Video Summary - How I Got My First Software Engineering Job in Australia 🇦🇺

Summary of the video (autogenerated subtitles)

The video is a personal account of how the creator secured their first software engineering job in Australia—describing the job hunt challenges as an international student during COVID, and sharing practical lessons on applications, resumes, interviewing, and thriving in a first engineering role.

Main arguments / lessons on getting hired

Getting a first software engineering job is the hardest career hurdle. Graduation alone doesn’t guarantee employment. Companies want evidence you can build real things, solve problems, and learn quickly.
COVID worsened the job market through slower hiring, cost cutting, layoffs, and fewer opportunities. International students also faced added pressure because visa constraints limited the ability to “wait it out.”
Application rejection is discouraging but normal. The process can feel repetitive (apply → wait → rejection), but each application and interview builds capability and confidence over time.

How the creator changed their job-search approach

Don’t self-reject based on job descriptions. Initially, they avoided roles where they didn’t fully meet the listed requirements. Later, they realized job descriptions are often “wish lists.” If you understand fundamentals and can learn, you should still apply—even with fewer years of experience, unfamiliar technologies, or visa constraints.
Treat job descriptions and visa limitations as variables, not automatic barriers. They recommend being honest about visa status while still giving yourself a chance to go through the process.

Resume improvement

The creator describes their early resume as “trash” due to unclear impact.

They improved it by:

Describing projects in terms of outcomes/features/problem solved
Explaining how they used technologies (not just listing tool names)
Keeping the resume clear and easy to read

Interviewing: what companies look for

Technical interviews are not about being “perfect”—they assess reasoning, including:

How you break down problems
Whether you ask useful questions
Whether you consider edge cases

For graduate roles, companies also value attitude: being curious, humble, and coachable, since graduates won’t have full prior experience.

Landing the first role (and why location mattered)

They eventually secured an opportunity in Brisbane at a finance company as a mobile applications engineer.

They emphasize that accepting the “non-perfect” option (an interstate move) mattered more than comfort or staying near family/sisters. After gaining professional experience, future opportunities became easier.

What the first job was like (and how they adapted)

The creator highlights major differences between university and real engineering:

Real codebases are larger and already established
Work includes standards, pull requests, tickets, deadlines, and environment-specific bugs
Responsibility is higher—failure affects customers and business operations, not just grades

They also dealt with imposter syndrome, learning that confidence comes after repeated exposure, not before.

A key teamwork lesson: don’t be afraid to ask questions. The “mistake” isn’t asking—it’s staying silent too long.

Their practical approach to questions:

Try first, gather info, then ask a specific, evidence-based question (e.g., “I checked X, tried Y, and got Z; I think this may be happening…”)

Career strategy and what they’d do differently

If starting again, they would:

Prepare earlier (resume/portfolio/interviews before graduation)
Build fewer but higher-quality projects tied to real user problems
Communicate projects better (problem, architecture, decisions, outcomes)
Talk to more engineers to understand real expectations
Apply more confidently

Advice specifically for international students in Australia

Start early; build practical experience (APIs, databases, testing).
Learn how to explain technical decisions; practice interviews and communication.
Be flexible with location, company size, and technology—the first job may not be ideal, but it opens doors.
Remember: the first job matters because companies are taking a risk without proof yet. Once you gain experience and references, future hiring becomes easier.

Outcome / promise of next video

The creator credits their first opportunity with supporting their longer-term immigration and career path, including later sponsorship and PR progress, and says the next episode will detail their Australian PR journey (graduate visa, 482 sponsorship, 189 invitation).

Presenters / contributors

The video creator / narrator (no name provided in the subtitles).

How I Got My First Software Engineering Job in Australia 🇦🇺

Key takeaways