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Graduate Careers Australia

Background Research: Be Prepared!

Researching Potential Employers - Steps Five to Eight

Step Five: Look for Advertised Vacancies

Spend some time each week looking through relevant newspapers for job vacancies in your field. Have both a long term perspective (jobs that may appeal to you over the next three-10 years) as well as jobs for which you could apply right now or at the completion of your studies. Keep copies of these advertised vacancies and track which companies are employing, what they call the positions that interest you, the salary, the location, the skill requirements and the employment conditions of the position. If you see a job that interests you, research other companies which provide similar products or services and may also offer work. Regular research of the job market will give you a fair idea of the types of positions that appeal to you as well as potential employers.

It may also be worth your while to register with some Internet Job Boards and receive email alerts for jobs and news within your field of study or area of interest. There are many of these Job Boards; the following are just a few examples:

Step Six: Make Enquiries with Professional and Industry Associations
One of the best sources of information will be people already employed in the industry. Find out the peak professional body relevant to your area (there may be several) and check them out by going to the events, networking and getting involved. At the very least, go to their websites and learn what you can from there. Consider which professional body is most relevant to your career goals. Some offer reduced rates for students or even free student membership, so take advantage and join before you complete your studies. Professional and Industry Associations (sometimes known as Employer Associations) are established to be a service to their members and it is in their interest to help new graduates learn more about the industry.Check with your Careers Service for a list of the key Professional and Industry Associations for your area of study. This information may be available from the Careers Service website and/or the website of your faculty at the university. You could also refer to the Directory of Australian Associations which may be held at your Careers Service, in the University Library or in a public library.

Step Seven: Search Recruitment Agency Websites
You may already have had some experience with any of the hundreds of recruitment agencies currently operating in Australia. They are great sources of information about vacancies and employers. The trick is to identify the agencies which specialise in your field by checking their websites and by keeping an eye on job advertisements to get a feel for the agencies regularly advertising jobs in your field. Word of mouth is also a good strategy – ask around your fellow students and colleagues for their tips on agencies. Do a search or try the following sites for a listing of agencies by location and specialisation:

Step Eight: Check Company Directories

Company directories will also provide invaluable information. Some of these, such as Encore and B & T directories, may be available in hardcopy in the Careers Service Resource Room or the university library. However, you may find it quicker and easier to access those available via the internet. Use your favourite search engine to find the websites relevant to your discipline or check the links from your Careers Service. Type the following in your search field:

  • [your occupational group/discipline/industry/job type] directory Australia
  • [your occupational group/discipline/industry/job type] company directory Australia

The telephone book should also be an important resource in your research. Check out the White Pages, the Yellow Pages, local directories and web-based directories. Following is a sample list of just a few of the online directories:

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