How to find a job in Australia
You are already in Australia, you've settled in, and now comes the next thing: find a job. Here are the portals, agencies, and resources that actually work, organized by sector so you can go straight to what you need.
A tip before you start: don't just send resumes en masse from your couch. Combine two or three job portals with in-person visits and you'll see the difference.
How to use this page
- Choose two or three portals, not ten. Register properly and enable email alerts.
- Apply within the first 24-48 hours from the moment the job offer is posted. Afterwards, there are already a hundred candidates ahead.
- Tailor the CV to each job offer using the same words that appear in the ad.
- Register with several agencies. It's free and they are the ones who call you. It's the best return per hour invested.
- And go out into the street. In the hospitality and retail sectors, walking in and asking for the manager is still the most effective approach.
General portals
The ones everyone uses in Australia. Always start here.
Seek
The absolute leader, with over 90,000 active offers. Excellent filters by city and shift type.
Indeed
Huge volume and one-click application. Its alerts are among the fastest.
Jora
From the Seek group. Strong in casual work, part-time jobs, and regional areas.
For qualified profiles. Here you can write directly to the hiring manager.
Workforce Australia
The official Australian Government portal. Previously known as JobSearch.
CareerOne
Skilled labor and public administration positions.
Your first job
If you just arrived and need an income right now, start here. They don't require prior experience in Australia or advanced English.
Gumtree
Casual jobs, rooms, and second-hand. Very useful, but watch out for scams.
Backpacker Job Board
Designed for Working Holiday: hospitality, farms, and seasonal work.
Sidekicker
From the Seek group. Casual shifts in events, hospitality, and warehousing. You start getting paid quickly.
Airtasker
Specific tasks: moving, assembly, cleaning. You need an ABN.
Hospitality and events
The sector that hires the most international students. With the RSA and the certificate of Food Safety you multiply your options from day one.
Barcats
The largest hospitality community in the country, with over 220,000 workers. Bars, cafes, and restaurants.
Pinnacle People
Australia's largest hospitality and events agency, with offices in every state. Weekly pay.
Cleaning
They hire fast and don't require a high level of English. Keep in mind that in domestic cleaning, many agencies work on a referral basis: you work as a self-employed person and need an ABN. It's legal, but it changes your conditions, so make sure to check carefully before signing.
Absolute Domestics
The largest domestic agency in the country. You choose schedules and clients, but you work as a contractor and need a car.
AMC Commercial Cleaning
Offices and commercial spaces. Early morning shifts and after closing.
Mastercare
Building cleaning and maintenance. Constant job offers in several cities.
Construction and manual labor
One of the highest-paying without prior qualification, but you need the White Card Before stepping foot on a construction site. It is non-negotiable.
Programmed
One of the largest in the country in industrial and maintenance temporary staffing.
Labour Solutions Australia
Labor for construction, industry, and logistics. Very active in Brisbane, Sydney, and Perth.
Health and care
Sector with constant demand. If you have a healthcare qualification, contact us: AHPRA registration has its own process and we can guide you.
Healthcare Australia
The country's largest healthcare agency. Nursing, aged care, and disability services in all states.
HealthStaff Recruitment
Doctors, nursing, and clinical profiles, with support in the registration process.
Babysitting or au pair? Search directly on Seek and Indeed by filtering by childcare or nanny. You will need the Blue Card (the name and process vary by state) before being able to work with minors.
General-purpose employment agencies
Signing up is free, and they are the ones who call you when something comes up. Sign up for several.
Adecco
Multinational with offices in all major cities.
Randstad
From administrative to industrial and logistics.
Hays
Specialized recruitment, especially for qualified profiles.
Manpower
Temporary and project-based work across multiple sectors.
For cold calling
Many small businesses never post job openings: they hire whoever walks through the door. Use these directories to map out a neighborhood route and hit the streets with printed resumes.
Yellow Pages
Business directory by sector and area. Perfect for listing the cafes and restaurants in your neighborhood.
Google Maps
Search for "coffee" in your area and plan the route. Simple and brutally effective.
Before accepting any job
- Never pay for a job. No legitimate agency charges the candidate. <li
- There are minimum wages by collective bargaining agreement and no offer can skip them. If they offer you considerably less, something is wrong.
- Getting paid in cash without a payslip leaves you without protection and without being able to claim a tax refund.
Do you have questions about a specific offer? Write to us and we'll review it with you before you sign anything.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to find a job in Australia?
With basic English and looking for work in hospitality or cleaning, the usual time frame is between two and four weeks if you hustle daily. For skilled positions, the process is longer and depends on your sector and whether your degree is recognized.
How many hours can I work with a student visa?
Up to 48 hours per fortnight during the academic term, and unlimited during your course's official holidays. With a Working Holiday visa, there is no limit on hours, but you cannot work for more than six months with the same employer, barring exceptions.
Do I need the TFN before starting to work?
No. You can start without it by checking the box on the TFN Declaration form stating that you have already applied for it. From then on, you have 28 days to give it to your employer; if you miss the deadline, the withholding tax goes up significantly.
Which certificates are most requested from me?
The RSA for serving alcohol, the White Card for construction, the Food Safety certificate for handling food, and the Blue Card for working with children. They are cheap, quick to get, and without them employers won't even look at your resume in those industries.
Can we help you find a job?
We review your CV, provide guidance based on your profile, and put you in touch with employers. Free of charge: it is part of our support.