Just arrived in Australia and need a job fast?
Most students make the same mistake: they only apply on Seek and wait. In Australia, the first job comes from showing up, not just applying online.
1. Fix your CV for Australia — 1 page only
Australian employers don’t want 5 pages. 1 page: Name, phone, suburb, visa type (e.g. Student visa — allowed to work), availability, 2 skills, 1 short line about you. Remove your photo, date of birth, and long school history. Add: “Available weekends and evenings, can start immediately.”
2. Apply where students actually get hired
Start with cafes, restaurants, supermarkets, cleaning, warehousing, aged care / disability support, and retail. Walk in between 2-4pm (not lunch rush) with your CV and say: “Hi, are you hiring? I live nearby and can start this week.” That one sentence beats 50 online applications.
3. Use the right sites
Seek, Indeed, Jora, and Facebook Jobs groups for your city. Search: “no experience”, “student”, “casual”, “weekend”. Apply within 1 hour of the post going live — managers hire the first good CVs, not the 200th.
4. Know your rights
You must be paid at least the legal minimum wage, get payslips, and get superannuation. If someone offers cash-in-hand below minimum wage, or asks you to pay for the job, walk away. It’s a scam. Check your work limits on your visa — most student visas allow limited hours during term.
5. What to say at the trial shift
Arrive 10 minutes early. Smile, ask questions, clean without being asked. Managers don’t hire the most skilled student — they hire the most reliable one.
Want it done for you?
I made a First Job Pack with a 1-page Australian CV template, cover message for walk-ins, list of 30 places that hire students, and what to say in your first interview.
👉 Get the First Job Pack here — Get A Job Fast Bundle – CV + Cover Letter + Interview Guide (3 PDFs)
Already sorted your rental? If not, read this first: How to Get a Rental in Australia With No Rental History