SOL and Finding a Sponsor

[slyth_sub]

My plan is to go to the Melbourne area with my partner, next year. She is a chemist (specifically an analytical chemist with an environmental emphasis), and 'chemist' is listed on SOL under Professionals. She is 37, has been working full time a little over three years, and has a degree from a university here in the States.

What is the best way to go about this? Our finances are limited, so finding a sponsor who could help with visa fees would be a dream come true.

[Sheelagh Blanckenberg]

Hi slyth-sub

There are many Australian employers who are happy to pick up the costs of sponsoring a person from overseas.

The difficulty for your partner though will be finding such an employer when she is not in the country to attend interviews etc.

In the first instance she should do some online research to establish what the employment market is like at the moment for Chemists - especially to determine which organisations are looking to recruit in this field. Have a look at the links we have provided on the jobs subforum.

She should then open a line of communication with the organisation by passing on her resume/CV and letting them know she will be coming to Australia next year. She may be lucky and get a chance of a telephone interview but more likely she will be told to make contact once she is in Australia. Not ideal for you I know but Australian employers, like employers anywhere in the world, generally will not employ someone sight unseen as it were.

There are a few specialist recruitment agencies who assist potential migrants and it may be worth contacting them as well. Links to these agencies are also on the jobs sub-forum.

Sorry I do not have any more positive news to give. Good luck.