Abhinav Mital is the Co-founder of The WorldGrad, a hybrid learning-focused study abroad platform. Alumni of ISB Hyderabad and IIT Delhi, Abhinav comes with nearly 15 years of experience in the education sector and was a founding member and former Partner of Parthenon-EY’s international education practice. Before this, he has prior experience with numerous global higher education institutions on growth strategy, international expansion, and improving student experience as well as advised PE investors, publishers, education organisations, and Edu-tech ventures. Presently, Abhinav is working on the operations advisory board of The Education Fund, Australia.
Australia so far has been a popular study abroad destination for Indian students. With a great quality of education, infrastructure, and most importantly, immigration options, the Australian Bureau of Statistics confirms Australia to be preferred by Indians’ for immigration, estimating a total Indian population of 721,050 (7.21 lakhs) in 2020 that accounts for 2.8 percent of Australia’s total population.
While It’s reasonable to be concerned about the global education and job climate, especially in a country like Australia. The continent attracts students and professionals from all over the world due to the emerging economy and evolving job opportunities. When we claim that Indians are looking forward to relocating abroad after graduation, the facts are clear: a large percentage of students look for employment prospects in Australia that eventually leads to permanent residency.
Options for students after graduation in Australia:
There are various alternatives available once you’ve earned your degree in Australia. The first approach is a two-way approach wherein students look for a part-time job to support themselves financially alongside getting a higher education degree program that can either be a master’s, a post-graduate diploma, or for postgraduate students, a Ph.D.
The other approach of students is staying in Australia primarily for an employment opportunity. Now, these opportunities can vary across different fields and levels of one’s previous degrees. Opportunities can range from university or college on-campus internships to jobs; both full-time or part-time. Some students, however, focus centrally on higher studies and don’t seek immediate employment.
However, It is strongly advised to have a very clear plan of action set in mind to be able to choose the most suitable visa category. Visas you can be eligible for as an international student in Australia:
a) Skilled Independent Visa (subclass 189)
b) Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186)
c) Skilled Employer-Sponsored Regional Visa (subclass 494)
d) Skilled Work Regional Visa (subclass 491)
Selecting the right area of work in Australia:
When it comes to employment-based stay in Australia, it is crucial to consider a few factors such as job and labour market, the cost of living (defers one city to another), and the visa-related nuances of the selected field. According to Payscale.com polls, some in-demand fields with higher wages are – Scientific Jobs; Professional Jobs, and Technical Services. They are further bifurcated into various job roles, each with a different set of responsibilities and varying pay scales. Some of the lucrative options relating to the aforementioned fields are:
- Social Assistance and Health-care: Pay Scale – AUD 92,000
The industries in this sector are organized in a logical order, beginning with those that only provide medical care, moving on to those that provide both health care and social assistance, and summing up with those providing social assistance. The institutions within this sector provide services by qualified personnel. This commonality of the procedure is shared by all industries in the sector, specifically, labour inputs from health practitioners or social workers with the necessary knowledge.
- Business Management: Pay Scale – AUD 84,000
Earning a bachelor’s degree in business administration is one of the best ways to advance your career because almost every field needs the skills, expertise, and information that a bachelor’s degree in business administration provides.
Australia is a highly recommended destination for management hopefuls since it provides students with excellent internship opportunities, allowing them to develop skills that will eventually help them obtain a permanent position.
- Engineering: Pay Scale – AUD 65,000
Engineering is to use math and science to design, test, and create machines, buildings, and processes. Engineers work on enhanced prostheses, novel materials, engine efficiency and alternative fuels, bridge construction, and clean water systems development.
Employers all across the world want engineers who have studied engineering in Australia. They want skilled and experienced graduates who can get the job done. Engineering Education Australia also offers a Professional Year in Engineering program that allows international students with a qualifying visa to train in the profession.
- Human Resource: Pay Scale- AUD 60,000
The managers at Human Resources are responsible for planning, coordinating, and directing the organizational administrative operations. They also take care of recruiting, interviewing, and employing new personnel. They consult with top executives for strategic planning and are primarily a liaison between the management and operations. Australian Government’s Department of Employment states that sectors like Skills, Small & Family Business, may generate managerial jobs for Human resource and planning by 12.8% in the five years leading up to May 2023.
- Social Sciences and Humanities: Pay Scale – AUD 51,000-90,000
The humanities research upon languages and literature, philosophy and the arts, and the social sciences focus on studying economics, psychology, and history. Students that take this route to gain good communication and critical thinking. By building a thorough overview of student enrollment trends, teaching, and research activities, Australia’s existing capabilities in the humanities, arts, and social sciences are assessed, as well as gaps and potential for the future. skills, as well as cultural knowledge.
Apply for PR
If a student visa holder has completed two years of education in Australia, they can apply for Australian Permanent Residency through the Skilled Independent Visa.
Work Vacation
Students under the age of 30 can travel and work in Australia for up to 12 months with the support of a Working Holiday Visa or Work and Holiday Visa.
Professional Experience
You can apply for a year-long Professional Year Program if your graduate major was Engineering, Computer Science, or Accounting. It assists you in gaining experience before going out. It also provides you with additional credits if you have sought permanent residency.
- You may try contacting your classmates, present workplace, or coworkers.
- Websites and Apps for Job Seekers
- Alumni associations
- Campus placement drives
- Sending resumes to organizations in your field that are a good fit for you
- Takeaway
It is important to note that these trends may change over time and it is crucial to do thorough market research at a personal level to observe the ongoing market trends to make the best decisions. A rectilinear approach towards employment is usually the safest path. Wherein there is obvious relevance between academic degrees and mature experiences. However, it is not a golden rule and with relevant skills and hard work, any change in career can be made fruitful down the line.