WHV hinders any chance of a good job :(

lippy11

As the subject says... Or amI wrong?
Here in Brisbane two months now and temping for the past 5 week in an Aussie banks HQ. Work is a bit repetitive but money is decent enough I suppose at $24 an hour.

I'm constantly applying for jobs and got called for an interview with a recruitment agency who are recruiting a superannuation/admin assistant for one of the Big 4. She told me she had forwarded on my resume to them and they were very interested in it (I worked as an accounts assistant/administrator at home). I'm thinking my experience at home has stood to me hence them calling me in for an interview today.

But.... I'm on a WHV and they are looking for a permanent member of staff and when you are on this visa you can only work for 6 months with the one employer She said she was going to suggest sponsorship to them but I don't think I'd be eligible for that..

I just feel really disappointed that I'm probably going to miss out on an opportunity of working with a global company because of my visa restrictions..

And yes I did know the restrictions prior to applying for my visa! I'm just having a sulk I suppose

Has anyone else had good job opportunities but have missed out because of the WHV?

mandrake04

6 months is easy, 7 years ago it was only 3 months per employer and no 2nd year.

lippy11

I have my second year visa got.. But what do you mean 6 months is easy?
I was just saying that's the problem, some employers want you to make a commitment for longer than 6 months and well you can't do that on a WHV!

irishmover

Why cant you get sponsorship?

lippy11

I'm not very up on sponsorship rules but don't you have to have some qualifications? Like a degree of something.. I don't have one unfortunately

mandrake04

lippy11 wrote: »

I have my second year visa got.. But what do you mean 6 months is easy?
I was just saying that's the problem, some employers want you to make a commitment for longer than 6 months and well you can't do that on a WHV!

WHV used to be 3 months limit per employer

zweton

Yip WHV is crap in general if your looking to get in with a decent company,could get lucky though!

Father Damo

lippy11 wrote: »

I'm not very up on sponsorship rules but don't you have to have some qualifications? Like a degree of something.. I don't have one unfortunately

And you are unhappy that you are earning nearly 20 euro an hour at a bank? When I left home bank front staff were in around 10 to 13, and their manager would have been on 18 if lucky, probably less. Irish wages are fcuking pathetic and always have been compared to the cost of living in the CT years.

Pisco Sour

I feel your pain OP but we knew those restrictions coming out so I suppose we can't really complain.

I'm trying to find sponsorship so I can stay here with my aussie gf, but as I am not fully qualified I am not very hopeful. Sick to death of the recruitment agencies spoofing me so I applied for some jobs directly on seek and I have an interview tomorrow. However on my cover letter I didn't mention my visa status. I'm amazed they didn't ask over the phone, but I'm sure they will sooner or later. Can't avoid it forever. I think I'd have to nail the interview 100% for them to overlook the whole visa thing and sponsor me, without seeing me in action first. Not very optimistic tbh, but suppose nothing to lose. Never know, may get lucky.

I think getting a decent job on a WHV is down to a combination of right place at the right time, along with prior experience and qualifications.

catbear

Father Damo wrote: »

And you are unhappy that you are earning nearly 20 euro an hour at a bank? When I left home bank front staff were in around 10 to 13, and their manager would have been on 18 if lucky, probably less. Irish wages are fcuking pathetic and always have been compared to the cost of living in the CT years.

I don't know about that, I had a wage that was well below the average industrial but still I managed to do loads with it, travel the world etc..
However if I had bought property rather than rent then I would have probably struggled.

lippy11

Father Damo wrote: »

And you are unhappy that you are earning nearly 20 euro an hour at a bank? When I left home bank front staff were in around 10 to 13, and their manager would have been on 18 if lucky, probably less. Irish wages are fcuking pathetic and always have been compared to the cost of living in the CT years.

I'm not at all unhappy with what I'm getting at the momemt.. I don't think I said I was unhappy?! I said I was on decent pay.. Which I am compared to home! But as you know cost of living over here is a lot more expensive than home so wages have to compensate that to some degree I think.. All I'm unhappy with at the moment is the short term temping contract I'm on.. But as some say, temping is the way of life for working holiday visa holders!

@Pisco Sour, best of luck in your interview! Hopefully something good comes out if for you

pclancy

I had the same problem when I first came to NZ on a WHV. It was easy get temp contracts but to make the push to stay for longer and get a fulltime roll took a lot more convincing of both recruiters and employers. I'm lucky that being in IT and specialised in Medical IT gave me grounds for a 3 year visa that now is becoming residency but it was hard convince people at the start that I wasnt just another backpacker that was going to vanish after a year on the piss.

