Western Australia jobs

re: work and holiday Australia visas (for the under 30 year olds)

Start here: http://www.immi.gov.au/media/fact-sheets/49awhp.htm

To get a sense of the area and what’s going on dig thru the local paper:

http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/ and http://www.wjobs.com.au/

Then look thru the job openings at BHP, Rio Tinto, etc. You’ll find many of them use either the Taleo service or similar (for certified trades and professionals). Put your data online and apply if a job seems to fit. e.g. http://jobs.bhpbilliton.com/ http://www.riotinto.com/careers

If you don’t have a certification in a trade or profession (see the visa FAQs for a list) (and even if you do) then the best bet is to (1) get your data online at http://www.seek.com.au, (2) obtain a U.S. passport and (3) the Australian holiday and work visa, (4) review what openings by what companies are available in the trades and services that might match your abilities and interests (there are many smaller local companies employed by the big firms to do infrastructure work) – send them email to see if they’d be willing to see you when you’re in the area (and even if they decline and it looks interesting, visit them anyway), and (5) Get on a plane.

I’d avoid using a broker who offers to place you for a fee (some of these folks that pop up in a web job search are little more than what you can do for yourself). Best to do a little homework and then just go and be your own salesman.

Good luck.