionals.

Now you’re all set for finding a job in Melbourne