Also be careful what you believe that comes from a recruitment consultant, at the end of the day they just want to make another sale and get their fee, they dont actually care what happens to you or what your long term prospects are. You've got to do the ground work yourself to make yourself attractive to employers and worthy of sponsorship.

Xavi6

Well to be fair, the clue is in its name - it's a holiday visa. It's not meant to be used as a way for you to build a career, just enough to get you by and you seem to be doing a very good job of that with the temping.

If you want a full time job and a career then explore avenues other than the WHV (and I know that's very Captain Obvious to be saying).

lippy11

Yes I know Xavi, just wish those other avenues were easily explored and less expensive !!! Over time it'll work out I hope, my visa is valid until March 2014 so still have time to work something out

T-rev

Get out of Brissy and youll see better employment ops. Sydney or Melb have great job opportunities. I am in Perth and I am in a good sales job so its not all bad.

markymark21

Xavi6 wrote: »

Well to be fair, the clue is in its name - it's a holiday visa. It's not meant to be used as a way for you to build a career, just enough to get you by and you seem to be doing a very good job of that with the temping.

.

Not too sure about that! I was offered a managerial position in the settlers tavern in the Margaret River after working there for three days. Could have had a decent enough career with them if i wanted it. Hotel we worked in in Melbourne looked into sponsoring us as well but couldn't as they had no managerial vacancies at the time but asked us to come back with them
When we head back to Melbourne in October

I think the WHV is a great way to build your career in Oz. it gives you flexibility in finding the right employers or Job which can lead to sponsorship

jackbhoy

markymark21 wrote: »

Xavi6 wrote: »

Well to be fair, the clue is in its name - it's a holiday visa. It's not meant to be used as a way for you to build a career, just enough to get you by and you seem to be doing a very good job of that with the temping.

.

Not too sure about that! I was offered a managerial position in the settlers tavern in the Margaret River after working there for three days. Could have had a decent enough career with them if i wanted it. Hotel we worked in in Melbourne looked into sponsoring us as well but couldn't as they had no managerial vacancies at the time but asked us to come back with them
When we head back to Melbourne in October

I think the WHV is a great way to build your career in Oz. it gives you flexibility in finding the right employers or Job which can lead to sponsorship

Probably depends on your chosen career though. Hospitality has always had a lot of short-term/transient/seasonal type workers whereas many other professions would look to take on people with view to building their skills/knowledge long-term, which would be a big disadvantage with WHV.
I am in current job 6 months and still have long way to go in building my understanding of different parts of business and systems etc. I don't think my part of company has ever hired a WHVer...
You are probably luckier than most people on WHV in that your skills could score you a job in practically any town in oz

Matt Simis

jackbhoy wrote: »

Probably depends on your chosen career though. Hospitality has always had a lot of short-term/transient/seasonal type workers whereas many other professions would look to take on people with view to building their skills/knowledge long-term, which would be a big disadvantage with WHV.

Think what he was saying was that the WHV gets you in the door and the the Sponsorship moves you onto a 457 Visa. Its irrelevant at that point that the WHV is only 6mths per employer.

Without a WHV, you are stuck outside applying within.

jackbhoy

Matt Simis wrote: »

jackbhoy wrote: »

Probably depends on your chosen career though. Hospitality has always had a lot of short-term/transient/seasonal type workers whereas many other professions would look to take on people with view to building their skills/knowledge long-term, which would be a big disadvantage with WHV.

Think what he was saying was that the WHV gets you in the door and the the Sponsorship moves you onto a 457 Visa. Its irrelevant at that point that the WHV is only 6mths per employer.

Without a WHV, you are stuck outside applying within.

It's relevant in that many employers/recruiters still bin a job application as soon as they see WHV, especially in jobs that require a lot of time to learn the ropes.

markymark21

jackbhoy wrote: »

It's relevant in that many employers/recruiters still bin a job application as soon as they see WHV, especially in jobs that require a lot of time to learn the ropes.

Yeh your probably right there

lippy11 wrote: »

I'm not very up on sponsorship rules but don't you have to have some qualifications? Like a degree of something.. I don't have one unfortunately

I reckon this is going to be a serious problem for you mate. Have you given a thought to getting your qualifications over here?

Studying over here lets your stay in Oz for 18 months to study (Temporary skilled graduate, subclass 485) - but you can only work something like 20 hours a week. Nothing stopping you from doing a few shifts of cash work somewhere though!

