Finding a job
If you are a recent graduate, your careers office on campus can help you with job hunting. Many institutions have an online vacancy system that you can subscribe to after you graduate.
Use our website to find out about where to look for job vacancies and how to apply for jobs - from preparing your application to dealing with job offers.
You can also find plenty of tips on job hunting online or at the library. The main advice would be to figure out what you want to do and start looking at jobs advertised in the newspaper, online and by recruiting agencies. This gives you a good feel for what’s out there.
CV and cover letters
If you are writing a CV and cover letter for the first time it may seem like a huge task. Ask your family and friends if you can have a look at theirs and get some ideas from their CVs and cover letters.
CV and cover letter templates to help you get started
Not sure what job you want?
If you're still weighing up your options, we've got loads of tools that can help you think about your career and compare jobs.
Advice about how to research your options
Search almost 700 job descriptions for details of what's involved, pay and prospects
Reality check for recent graduates looking for a job
- I know where I want to go - how can I achieve that?
- Are you being realistic about what kind of job you will get? For example, you may not be a research scientist immediately. What entry-level positions are available in your desired field?
- The money may not be great to start off with, but in a year or two it may rise considerably.
- You may be struggling with questions such as, I’ve finished a degree in history, what kind of job can I get? If so, ask yourself:
- Who do I know with the same or similar degree?
- Can I ask at my education provider for ideas?
Have you talked with people who actually do the job you’re interested in to find out what that job might be like, and ways to get into it? This is called informational interviewing and can be really helpful. Have you been to the career department at your tertiary provider?
Remember, it may take a while to get a job. It won’t happen overnight.
Trouble finding work
If you can’t find a job straight away, make sure you mention to your contacts that you are job hunting. Many jobs are not advertised and are found through personal contacts.
If you still have no success, try doing short-term work until an opportunity comes along. You can seek financial assistance from Work and Income if you are actively seeking and available for work but have not yet found a job.
Work and income website - information for people looking for work
