The overseas graduate labour market

On the whole, the Asia-Pacific region is expected to perform well and it has been forecasted that high domestic demand and subsiding US-Iraq geopolitical risk mean that global economic conditions are likely to improve.

The trend is that jobs are concentrated in specific occupational areas and employers have become more discerning about whom they recruit. Graduates are increasingly expected to be more flexible in terms of their skills and qualifications, as the focus for graduates is no longer on ‘What can they do for me?’ but ‘What can I offer them?’

It is important to also understand that an overseas education, in itself, is not the only factor that potential employers will look for.
The criteria that employers use for selection are likely to include your academic performance, English language ability and personal qualities.

Furthermore, with the increase in workers changing jobs and career direction more frequently, a significant amount of work is now offered on a temporary/contractual basis. Explore different options for your first job, as it may not be the traditional ‘graduate’ position but it will still equip you with the relevant experience, knowledge and skills necessary to progress in your career.

Penultimate year

During your penultimate year you need to do a stocktake of where you are with your career planning. Points to consider at this stage may be:

researching the labour market and deciding on career options
checking the visa or immigration requirements of the country where you are seeking work if it is not your country of origin
deciding on your criteria for differentiating between employment opportunities and how they meet your goals
taking a look at yourself in the way an employer would:
- 'Does this person have a clear career direction?'
- 'Have they maximised their time at university in terms of marks and extra-curricular activities?'
- 'Can they demonstrate the kind of attributes we seek through work experience or involvement in university life?'

Most employers, whichever country they are based in, look for a blend of good academic results, employment experience and extra curricular activities. You still have time to build your resume with involvement and achievement in these areas, measuring yourself and your career aspirations against the graduate labour market.

Ask yourself the hard questions about whether you have the qualifications to obtain the kind of start to your career that you are seeking. If not, what alternative careers or employers can you consider and would a postgraduate qualification make the difference?

Final year

This is when you really have to give attention to your job search. If you haven’t done the above, do them quickly as you will need to be focused on applying for jobs in your final year. Here are some further planning tips for your final year:

Identify the employers that you want to work for and find out essential information, such as method of application and closing dates - do this early!
Become an expert job seeker. Your university careers service will be able to help you with all aspects of your job search and it is essential that you really understand what is expected in your resume, your application letter and at an interview. Look up job search websites for countries that you are considering working in and don’t forget that many universities in countries such as Singapore and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region have excellent websites that give country specific information on resumes and interviews.
Do not be complacent about cultural differences and how they manifest themselves in seeking work. Many well-qualified graduates have failed in their job search because of an inappropriately formatted resume or appearing boastful at interview. An excellent publication to assist you with all aspects of job search overseas is The Global Resume and CV Guide by Mary Anne Thompson. Ask your careers service or university library if they have a copy.
Use all available means to explore the graduate labour market. Most major newspapers have websites or job search engines that will allow you to find information on:
- who is recruiting
- what skills are in demand
- where jobs are located
- salary bands
- major recruitment agencies

You can start building up a file of prospective employers well in advance of completing your studies.

Thousands of vacancies for graduates are listed on websites such as:

Most corporate organisations offer helpful information for job seekers on their websites. This can vary from detailed advice on how to apply and what the organisation is seeking, to basic information on their products or services. All of this information is of value in making your application attractive and relevant to the needs of the employer.

Most employers will not employ someone without meeting them in person. If you are lucky, you will have secured a graduate position during the vacation or during semester through an on-campus interview. Most students will have to present themselves in person to pursue their job search. Below are some tips.

Arriving overseas and looking for a job

Try and organise a schedule of meetings or interviews prior to your arrival. This will avoid wasted time and money once you step off the plane.
Your university might have an alumni association in your home country or in the country where you are seeking work. Make sure that you join as the people that you meet may be helpful contacts in your job search. Also let your friends, your family and their friends know what you are looking for, and ask for contacts.
Being at university enables students to establish an international network that can be very helpful in seeking work. Keep in touch with friends that you have made at university as they may be able to assist in providing an introduction to potential employers or advice on how to go about your job search in that country.
Be mobile. It may be that the best start to your graduate career is not in the first country or city of your choice. It may be with an employer in the suburbs or regions. Remember that the reputation of the employer, the quality of the training and the prospects for genuine career progression are important in shaping your professional career.
While it is important to target your employers of choice with an effective application, do ensure that you apply to enough organisations to give yourself a reasonable chance of being successful.

Returning home or working off shore

If you are an international student who has studied in Australia you are not automatically a better candidate than someone who has a degree from your own country. Employers look for applicants with the right attitude and personal skills-workplace communication skills, ‘can do’ attitude, competitiveness and initiative, among other qualities.

There is a lot of competition for graduate positions. The more effort you put into the application process, the better chance you have of securing a position.