Working in Sydney

Sydney is Australia’s commercial centre, bringing droves of expats to its shores each year. Home to some of the country's largest businesses, Sydney is also the city of choice for multinational companies establishing a base in Australia, and therefore the natural option for job-seeking expats.

Job market in Sydney

Some of Australia's largest companies, and indeed some of the largest companies in the world, are based in and around Sydney. Major companies in Sydney include the Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA), Westpac, Woolworths Group and QBE Insurance.

The strength of Sydney's financial and insurance services sectors means that expats in these industries will have a good chance of securing a job, as there are plenty of opportunities in the area. Other strong industries continually looking to hire include healthcare, retail, and manufacturing.

Finding a job in Sydney

There is plenty of work in Sydney, and the city's government is constantly doing its part to stimulate job creation. Expats often have questions about where to find information on available jobs.

The best place to start looking is on the internet. Looking for opportunities online has many advantages: it’s free, new listings are put up frequently, and you can start job hunting even before you arrive in Australia. Jobseekers can also filter a search by location, sector, salary and position, which saves a great deal of time.

For those who already know what type of work they want, approaching recruitment agencies can be highly beneficial. There are hundreds of them in Sydney, and you can find agencies for all types of jobs in various sectors.

Lastly, you would do well to put your networking skills to work. Word of mouth and personal recommendations are highly valued in Australia. Approaching a company directly and enquiring about roles can be a gateway to opening up opportunities down the line. Networking on websites like LinkedIn can also be hugely beneficial.

Useful links

• SEEK
• Indeed
• Jora

Work culture in Sydney

The work environment in Sydney reflects the friendly and casual demeanour of Australians in general. The atmosphere is informal, with humour and slang being commonplace. Swearing is often part of the office vernacular and is usually not considered offensive. Drinks after work are the norm, and this is a great opportunity to get to know coworkers a bit better.

The corporate structure is typically egalitarian, with an emphasis on the team rather than the individual. Everyone is encouraged to voice their opinions, and decisions are taken with group concerns in mind.

Australians value a good work-life balance. While on the clock, Australians are extremely hard workers, but many companies promote a good work-life balance, encouraging staff to maintain a separation between their work and personal life. You’ll notice everyone takes exercise in Sydney whether it’s before work, during lunch hour or after work.