Finding and applying for a job
Explore effective ways to find and apply for jobs online, through networks, Disability Employment Service providers, and volunteering opportunities.
Overview
This guide provides information on:
- finding and applying for a job online or in-person
- using a Disability Employment Service provider to find a job
- volunteering as a pathway to finding a job
- finding a job through your networks and connections.
For information on writing your resume or cover letter please see the IncludeAbility guide on Writing a resume and cover letter.
Downloads
Download the resource 'Finding and Applying for a Job'
In PDF and DOCX formats
1. Finding and applying for a job
1.1 Identifying the right job for you
When looking for a job, consider the following questions:
- What are you interested in?
- What are you skilled at? Which of these skills would be useful in the workplace?
- What do you want out of a job?
Try to think of other questions you could also ask yourself to direct your job search.
Write a list of jobs you find interesting and look at the common factors between them. Speak to friends, family and other connections for help narrowing down your list and getting suggestions.
There are other factors that will impact your job search outside of personal preference. Ask yourself:
- Do you need reasonable adjustments?
- Would you like to work alone or around co-workers?
- Does your ideal job require further training?
- If you use a mobility aid, would you prefer working close to where you live, or does it not matter?
Carefully consider the pros and cons of each occupation that interests you. This will ensure you are looking for the job that is right for you.
1.2 Looking online
Most job vacancies are now advertised through job search sites.
You can use these sites to search and apply for a job based on your skills, location and preferred working hours.
Examples of general job search sites include:
There are also job search sites specifically for people with disability. These include:
Toozly
Toozly is Australia’s largest job search website for people with disability. The job search site was created by professionals with over 30 years experience in Disability Employment Services, Business, Human Resources, Psychology, Education and Training.
Find out more at toozly.com.au.
JobAccess
JobAccess is the national hub for workplace and employment information for people with disability, employers and service providers.
Find out more at jobaccess.gov.au.
Tip
If you are interested in working for a specific organisation or business, you could check their website directly.
Look for tabs such as ‘Jobs,’ ‘Careers’ or ‘Work for Us’ where new roles may be listed.
1.3 Working in government
If you are interested in a job in the Australian Public Service (APS), you can search the federal government job website.
If you are interested in state, territory or local government jobs, you can search the relevant state or territory government job website:
- Australian Capital Territory
- New South Wales government
- Northern Territory government
- Queensland government
- South Australian government
- Tasmanian government
- Victorian government
- Western Australian government.
RecruitAbility
The federal government has a scheme called RecruitAbility which aims to attract applicants with disability to the APS. The scheme allows individuals with disability who apply for vacancies the opportunity to automatically progress to the next stage of recruitment, provided they meet the eligibility and minimum requirements of the role.
When searching the federal government job website, you can select the ‘RecruitAbility’ tickbox to find out which jobs are part of the RecruitAbility scheme. For more information about the RecruitAbility scheme, visit the Australian Public Service Commission website.
1.4 Looking in-person
You may also wish to directly approach specific businesses or organisations in person. This can be a good approach if there is a specific shop, store, or business that you are interested in working for, or where the business does not have a website. For example, you might be interested in working at your local newsagency, real estate agent or cafe.
You can visit the business in person, introduce yourself, express your interest in working there and provide them a copy of your resume.
2. Using a Disability Employment Service provider to find a job
You may also choose to engage a Disability Employment Service (DES) provider to find a job.
A DES provider can help people with disability to find a job. They are funded by the government to provide employment support and services to people with disability.
A DES provider will get to know you – your skills, qualifications, experience, and goals – and will connect you with potential employers. They will help you to find a suitable job.
You can visit the JobAccess website for more information about Disability Employment Service providers.
3. Finding a job through volunteering
Volunteering is another approach to finding a paid job. Volunteering is unpaid work for an organisation or business. It is a valuable way to gain work experience in your field of interest.
While volunteering may not always lead to a paid job, it can assist as a pathway into employment in other ways:
- It allows you to demonstrate your skills to an employer and build workplace connections, without the stress of formally applying for a job.
- An employer may realise how much they have benefited from your contributions, and create a formal role for you to apply for.
- An employer might keep you at the top of their list and contact you if a job becomes available later on.
- Volunteering may help you develop valuable skills that allow you to apply for and secure a job.
If you are volunteering with the aim of securing paid employment, you should communicate this when you start. When volunteering, it is important that you only contribute as much of your time as you are willing to give. Unfortunately, some organisations may use volunteers in place of paid employees.
Ambassador Reflection
IncludeAbility Ambassador, Heidi La Paglia, is currently self-employed as a consultant. She describes her experience of volunteering early in her career and how it led to employment opportunities:
I spent a lot of time and energing volunteering and connecting with networks and people in my industry. While [my] roles were largely volunteer-based (they paid very little), I found that the exposure they gave me to women’s and disability sectors benefited me greatly; and are largely the reason for the employment opportunities I have had since leaving university.
Tip - How to get involved in volunteering
Most states and territories in Australia have a volunteering centre. Volunteering centres can connect you with volunteering opportunities near you. Click here to visit the Go Volunteer website for more information.
You can also reach out to your favourite charity or community organisation or click here to visit Seek Volunteer.
4. Finding a job through your networks and connections
Networks and personal connections can play a significant role when looking for a job.
A recent Australian survey of young people with disability revealed that 44% of respondents had found their job through some form of personal network. These networks were often word of mouth, family, friends or peers.
Applying for roles and undertaking interviews can be difficult. This is particularly true when people don’t understand the nature of your disability, your skills or your interests.
Family, friends or other connections may be able to introduce you to organisations they are connected with. They may also be able to offer you a job themselves.
Consider whether someone you know works in a field or organisation that interests you. You could ask this person for:
- information about what it’s like working in their job or at their organisation
- advice on how you could apply for something similar
- an introduction to someone who might be able to offer you some volunteer work as a first step.
Leverage your networks wherever possible. These people already know you, your strengths and that disability is not a barrier to employment. They can be a great asset for building your career.
The Australian Disability Network runs its Positive Action towards Career Engagement (PACE) mentoring program. This program links job seekers with a mentor who will provide advice on writing a CV, job interviews, understanding business and more, to help people with disability find employment.
