Perth, stunning beaches and a relaxing lifestyle; brief from simply being a city there is so much more that this place offers to international students. The capital city of Western Australia, Perth has a robust economy and affordable cost of living compared to Sydney or Melbourne. For many students, securing a casual job is one of the key aspects of the Australian experience — an opportunity to earn some extra money as well as local work experience and hone their skills in preparation for building their professional network.
This guide will help to give you all the information that you need on job hunting, your rights and how to balance working with studying in the ‘City of Light’.
Understanding Your Work Rights
Read the rules of working while on a student visa (subclass 500) before you shred your applications.
- Work hour restrictions: As a general rule of thumb, international students can spend up to 48 hours every fortnight during the period their course is active. During breaks in courses (like summer, winter holidays), you CAN work as many hours as possible.
- Tax File Number (TFN): To be able to work in Australia, we should apply for a TFN through the Australian Taxation Office (ATO where you will be taxed at a relevant level of income and receive back your tax return after the financial year.
- Minimum Wage: Australia has one of the highest minimum wages in the world. The Big News the Minimum Wage Increases to 2024-2025 Ensure that your employer is paying you the legal rate, ensure that you are receiving “penalty rates” for weekend or public holiday work.
Popular Industries for Student Jobs
Some local industries frequently hire international students due to their flexible timing and low demand for job qualifications in Perth.
Hospitality and Tourism
Hospitality is the most common option, thanks to a booming café culture and a steady stream of tourists. Those jobs include baristas, wait staff, kitchen hands and hotel receptionists. If you serve alcohol, you can do what is known a Western Australia Responsible Service of Alcohol (RSA) certificate — a short and mandatory course to take.
Retail and Supermarkets
Major retailers — including Coles, Woolworths, Kmart and Bunnings — as well as local boutiques in the Murray Street Mall and Hay Streets regularly take on students. Fantastic roles to develop communication skills and educate yourself on the local consumer culture.
Delivery and Logistics
Food delivery services offer a flexible option for those with an appropriate driver’s license or bike. In addition, as a logistics hub, you often have shifts available regardless of whether you work within warehouses or as a delivery driver for courier services.
Aged Care and Disability Support
This is an emerging industry in WA. However, while a Certificate III in Individual Support is truly essential for some roles, there are plenty of junior positions across organisations that students can learn on the job. It is a rewarding industry that pays more than your average retail job.
Cleaning and Maintenance
Office and domestic cleaning jobs offer early morning or late-evening shifts, which can be brilliant for students already having to attend lectures all day.
How to Find Work in Perth
Job search is not a passive effort. These are the best ways:
- Job Boards Online: Most of jobs are found on popular sites like SEEK, Indeed and Jora Set up alerts for “part-time” or “casual” jobs in your local area.
- LinkedIn: Be sure your profile is up to date. An example of this is LinkedIn, which many professional services companies and boutique firms use to find candidates for internships or junior roles in Perth.
- University career hubs: UWA, Curtin, Murdoch and ECU all have career hubs. They often have “on-campus” jobs (as library assistants or student ambassadors, for example) that are reserved for students.
- The Door-to-Door Method: The old-fashioned approach of strolling into a hospitality or retail establishment with a hard copy resume in one’s hand and asking to speak directly with the manager still works very well. When doing so, preferably attempt it during “quiet” hours (in case of cafés etc from 14.00 to 16.00)
Tips for a Successful Application
While looking for jobs as a job seeker in Perth your application must be tailored to the Australian norm so that you can shine and stand out from other candidates.
- Resume Formatting: Keep your resume short (1-2 pages) Focus on your skills, any relevant experience (including from home country) and when you are available.
- Highlight “Soft Skills”: Employers in Australia highly appreciate timeliness, being a good team player and great attitude. There as much need to name these as there is technical skills.
- Local references: If you have never worked in Australia, a reference from a teacher or volunteer coordinator will create trust.
- Cover Letter: Always include a short cover letter tailored to the job in the application process explaining why you want to do this job and how your availability works for them.
Balancing Work and Study
Yes, you can make money but the most is knowledge. This forced you to fail a unit and potentially lose your visa, due to work commitments.
- Speak to your employer: Most employers in Perth have an understanding of what is reasonable for students and know that work hours will need to be reduced during exam periods. Give them plenty of notice.
- Never suffer a long commute: Find work that is near your campus or along the Joondalup or Mandurah train lines.
Conclusion
So working in Perth is a fantastic opportunity to immerse yourself to the local culture, after all adding friends from literally every corner of the world as well as supporting you are travelling, it is great. The city is booming economy has made it so that those who work hard and can be relied upon have options.
As daunting as it might be to navigate your first steps into the workforce as a new graduate (let alone think longer term), if you’re exploring options to remain — perhaps indefinitely — once you finish your studies in Western Australia, it’s important that you get the support you need. A specialist will also advise you on all complications, including visas after graduation and paths to permanent residency. Personalized advice and strategies you can plan with a registered migration consultant Perth is the most powerful step that promises your future to be in Australia.