How to find a job
Job search strategies to help you find employment
We can help you develop a job search plan to increase your chances of successfully locating suitable employment opportunities in both the unadvertised and advertised job markets. We encourage you to use multiple job search methods to make your search more effective.
Set goals (for example, you could aim to send out a certain number of job applications per week), put time aside to research employers, set targets to approach companies directly about work, and identify personal contacts to add to your job search network.
Make sure you allow sufficient time for the job search and your other commitments (including study!) and keep records of all your applications and their progress.
Target both advertised jobs and the hidden job market to ensure you maximise your opportunities for employment.
Attend our job search skills workshop and develop the employability skills you need to tap into the job market, grow your networks, and market yourself to employers by:
Networking in the job search process is about building relationships with people, and using these relationships to find new career opportunities. It’s never too early to start developing your networking skills to build professional networks for both current and future job opportunities. Networking is a key strategy for tapping into the hidden job market. Here are some networking tips:
Be prepared to talk about yourself in an engaging and relevant manner. Have a brief ‘elevator pitch’ ready, and remember that networking is reciprocal – talk about what you can do for them as well as your relevant skills, experience and professional interests. Get started by using our Elevator Pitch Builder.
This will allow you to make informed decisions about employers to approach regarding work. Find out everything you can about any organisations and potential roles with them before you approach employers. Sources of information include industry publications, professional associations, the University Library's resource guide for researching organisations and industries, organisations' websites and annual reports, as well as information from the press using databases such as Factiva.
Many people seek to align themselves with an organisation that is committed to values common to their own. Indexes that rate organisational performance against a range of measures include Kincentrics Best Employers in the Asia Pacific and the Employer of Choice for Gender Equality.
It’s never too early to develop a professional presence on social media. Set up a LinkedIn profile, connect online and follow potential employers of interest, and join relevant online forums and LinkedIn groups.
Prepare targeted professional applications for each role you apply for, with tailored resumes and cover letters. Demonstrate evidence of your relevant capabilities and the value you will bring to the employer. Use your industry and employer research to demonstrate your interest in the role and employer.
Engage in activities that will keep your energy levels high as well as maintain your focus on the job search. Be open to job opportunities that allow you further develop professional skills and experience.
Learn about jobs and industries directly from the experts. The purpose of an information interview is to talk to an individual working in an occupation or career area you are interested in and would like to learn more about to get an insider’s perspective. They can be conducted in person or on the telephone.
Start with your personal networks and find out if your tutors, colleagues, friends or family know anyone in your field of interest. You can also look at the websites of professional associations, LinkedIn, Chambers of Commerce, or the websites of companies that interest you. Look for people who are a few years ahead of you in their career progression.
You can contact your potential interviewee via email or phone. Let them know who referred you to them or briefly explain how you obtained their details. Be very clear about the purpose of your call/email and emphasise that you are only asking for information and advice.
Prepare for the meeting by researching the organisation and the person you’ll be speaking with. The more you know, the better you’ll be able to prepare relevant questions.
Prepare a list of questions in advance. These should be well-thought-out, open-ended questions based on the information you are hoping to gain. Some examples include:
It is good practice to send a thank you email after the interview has taken place, ideally the same day as the interview. Record any useful information you received and follow up promptly if your interviewee has suggested any further action such as contacting one of their colleagues or sending a copy of your resume. It may also be appropriate to contact them when you have found a job and thank them for their assistance.
Are you prepared to be Googled by a prospective employer? It’s never too early to start building your professional presence online. Present a positive image to your future employer by curating your social media accounts to showcase your strengths.
Harness social media to aid your job search, research career options and make connections.
LinkedIn is a social networking platform designed specifically for professional purposes. Signing up allows you to join industry discussion groups, research career options, and make connections to grow your professional network.
Employers don’t expect you to have lots of relevant industry experience while you’re still studying – but they do expect you to have LinkedIn. Employers use the professional social network to search for potential employees and to research and vet applicants.
It’s never too early to start building your professional presence online. From your first year of university, your LinkedIn profile can include extracurricular activities, volunteer work, casual work and study related projects. This shows employers that you have transferable professional competencies, like communication skills, a collaborative approach and the ability to take initiative.
Learn more about how to build a great student profile on LinkedIn.
Type your name into Google and find out what information about you is publicly available. Adjust the privacy settings on your social media accounts to ensure that you project a professional image. Keep in mind that any comments you make in an open forum will be visible to the public so make sure you think before you post.
Not quite sure where your degree could lead you? You can use LinkedIn’s search function to research the career paths of alumni from your faculty or school, or of people in your targeted industry. Just remember that LinkedIn notifies users when you view their profile, although you can browse in private mode.
Keep you up-to-date with industry news and show employers that you’re engaged and interested, by participating in LinkedIn groups and forums.
This is another way to research your industry and your target organisations. Opportunities such as competitions, open days or even live job vacancies are often posted on social media.
Consider whether the relationship you are looking to develop is primarily professional or personal. LinkedIn is usually the best option for connecting with recruiters and people employed in your industry of choice.
