Priyanka's guide to finding a job
23 February 2022
Hi everyone, I'm Priyanka and I recently graduated from Macquarie University with a degree in Master of Information Technology specialising in Management.
Let alone surviving and earning a living, living in a foreign land miles away from family and loved ones is also emotionally challenging. There are so many things to worry about such as rent, grocery shopping, and the devil among all – cooking. One of the perks of living in a foreign country is being able to reinvent yourself by exploring things you never thought you could do.
When I came to Australia, I was an IT professional with a few years of work experience and the first job I got here was waitressing. If I were back home, I could never imagine serving customers a cup of coffee; but here, I was a new me. My first job taught me about the Australian culture – learning its lifestyle and of course, getting used to the Aussie accent!
One of the perks of working as a student in Australia is that you are allowed to work part-time. This part-time job can be in any field and you have lots of options you can explore (retail, hospitality, health, etc).
A good way to start your job search journey is to look out for job openings in popular retail outlets like Woolworths, Coles, BWS, Kmart, and Target. They usually hire many applicants during the Christmas season.
If you’re looking into internships or entry-level opportunities, there are a few websites you can start looking into:
During my third semester at uni, I started exploring options for part-time or internship roles. That’s when I came across Macquarie Student Employment Service. All their events and jobs are posted in Employability Connect. One of their first workshops I attended was the Resumes and Cover Letters Essentials Workshop. This workshop helped me understand what recruiters look for in resumes and cover letters. In addition, the Careers team has a great tool to streamline your CV - CV360. This wonderful app makes your CV more accessible and eye-pleasing to recruiters.
After attending a couple of workshops, you will be able to register in their Job Ready Club and receive job opportunities via your student email. If you haven’t joined the Talent Pool yet, you can access the Careers Weekly newsletter and find useful information on available job offers.
With the help of these resources and workshops, I was able to secure a job with Macquarie within a few months after joining the talent pool. One thing I liked about applying through Macquarie Student Employment is that you get a response from their team if your application is rejected with feedback on your application.
Here are a few tips to stay on top of your job-hunting journey:
- Look out for career options in popular firms and retail companies via their official websites.
- Keep an eye on Employability Connect for the latest job offers.
- Apply for jobs posted by Macquarie Student Employment which you can select from the Employability Connect portal.
- Check out tools and resources provided by the Macquarie Careers team to upgrade your professional profile.
- Sign up for Macquarie Student Employment Job Ready Club.