Work And Travel Types of Jobs There are always jobs available if you want to work in Australia. The following is a sample of the most popular jobs at AIFS” Job Desk…
Hospitality work can be fast-paced and exciting, and is a great way to meet Australians and other travellers. Work is easy to obtain if you have prior customer service experience. For many jobs you'll need a uniform, such as black trousers/skirt and a white shirt. In most states you'll also need a Responsible Service of Alcohol Certificate (RSA), for any job where you're serving alcohol. The best times to find hospitality work are September to March, however there is work available all year round in most areas.
Retail work is in department stores, boutiques and specialty stores. For positions with direct customer contact, you need excellent English and most employers prefer some experience with sales, customer service or cash handling. Warehouse/stocktake positions are unskilled and easy to obtain. The Christmas period is the busiest time of the year when many stores all around Australia need extra staff - particularly department stores.
All Australian cities have a demand for casual office staff for people with some experience and fluent English. Most positions are with recruitment agencies that will test your typing and computer skills and send you for short-term assignments. This type of work is interesting and challenging, and can be a great way to meet Australians. For this work you need neat, office clothes and a professional attitude. Most positions are in the capital cities and work is available all year round.
Harvesting fruit and vegetables is very popular with travellers. Jobs are easy to obtain, as there is harvest work somewhere in Australia most of the year. However, this is hard, physical work and often in hot or wet weather. Farmers sometimes pay by the hour, but most pay by the amount you pick - so you'll earn more as you gain experience. You will need to protect yourself from the sun with a broad rimmed hat, long sleeved shirt and sunscreen. The farms often provide hostel accommodation, with basic facilities, at a reasonable price.
If you love to talk and are good with people - this could be the job for you. Working in a call centre involves cold calling over the phone to sell a product. In point of sale jobs, you are based in a location such as a shopping centre, where you try to solicit customers in person. For these types of sales positions, you will need to have an advanced level of English and be confident about your selling skills. Positions are usually for 2-3 months and pay is usually a base rate + commissions or bonuses for sales.
Australian farms or cattle stations are always in need of people with an adventurous spirit and some experience with animals. Most positions are in remote locations, and will give you the chance to experience the real Australian ‘outback’. Farms usually provide meals and accommodation, and wages will vary according to the type of job. As it can be difficult to find farm work with no farming experience, many AIFS participants do a farm course beforehand that covers basic skills like horse riding, sheering sheep, rounding up cattle and mending fences.
