When I started my job search after coming to Australia, boy was I desperate to start my career! I found a bunch of different job boards and subscribed to all of them. However, it did not take me long before I realized the idiocy of my decision. I received job alerts every second of my day, leaving me anxious and worrying about applying for jobs all the time.

Since I had been working back home, I wanted to get into the Australian workforce ASAP. This was before I decided I would freelance for a while. I thought employment would offer my life a structure, and I wouldn’t feel as homesick as I did then.

I researched my options and found that staying jobless for an extended period could disrupt my sleep-wake cycle and mentally strain me in the long run. Thus, I began my job hunt, bracing myself for burnout and episodes of depression.

Job Hunting and Burnout – What You Can Do?

Imagine having dinner or a laugh with your partner and thinking about applying for a job you’ve just received an alert for. You're anxious and excited – and don't want to wait another second to apply for that position. You wake up every day intending to apply to X number of jobs and beat yourself up on days you couldn't meet your goal. To sum it up, this was pretty much my life after I came to Australia.

Results? I didn't land a single role because I later discovered my short-sighted approach to finding a job. The thought of networking with people from my industry never occurred to me, and I didn’t develop a strategic job search plan and applied for any and every job I could find.

I forgot it wasn't about applying to hundreds of jobs a day but tailoring my application for one job that matched my skillset, experience, and educational background. It was about convincing the hiring manager that I was the right fit for the job and no one else.

Sure, it took me a while, but I got there, and if you happen to find yourself in a similar position, here’s a list of questions you could ask yourself instead of blindly applying for jobs.

1- Why must I apply for this job, except for the reason that I am desperate for work?

2- Do I qualify for the job as per the JD?

3- Do I have the necessary skills/qualifications required for the job?

4- Do I have previous experience working in a similar role?

5- How can I justify my reason for applying for this position if I don't have previous professional experience working in a similar role? (Trust me, you’re gonna need an answer to this one later if not now.)

6- How can I convince the hiring manager to choose me for the role without having any previous experience?

Bonus Tip

Scour all the job sites and subscribe to the ones that cater to you – or your industry. Determine your target job title based on your education, experience, and passion, and apply to the ones that match your expertise – educational background or previous experience.

Here’s a list of 30 job boards you may subscribe to, depending on your industry or where you live in Australia.

List of Top 30 Job Boards in Australia

1- Seek

Seek is Australia's largest employment site and features over 90,000 jobs, job emails and career tools.

2- Indeed

Indeed is the world's largest job search online platform, and equally popular in Australia. However, I've come across a dozen vague and not-so-helpful job postings on Indeed, which is why I don't see myself lurking on this platform as much as I spend my time on LinkedIn.

3- LinkedIn

LinkedIn, a popular social media site for networking with professionals in your industry, requires no introduction! This has been my go-to platform ever since I came to Australia. Not only have I befriended professionals in my industry, but I have also been fortunate enough to land freelance clients after optimizing my LinkedIn profile and posting regularly on the platform.

Ad alert: Connect with me on LinkedIn here.

4- Youth Central:

Youth Central is an ideal platform for you if you are under 25 and want to understand the nitty-gritty of applying for jobs in Australia.

5- Jora:

Although I have found Jora late in sending job alerts, as it sources jobs from all the other sites in Australia, Jora can be a helpful resource in your job search.

6- CareerOne

CareerOne sends job updates for every State in Australia and advises you on how best to proceed with your career in Australia. It also offers professional resume writing services to help you land your dream role.

7- Adzuna

Adzuna claims to be the straight-shooting job search engine that helps you find the right role. According to them, it is developed on a transparent search engine so that the job hunt becomes faster and smoother for you. In case you're sick of scammers on all other sites, this one may be ideal for you.

Job Sites as per States in Australia

Develop your strategic job-hunting plan by picking the job site created for your State.

1- I Work for SA

2- I Work for NSW

3- Careers.VIC

4- Tasmanian Career

5- Career in Queensland

6- Career in Western Australia

7- Find a job in the WA government

Industry Specific Job Sites

Here’s a list of job sites catering to different industries! Whether you’re a healthcare professional or looking to start a career in early childcare, the sites below may be a helpful resource for your job search plan.

1- Ethical Jobs

2- Work From Home Jobs Australia

3- JobAccess

4- GradConnection

5- Kinder Careers

6- Synaco Global

Recruitment Agencies Job Boards in Australia

Don't forget to connect to the recruitment agencies and set alerts for jobs on their board. They are professionally equipped to assist you in your job hunt and contacting them may be a good idea for you to simplify your job search process.

Here’s a list of job sites that you can subscribe:

1- Robert Walters

2- Talent International

3- Paxsus

4- Entrée Recruitment

5- SMAART Recruitment

6- Hays

7- Adecco

8- Randstad

9- Edge Recruitment

10- People2people Recruitment

Wrapping Up with a Bonus Tip

While the list of the top job sites in Australia is tediously long, consider subscribing to the ones that make your job hunt hassle-free. Don't forget to narrow your search results with filters.

All the job sites in the list allow you to filter your search as per your choice of industry, location, and salary range. You can also find entry-level roles, mid-senior to senior roles, or managerial positions, depending on how well you utilize the features of each job site.

Remember to keep your job search plan plain and straightforward – and strategic. Take breaks, when necessary, seek help when feeling overwhelmed – or hang out with a friend or two when loneliness hits you badly. You owe it to yourself!

Have a successful job hunting!

Did I miss anything? Feel free to share your experience of finding a job in a new country or State. I would love to hear from you!