One of the main challenges for an international student is finding a job where you can develop your skills and also earn money. Many companies will have certain prerequisites, such as "minimum 1 year local experience or only permanent residents or Australian citizens are suitable for the role".
But don't panic! Our career coach Juliana can help you.
Juliana Owen is a psychologist and career coach based in Sydney, Australia. She has been working with personal development for over 15 years and is fascinated by human cognitive behavior. For the past 12 years, she has been developing her career in Australia and, like you, has also had to overcome many challenges to become the best version of herself.
His advice is not to limit yourself to what the job description says, but to go above and beyond and try to do your best. Below you'll find the best tips for you to thrive:
1 - Believe in yourself
Many people tend to get nervous or anxious before an interview, it's normal to feel excited about a job opportunity, but if you don't know how to control your emotions, you'll potentially speak too quickly or not articulate what you'd like. Juliana's advice is to try to relax and always believe in yourself, even when you don't feel 100% confident. Remember that sharing your story in a way you're proud of will certainly help you relax and do your best in the interview.
2- Focus on finding a part-time job while studying full-time
It's very important to look at the period you're studying as an opportunity to start your career. You don't have to wait until you have a degree to start looking for a job. While you're at university, you still have an active network where you can develop skills and start to understand a bit about what you'd like to focus on once university is over. You can always contact a Career Coach or Educational Agent to support your development and help you identify opportunities in your field. One of the best ways to find a job during your studies is to use internship programs at your university or institution.
3- Have your portfolio ready
When we're talking about taking the next step and preparing for the market, the first thing you should think about is having your CV, cover letter and LinkedIn professionally set up and ready to use. Recruitment is a big industry in Australia and you'll be dealing with experts in that particular market. They know everyone in this space, and you're a new candidate coming in, so be smart and invest the time to get the advice and guidance of a professional career coach, as the first step is extremely important. You may be dealing with a recruitment manager or an internal talent acquisition manager as the first point of contact for the role you're applying for, so be prepared and don't waste any time!
4- Preparing for an interview
Now you have your portfolio professionally set up and ready to apply for a job! As soon as the market starts to recognize your skills, the phone will start ringing and you'll have to make a great impression on agency recruiters, direct hiring managers or internal talent acquisition consultants. Whoever it is, you'll have to speak up and articulate how suitable you are for this role and drive the result you want. The best case scenario, when you're well prepared, is to secure a face-to-face interview on the back of that call. The worst case scenario would be for you to be unprepared and working on assumptions when you lose the opportunity and go back to square one. So make sure you're fully prepared and set up to secure your dream job and stay one step ahead of the competition!
5- Connect with industry mentors
Attending networking events during your studies will help you familiarize yourself with the professional environment. Listening to the journey of a graduate or an experienced professional in your field will give you an insight into what you hope to do in the future.
In partnership with Juliana, we are offering all international students the opportunity to enter the Australian market on the right foot. O D'Career is a complete career program, where we will help you with all of the above and ensure that you get the most out of the experience.
In the video below you can find out more about Juliana and Hugo, as well as more career tips for you to put into practice right away.
Increase your chances of doing what you love.
For more information, contact us at [email protected] or learn more about the program here.
