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Look into an employer-sponsored work visa.
If you’re determined to land a job before completing your visa application process, this is the visa for you! Your future employer will be supporting your application thanks to your relevant skills.
- This is one of two main categories of work visas in Australia.
Consider a points-tested category visa.
To get this visa, you’ll go through testing to determine your skills and how good of a candidate you are. This is the second of the two main categories of Australian skilled work visas.
- The idea of testing to get a visa may be stressful, get yourself prepared by researching requirements and interviewing techniques. Stay calm in the interview and be friendly. Show them how much you can bring to Australia!
- This, and every work visa category and subcategory, has some unique requirements, but all skilled work visas require, among other things, that you be under age fifty and possess "competent English" language skills. Try to learn some English before you apply for a visa by enrolling in local classes or studying online. You’ll be living in a country where English is the main language, so this will be a good skill to know!
Complete an Expression of Interest (EOI) via Skill Select.
An EOI is not a visa application in itself, but rather a way to bring yourself to the attention of Australian employers and government entities, who may in turn choose to support your subsequent visa application. If you have the right mix of attractive skills and qualities, an employer or government agency may nominate you for an appropriate work visa.
- You’ll need a completed EOI to apply for a points-tested visa.
- A completed EOI is not required of, but is available to, applicants for an employer-sponsored visa.
Meet the health and language requirements for a work visa.
Before you can complete a work visa application, take a quick trip to the doctor so you can provide documentation of a completed health examination. You’ll also need to demonstrate English proficiency by scoring well on one of several recognized exams.
- Check out English classes offered in your area. Head to a local clinic for recommendations on a good doctor to see for your health exam. Let your teachers and doctor know that you’re preparing for a visa application to Australia and they’ll be happy to help you!
Verify that your qualifications are valid in Australia.
Consult the Australian Skills Recognition Information website to find out if your qualifications will need to be confirmed by a relevant professional organization. Depending on your profession and place of study, it may be necessary to complete a bridging course or additional study. Don’t think of this as additional testing, but rather as a way to prove that your skills will be useful not just in your home country, but in Australia as well!
- Being able to state your qualifications in Australian equivalents will be a big help when you apply for jobs.
Maximize your chance of getting a visa.
It may be harder to obtain a visa if you don’t qualify as a skilled migrant, so focus on making yourself the most attractive applicant possible. Earn a professional qualification or gain some work experience before applying. If your English is not fluent, you may consider taking a language course with a recognized provider.
- Some work visa subcategories are regionally-focused, so ask if you can apply for a visa in a region with less job competition, or higher demand for certain jobs.
- If the visa process seems complicated and daunting to you, don’t worry; many people feel this way! Take the time to familiarize yourself with all the intricacies of the procedure by doing research online or asking questions at an Australian embassy or consulate. Check out the Australian government’s website for a wealth of useful immigration information.
Submit your visa application.
If you require a visa to work in Australia, this will be your first priority! Prospective employers will ask about your immigration status, and having your visa (or at least having started the application process) is a prerequisite for most job vacancies.
- Remember, visa priority is given to people who have skills, qualifications and experience in shortage occupations, so dust off your resume and brag a little!
Look into a Temporary Graduate Visa.
If you’re a foreigner who has just graduated from an Australian higher education institution, you’re in luck: you may be eligible to for a special visa that will enable you to stay and work in the country. You’ll need to be under age fifty, have an existing valid visa (e.g. a student visa), meet language and education requirements, and have eligible and relevant skills.
- There are two "streams" of this visa available to graduating students, based on factors like your skills and the nature of your educational experience in Australia.
Consider a working holiday.
Maybe you’re younger than thirty and want to travel across Australia, making a bit of money to cover your expenses as you go. In this case, you may be eligible for either a Work and Holiday Visa (subclass 462) or a Working Holiday Visa (subclass 417). These visas may permit you to stay and work in the country for up to a year.
- You’ll need to be travelling without dependent children and have enough money (roughly $5000 Australian) to cover expenses and a plane ticket home.
Look out for scams.
Sad to say, but there are many visa con artists out there, so use caution when someone offers to help you get an Australian work visa. The Australian government keeps a list of common and current scams at http://www.border.gov.au/Trav/Visa/migration-fraud-and-scams. For instance, don’t fall for scam phone calls demanding immediate payment for a visa renewal, and be very cautious regarding promises of an Australian visa and job (with an initial payment) on job websites. Use your common sense and stick to official Australian government sites; the URL will end with ".gov.au"!
- It is illegal for third parties (employers, etc.) to financially gain from nominating or sponsoring someone for a visa. In other words, a potential Australian employer cannot ask you to pay a fee ahead of time for sponsorship, or deduct from your paycheck after the fact. You might be charged legitimate professional services fees, though, which is okay. Consult an official at your Australian embassy or consulate if you want to make sure a payment is legitimate.
Finding Jobs and Preparing Applications
Target an industry or economic sector.
If you haven’t decided on the industry you’d like to work in, choose wisely! The major industries in Australia are agriculture, mining, tourism and manufacturing. Mining, financial services, tourism and telecommunications have had the most growth in recent years, which means continued opportunities and job security!
- Keep an eye out for "Skills Australia Needs" events or information booths at skilled migration conferences worldwide.
Search methodically and diligently for job openings.
Millions of vacancies are posted online. You can use common online job sites, or government-supported sites. If the wealth of information and opportunities seems intimidating to wade through, stay focused on the industry, job or region you’d most like to work in and tailor your searches towards those preferences. Potential jobs will pop up in no time!
- Check Australian newspaper listings for jobs that aren’t posted on online sites. Check out the major papers like The Age (Melbourne), Sydney Morning Herald (Sydney), The Courier-Mail (Brisbane) and The West Australian (Perth).
- To learn about vacancies in a particular organization of interest, consult the recruitment section of its homepage.
"Aussiefy" your CV.
It is important that your CV (also called a résumé in Australia) is in the Australian style. It won’t look too different from a CV elsewhere, but will have a few key differences. Australian CVs, for example, tend to be longer than American versions. More space to show off your great experiences and skills!
- Although they’re usually longer, Australian CVs highlight essential information on the first page. Use categories like "Career Summary" (a brief statement), "Key Skills," "Key Qualifications," and sometimes "Key Training" and/or "Key Affiliations."
- Look online for samples or templates of Aussie-style CVs and cover letters. Don’t copy anyone’s format exactly, but use it as inspiration to make your CV appropriately "Aussie" while reflecting your own unique brilliance.