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Non-hospitality job opportunities for holiday makers

Replies: 95 - Last Post: Mar 30, 2013 4:01 PM Last Post By: saopedro

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KoalasRule

KoalasRule avatar

Dec 6, 2012 12:56 AM
Posts:  942

30

I agree with #30. OP you are travelling on a working holidaymaker visa, which is designed to allow you to supplement your holiday by working for up to six months with one employer. The fact that you are being extremely selective in your work choices (to the point of pedantism) makes it extremely unlikely that you will find a job at all, let alone one that you like. Most of us here live in Australia. We know the job market, and we know what the economy is doing. Employment here is probably better than in a lot of countries, but I still don't think it's as buoyant as it was 5-6 years ago. Nobody is going to offer you a job on a plate. And being a foreigner on a WHV means you aren't going to excite too many employers. It's not going to be a case of 'which job will I choose', but will more likely be a case of 'what job can I get'. Employers aren't going to tolerate a fussy job candidate. There are plenty of others out there who aren't picky at all. You either perhaps need an attitude adjustment, or maybe just stick to having a holiday while you're here.

traveling_porcupine

traveling_porcupine avatar

Dec 6, 2012 10:13 PM
Posts:  250

31

I just have to adjust some tactics, don't worry i will get a job i want, quit, travel, and get another one, and repeat. It will become the ultimate travel+work Australian journey, far better than the average backpacker's experience.

Kate_R

Kate_R avatar

Dec 6, 2012 10:40 PM
Posts:  7,356

32

Please, please, please, come back and post during your holiday here. I'm sure it will be wonderful to read about your above average experiences.

evamelb

evamelb avatar

Dec 7, 2012 2:25 AM
Posts:  153

33

Yes, please do come back and let us know how you got along.

traveling_porcupine

traveling_porcupine avatar

Dec 7, 2012 3:33 AM
Posts:  250

34

Ok, but i may need a reminder (by private message) or by one of you resurrecting this thread.

spiritintheeyes

spiritintheeyes avatar

Dec 8, 2012 9:07 AM
Posts:  8

35

I doubt it, but go for it! Especially as a foreign traveler that can only stay in one job maximum of 6 months. And you want to do all of Australia in a year, you'd be in jobs for very short times and people don't hire people for the kind of work you want for a week or so. The kinds of things you can expect to get is cleaning, bar work, shop work, warehouse work, general laboring or farming. I have about 20 friends who have done the Australia WHV and they all did standard cleaning, bar work and stuff. There's advice from Australians on here and they'd know what happens in their country best. I know what to expect when I get there and I'm willing to do whatever. I advise you not to get your hopes up. You'll probably end up cleaning or shop assistant work. And there ain't nothing wrong with that. There really is no point in going to somewhere like Australia if you're going to be stuck in an office all day.

traveling_porcupine

traveling_porcupine avatar

Dec 9, 2012 2:19 AM
Posts:  250

36

Shop work might be OK, if i am left alone in the shop without anyone breathing down my neck, or if there aren't many other co-workers (with a hierarchy, like a coffee shop, that was the worst job i ever had, so many rivalries between new employees, and the old ones). However, an art gallery, or aboriginal art shop would be fine, as long as i can bring my laptop and surf the net during quiet hours, and i would work 1-2months, which i think is enough, i have already traveled 10,000km of Australian road from Perth to Alice via Darwin, in 2 months, so 12 months (inclusive of max 3months aside for odd jobs here, and there) will be more than enough to do full circle. No worries!

SophieMelita

SophieMelita avatar

Dec 9, 2012 3:23 AM
Posts:  63

37

Night owls and 7 11s in capital cities seem to be staffed by only one person at a time most of the time. I'm sure you could get away with some Internet surfing too if you're an efficient worker.

evamelb

evamelb avatar

Dec 9, 2012 3:49 AM
Posts:  153

38

So, tell us, what exactly do you know about art, in particular indigenous (we don't refer to it as aboriginal) art?
The more I read of this thread the more it smells of troll.

traveling_porcupine

traveling_porcupine avatar

Dec 9, 2012 10:40 PM
Posts:  250

39

I believe both names are acceptable, since in Alice there was a store in the city center with the title Aboriginal Art in its name, can't remember the exact name though. Also, the person who worked in there didn't seem to know anything about Aboriginal Art, they were just someone to sit there, and be ready in case someone actually walked in the shop, which was rare from what I noticed. The shop was always empty, with the girl sitting at the desk for hours one end, on her laptop. That would be an ideal job. Perhaps i should target these kinds of businesses.

Ozziegiraffe

Ozziegiraffe avatar

Dec 10, 2012 3:48 AM
Posts:  4,847

40

There is a difference between what it is OK for an Indigenous people to call themselves, and what it is OK for others to call them. Be careful.

KoalasRule

KoalasRule avatar

Dec 10, 2012 1:21 PM
Posts:  942

41

So what you are saying, OP, is that you expect to get a job where a potential employer will pay you while you 'surf the 'net' on company time? Christ on a bike ... this just gets more and more bizarre ...

Tell me OP, do you have a job in your native country?

LisaMNZ

LisaMNZ avatar

Dec 10, 2012 1:23 PM
Posts:  7,184

42

I've always assumed that those people sitting in art galleries alone on their computers are probably the desperate owner or part-owner hoping and praying that maybe today someone will come in and buy something...

libbyh

libbyh avatar

Dec 10, 2012 1:35 PM
Posts:  2,411

43

Am sure you are right, Lisa. No gallery owner would be paying 'above-average' wages to lazy backpackers who think they are too clever to serve coffee or go fruitpicking.

traveling_porcupine

traveling_porcupine avatar

Dec 12, 2012 11:24 PM
Posts:  250

44

They don't give above average wage, it will be miniumum wage and for sure they are not the owner, they are just the help, and often they are not backpackers, but Australians from other parts of the country, since my father is an oil painter, I may able to land such a job, and just one thing i am NOT lazy, i just don't want to work as a kitchen rat, or housekeeping staff, OK? If something in between comes along, i may be interested. Plus, $18/hour is hardly enough to buy anything in Aus, not even a lunch, so I don't see why i should work my ass of for it. Just because others have to do it, or done it, doesn't meant I have to fall in the same predicament.
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