It's been almost 5 years since I graduated from the University of Melbourne. A quick recap of my work experience in Australia - I interned at Catch.com.au in my last semester at university - through my graduation - until I found a full-time marketing position at Choice Hotels. After spending 2 years working in the hospitality industry, I got a job at IDP Australia - funnily enough I had used IDP India's services to study in Australia, and now I would be working for them. What a full circle moment!
Even though COVID has changed so much in the past few years, especially within the international education industry, I can now safely say that 2023 looks pretty descent. Australia finally witnessing an increase in the number of international students coming Down Under to pursue higher education.
In an attempt to update my previous article on my experience working in Australia, I've put together a few key pointers for international students who might be considering to work in Australia.
Build your personal brand
Yes, this remains as my number 1 key focus.
Personal branding is how you leverage your online presence. It is how you use your digital footprint to create opportunities for you. Regardless of where you are online, whether its LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, you have a personal brand- whether you like it or not.
Studying abroad is a massive decision - a life changing one. And not to mention, it is the perfect opportunity for you to rebrand yourself. I can think of no better platform than LinkedIn for you to start building your personal brand. Here's a few short videos on personal branding - in case you want to watch a visual explanation.
Stand out from the crowd
Despite the current lack of skilled workers in Australia, nothing guarantees that you will land a job after graduation. What will help is your ability to stand out from the crowd.
What makes you different from the rest of the applicants? What can you bring to the table that's unique?Make sure you have something more than your degree to offer. This could be different things - for me, one of my talking points in interviews was a side project I started in university called Humans of UniMelb - which was a great way for me to show recruiters how passionate I was about developing other people's personal branding.
Another way to stand out is by learning a new language. I had the opportunity to learn Mandarin after my undergrad which turned out to be extremely helpful in building my profile over the years. Not only does it help open your mind to a new culture, it also opens up new possibilities for you.
Say "Yes" to opportunities
Often, we find reasons to back out of opportunities that present themselves. We might convince ourselves that its not the best timing to take up something new, or additional tasks - simply because we don't have the time. Well, chuck out the word "no" from your vocabulary and get comfortable with being uncomfortable. After all, that's where all the magic happens.
With the rise of the Creator Economy and stepping away from the traditional 9-to-5 culture, it is the right time to be a creator, or a freelancer, take on multiple projects and expand your horizon as much as you can.
Try to practice having a " growth mindset " which will liberate you and eventually lead you to having no fear of failure. The more "yes" you respond to opportunities, the more you'll see them knocking on your door.
