With 2 years’ worth of working holiday job experience behind me in Australia, I’ve had a really good chance to see what works and what doesn’t when it comes to finding employment Down Under. I’ve also had a lot of chance to chat with other people on their working holiday visas, as well as manage and recruit them, so have more than a fair idea about out what does and doesn’t work. With all that in mind, here are 8 common mistakes people make when trying to find working holiday jobs in Australia.
1. Being Ill-Prepared
When you’re looking for working holiday jobs in Australia, the first thing you need to do is get yourself organised. Set up a bank account, get a tax file number (TFN) and a phone number. All of these things are easy to do and necessary for you get a job. There is no point looking for work if an employer isn’t going to be able to pay money into a local account for you or let the taxman know you’re working for him/her. Trying to find working holiday jobs without these basic things set up is a waste of time and a real sign to any employer that you’re not on the ball!
2. Not Having a Personal Super Account
On this note of having your own bank account and TFN set up, can I also say it is a really good idea to set up your own super account too. This is not a legal requirement, but in my view is a common mistake among those trying to find working holiday jobs. Not having a personal super account may save you a bit of time and money initially, but it will be a real nightmare when, at the end of your time in Australia, you have to spend hours searching in different employer accounts for the thousands of dollars you’re potentially owed. Take the hit and set up a super account along with your bank account at the start.
3. Showcasing Bad Resumes
Coming in at number 3 is something so obvious you can’t believe the number of times it’s overlooked, but it is and bad resumes are my pet hate as a manager. Badly presented, out of date or irrelevant details on a C.V. are not going to land you a job. Each resume should be tailored to the type of work you are applying for, with relevant details and experience highlighted to stand out. Don’t have any experience in the field? Highlight transferrable skills or personality traits that would suit you for the role. Remember less is more, so try to keep your resume to 1-2 pages long and make sure it is clean, neat and clear. You can update your Working Holiday Jobs resume now – sent to employers when you apply.
4. Not Possessing Relevant Certificates
As a recruiter this is another no brainer. It might not sound like a lot, but not having the relevant or necessary certificates for the type of working holiday job you’re trying to find is a common mistake that will put you at the bottom of the pile. If I’m looking for someone to work behind the bar in a restaurant and have 2 equalling-matched candidates, then I‘m definitely going to select the person who already has their Responsible Service of Alcohol (RSA) certificate first. It makes them look more experienced, keen and committed. Let this be a lesson and make sure you get any necessary qualifications pronto!
5. Picking the Wrong Time
It’s a good idea to think carefully about the time in which you set out trying to find a working holiday job in Australia. From high tourist times, to key fruit picking months, a lot of the work you might be doing in this country is seasonal and you need to make sure you’re there, applying for work, at the right time. In the Northern Territory, for example, the dry season when most people visit is between May- September. Rocking up here looking for Outback pub work in the middle of quiet wet season therefore is likely to be a lot harder than during the busy dry months. Spend a little bit of time researching the places you want to work and make sure your timing to find a working holiday job is right.
6. Not Making Face to Face Contact
It’s all very tempting to just sit in your hostel and apply for jobs over the internet, but 9 times out of 10, you’re far more likely to have success when trying to find working holiday jobs in Australia, by actually approaching people directly. This might mean walking into cafes and handing out resumes, driving to farms to talk to owners or arranging physical interviews at recruitment offices. Whatever it is, getting your face out there and showcasing you bright, bubbly personality will go a long way in making you more memorable when work comes up.
7. Coming Straight from the Beach!
Definitely one of the most common mistakes people make when trying to find working holiday jobs in Australia is coming straight from the beach. By this I mean that often they start handing out resumes, or attending interviews still with their holiday hat on. You might just be looking to work a few casual hours a week to support your holiday, but turning up in your board shorts with salty hair is not going to make the right impression. It’s work after all, so make sure you present yourself smartly and look like you intend to work!
8. Not Being Contactable
Unbelievably, one of most common mistakes people make when trying to find working holiday jobs in Australia is not being contactable. If you’ve just applied for a job or visited an employer, you must make sure you are able to access your emails regularly and have your phone on you at all times (remember point 1 about getting a phone number!) There is no point applying for a job and then disappearing off on a roadtrip without a phone signal for a week; any potential job offers won’t be able to reach you and the whole project will be a waste of time!
So those are my 8 common mistakes people make when trying to find working holiday jobs in Australia. Make sure you don’t fall victim to any of them and you’ll be more than halfway to getting a job Down Under.
