Moving from study into your first professional job is one of the biggest transitions you will make. Suddenly there are graduate programs with closing dates months ahead, online tests and recorded video interviews, selection criteria to address, contracts to read and a whole vocabulary of awards, probation and information statements. Graduate Jobs Guide explains it all in plain English, so you can focus on finding a role that suits you.
We are an independent information site for students and new graduates in Australia. We don't list vacancies or recruit for employers. Instead, we publish original, carefully sourced guides based on information from the Fair Work Ombudsman, Scamwatch, government careers services and other official sources. Our guides are general information only, so always check the employer's listing and official sources for your situation.
Find a role
The search for a first job works best when you keep several routes open. Structured graduate programs offer training, rotations and a cohort of peers, but they recruit early and attract strong competition. Entry-level roles with small and medium businesses, not-for-profits and government agencies are advertised all year round. Internships, placements, contracts and part-time roles can also lead to permanent work.
Our finding graduate jobs section explains how graduate programs work, where to search, the rules on internships and placements and how to spot job scams, which increasingly target people looking for work.
Apply with confidence
Applications are where many graduates lose marks unnecessarily: a generic résumé, a cover letter addressed to the wrong company or a selection criteria response without a concrete example. A little structure goes a long way. Build a master résumé, collect a bank of examples from your study, work and volunteering, and tailor each application to the role.
Our applications and interviews section covers résumés, cover letters and selection criteria, online tests and video interviews and interviews and assessment centres.
Start your career well
Once an offer arrives, a few careful checks help you start on the right foot. What type of employment is it? Which award or agreement applies? How long is the probation period? Your employer must give you a Fair Work Information Statement when you start, and your workplace rights apply from day one, however junior you are.
Our starting your career section explains job offers, your first weeks, workplace rights and building your early career.
Plan around closing dates
Graduate recruitment runs on deadlines. Many large employers open applications for the next intake well ahead of the start date, and closing dates come round quickly when you are also finishing assignments and exams. Use our free deadline planner to enter a closing date and get a simple back-dated timeline, from researching the employer through to submitting a couple of days early.
Who these guides are for
Our guides are written for:
- university and TAFE students in their final year, planning their next step;
- recent graduates looking for a first professional role;
- people who finished study a while ago and are applying for graduate or entry-level positions now;
- international students and graduates trying to understand how recruitment works in Australia (check visa conditions with official sources);
- parents, mentors and careers advisers supporting a young person through the process.
How we write our guides
Every guide is written from scratch for this site. We base factual statements about workplace law, scams and government services on official sources, and list those sources at the end of each guide so you can check them yourself. We avoid inventing statistics, salary figures or "insider" claims. Where rules or processes vary by employer, industry or state, we say so. Read our editorial policy for more.
A few principles that apply everywhere
Whatever route you take, a handful of principles hold true. Start early and keep track of deadlines. Tailor every application. Use concrete examples, not vague claims. Be honest. Look after your wellbeing, because rejection is part of the process for almost everyone. And never pay money to get a job: genuine employers do not charge candidates to apply or start work.
Key points
- Keep several routes open: graduate programs, entry-level roles, placements and contracts.
- Tailor each application and back claims with specific examples.
- Know the rules on unpaid internships and the warning signs of job scams.
- Read job offers carefully; your workplace rights apply from day one.
- Use the deadline planner to work back from closing dates.
