Applying for a job

What you need:

• Resume – this should highlight your workplace skills and list your achievements. If you haven’t worked before your resume should focus on your educational experience and personal interests. It should be no longer than three pages long and contain one Australian workplace referee. For more information about resumes, please click here.
• Letter of application – this should be no longer than a page long and should highlight the experience and skills in your resume and show how these are important to the job you’re applying for.
• Interview skills – It is always a good idea to practice your interview skills beforehand and to prepare answers for questions you think will be asked during the interview.
• Key skills –  get as much experience as you can in these top skills and promote them during the interview:
  • Teamwork – most jobs need you to work with other people, so it’s important that you present yourself as someone who can work in a group with people from a range of different backgrounds, with different skills and personalities.
  • Communication – you need to be able to speak English well enough for others to understand. If you want to improve your English skills, check out the free courses at university and in public libraries near you.
  • Confidence – you should be given training and equipment when you start, but if there are any problems you need to have the confidence to let your boss or supervisor know.

Meet and greet

In Australia we treat everyone politely and with respect. Upon meeting someone new, we shake their hand by following these three steps:

• Make and hold eye contact
• Smile
• Offer  your right hand and give a firm handshake