Work
Looking for work in Australia: a 90-minute plan
Five time blocks to move from browsing job ads to sending applications. Explore the chart and give your next search session a clear start and finish.
You opened a job site for a quick look. An hour later, you have twelve tabs open, three saved ads and a resume that still needs work. Sound familiar?
When you are looking for your first job in Australia, the search can fill an afternoon without leaving you a clear next step for tomorrow. Try giving it a boundary: 90 minutes, five activities and a final note to pick up from. You will need a basic resume already prepared, an internet connection and somewhere to record your applications.
Your next 90-minute block
The chart is an organisational example, with time allocations chosen by the KangaRoute editorial team. It does not measure how long finding a job takes or promise replies. Move time between activities to suit your situation.
Select a bar to reveal a suggestion. Applications get the longest block: first choose where to apply, then give yourself time to do it carefully.
15 minutes: choose where to apply
Before scrolling, write down three filters: the role you want, the area you can reach and when you are available. If you are looking at café work, for example, a shift starting before the first bus can be a practical problem, even when the ad looks ideal.
Keep your shortlist small. For each ad, finish this sentence: “I am interested because…”. If the answer is just “because it is a job”, read it again. Finish this block with a few opportunities to consider and their original links close at hand.
20 minutes: make room for relevant experience
Open your basic resume and decide what to highlight for those roles. If you have worked in a restaurant, think of a specific situation you can describe: a busy service, handling orders or a responsibility you actually held. It will also help if you get a phone call.
JobAccess recommends tailoring applications to the role and organisation. Use the ad to check which documents are needed and how to apply. If you still need to build a resume from scratch, make that the focus of this session and leave applications for later.
35 minutes: finish your applications
Work through your selected ads one at a time. When you have finished with one employer, close that tab: a small visual sign that this step is complete.
Do not set an application quota you must meet at any cost. One long form could take up most of the block. Before sending, check the recipient and open the attachment: is it really the file you meant to send?
What you want at the end: carefully completed applications and a record of what you sent. If one is still unfinished, note exactly where to resume.
15 minutes: make time for conversations
Look for replies and continue conversations you have already started. When following up, respect the instructions in the ad and any timeline the employer has given. Sending another message every day can just clutter the conversation.
No existing contacts to follow up with yet? Use the time to practise a brief introduction aloud: who you are, what you can do and which shifts you are available for. Keep it natural. If you already have an interview, this block can become preparation time for that meeting.
5 minutes: leave tomorrow a note
One line per application is enough, in a notebook or a note on your phone:
- Where: employer, role and link to the ad.
- When: the date and channel you used to apply.
- Next: any reply received or your next action.
Finish with a specific sentence: “Tomorrow I will complete the unfinished form.” That is easier to pick up from than “I need to find work.”
When to stop the timer
An interesting reply deserves attention even if it changes your plan. Before accepting, clarify duties, hours and pay; Fair Work has guidance on what to check before starting employment.
If someone asks for an upfront payment to get a job or earn money, pause and check. Scamwatch recommends verifying the recruiter’s identity using contact details you find independently.
The 90 minutes are a starting point. After a few sessions, look at your notes: where do you get stuck? Move time towards that step. Even a day without replies can leave you something useful: a completed application, a question answered and a concrete next action.
