My Australian Gamble - Am I Crazy?

markfdrums

Hey,

Yes to answer your question you can transfer your 457 to another employer. You just need an employer willing to do it.

Its not easy though. The onus is really on the employer at the moment and they have to provide nearly more documentation (proof that they tried to train an Aussie etc)

I would also imagine one would encounter friction between you and your current employer if they were not keen to let you go. There is an element of 'we did you a huge favour' to it.

Also know that if the transfer is not completed by the time you are due to start your new role, you cannot be in receipt of a wage from your new employer and some applications take months.

mandrake04

You can only change employers if they take over your sponsorship, you keep the same visa (part 3) but the company has to nominate (part 1 & 2) which to most is a hassle.

457 is really the worst visa to be on, not the holy grail it's made out to be.


As for the expense it's a head wrecker for the first 6 months because you are used to paying for stuff in Euro. Expensive holidaying because of the crap Xchange rate but for living the Brits on other forums use a rule of thumb 2.4

If you earn X in UK and pay Y for living then you should earn 2.4X in Aus but expect to pay 2.4Y for living.

What hammers most people is when they first move over their start up money seems to be drained, was probably the same for Aussies 5 years ago if they moved somewhere like London. Where now with the current Xchange rate the shoe is on the other foot.

markfdrums

I would nearly go x 3 times the wage..

Yes you are right though, if i didnt have some place to say rent free I would not be here

markfdrums

when min wage is around 15-17 $ an hour it gives some idea of what you should earn. But be prepared to earn less than your ideal salary starting off as if you are on a 417 you will only get temp unless a company is willing to sponsor from the get-go.

mandrake04

markfdrums wrote: »

I would nearly go x 3 times the wage..

Yes you are right though, if i didnt have some place to say rent free I would not be here

The Brits use the £ so for € the same rule could be 2.8, once you forget about what you pay in € the easier it will get.

SONIC2008

Thanks for explaining, so its pretty difficult to change jobs once sponsored. Some good advice there, jesus i'm as nervous as hell I wont get a job there. I've qualifications but not very much relevant experience so I'm guessing its going to be very difficult. I'm lucky that I have free accomodation there though.

markfdrums

Dont be worrying seriously. Give yourself a month and you will be fine. I got here expecting a job on my first day!

markymark21

SONIC2008 wrote: »

Thanks for explaining, so its pretty difficult to change jobs once sponsored. Some good advice there, jesus i'm as nervous as hell I wont get a job there. I've qualifications but not very much relevant experience so I'm guessing its going to be very difficult. I'm lucky that I have free accomodation there though.

Whats your qualification in?

SONIC2008

A cert in special needs education, a degree in psychology and a masters in counselling and psychotherapy. I'm ok in terms of qualifications but all my relevant work experience is voluntary. There are lots of great jobs on that "SEEK" website, but they seem to favour experience over qualifications which is understandable.

markfdrums

You will be fine. Just concentrate on the temp roles to start.

My problem was sending CV's for perm jobs with a cover letter saying I was on a 417.

Agencies won't even return mails if they see that...

Suppose I was just very lucky my role changed to perm an hour before I went for the interview and I had a window of opportunity which is all you need. This Oz project is mainly luck. I'm realising that big time now

Esse85

markfdrums wrote: »

You will be fine. Just concentrate on the temp roles to start.

My problem was sending CV's for perm jobs with a cover letter saying I was on a 417.

Agencies won't even return mails if they see that...

Suppose I was just very lucky my role changed to perm an hour before I went for the interview and I had a window of opportunity which is all you need. This Oz project is mainly luck. I'm realising that big time now

Did you eventually remove the bit saying your on a 417 visa?

I've that on my resume and I'm getting nothing back.

markfdrums

Well if you are looking for a false dawn I would say yes. But agencies will call and the very first question will be about your status. Honesty is the best policy as you will p1ss them off otherwise.

My recruiter specialises in accounting and said he is getting 100's of top 4 banking experienced Cvs a week but doesn't have the roles. ANZ recently announced cuts.

If I was you I would get signed up with Adecco and the usuals. Get your foot in the door as they say.

SONIC2008

You have alot of valuable info Markfdrums,

What would turn the employer off hiring someone on a 417? Im just wondering if its because they question how long you will be there for, your commitment, or is it the cost of sponsorship or the amount of paperwork?

I had planned on explaining that though I am on a 417, I have emigrated for the sole reason of finding a job and would be interested in staying longer should the option of sponsorship become available. Would that stand out or would it be the same as what everyone else writes regardless of their intentions?

markfdrums

By all accounts we had pretty similar cover letters!

Agencies will ignore a 417 as they were probably instructed by the employer that they wanted perm residents only. Saying that, my employers were fine with sponsoring as they had done it before.

If I was you, I would bypass the agencies and try direct to companies. They only care if you legally entitled to work which you are.

Another factor is the cost of hiring someone via an agent, its 5K on average for a successful placement. Agencies will be reluctant to put you forward knowing that you can only legally work there for 6 months.

Interesting to note I only spoke to agents who were irish or poms...they know the score but are exactly like the agents from home as they ARE the agents from home!!

markymark21

SONIC2008 wrote: »

A cert in special needs education, a degree in psychology and a masters in counselling and psychotherapy. I'm ok in terms of qualifications but all my relevant work experience is voluntary. There are lots of great jobs on that "SEEK" website, but they seem to favour experience over qualifications which is understandable.

Pretty impressive. I can imagine however you'd need experience to get a job in this field.. but its the ol' situation of how do you get experience if no one will hire you..

Maybe you could do an intern-ship or something, or does anyone from back home have an contacts you could hit up in Oz?


Anyway as someone else was saying I think its important to put your Visa status down, they'll only ask you in the end anyway.


