Working in Melbourne

Melbourne’s high quality of life and vibrant culture attract expats from all over the world. In the gold rush era of the 1850s, Melbourne was one of the British Empire’s wealthiest mining cities.

While these mineral riches are no longer the key driver for its present-day economy, Melbourne still glitters, and it embraces a history of welcoming migrant workers from around the globe.

These days, Melbourne has an exceptionally multicultural workplace, where expat employees are likely to work in a team with colleagues from a variety of cultural backgrounds.

Job market in Melbourne

In recent years, there has been a rise in the demand for workers in several of Melbourne’s industries. At the top of this list are the healthcare and ICT industries. Science and technology workers are also in demand, as are those in the industries of engineering, education and construction.

Many opportunities are also available in regional Victoria for expats willing to live in the smaller towns and cities with a more urgent demand for skilled employees than in Melbourne itself.

Finding a job in Melbourne

Most foreigners planning to work in Melbourne arrive in the city with a job already in hand. You’ll need a work permit to take up employment in Australia, and this is something most employers will happily assist with.

If you’re on the lookout for a job in Melbourne, a good starting point is online job portals and job-seeking communities on social media, particularly LinkedIn.

It is also worthwhile to visit the websites of individual companies to check if there are any vacancies listed. Recruitment agencies, particularly those specialising in your industry, are another helpful resource when finding work in Melbourne.

When searching for a new job, tailor your CV. By highlighting particularly relevant skills and experience, you’re more likely to pique the interest of the person going through the applications.

Useful links

• SEEK
• Indeed
• Jora

Work culture in Melbourne

Energy, capability and a positive attitude are the key personal qualities that will endear an expat to their new work colleagues in Melbourne, far more so than impressive qualifications.

Australian workplace culture reflects the relaxed informality of everyday Australian life. There is no standing on ceremony, and relations between management and staff are informal, though still businesslike. Humour and slang are used in everyday communication, and it’s a good idea to engage in office banter when it comes up.

While Australians’ fun-loving and friendly attitude can be seen both within and outside the workplace, they do value hard work. Bragging and egotism should be avoided, though. Australians tend to be humble, as seen in the commonly held idea that everyone deserves a ‘fair go’. This phrase essentially means believing that everyone, given an equal opportunity, can succeed, and that no one person is inherently better than another.