This could be a good option for you I reckon you'd get your qualification which would make you eligible for sponsorship or general migration.

http://www.immi.gov.au/students/8-feb-students.htm#b

BOF666

Pisco Sour wrote: »

I'm trying to find sponsorship so I can stay here with my aussie gf, but as I am not fully qualified I am not very hopeful. Sick to death of the recruitment agencies spoofing me so I applied for some jobs directly on seek and I have an interview tomorrow. However on my cover letter I didn't mention my visa status. I'm amazed they didn't ask over the phone, but I'm sure they will sooner or later. Can't avoid it forever. I think I'd have to nail the interview 100% for them to overlook the whole visa thing and sponsor me, without seeing me in action first. Not very optimistic tbh, but suppose nothing to lose. Never know, may get lucky.

Can't yous just move in together and get a spouse visa or something?

And OP, a lot of it is down to luck. Had a mate that has been working as a receptionist in a small company, and it takes her ages to get to and from work. They ended up offering her sponsorship, just because the girl on maternity leave she was covering for decided not to come back!

hussey

BOF666 wrote: »

Can't yous just move in together and get a spouse visa or something?

They would have to be in a defacto relationship for a year, if she is Australian (as it's a PR defacto)

Pisco Sour

hussey wrote: »

They would have to be in a defacto relationship for a year, if she is Australian (as it's a PR defacto)

We've been going out for 8 months but do not live together. It's pure pub talk that you can just date a local and get a visa!

Pisco Sour

BOF666 wrote: »

Can't yous just move in together and get a spouse visa or something?

And OP, a lot of it is down to luck. Had a mate that has been working as a receptionist in a small company, and it takes her ages to get to and from work. They ended up offering her sponsorship, just because the girl on maternity leave she was covering for decided not to come back!

See this is the thing I can never fully understand. I thought you can only get sponsored if the job is on the skilled list? How can somebody get sponsored to be a receptionist? Do the Department of Immigration not implement their rules or what?

BOF666

Pisco Sour wrote: »

It's pure pub talk that you can just date a local and get a visa!

I didn't think it was that easy!

A year just seems like a long time, would you even be able to do that on a WHV? Just by the time you got here and got a house sorted and all that...

Pisco Sour wrote: »

See this is the thing I can never fully understand. I thought you can only get sponsored if the job is on the skilled list? How can somebody get sponsored to be a receptionist? Do the Department of Immigration not implement their rules or what?

I'm not 100% on it, but she was offered it anyway. Don't know what would happend if she decided to go down the PR route though.

markymark21

Pisco Sour wrote: »

See this is the thing I can never fully understand. I thought you can only get sponsored if the job is on the skilled list? How can somebody get sponsored to be a receptionist? Do the Department of Immigration not implement their rules or what?

It's all about the job title. She may be a receptionist but if her employers really want to keep her they could call her a 'accommodation or hospitality manager (if shes working in a hotel) or even a 'customer service manager' or 'contact centre manager' or 'company secretary' they're all on the occupations list

Mellor

Pisco Sour wrote: »

See this is the thing I can never fully understand. I thought you can only get sponsored if the job is on the skilled list? How can somebody get sponsored to be a receptionist? Do the Department of Immigration not implement their rules or what?

The skilled list for 457 visa covers a lot more occupations than the one of PR.

mandrake04

BOF666 wrote: »

Can't yous just move in together and get a spouse visa or something?

And OP, a lot of it is down to luck. Had a mate that has been working as a receptionist in a small company, and it takes her ages to get to and from work. They ended up offering her sponsorship, just because the girl on maternity leave she was covering for decided not to come back!

$51K for a receptionist in a small company, not bad money.... is she a stunner?

BOF666

mandrake04 wrote: »

$51K for a receptionist in a small company, not bad money.... is she a stunner?

No, they just seem to think she's great!

mandrake04

BOF666 wrote: »

No, they just seem to think she's great!

Fair enough, $51,000 + super is not bad going for a receptionist. That's about $28 ph. I would have thought early to mid 40k would be the going rate for that type of job was just wondering why they paying so much.

Mellor

BOF666 wrote: »

No, they just seem to think she's great!

Has she actually been granted 457 sponsorship, or has it just been offer. Because I know a few people in similar jobs whose employers were happy to sponsor them, but fell apart when they look further into it as they didn't meet the salary requirement. (often because they were 4 days etc). Which is what Mandrake was getting at.

mandrake04 wrote: »

Fair enough, $51,000 + super is not bad going for a receptionist. That's about $28 ph.

