Finding graduate jobs

Finishing a degree, diploma or other qualification is a big step, and the search for a first professional role can feel overwhelming. There is no single place where every graduate job is listed, the language around "graduate programs", "entry-level roles", "internships" and "placements" can be confusing, and the timing of recruitment does not always line up neatly with the end of your studies.

This section breaks the search into manageable parts. It explains what structured graduate programs are and how they differ from other ways in, where roles are advertised (and where they are not), how internships and student placements work under Australian workplace law, and how to recognise the job scams that target people who are keen to start working.

Guides in this section

• Graduate programs explained: what structured programs offer, how they recruit and how to decide whether they suit you.
• Where to find graduate jobs: job boards, employer sites, university careers services, networks and the hidden job market.
• Internships and placements: when unpaid work is lawful, what to ask before you start and how to make the most of it.
• Avoiding job scams: the warning signs, how fake recruiters operate and what to do if you have been targeted.

Many routes into a first job

It is easy to assume that the "proper" way to start a career is through a large employer's graduate program. Those programs are valuable, but they are only part of the picture. Plenty of graduates begin in a standard entry-level role with a small or medium business, a not-for-profit, a local council, a start-up or a family firm. Others move into a paid role after a placement, take a short contract that leads somewhere permanent, or begin in a related job and move sideways once they have experience.

Each route has trade-offs. Structured programs usually offer rotations, training and a cohort of peers, but competition can be strong and recruitment often happens months ahead. Smaller employers may hire closer to the start date, give you broad responsibility quickly and be more flexible about your exact qualification. Keeping several routes open at once is usually the most reliable approach.

Timing your search

Recruitment timing varies a lot. Some large organisations open applications for the following year's intake well before you finish studying, while many smaller employers advertise only when they have an immediate vacancy. That means a sensible search usually runs on two tracks: planned applications to programs with fixed closing dates, and ongoing searching for roles that appear at any time of year.

Keep a simple list of employers you are interested in, their likely application windows and the closing dates of anything you have started. Our deadline planner on the home page can help you work backwards from a closing date so you are not left writing an application the night before it closes.

Know your worth and your rights

Before you accept any role, it helps to understand the basics of pay and conditions. Most employees in Australia are covered by minimum pay rates and the National Employment Standards, and many are covered by an award or enterprise agreement that sets more specific conditions. The Fair Work Ombudsman's website has tools to find the award and pay rates that apply. Our guides in the starting your career section explain job offers, contracts and probation in more detail.

Unpaid work: be careful

Internships, work experience and student placements can be a genuine way into an industry. But not every unpaid arrangement is lawful. The Fair Work Ombudsman explains that unpaid work experience or internships can be lawful if they are a genuine student placement that is a required part of a course, or if there is no employment relationship. If you are doing productive work that mainly benefits the business, you may be an employee entitled to pay. Read our internships and placements guide before you agree to work for free.

Search safely

Job seekers are a common target for scams. Scamwatch warns about fake recruiters who make unexpected contact through text messages or encrypted messaging apps, jobs that promise high pay for little effort and any "job" that requires you to pay money up front. A genuine employer will never ask you to pay to start work. Our job scams guide covers the warning signs in detail.

Use free support

You do not have to do this alone. University and TAFE careers services typically offer résumé feedback, practice interviews, workshops and employer events, and many continue to support graduates for some time after they finish. The Australian Government's Your Career website has free tools for exploring careers and planning next steps. Lecturers, placement supervisors, former employers and alumni can also be generous with advice when asked politely.

Looking after yourself during the search

Job hunting involves rejection, and that can be discouraging, especially when you are applying to many roles at once. Rejection is a normal part of the process for almost everyone, and it rarely means you are not good enough. Set realistic weekly goals, such as a certain number of quality applications, rather than measuring yourself only by offers. Keep doing things you enjoy, stay in touch with friends and talk to someone if the search is affecting your wellbeing.

Key points

• Structured graduate programs are one route among many; keep several open at once.
• Large employers often recruit well ahead of the start date, so check timing early.
• Unpaid internships are lawful only in certain circumstances; know the rules before you start.
• Never pay money to get a job, and be wary of unexpected recruiters on messaging apps.
• Use free careers services and government tools to strengthen your search.