Ready to start looking for a job in Canberra?
To help you kick-start your search, your educational institution may provide employability services to its students. Available to everyone – both domestic and international students and across all year levels – these resources aim to help you become career-ready and offer practical advice and support when it’s time to take the leap from student to employee.
Insider Guides spoke to Elizabeth Bailey, Associate Director from the Australian National University (ANU) Careers and Employability, and Yvonne Soper, Associate Director of Careers UC from the University of Canberra (UC), about the services available to students at ANU and UC, what to look for in a first job, and how to build a career in Canberra.
Finding your first job in Canberra
“For a domestic student, the career pathway can be quite linear. But for an international student, the pathway can be a bit of a zigzag,” Yvonne shares.
Looking for work, especially as an international student, can be nerve-racking. You may be arriving in Australia for the first time, speak English as a second language, or have no prior knowledge of the local job market. Employability services like ANU’s Career Central and Careers UC are great places to seek advice. Some of the resources they provide include:
- One-on-one career consultation to help students explore their goals, identify their strengths and develop action plans.
- Career planning support, including writing resumes, job application processes and video interview practice.
- Industry-connected programs and events such as career fairs, employer panels and networking events that give students direct access to Canberra’s professional community.
- Internship support and employability programs built into the curriculum, meaning work experience will be a part of your course.
- Tailored programs for international students and students from diverse backgrounds to ensure inclusive access to opportunities.
- Drop-in services where students can speak to career specialists online and in person.
What to expect from a career consultation
During your first career consultation through these services, the main goal for an advisor is to learn as much about you as possible. Questions may centre around who you are, your chosen industry (if you have one), your motivation for studying at your chosen institution, and any career aspirations. These can include:
- What do you plan to do after graduation?
- What are some of your goals?
- Why did you come to Australia?
- What was your motivation in coming to Canberra?
- Do you plan on staying in Canberra?
These will help form a deep understanding of who you are as a person and what your future goals are.
While many students will often approach career services at the end of their degree, both Yvonne and Elizabeth recommend seeking support early. This helps you map out your career journey and develop an actionable plan to achieve these goals.
The best jobs for students in Canberra
When it comes to looking for work while studying, Yvonne believes that any job is a good job. Regardless of the type of work or the industry you’re in, proving to future employers that you’ve worked in Australia shows you have desirable skills like time management, organisation, discipline and commitment.
Similarly, Elizabeth suggests seeking part-time or casual work where you’ll use and learn employability skills like communication, teamwork, problem solving and customer service. This can range from roles in hospitality or retail, including receptionists or administrators.
Above all, Elizabeth says international students should become comfortable with the Australian working environment and develop spoken communication in different contexts, especially if English is not your first language.
“Be flexible to work in areas that might not relate directly to your study, any work experience will be helpful and add to your skillset. Canberra is right in the heart of public policy, research, and international affairs, so if you’re interested in these areas, you’re in a great spot,” she adds.
“For casual work and volunteering, students can look for temporary employment in government departments that don’t require PR or citizenship – eligibility is listed in the temporary registers or job advertisements. In addition, any administrative, research and program officer work completed in community organisations and private sector organisations can be transferable to public policy, research and international affairs roles in the future.”
Building skills and the confidence to become career-ready
While finding a first job is important, many of these services aim to get you ready for the future in Canberra. Elizabeth recognises the costs involved with studying abroad, so she encourages students to take advantage of the free services universities offer. Accessing these kinds of support after you graduate can be expensive, so learning the basics from professionals who understand your situation will give you a head start.
For Yvonne, she stresses the importance of casual work in order to gain transferable skills, getting involved in the communities around your university and Canberra, volunteering, and connecting with different people from all cultures.
“It’s about helping students not just become job-ready, but career-ready,” Yvonne says.
“It’s understanding who they are, what their values are, so that they can find the right job that matches them.”