I had a similar discussion with a friend recently. We were saying sponsorship rate is $24.50 or $26 depending on whether it's a 40 or 37.5 hour week. That's ex.super obviously as its not factored in.

mandrake04

Mellor wrote: »

I had a similar discussion with a friend recently. We were saying sponsorship rate is $24.50 or $26 depending on whether it's a 40 or 37.5 hour week. That's ex.super obviously as its not factored in.

well I was basing that on a 38 hr week for 48 weeks of the year. I know that you get paid for the 4 weeks holiday regardless but if you actually only work 1824 hrs in the year then $51400/1824 is about 28ph.

But you are right if you then include the holidays is drops down to 26ph for 38 hr week (which I would say for office work is about the average).

Still $28ph is not bad for reception work, my mate doesn't even pay his labourer's that.

BOF666

Mellor wrote: »

Has she actually been granted 457 sponsorship, or has it just been offer. Because I know a few people in similar jobs whose employers were happy to sponsor them, but fell apart when they look further into it as they didn't meet the salary requirement. (often because they were 4 days etc). Which is what Mandrake was getting at.

No, she actually turned it down, she's looking to move on and she only wanted to stay for a year anyway, so it never went any further than an offer.

Batgurl

BOF666 wrote: »

No, she actually turned it down, she's looking to move on and she only wanted to stay for a year anyway, so it never went any further than an offer.

That's all it ever would have been then I imagine. I had a few friends in the same situation. Very good receptionists/administrators and the company wanted to keep them as long as possible as they were cheaper than temps and more reliable than Aussies so they promised sponsorship etc.

When it actually came down to it though, they weren't able to...not because they weren't going to give them the raise (they said they would "once the time was right") but because part of the conditions of becoming eligible to be a sponsor meant spending a certain % of wages on training etc plus you had to have a certain % of staff as Australian and they didn't.

But the company got to keep very good staff for six months with the promise of the golden ticket of sponsorship. Until places put their money where their mouth is...I would remain sceptical of their promises

mandrake04

Batgurl wrote: »

But the company got to keep very good staff for six months with the promise of the golden ticket of sponsorship. Until places put their money where their mouth is...I would remain sceptical of their promises

Nothing out of ordinary that and nothing wrong with it either, plenty of Paddy bosses at that in the construction game. The promise of the Golden goose certainly increases the Productivity but when you have a gang of 20 or 30 and only 3 or 4 get sponsored well what can you say. Sorry lads can't sponsor everyone.

Funny how the ones who do get sponsored are often great at the old Gaelic, that another story LOL

lippy11

Just an update!

I got another job.. Hallelujah ! And just in time.. My contract ends here on Friday.

I went to so many recruitment agencies! They applied for a few jobs for me which were 3-6 month contracts but the organisations would get back to them and say that yes it would be an initial 6 month but it would most probably be extended which ruled me out..

So I tried to go outside the recruitment agencies and apply for jobs by private advertisers and my first interview with an established company here and they offered me the job last Friday so all is good !!!

Persistence and patience is what it takes

BOF666

Congrats, best of luck with the new job!

John Vevers

lippy11 wrote: »

I'm not very up on sponsorship rules but don't you have to have some qualifications? Like a degree of something.. I don't have one unfortunately

Hi,

Most occupations either require a qualification OR relevant work experience. I have worked with many applications that have been able to argue / demonstrate work experience in lieu of formal qualifications. We're talking about 457's here.

May not always be possible so its good to check out the requirements for each occupation. Start with abs.gov.au and go search ANZSCO from here the site will break down each role into what is required (qualification and / or work exp).

Hope this helps.

John

DeclanClune

Guys, just that you are aware, there is uproar over the amount of people on 457 sponsorships taking jobs from Australian employees.

It looks like the requirements for the 457 VISA is going to become much more difficult to meet from 01 July 2013.

They will be reviewing the amount of spend an employer needs to make for training so this will make is more of a financial burden on the employer.

So if you are considering applying for a 457 sponsorship visa, my advice is to get this lodged as soon as possible before July!

Declan Clune

NewsMeQuick

DeclanClune wrote: »

Guys, just that you are aware, there is uproar over the amount of people on 457 sponsorships taking jobs from Australian employees.

It looks like the requirements for the 457 VISA is going to become much more difficult to meet from 01 July 2013.

They will be reviewing the amount of spend an employer needs to make for training so this will make is more of a financial burden on the employer.

So if you are considering applying for a 457 sponsorship visa, my advice is to get this lodged as soon as possible before July!

Declan Clune

That's a shame, from reading on Boards, a lot of people are planning on that route, myself included. I'm still saving, so I won't be there in time before the changes take effect. I'll keep up to date on this. Thanks for the info!