How to Land Your Next Tradie Job in Australia: A Practical Playbook

Why tradie work is booming across Australia

Infrastructure upgrades, data-centre builds and residential projects mean hiring tradies is a weekly agenda item for recruiters. If you're a tradie in Australia right now, employers want proof you can work safely, keep projects on time and represent the brand onsite.

Tradies in Melbourne and other capitals have an edge if they show local tickets, white cards and site-specific experience. For regional assignments, emphasise your willingness to travel and work flexibly.

Build a resume that answers 'what do tradies do' for employers

Recruiters scan for job-ready proof in seconds. Use a tight summary that says you deliver safe, compliant and efficient trade work, then list 5-7 bullet points of achievements with numbers.

• Installed, tested and commissioned switchboards for 40+ apartments with zero rework.
• Led a crew of 6 on night-shift rail shutdowns; handed back tracks 30 minutes early on average.
• Completed confined-space and EWP tasks on petrochemical sites with full permit compliance.

Applications that get a response

When you're a tradie looking for work, match each ad. Mirror the language: electrician, chippy, rigger or plumber — whichever the ad uses. Mention tickets, licences and gear, and always flag your availability. This helps time-poor hiring managers shortlist faster.

Not sure if it's trady or tradie? Use the spelling in the ad, and include 'tradie job' naturally so applicant tracking systems pick it up.

• Subject line: 'Qualified tradie in Australia | Available 1 December | VIC & FIFO ready'.
• Cover letter opener: 2 sentences on the project type (fit-out, shutdown, maintenance) and your matching experience.
• Finish with a clear call: 'I can start next week and bring my own PPE and tools.'

Get visible where hiring tradies happens

Post short updates on LinkedIn or local Facebook trade groups with photos of completed work. Add alt text to images using the phrase 'tradie work completed in Melbourne' to help search engines index your skills.

Ask for 3 recent referees who can confirm reliability and safety. A quick quote from a supervisor about your punctuality can separate you from other tradies in Melbourne applying for the same shift.

Quick checklist before you hit send

One-page resume for most roles; two pages for supervisory work.

Tickets, inductions and RTO numbers listed up top.

Each bullet starts with a verb and includes numbers or site types.

Availability and locations (Metro Melbourne, regional Victoria, FIFO) are clear.