Working Holidays In Australia
"Finding Jobs In The Hospitality Industry"
The most popular jobs for people on working holidays in Australia are the jobs in the hospitality industry.
One reason is that you can find those jobs wherever you find tourists.
In other words, you can find work in exactly the places that you want to see anyway. The perfect working holiday in Australia...
Other reasons are that work in the Australian hospitality industry is very easy to pick up if you have some experience, but also that it's so varied. There is something for everyone.
September to March is the best time to find jobs in the the populated south east.
April to September is the main tourist season across the north and north west.
But you will also be able to find work outside the main season, it might just take a day or two.
Nowhere in Australia is it easier to find jobs than across the north west. The touristy south east, in particular the Sydney area, is a lot more competitive. Most working holidays in Australia start in Sydney... You may have to knock on a few more doors there.
Still, finding a job in the hospitality industry is not hard, because if the number of tourists—and working holiday makers—grows, then so does demand for staff.
Have you been in Australia on a working visa or know someone who has?
Do you have any tips or experiences to share?
Tell your story or help others by answering a question here:
Australia Travel and Work - Finding Work in Australia.
How To Find Work - What You Need
Cafes, pubs and restaurants, hotels and backpackers, bars and nightclubs, 5 star island resorts and Outback roadhouses, they all need good staff. Festivals or functions are another good place to pick up work for just a few days and inject some cash into your holiday budget.
Depending on the kind of work you are targeting you may need a resume and references, proof that you are experienced and can work to their standard. For many places you may need a uniform (black pants/skirt and white shirt). If the job involves serving alcohol you will also need an RSA (Responsible Service of Alcohol) certificate in most states.
(It's a one day course. Here's a list of licensed course providers in New South Wales. If you don't arrive in Sydney just do an internet search for RSA courses + state or city name.)
There is also plenty of work for kitchen hands, maintenance staff, admin jobs... Anything that you can think of that is required to run a successful business in the hospitality industry.
I can assure you that ALL places across the Outback and the north west are desperate for quality, reliable staff during the tourist season. And if you are a chef, well, pick your location and name your price! That's only slightly exaggerated. There is a terrible shortage of chefs. You will have no trouble at all finding employment.
No matter what kind of work you are after, the best way to pick up a good job is to be in the right place at the right time (a matter of luck and research), bring the the right attitude (positive, keen and committed) and confidently stride in and ask to see the manager or whoever is making the hiring decision.
Do you prefer to make contact in writing or via telephone first? Most resorts, hotels and backpackers have websites, and more often than not those websites have not only information about the facilities and room rates, but also an employment page.
No experience and very insecure? Many budget hostels and backpackers offer deals where you get free accommodation in exchange for a couple of hours cleaning or in-house bar tending a day. That's a way to get some experience. (Be careful here though, as sometimes they lure you in with the promise of work, but the work just isn't available and you still have to pay to stay there.)
You could also do a proper course. Several organisations in Australia offer courses that prepare you to work in the hospitality industry (and that already include the RSA license). Some even incorporate their training with other services specifically for working holiday visa holders, like meeting you at the airport, organising accommodation, providing orientation days, and then helping you to find jobs.
It all comes at a cost, and in my opinion really isn't necessary.
The further you get away from the cities the less the paperwork matters. It all comes down to your personality and approach then. Positive, switched on people who can learn and who aren't afraid of work are welcome anywhere in the Outback!
Work and travel Australia - other work
Can people over 30 get Australian working holiday visas?
Australian working visas for travellers over 30.
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