When it comes to making connections on LinkedIn, start with people you already know - fellow students, employers, colleagues, volunteer and extracurricular contacts. Gradually add more contacts as you meet them. Your current connections can introduce you to their relevant networks. Remember your classmates are your future professional network.
If you attend a careers fair, employer information session or networking event, be sure to follow-up by sending a personalised invitation to the people you met, reminding them who you are and why you’d like to connect. Don’t send copy/paste messages asking for jobs; instead, take the time to talk to each person and ask them questions.
Use LinkedIn to share blog posts, photo essays, assignments and links to your work online. This is one of the best ways to build your network. It keeps you fresh in the minds of your connections and allows second and third-degree connections to see your posts in their newsfeeds.
If reposting articles, ensure you choose posts from trusted sources that demonstrate your professional interest and knowledge of your target industry. Choose quality over quantity – don’t post for the sake of posting.
Not sure where to find quality content? Browse through LinkedIn for inspiration from the influencers and leaders.
Are you studying in a creative field? Why not write a blog, create your own YouTube channel or design a themed Instagram account? There are numerous platforms available, do your research to find out which are commonly used in your industry.
Learn to develop and maintain an effective LinkedIn profile and harness multiple social media platforms to support your job search including:
Bring your laptop or device along to create or edit your LinkedIn profile as we work through a live demonstration of the top LinkedIn features.
Identify advertised jobs via the Sydney CareerHub job database, online job boards, recruiters, company websites and professional associations.
Job ads sent to us by employers are posted on Sydney CareerHub. These positions could be casual, part-time, internships, vacation work, full-time or graduate roles.
There are numerous other websites that list job vacancies advertised by employers and employment agencies. Familiarise yourself with the full range of job search sites which are available and check that the site is reputable and authentic.
Sites where you can look for work in any industry, e.g. SEEK and LinkedIn.
Sites with a graduate employment focus, e.g. GradConnection and Prosple
Sites that recruit for specific industries. These may be linked to professional associations or industry websites and publications.
Before you use a job search website you should check out the following to ensure they are authentic and reputable.
Some sites offer only job listings, while others also offer additional things such as networking opportunities, discussion groups, and articles with job search tips.
If you see a lot of listings that are at least 30 days old, or only a few from the current week, then consider if that site is worth using.
Check the 'About Us' link that's on every major job website. If you don't recognise the company running the site, Google them to check if they are legitimate.
Check out each site's privacy policy to make sure your information won't be shared with any third parties.
Many job search sites are free, but some charge a fee for advanced services.
Many organisations advertise positions vacant on their own websites, so ensure you check the websites of companies of interest to you. Employment opportunities are also often listed on industry specific jobs websites.
Recruitment agencies are often useful when looking for temporary, contract or permanent work, so you may consider registering with a recruitment agency. They are independent organisations engaged by employers to source and screen prospective candidates for job vacancies. They advertise job vacancies, and screen and interview candidates on behalf of employers.
There is no cost to candidates for using the services of a recruitment agency. A good recruitment agent will serve the needs of both their client (the employer) as well as the job seeker.
If you accept an offer for a temporary or contract job, you will sign a contract with the recruitment agency. It is important to note that when a temporary or contract job is secured through an agency, you are an employee of the agency, not the employer. The agency pays your salary and manages the relationship between you and the employer.
If you accept the offer of a permanent job then you will be employed directly by the organisation, not the recruitment agency. The agency is paid a commission for successfully finding an appropriate candidate for the role.
Casual and part-time work provides the opportunity to build on your employability skills while studying. Whether or not you need the income, casual and part-time work is beneficial because employers prefer to hire students who have had experience in the workplace. Developing transferable communication, teamwork, problem-solving and organisation skills, makes you more employable.
Refer to Fair Work Australia to understand the difference between casual work and part-time work.
Keep in mind that many casual and part-time jobs are filled by approaching employers directly and word of mouth, so keep your network updated about your job search.
Job finding resources:
Register and find out:
The semester break is a perfect time to take on an internship or vacation work. Working within a company gives you the chance to learn the inner workings of the organisation and helps develop your professional skills.
An internship is structured work experience, providing you with practical experience that complements your academic studies and sets you up for the graduate workforce. These are paid work opportunities that are directly related to your degree, and offered to penultimate-year students.
There are many benefits to taking on an internship or vacation work. Internships:
Occasionally, students seek unpaid work in order to develop degree-related skills. According to the Fair Work Act, some unpaid work arrangements are lawful and others are not. It is important you are aware of what constitutes a lawful unpaid work arrangement under the Fair Work Act.
Positions are generally advertised early to mid-year. Here’s how to find an internship:
We connect with organisations daily to increase career opportunities for USYD students. We want to know more about your dream internship, to help us find the most relevant opportunities.*
Fill in the following form to submit your ‘Internship Expressions of Interest (EOI)'. All paid internships will be advertised on the University of Sydney’s Careers Centre CareerHub when available.
