Obstacles in getting part time job for the international students in Australia

As education consultant one of the common and popular questions to me from prospective students is about the part-time jobs.

International students in Australia on a valid student visa can work for up to 40 hours per fortnight (every 2 weeks) while their course is in session, and there is no limit on the number of hours an international student can work during vacations.  

Family members (spouses) accompanying the international student under their student visa have the same work rights as the student – 40 hours per fortnight. For those students obtaining a graduate degree, like a master’s degree or doctoral degree, their spouses can work unlimited hours (full time).

The one good thing about working part-time while studying is the great opportunities which international students can attain with first-hand experiences in the working environment and this can help them prepare for the real working world. It’s a great head-start and develops their interpersonal skills.

International students can get into a wide range of industries and have part time employment opportunities in areas such as:

·         Retail - supermarkets, petrol stations, other retail and clothing stores

·         Hospitality - cafes, bars, sporting venues  and restaurants

·         Tourism - hotels and motels.

·         Agricultural - farming and fruit-picking.

·         Sales and telemarketing.

·         Administration or Clerical roles.

·         Tutoring.

However part-time jobs are NOT easy to find and here I have outlined various reasons that can make it difficult to find one:

Unreliable: Some employers worry that students are unreliable because of busy study and exam schedules and other commitments. The main concern is that  if they employ too many students, then around exam time most or all will ask for time off or even just quit. Another issue is that they think students are not serious and may cause errors and may just walk away without being responsible.

Lack of network with locals: This is a major one. Many international students find it very hard to make friends with locals and their only known friends are other international students from their own university or college and often from their own country or hometown. This makes their network limited and they often don’t hear about jobs which they can get into.

The Right CV: It’s observed that many international students don't know how to prepare a good CV (resume) for employers. The format, spellings and grammar is pathetic and it does not really project on the actual skills of the applicant and how the applicant is suitable for the job or with no emphasis on his skill set.Its suggested that students invest a small bit of money in getting professional help with their CV (resume).

English ability:  This is the most common reason for students not to get short listed for the jobs. In quite a few retail and customer service positions, there is a need for good command of English.  If you're fluent with less mother tongue influence then this won't be an issue.

Not having a local and valid driver licence: This too sometimes can affect ability to get some jobs. Some jobs have a requirement of full driver’s license and knowledge of roads, suburbs, traffic and city.

Experience and Referees: Many international students are not experienced and will need a lot of training especially in customer service and product knowledge. Most employers don’t want to spend time in training and may consider already trained people for the job. Some positions require formal training which include handling food safety, fire and . Its also observed that many international students don’t have a referee. The Referees is a person who can give potential employer information about the applicant’s past work experience, skills, character and conduct.

Prejudice: It’s also observed that a few business owners only prefer to employ people from within their own ethnicity. This is actually wrong and illegal but it does happen. For example, some Chinese employers will only hire Chinese, some Indian employers will only hire people who come from the Indian sub-continent, some European may only employ European etc.  It can also be because of language reasons, but in reality they just feel more comfortable working with people similar to themselves. But again this can also work to the applicant’s advantage if they are from the same ethnic group as the employer.  This may not be common and prejudice is not major, but it can be a factor sometimes.

Most student jobs are advertised on the university/college job-board and popular employment websites and community newspapers. ts also acceptable by many businesses where the job applicant can walk in and drop their resume and ask for vacancies. Its advised that students leave their resume with potential employers and ask them to keep in mind for future vacanciesInternational students must make sure they have a good CV with Australian mobile number and local address and  Tax File Number (TFN)

To make the employment process as easy as possible, students must have a Australian bank account in which the employers can deposit the earnings. They must also apply for Tax File Number (TFN) from the Australian Taxation office, in this way they are not taxed high rate (Almost all employers will provide job seekers with a TFN declaration or it can be obtained online or by calling Australian Tax Office on 13 28 61).

It is important that all international students are aware of their employment rights. They are paid a fair wage for any work they do, so beware of employers who insist on paying ‘cash in hand’ or those who ask  to complete unpaid work on a ‘trial’ basis. Students should also be familiar with the pay and conditions for the area of employment — known as an ‘award’ — and carefully read any employment contracts they sign. 

See the https://www.fairwork.gov.au/find-help-for/visa-holders-and-migrants for more details.

Note: My advice to students is not to depend on part-time work for all their expenses. International students must have sufficient financial support from their home. It is very important for students to concentrate on their studies before looking for work.

Nishidhar Reddy Borra 

Atlas Education Consultants, India 

nishiborra888@gmail.com

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