Getting a job after getting Skills Visa

[surfbum99]

Hi there,

I'm in the process of getting my skills assessed by the ACS. My job is also on the demand list as well.

But if im successful in getting the Independent Skills Visa, the thing is how can I go for jobs in Australia when still in the UK?? I'm sure this is common problem.
I've heard of people actually travelling to an interview from the UK to say Sydney!! What if they don't want you? It would be a wasted trip.
I've also heard people had savings and just go over anyway with no job lined up then once there live on the savings until they find a job. But I would prefer to have a job before going.
Whats the best way to do it?


Also if you get the visa how long have you got before it runs out?


Any help appreciated,

Kind Regards,

Alistair.

[Dolly]

Originally Posted by surfbum99

Hi there,

I'm in the process of getting my skills assessed by the ACS. My job is also on the demand list as well.

But if im successful in getting the Independent Skills Visa, the thing is how can I go for jobs in Australia when still in the UK?? I'm sure this is common problem.
I've heard of people actually travelling to an interview from the UK to say Sydney!! What if they don't want you? It would be a wasted trip.
I've also heard people had savings and just go over anyway with no job lined up then once there live on the savings until they find a job. But I would prefer to have a job before going.
Whats the best way to do it?


Also if you get the visa how long have you got before it runs out?


Any help appreciated,

Kind Regards,

Alistair.

Hi Alistair,

I have to say that most people move over without a job lined up. It's a bit scarey and you have to make sure you've got enough money to keep you going (it has taken some people over 6 months to get a job, depending on their job type).

For us, we went on SEEK - Australia's no. 1 jobs, employment, career and recruitment site one Sunday evening. Applied for 3 jobs. The following morning at around 6am the phone went and it was one of the recruitment agencies. He arranged for a telephone interview with husband and prospective employer. Then a week later husband travelled to one of their offices in the UK and he had a 2 1/2 hour video conference interview (people from singapore and australia were involved). He was offered the job!

Now we were extremely lucky. I do know quite a few other people though who have had video conference interviews as well (in the IT business). As you're doing an RPL with the ACS you must be in IT too. So, apply for as many jobs as you can.

Have a look at kaz101's sticky thread re useful websites. There are 3 employment agencies there (including Seek). There's also :

National Employment Agencies jobs, employment: jobs listed by BlueStone Personnel @ My Career

There's 2 companies we used who specifically deal with IT jobs:

Greythorn : Greythorn IT Recruitment

and

Hudson

Home - Hudson

Don't forget, you could always do contract work if looking for a permanent position is difficult.

Re your visa. When you get your visa you will be given a date where you either have to validate (get your passport stamped by Australian Immigration) or emigrate by - this is if you are on a PR (Permanent Resident visa). As a permanent resident you are permitted to remain in Australia indefinitely. This visa also allows you to travel to and enter Australia for 5 years from the date the visa is granted. The expiry of this visa does not affect your permanent resident status if you are in Australia. However, if you wish to continue to travel to and from Australia as a permanent resident after the initial visa has expired, you must obtain a Resident Return Visa (RRV). Your eligibility for an RRV will depend on the period that you have resided in Australia. BTW your initial entry date is dictated by when your police checks or medicals were done (which ever was first) and not when you 'actually' receive your visa. This is normally a year from that date. If you get a category B on your medicals then you will have 6 months). They really don't make this emigration lark easy, do they!

Good luck!

Dolly

[kaz101]

Hi Alistair,

Welcome to the forum.

I agree with Dolly most people come over here without a job unless they are being sponsored.

One other place to look for it jobs is Search for jobs in the USA. Online job search and select the Aussie flag. Once you have your visa you can apply for jobs but most employers won't touch you unless you have the skilled visa first. I actually became a member of the BCS just so it would be easier with the ACS Yes I'm in IT too but only part time now.

I probably wouldn't have travelled all the way to Oz for an interview (unless they were paying for it ) but as Dolly mentioned in IT they should be able to do conference calls.

Yes we had a year from the police checks to get the visa validated but if you validate and then actually move to Australia at a later date then you don't get the same luggage allowance on some airlines. (When you are actually emigrating you are allowed twice the luggage allowance as long as it's your first trip - I don't understand it either but thought I would mention it).

Regards,
Karen

[Dolly]

Ah, baggage allowance!

I remember taking our suitcases down to our local vets to get them weighed just to make sure we weren't over the limit. And boy was I pleased we did. When we were standing in line waiting to check in, the people in front were over their limit (usually, airlines will allow 4-5kgs over - if they are having a good day). Anyway, the airline wanted to charge them £35 for each kilogram they were over.

And baggage allowance is 40kgs if you are travelling east, and 64kgs if you are travelling west (absolutely no idea why it's different!!!)

Dolly

[kaz101]

Originally Posted by Dolly

And baggage allowance is 40kgs if you are travelling east, and 64kgs if you are travelling west (absolutely no idea why it's different!!!)

We only got the standard 20kgs since we had already validated our visa and booked the flight with Malaysian Airlines. We sent an extra suitcase through a company called Excess baggage though rather than pay a lot of extra charges.

Regards,
Karen