If without PR, then harder, not much company willing to sponsor visa especially if that's not a niche skill..that's what the headhunter told me

A few main points:
- No PR, no job.
- Alternatively get a company to sponsor you for 457 visa.
- Forget about applying jobs offshore. Competition is tough. Once they see u not local, go to bottom of pile.
- Be prepared to tahan 6 months w/out job if not applying for 457 visa.
- Rent expensive. Be prepared to pay $200 a room/week in Sydney, fro $400 for an apartment.
- Tax higher, about 25% for mid-range salary (60-80K a year). But subsidized healthcare, and after 2 years, unemployment benefits for PRs.
- Maybe consider SG as well. Lower tax, high value of currency, international class jobs.

Depends what type of jobs you are after.
IT - some contracts start Jan, so some opportunity.
Other industries - most are starting to slow down Nov-Dec.
In Jan/Feb - everything dead quiet. Retail - slow down after Xmas. Professionals - recovering from holiday.

In short, best time to look for jobs:
Retail - October (ramping up for Xmas)
Professional - May/June/July.