So you want a job that offers sponsorship for Australia?
Well, you’re going to need a strategy and you have to qualify for an Australian sponsorship visa, but which one?
Temporary Sponsored Visas vs Permanent Sponsored Visas
Did you know that companies prefer temporary short-term visas like the TSS 482 visa to employer-sponsored permanent visas like the 186 visa?
Ok, so maybe you already knew that, but I didn’t and I was a little surprised.
I thought that the “temporary” part would be a detriment to getting sponsorship. I mean, don’t companies want to fill positions permanently? Well, they do but they aren’t willing to go through the headache of sponsoring a new employee’s visa.
“Why not? Will I even be able to find a permanent sponsored job?”
Ahhh, I’m so glad you asked but, before I get into the good stuff, I have to come clean and let you know straight up that I know very little about getting sponsorship for Australia.
Yes, we did have sponsorship through my husband’s employer, but things have changed since we got our visa. For one, the 457 sponsored work visa is being replaced by the Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) 482 visa.
Since I am not an expert on sponsorship, I’m going to take it one step further and tell you that every single one of the tips in this article I have blatantly stolen from Nadine Myers, Managing Director and Emigration Job Strategist of Sponsored Jobs in Australia. Don’t worry, it’s ok, she knows. ;-)
Nadine has even been kind enough to send me an excerpt from her do-it-yourself guide “Find Sponsored Jobs in Australia” to make sure I get it right. Thanks, Nadine as I couldn’t have done it without your guide.
Nadine has helped hundreds of people find, not just any job in Australia, but jobs that are a perfect fit. And she’s been at it for over 14 years. But more about Nadine and Sponsored Jobs in Australia later. Let’s get to the good stuff.
Pro Tips for Finding Sponsorship for Australia
Temporary is a good thing.
Many people don’t want to consider a temporary sponsored visa. This is a mistake.
As I mentioned early, companies see sponsorship of temporary visas as a lower risk factor. Employers in Australia do not want to permanently sponsor a new employee that they have no history with. This is why you need to consider a temporary visa.
You have four years to prove to your Australian employer that you are worth the investment to a more permanent sponsored visa.
Many expats start the process for a permanent residence visa after two years on a temporary work visa. When you interview with the company ask if they are open to sponsoring you permanently after two years.
I have a friend who arrived on a work-sponsored visa, then two years later got her sponsorship for a Skilled Permanent Visa then applied for citizenship after two more years.
Another reason why companies prefer temporary sponsorship is that permanent sponsored work visas are just harder for companies to get. The whole process is more complicated with stricter requirements making it less appealing to the employer to invest their time and resources.
The Working Holiday Visa is another temporary visa that many expats use as a stepping stone to get a temporary sponsored work visa then a Permanent Residence Visa.
Do you qualify for Australian sponsorship?
The first mistake people make who do not qualify for the General Skilled Migration route, is to assume that their only other option is a temporary work visa sponsorship.
This then leads to the second mistake people make which is to start searching for visa sponsorship jobs before knowing if they qualify for an Australian visa.
Do not start your search for jobs with sponsorship until you know that you qualify. – Nadine Myers
How do you find out if you qualify job that offers sponsorship?
What most do is spend hours on the Australian Immigration website determining if they qualify for specific occupations on the Skilled Occupations List.
They usually end up making errors in their own self-assessment then start applying for the wrong job. Bad move.
If you choose to do your own assessment then be very thorough and keep on top of changes in new migration policies.
Once you can see that there is one or perhaps more, occupations that you MIGHT qualify for you need to review the job descriptions as set out by ANZSCO to discover whether the job descriptions match your actual experience.
On the ANZSCO site, enter the occupation title, with the ANZSCO codes if possible. For example, ‘234411 Geologist', and click on the ‘Go' button next to the search box. When the search is complete, the page will offer you a suggestion of an occupation group that your search might fit into.
So for this specific example, it would be ‘2344, Geologists and Geophysicists'. From there you will be taken to a page that lists the qualifications and specific experience you are required to have to qualify for this occupation. – Another Pro Tip from Nadine
How cool is that secret ninja tip from Nadine? Love it.
Get a professional visa assessment.
Be sure that you get your visa assessment from a registered migration agent. That is first and foremost. Make sure they are currently registered at the Migration Agents Registration Authority.
In your communication with a migration agent, whether it's email or through a contact form, be sure to mention your search from ANZCO and ask for other occupations that you might qualify for. Also, mention your estimate for how many points you have and ask if you might have missed some.
Migration agents know ways to get more points or to boost points.
Now the main objective for a migration agent is to get your business. When they respond to you about your assessment, be sure to get a detailed breakdown of any fees they mention.
A good agent will offer to do a visa assessment for free and chat on the phone so be sure YOU DO NOT MISS THAT CALL!
I have several other posts on finding visa sponsoring jobs including optimizing your resume for sponsorship and 10 mistakes people make when applying for a sponsored job.
What Are You Shipping to Sydney When You Move? Do You Know Yet?
The truth is you don’t need to know right now, for sure, what’s going with you.
But you have to get your shipping quote ASAP, especially now.
Why? Because international shipping companies need to schedule your shipment to Australia far in advance, some ask for 6 months in advance. Yes, COVID has changed everything, including international shipping.
When filling out the form below…
- You don’t need a street address for where you’re moving to, only the city and country. What they really want to know is the major shipping port.
- You don’t need exact dates right now. Go with your best guess.
- Don’t bother with calculating your volume. Use one of the estimates below for your estimated volume.
- Studio or 1 Bedroom —> 20 m3
- 2 Bedroom —> 25 m3
- 3 Bedroom —> 30 m3
- 4 Bedroom or 3 Bedroom + Car —> 50 m3
- Use your “real” contact details for BOTH phone and email. Yes, the form is secure. If you don’t use your real contact details, then they can’t get in touch with you for your quote. Makes sense, right?
