Job application rejection because of WHV?

Noo

I applied for a job with a big international company here in Australia. I met all the requirements and was fairly confident in my chances of at least getting an interview. So I got an email directly from the HR lady in charge of recruiting for this job (she had clearly read my application) saying that before she could process it further she wanted to know what visa i was on. I told her WHV and explained what this meant and about the option of employer sponsorship etc. (I want to get sponsored here).

Within 24 hours of replying to her I got the generic "your application in no longer being considered, do not reply to this email" email. Surely I thought that she was at least considering me if she went out of her way to personally ask me about my visa, she could have sent me the generic email at the start if she didnt think i fit the job description.

Anyway I was thinking of emailing her back again asking if the rejection I received was because of my visa. I dont mind if its because they say theres more qualified people, not enough experience, but the timing of it all makes me think its the visa. This company claims on their website equal opportunities regardless of pretty much everything including citizenship and even has a "moving to australia" part for international employees moving here so it pissed me off a bit. So should i email her back or just leave it? My job search isnt going too great so when I see a job i'm prefect for and this happens its very disheartening.

Traq

I'd reckon you're correct in thinking the rejection was linked to the WHV, but essentially that's what a lot of people on WHVs face. Some companies just don't want to hire people on a WHV as they see it as somewhat of a transient visa and that there's not much point hiring someone on a WHV if they are going to be gone to move on some time in the next few months. I know you mentioned sponsorship but again, some companies just don't want to really entertain the thought of this when they can hire citizens or people with PR instead and save themselves the cost/hassle of going through the sponsorship process.

I've been through it all myself and know it's a disheartening process, especially when it's a job you reckon you'd be perfect for, and the visa lets you down but hopefully something will come up for you shortly. From my experience I just kept plugging away at it and in the end landed a job on a WHV that led to sponsorship and then to PR, but I'd consider myself quite lucky to have all that fall into place.

Noo

I'm just disappointed because the company screams sponsorship opportunities. I looked at the job description again and its ridiculous how well I match it. I really want to email her asking is it because of my visa for future reference, like is there any point in me applying for other jobs within the company? (obviously asking in a nice, polite manner). As i said if its my skills, or lack of, then thats fine but I just want to know, especially as she asked me about it.

bobbles87

Noo wrote: »

I'm just disappointed because the company screams sponsorship opportunities. I looked at the job description again and its ridiculous how well I match it. I really want to email her asking is it because of my visa for future reference, like is there any point in me applying for other jobs within the company? (obviously asking in a nice, polite manner). As i said if its my skills, or lack of, then thats fine but I just want to know, especially as she asked me about it.

Yes, most definetly it was because of the WHV. Eventhough you want to get sponsored, most employers simply view this as a 'holiday' visa and that most people will leave the position vacant after 6 months due to the visa constraints. Obviously from an employers perspective, they dont want to waste the time, money or energy recruiting for someone who they will only be able to get a max 6 months out of - to them it is a waste of training and recruitment. Just to note I am speaking in generic terms here, not specifically to your case!

I came over here with the intention of getting sponosored, BUT I did realise the curse of the WHV in gaining good employment opportunities. I got knocked back for role after role by applying directly to companies. Your best bet is to go to the agencies, so they can source a temp role for you in your field. It gives the employer a chance to 'test' your suitability to the role, without the restricted committment an initial perm contract would impose on them. Often, situations like these will lead to sponsorship opportunities. Soooo I would say temping is your best bet. Applying directly via company websites and seek leaves you open to vast competition - I know agencies are a pain, but if they realise your skillset it specialised/niche, they may be more interested in plugging your CV to employers. Rememeber to keep on the agencies toes during your search though, they need constant hassling!

Best of luck

karl bracken

As Bobbles says above you have to be very lucky, its a lot harder than you imagine.
The GF was a nures with 3 years experience and ended up working in recruitment because of the visa, she did one interview and at the end she mentioned the visa and they said oh this spot is only for residents, and its clear on her CV that it was working holiday, now thats a waste of time!

The reality is a lot of people arent that familiar with WHV and just dont want the hassle, just get your foot in the door and its usually 3 months probation and hope for the best but you only have a few chances so dont waste 6 months in a factory with no hope of sponsorship unless you have to.

Follow up where you send your CV with a call and recruiters here are generally useless and it can be very frustrating, just keep at it

applydirect.com.au
seek.com.au
gumtree.com.au

Mellor

Noo wrote: »

This company claims on their website equal opportunities regardless of pretty much everything including citizenship and even has a "moving to australia" part for international employees moving here so it pissed me off a bit.

TBh I don't see how they did anything wrong. It's nothing to do with your citizenship. It's obviously a permanent job, and you simply don't have a suitable visa. Most advertised jobs include at least some reference to visa.

In general, you are better off referring to it as a 417 visa, valid for 12 months, in case interpret working holiday visa negatively.

pa_

It is definitely your visa. I am just finishing a WHV and the only work I could get in IT were temporary contracts. I had one sponsorship opportunity which I rejected with what I thought was a poor company after applying for around 200 permanent jobs. Recruiters tend to reject a WHV out of hand. If you speak to certain employers directly and they like the sound of you it can work out.

Bottom line is the odds are against you and you will pick up only the jobs that no resident qualifies for / will do. I reckoned it's better to do a couple of good contracts and come back again another time on a PR rather than accept a crap job for the sake of it. WHVs are extremely limited if you are after serious jobs.

Noo

Mellor wrote: »

Noo wrote: »

This company claims on their website equal opportunities regardless of pretty much everything including citizenship and even has a "moving to australia" part for international employees moving here so it pissed me off a bit.

TBh I don't see how they did anything wrong. It's nothing to do with your citizenship. It's obviously a permanent job, and you simply don't have a suitable visa. Most advertised jobs include at least some reference to visa.

