International students
Career support and resources
Whether seeking to build a career in Australia, back home, or in another country, we can help you get started with a range of services tailored for international students.
Our international student programs and events are designed to deliver the information you need to understand the local job market, build your professional networks, and navigate the recruitment process with confidence.
Through Sydney CareerHub
for our Career Development Program and you will have access to all of our Career Development Program workshops and unlock an opportunity to participate in an exclusive a global industry project, gaining valuable real-world experiences. You will also have access to other employability development such as mentoring programs, with more opportunities to be announced.
Our workshops include:
to find out more. Have a question about the Career Development Program? Read our FAQs beloworcontact us.
International students currently enrolled at the University of Sydney from all faculties, all degrees and all year levels are eligible to participate in the Career Development Program. International students who begin the program while enrolled can complete the program as a graduate.
You can start the program at any time during the year by simply attending a Career Development Program approved workshop. You must attend 7 approved workshops within 12 months from the first workshop attendance date to complete the program.
Semester 1:
Application close: 16 May, 11.55 pm
Orientation: Monday, 16 June
Program dates: 23 June – 6 July
Semester 2:
Application close: 13 October, 11.55 pm
Orientation: Monday, 17 November
Program dates: 24 November – 7 December
Yes, you can receive attendance credit for approved substitute workshops. Please refer to the list of substitute workshops . All workshops must be attended and recorded within 12 months.
We're aware of your study commitments and endeavour to offer a number of sessions throughout the year. Additional catch-up sessions are run late each semester and you can also receive attendance credit for attending an approved substitute workshop (see table below).
Career Development Program Workshops for international students (recommended) |
Substitutions allowed |
|---|---|
Australian Resume Basics |
Resume Writing workshopson Sydney CareerHubincluding:
|
Writing a Cover Letter |
Writing a Cover Letter workshop (for all students)on Sydney CareerHub |
Job Search Skills |
Job Search workshopson Sydney CareerHub including:
|
Interview Skills |
Interview Skillsworkshops on Sydney CareerHub including:
|
Career Planning |
No substitutions permitted |
Building your Professional Network |
No substitutions” to “Professional Communication workshops. |
Transition to the Australian Workplace |
No substitutions permitted |
Yes, international students are welcome to attend any of the Career Development Program workshops without committing to the completion of the Program.
When entering the venue, scan the QR code with your phone to sign in. If you are unable to scan the QR code, please ensure you record your name and student number on the sheet provided by our staff. If your attendance is not recorded in one of the above two ways, attendance will not be counted.
You are required to attend the full workshop session for it to be counted towards the Career Development Program, with attendance recorded for the first 15 minutes of the workshop only (i.e. for a 1pm workshop, your attendance will not be recorded after 1.15pm, and the workshop will not be counted towards your Career Development Program record).
Attendance data is uploaded towithin 5 working days of each workshop.
Yes, in your workflow. It will allow you to submit an EOI for the program once you have attended at least 3 of our employability workshops.
End of S1 and end of S2.
No, it’s similar to a project, and the experience will be valuable and may assist you in getting paid work.
If you intend to start your career in Australia, you can use the samejob search methodsutilised by local students, however, investing some time in learning about the Australian job market and workplace will make your transition to work easier. Keep your options open by staying up to date on employment developments in your home country and other regions that are of interest to you.
Visit ourcareer planning pageto find out how you can research industries, organisations and opportunities. It's also a good idea to engage with the Careers Centre to learn more about what employers expect and value. We run a comprehensiveCareer Development Programfor international students which will help you understand the recruitment process and enable you to present yourself effectively in yourjob applicationsandinterviews.
Do you know how much you should get paid per hour or whether an unpaid job is legal? Read about pay rates and yourrights and responsibilities at workto inform your job search and work choices. Some other useful resources include:
Consider theemployability skillsyou have to offer an employer and think about any attributes that may make you stand out from other job applicants. You may find that you have some interesting ‘selling points’ as an international student, eg, language skills, international experience, cultural sensitivity, knowledge of foreign markets/businesses or the ability to rapidly adapt to different environments. Seek opportunities that will utilise your unique skills.
Australian employers expect you to graduate with solidemployability skillsas well as a degree. Alongside studying, you should engage incampus life activitiesthat build your skill set and enhance yourresume.Casual workandvolunteeringare also highly regarded by employers.
Most Australian employers will value your casual work experience, even if it is not relevant to your studies or industry. Taking oncasual workwill show your understanding of the Australian workplace, time management, and othertransferable skills. Look for casual jobs on.
Yourresumemay need to be adapted for an Australian audience. You may also need to write acover letterorstatement addressing selection criteria. Start practising yourinterview skillsto gain confidence in answering questions. You can find out more aboutjob applicationsand interviews in ourInternational Student Career Development Program.
Even though some graduate roles are only open to Australian citizens or permanent residents, formalgraduate programsare not the only place to begin your career. Consider the following strategies:
If you plan to return to your home country or seek options elsewhere in the world, there are some steps you can take to ensure that you're prepared.
Keep in touch with your family, friends and contacts at home. Your peers will likely be a useful source of information on graduate recruitment trends and employer expectations if you choose to return or your circumstances change.
