Careers in Asian Studies

Asian Studies is a fascinating and rewarding area of study and work. The Asian region will be at the centre of global development in the 21st Century. Career prospects for Asian Studies graduates - in government agencies, the private sector and industry, teaching and research, non-government and community organisations, journalism, media, and communications - are excellent. Our graduate career profiles will give you an idea of the variety of satisfying jobs open to those with Asian Studies qualifications. For more suggestions as to where Asian Studies could take you, check out the links below. Of course, the possibilities are endless! For other work, study and community service opportunities, click here.

Murdoch University Careers Centre

The Careers Centre provides a wealth of information relating to careers and job opportunities. You can search for advertised job vacancies, register on the job vacancies e-mail list, check for current recruitment campaigns, use the library material, and follow links to a variety of employment sites, many of which will be relevant to Asian Studies graduates. If you are on campus, visit the Careers Centre at Bush Court between 8.30am and 4.30pm weekdays, or check out their web site.

Commonwealth Public Service

Recruitment Services Australia (RSA) is the recruitment agency for the Commonwealth Public Service and some state and territory government agencies. RSA is part of the Department of Employment, Workplace Relations and Small Business. RSA coordinates entry level and graduate recruitment campaigns for the Commonwealth Public Service by means of the Public Sector Recruitment Test (PSRT). Check the RSA web site for further information. The Murdoch University Careers Centre site outlines the RSA application timetable and information sessions held on campus.

Many government agencies, for example the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs, and the Australian Customs Service, may see language skills and knowledge of other countries, particularly the Asian region, as especially desirable qualities in the graduates they recruit. Other individual government agencies can be accessed through the main Commonwealth Government site.

State Public Service

Check the WA State Government site for links to individual agencies, many of which conduct graduate recruitment campaigns. Alternatively, you can access the list of all State Government vacancies at jobs.wa.gov.au

Western Australian Universities

Universities employ staff in administrative, teaching and research positions, among others. Check the web sites for the current vacancy listings at:

• Murdoch University
• University of Western Australia
• Curtin University
• Edith Cowan University.

Opportunities in Tourism

Try the following sites for information on jobs in the tourism industry:

• Job Search Resources for the Tourism, Convention and Hospitality Industry
• Office of National Tourism
• Tourism Council Australia (the national peak tourism industry body representing the interests of more than 30,000 members and affiliated tourism and travel enterprises across Australia)
• Western Australian Tourism Commission

Teaching Jobs

Try the following sites for information on teaching positions in Western Australia:

• Horizons (employment opportunities in Catholic schools)
• Department of Education and Training - Western Australia

International Organisations

Language skills and awareness of other cultures are desirable qualities for recruits to a number of international organisations. Some of these have special 'Young Professionals' recruitment schemes for graduates.

• Devjobs International
• The United Nations (UN)
• Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR)
• Food and Agriculture Organisation of the UN (FAO)
• International Labour Organisation (ILO)
• Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD)
• United Nations Development Program (UNDP)
• UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO)
• United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO)
• UN Office for Project Services (UNOPS)
• World Bank
• World Health Organisation (WHO)

Community Aid and Development

The Overseas Service Bureau (OSB) is a not-for-profit development agency that runs the Australian Volunteers Abroad program and recruits people for paid positions in developing countries. OSB also operates the People Prepared recruitment agency. The Australian Council for International Development (ACFID) is the coordinating body for 90 Australian non-government organisations working in the field of overseas aid and development. ACFOA's web site lists current vacancies in member organisations. Community Aid Abroad is an international development agency that advertises vacancies in its branches around the world.