In general, you are better off referring to it as a 417 visa, valid for 12 months, in case interpret working holiday visa negatively.

I know they didn't do anything wrong, i was just surprised they dismissed me so quickly considering the positive impression the company gave me. Anyways I emailed her asking was it my visa as the generic email said to keeping looking at their site for new jobs listing and i wanted to know basically should i even bother, worded nicely of course, don't wanna burn bridges just yet. But i don't expect a response.

Im definitely taking on your 417 advice and leave out the holiday part if Im ever asked again.

Just gotta keep at it i suppose.

edit: they didn't reference a visa, just said right to work in Australia.

Noo

What do ya know I got a reply!...yes it was the visa.

Zambia

In reality a lot of employers would write "the right to work in Australia" thinking "the right to work in Au for good" was taken as a given.

markymark21

Anyone know roughly how much is costs an employer to sponsor someone?

hussey

I dunno maybe try the visa website?
http://www.immi.gov.au/allforms/990i/employer-sponsored-temporary.htm

Jimoslimos

bobbles87 wrote: »

I came over here with the intention of getting sponosored, BUT I did realise the curse of the WHV in gaining good employment opportunities.

Take care when mentioning that, especially if you happen to travel in and out of Australia during your stay (say NZ and back). It may well be true for many people but Immigration take a dim view of it.

What I would also suggest (if you haven't already), is doing your seasonal work now. That way when your visa has 6 months to run - you can apply for jobs and work a full year unbroken (2nd 6 months on the 2nd WHV). Might open up a few more opportunities.

6ix

markymark21 wrote: »

Anyone know roughly how much is costs an employer to sponsor someone?

The basic costs are in Hussey's link, but a lot of companies use a lawyer - I was told that mine is costing $3-5k. Seems ridiculous really when they could just do it themselves for a lot less but I guess I don't know what's involved tbh.

Mellor

Noo wrote:

I know they didn't do anything wrong, i was just surprised they dismissed me so quickly considering the positive impression the company gave me.

It was a full time job, so you didn't have the visa.
Sponsorship wasn't technically possible if they had gotten suitable candidates with full time visas. Which is maybe something you are overlooking.

Zambia wrote: »

In reality a lot of employers would write "the right to work in Australia" thinking "the right to work in Au for good" was taken as a given.

When its in relation to a full time job that's pretty fair tbh.

Noo

Well I managed to get myself an interview for a full time job with a different company tomorrow, so lets see what they make of the visa Fingers-crossed!

zweton

Best of luck :-)

Noo

Have no idea if the interview went well or not, but regarding the visa they said once they hire me (if they do) they'll start the application for a 457, as if it was just a standard thing. Moral of the story...it boils down to whether the company is bothered with the paperwork.

jackbhoy

Noo wrote: »

Have no idea if the interview went well or not, but regarding the visa they said once they hire me (if they do) they'll start the application for a 457, as if it was just a standard thing. Moral of the story...it boils down to whether the company is bothered with the paperwork.

No, it boils down to whether you are worth the bother! If there is a queue of suitably qualified people with perm visas then they won't bother with WHVs. Many big Aus companies will only offer perm jobs to people with perm visas, the exception being filling very specialised roles where they have to sponsor to get suitable people.
I have a 4 year visa and have only worked contracting as none of companies I work with offer perm jobs to temp visas. I'm happy/lucky in that I want short term contracts and don't want sponsorship so suits me but not much you can do if to want perm role except suck it up and wait for right role to come along...

Noo

But it was just down to the company. 2 different companies, first massive worldwide, second massive just in oz, two very similar roles, both on skilled occupation list. First is interested but when they find out visa they say i won't qualify for sponsorship and they only have whvs working on 6 month contracts, something they can't offer me. Second company says they've hired loads of Irish on whvs and would start the sponsorship process the day they hire me, if they do.

Regarding me being worth it to bother with the visa, it should be me not the visa that decides that. The second company acted as if it was just a standard procedure when hiring someone, they definitely have experience in it. They only thing they wanted to be sure of was would i stay with them for years to make it worth their while.

Ok so maybe it doesn't boil down to whether the company is bothered, but rather the company's own experience and views on sponsorship, something you just don't know til you apply for a job. Lucky dip!

Mellor

Noo wrote: »

it boils down to whether the company is bothered with the paperwork.

Noo wrote: »

But it was just down to the company. 2 different companies, first massive worldwide, second massive just in oz, two very similar roles, both on skilled occupation list. First is interested but when they find out visa they say i won't qualify for sponsorship and they only have whvs working on 6 month contracts, something they can't offer me. Second company says they've hired loads of Irish on whvs and would start the sponsorship process the day they hire me, if they do.

You appear to be under the impression that sponsorship is just paperwork. The 457 visa exists to bring in over seas work to fill gaps in the Oz workforce. One of the requirements for approval is that there are no suitable qualified people available for that position. its not just about being on a list, that exactly role, in that exact company must be nominated to the immigration department before your visa can be granted. If the first company received other qualified applicants, then that role isn't suitable for sponsorship, by definition.

Frisbee

I'd say it was the visa.

I had a couple of calls for interviews and even one place who were willing to give me the job over the phone and start the next day, but once I mentioned it was a WHV the conversation just ended and they said they couldn't hire WHVers.

I got a temp role in a company for a month. My last week there I went to pretty much every manager in my department and asked them were they hiring or looking for someone on their team. I got lucky, one was, interview the next day and started the day after. I never even would have been considered if I had just sent in an application, I was just lucky in that I had gotten to know people here.

Unfortunately there's no opportunity of sponsorship for the role I'm in here, so I'm keeping an eye out for any jobs with the chance of sponsorship that do come up.