I think it depends on the sector you work in in regards to whether or not your status will greatly affect your job prospects. Some businesses will gladly take on WHV holders. Others not so much!

SONIC2008

No, I have no links for anyone in that field of work I'm afraid. I'll just try get casual work and hopefully I'll get a break. Anything is better than sitting here on the dole!

So I know its early days, but how do you feel about the move now?

markfdrums

Well I'm on my way to work now and just crossed the harbour bridge with the sun coming up over the opera house, its pretty amazing.

I love it. The city is great but it is hard to get settled. My sister has been here for a long time now so that was a help but all in all, the thoughts of going home anytime soon is frightening.

markfdrums

So my sponsorship (457) was granted 2 weeks ago (one week after lodging via Fragomen agents, paid in full by the company) and my partners de-facto came at the same time. No issues. About 4 months door to door which is actually quite good considering she was on a tourist and me a 417...

Here till at least 2016 yay!

Galwayguy35

markfdrums wrote: »

So my sponsorship (457) was granted 2 weeks ago (one week after lodging via Fragomen agents, paid in full by the company) and my partners de-facto came at the same time. No issues. About 4 months door to door which is actually quite good considering she was on a tourist and me a 417...

Here till at least 2016 yay!

Lucky man. Sure maybe you might get permenant residency.

arandale

Mark congratulations and to your girlfriend too. I'm so glad its working out for you you both and many thanks for keeping in touch.

rayfoley2

Just wanna say fair play to ya for doing it! Im leavin my full time job next week to go over. Very very nervous about it but going with a very level headed friend that is keeping me calm. Hopefully it will be the right decision for me!

debs1

rayfoley2 wrote: »

Just wanna say fair play to ya for doing it! Im leavin my full time job next week to go over. Very very nervous about it but going with a very level headed friend that is keeping me calm. Hopefully it will be the right decision for me!

Ah sure I'm in the same boat but if ya dont try it y'all never know!!!!

rayfoley2

debs1 wrote: »

Ah sure I'm in the same boat but if ya dont try it y'all never know!!!!

Well I have only a few fetac courses under my belt. And apart from like 7 years retail experience I havent got much going for me. Hoping I find something But retail is in the s****er over there??

debs1

rayfoley2 wrote: »

debs1 wrote: »

Ah sure I'm in the same boat but if ya dont try it y'all never know!!!!

Well I have only a few fetac courses under my belt. And apart from like 7 years retail experience I havent got much going for me. Hoping I find something But retail is in the s****er over there??

Ya might get lucky and find some bar work or promotions work or something. Good luck with everything.

rayfoley2

debs1 wrote: »

Ya might get lucky and find some bar work or promotions work or something. Good luck with everything.

Hopefully! Thanks same to you!

markfdrums

Cheers to all for the support posts!

Ray, the retail sector really is in the toilet here (strong dollar = people buying online, Asia etc) so try to avoid that.

Service industry as a whole is still doing quite well I believe.

The west is propping up the East so if you plan to become a Syndeysider, then be prepared for some real searching. YOU WILL get work, make no mistake about it. But give yourself at least 6 weeks to get something you like.

If you plan to live any sort of life, try not get a job below 50K or the equiv hourly rate. It sounds like a lot but trust me, it aint here!

Very happy i made the move. Weather at the moment sucks but sure its still never really goes below 16 during the day and it will only be another few months till the sunny 25 days are back.

Ladjacket

I am in the same boat, being employed for the last 5 years in a call centre, progressed up the ladder slightly but just feel that now is the time to try something different. It is just taking the next step to going and booking things - thinking mid August!

Doc

SONIC2008 wrote: »

A cert in special needs education, a degree in psychology and a masters in counselling and psychotherapy. I'm ok in terms of qualifications but all my relevant work experience is voluntary. There are lots of great jobs on that "SEEK" website, but they seem to favour experience over qualifications which is understandable.

My girlfriend (Australian) works for The department of Human Services here in Melbourne she was talking to me the other day about the amount of Irish, Scottish and English people working in child protection. Apparently the DHS will sponsor people to work for them because child protection is not an area many Australians want to work in. With your qualifications it might be worth looking into.

coco_lola

This thread has really made me smile! It's great to see someone who has made the move and is happy! Markfdrums, do you know anything about the Online industry, in terms of online advertising, what is the demand like for it over there?

Im thinking of moving myself in January!

fizzlefozzle

Just looking at the posts here.

If you want to go to Australia, there seems to be a couple of options.

Going over on a holiday or sponsorship visa, but these seem to be frayed with other difficulties, especially if you keen on staying. You are either spending a lot of money and time looking for work that may not appear, or are worried about staying in the current job. Both have limitations and you placing the onus on the employer to keep you there.

One of the points illustrated about the skilled worker sponsorship that worried me, is that your time in Australia is bound to your current employer, and if you wish to leave there is a significant amount of stress involved, in looking for another employer that will continue the visa. It seems like hassle for the employer, and again you are putting your own life in Australia in the their hand. For example, if you the original sponsorship did not work out so well, and you wanted to get another job, then how easy is it to get another employer to take responsibility for that current visa, seeing that the original job did not pan out so well?

It seems all luck of the draw in these two cases.

It seems like if you are keen on just heading over to Australia and staying there, then the best bet is to just save up and try and get the Skilled Workers migration? This is just my current feeling at the moment.

I know it is pretty expensive, (around 5-7k euro right?) but when you are over there, can you go directly to collecting the dole (like some support for job seeking)? Are you tied directly into the role you chose in your Skilled Workers migration visa, or can you go directly into a shop assistant or something, while you look for work in your required area? How much money do you actually need?

Also, how will the new SkillSelect immigration scheme work? Will it mean I can even immigrate anymore???