*Please note that submitting this form does not mean the Careers Centre will source an internship specifically for you, nor can we guarantee finding your ideal internship. If you need to arrange an unpaid placement for course credit, please contact your faculty for further assistance here.
Volunteering provides the opportunity to contribute to the community and build the skills employers value while studying.
Volunteering is unpaid work, generally with not-for-profit or community-based organisations both in Australia and overseas. Volunteer roles can also be positions of responsibility within clubs and societies, many of which can be found on campus, and they can be related to either personal or professional interests and goals.
Extracurricular activities are any activities you engage in outside of your studies, such as sporting, public speaking, special interest groups, the arts, political, educational, environmental, community or cultural activities.
Graduate employers prefer to hire 'well-rounded' graduates. This means they look for graduates who have not just performed well academically, but have engaged in a variety of activities other than their studies. Volunteering gives you the chance to:
To find volunteering roles, you can either search within a specific cause, sector or organisation, or use your networks to create opportunities. For example, if you are a member of a sporting club you could volunteer to create a newsletter for members or assist them with their bookkeeping.
When looking for volunteer work, search for a role and a cause that you feel passionate about. You should do your research and consider the following questions:
You may want to explore your volunteer rights and this volunteer checklist.
Browse these websites for opportunities:
Employers love to see extracurricular activities on your resume. Graduate employment application forms often ask for details of extracurricular activity, and involvement in extracurricular activity can demonstrate highly sought-after skills such as initiative, drive, leadership, teamwork, communication and interpersonal skills. Extracurricular activities also provide valuable networking opportunities,
You can get involved with one or more of the many clubs and societies on campus. Clubs and societies welcome new members and participants. All it usually takes is a visit, an email or a phone call. You can also search online for any area of personal or professional interest, such as, ‘Chess Clubs’ and ‘Toastmasters’.
Gain key information and resources to find work overseas, whether looking for graduate work, an internship, or jobs while travelling or on a gap year.
International students can apply for graduate recruitment programs in their home country, as well as internships during their study. Organisations offer jobs to Australian university graduates vary each year.
It’s important to start planning your graduate job search early – identify the graduate recruitment closing dates for your country and industry, and research the skills and experience sought by employers.
The graduate job market after completing your degree includes tailored graduate programs, public sector jobs and overseas opportunities.
Each year a number of employers across a range of industries offer graduate programs. Students recruited into a graduate program are targeted for development and supported by mentoring, leadership development, training and work rotations throughout the organisation.
The graduate recruitment season starts early, commencing in March each year for jobs starting the following year, so don’t miss out. Keep an eye on Sydney CareerHub for graduate jobs and employers on campus at our careers fairs and employer information sessions. You should also regularly check industry and employer websites.
Graduates from all disciplines are employed in the public service across a range of roles. Many public service departments in both the New South Wales and Federal government run graduate programs. To see which agencies are currently recruiting for their graduate programs, visit APS Graduate Programs and I work for NSW. To view all employment opportunities available at the local government level, see Council Jobs.
You might also consider applying for a regular entry level position in the Public Service (usually an APS level 3, 4 or 5). To see the full list of Public Service positions, go to APS Jobs.
The job application process in the public service can be very different to the process in private sectors. The guide 'Cracking the Code: How to apply for jobs in the Australian Public Service' can help you write your application, including addressing the selection criteria.
Gain experience and build the entrepreneurial skills valued by industry, whether you have a business idea to develop or are seeking employment with a startup.
A startup is not a small version of a larger company. Startups are defined by INCUBATE* as "a fledgling business that is creating a completely new product or service based on technological innovation". They are often doing something completely new and thus are searching for a repeatable and scalable business model, often with the potential for global impact.
* INCUBATE is the startup accelerator and entrepreneur event program developed by the University of Sydney Union.
A social enterprise is a business that trades to tackle social problems, improve communities, people’s life chances, or the environment. They are usually started by a person or group with a particular passion and sense of purpose to address an identified problem.
Each year a number of employers across a range of industries offer graduate programs. Students recruited into a graduate program are targeted for development and supported by mentoring, leadership development, training and work rotations throughout the organisation.
The graduate recruitment season starts early, commencing in March each year for jobs starting the following year, so don’t miss out. Keep an eye on Sydney CareerHub for graduate jobs and employers on campus at our careers fairs and employer information sessions. You should also regularly check industry and employer websites.
Graduates from all disciplines are employed in the public service across a range of roles. Many public service departments in both the New South Wales and Federal government run graduate programs. To see which agencies are currently recruiting for their graduate programs, visit APS Graduate Programs and I work for NSW. To view all employment opportunities available at the local government level, see Council Jobs.
You might also consider applying for a regular entry level position in the Public Service (usually an APS level 3, 4 or 5). To see the full list of Public Service positions, go to APS Jobs.
The job application process in the public service can be very different to the process in private sectors. The guide 'Cracking the Code: How to apply for jobs in the Australian Public Service' can help you write your application, including addressing the selection criteria.
Social media and your job search