Before my second trip to Australia, the one that would last 6 months and for which I had paid several hundred dollars to obtain a working holiday visa (often known asWHV), several people had assured me that finding a job would be easy.
So I wasn’t nervous about the idea of leaving for 6 months, because I could work, find a job quickly, stay there for two weeks, then continue on my way, and so on.
In the end, did it turn out like this? No not at all.
Types of Jobs in Australia for Backpecker
Hospitality: This remains one of the most popular services for which backpackers are hired, including bars, restaurants, and cafes, especially in tourist areas.
Agricultural Work: Picking fruits, farm work, and harvesting are very common and often offer a chance for visa extensions.
Tourism: Tour companies, hostels, and travel agencies are often good sources of contacts.
Retail: Shops and markets may be looking for temporary positions, especially in tourist areas.
Odd Jobs: Webs and apps can also help you find short-term work such as cleaning, gardening, or handyman services.
Where to Find Jobs for Backpecker in Australia
Job Boards: Seek, Indeed, and Jora are some of the other comprehensive jobboards with a wide range.
Backpacker Job Sites: Also check out backpacker-specific websites, like :
Backpacker Job Board
Gumtree (casual work)
Workaway (work exchange)
Social Media: Join backpacker and traveler pages in Australia on Facebook for tips on jobs to find and locals to help you.
Job Hunt Tips
Resume: Write it for the kinds of jobs you’re after, orient the resume to the experience you have
Networking: Become friends with other travelers and locals; someone might know of an opening that is available to hire.
Keep an Open Mind: You could find some work fast, especially in the high seasons.
Work Rights: Know your rights on visa and conditions to work in Australia
Other Resources
Australian Government Job Search: Find the official job search website for advice on searching jobs in Australia
Hostels: Most of the hostels have a job board or know the employers looking for backpackers.
Find A Backpacker job in Australia Real Experience
We need to make things clear from the start: there are a lot ofbackpackersin Australia. Some with education, some without, some speaking English, some not, some from Europe, others from Asia or America. Youth hostels are crowded with people in their twenties wanting to take advantage of this visa allowing them to travel without incurring debt.
Read Also: 3 Best eSim For Australia to Traveling in 2024
And, quite honestly, there aren’t that many jobs.
Backpackers often favor jobs on farms, allowing them to earn a good salary (the current minimum wage is around $16 across the country), but also to qualify for a 2nd visa, which requires 3 monthsofregional work, i.e. work far from large urban centers.
But there are a lot of catches.
The first is the most uncontrollable of all: the temperature. You can find yourself in the right place, at the right time of year , with no jobs available due to drought or a delay in production caused by various weather factors. I experienced this problem in Devonport, Tasmania in January 2013.
Then, second, unfortunately, comes fraud and scams. In recent years, somebackpackershave suedworking hostels, or hostels that promise jobs while staying there – because, after making a generous non-refundable deposit, they arrived there to learn that there were no There was no job available. You must therefore be careful before staying there. In addition, I can no longer count the stories of underpaid workers ( if not unpaid! ) that have been talked about in the newspapers in recent years .
Third, there is the disgust of employers, who are lied to all the time bybackpackers, and who are therefore more selective in their hiring. Some ask to travel (sometimes to a place far from everything, inaccessible by public transport) before confirming the hiring. Many only hire people willing to work for a minimum of three months. “Easy, I’ll say I’m available for three months, and leave after 2 weeks! » seems the ideal solution to you? Yes, maybe it will work, but it is a very selfish decision, because it will affect the employability ofbackpackerswho come after you.
Then, finally, there is the waiting. Contrary to what many will tell you, a job will not fall from the sky on your first search. Even if all conditions are favorable, you may have to wait a few weeks before receiving a call after submitting your application. Or you will be told that no job is available, and suggest that you wait until another traveler’s job ends.
A job-hunting backpacking adventure to Australia can be an exciting experience indeed! Here are some tips and resources to guide you in your search:
City Employment
Fruitpickingis of course not the only option for those wishing to work in Australia. Some jobs in cafes, bars and restaurants allow you to stay in large urban centers while working. However, you should know that you need aResponsible serving of alcoholcertificate to, well, serve alcohol (!). And this one costs money!
Manybackpackers(including me) therefore opt for fundraising companies. I can’t speak for all of these companies, but the one that hired me gave me instructions to approach people who didn’t seem to speak English, to approach people who seemed vulnerable, and told me then fired after a few days, when I asked a few questions about these questionable practices. So keep your eyes peeled and know how far you would be willing to go, morally, for a few hundred dollars.
Other one-off jobs, for example in events, are sometimes available, but finding these often comes down to luck and/or good contacts.Gumtree(Australia’s Kijiji) is the best source for information on this subject.
Other Solution
A good way to save money is to volunteer in exchange for rent and sometimes even food. Of course, volunteering isn’t a paid activity, but the savings on accommodation can be worth it.
It is possible to work for a bed in several hostels, through certain companies (which will often post their offers on hostel bulletin boards!) and through services likeHelpXorWWOOF.
Planting plants voluntarily withConservation Volunteers Australia, in Arno Bay, South Australia
Oh, and we shouldn’t forget that budget conditions have changed this year , meaning less money in the pockets of foreign workers!
Of course, you might have better luck, arriving at the right place, at the right time, under the right conditions. I wish it for you. But be aware that the version you hear before departure is no longer always current.
